Pure horror: 5 good board games with zombies

Zombie board games are the alternative to hanging out in front of the telly. The living dead - you know them from films, series, books, comics and video games. And the living dead have long been part of the inventory in board games too. In contrast to the mostly one-dimensional screen adventures, the game versions are strategic and often cooperative. But good zombie board games don't have the cheap charm of some undead movies: Authors and publishers often deliver quality. Below we present five good zombie board games.

Zombies are welcome on the game boards of this world. The crowdfunding campaign for the Zombicide offshoots, with which the publisher CMON was able to generate millions in this case, had always shown this impressively. So the topic is a real evergreen and is – beware! - not to be killed. The level of challenge in the zombie board games ranges from shallow to extremely difficult, and you should even play the best one solo. Zombies in board games - that often means a material and miniature battle. Still, it fits the genre.

Dawn of the Zeds

Dawn of the Zeds is now in its third edition - and hasn't lost any of its charm over the years since its debut in 2011. The title is considered by fans to be one of the best - if not the best - zombie board game ever. Author Hermann Luttmann (Stonewall's Sword, At Any Cost) has created the almost perfect solo board game. Dawn of the Zeds also peddles its single player qualities. The game is a kind of Walking Dead in board game form. Castle Defense concept, quite demanding, very thematic - Dawn of the Zeds is the zombie movie pleasure among board games.

Almost surprising in the topic segment: The game gets by without any miniatures. Lots of tokens and a bunch of cards, that's all you need next to the game board. In view of the opulently equipped competing titles, this seems almost negligent, but playfully Dawn of the Zeds tears it out twice and three times over.

Dawn of the Zeds is pure suspense over its length of 120 minutes. Unexpected twists and turns effortlessly keep the motivation going. Strangely enough, if you want to complain, you do it in the multiplayer area of ​​Dawn of the Zeds. It does not differ from the solo variant, at least in terms of the actions, which calls into question the basic added value. In any case, the game doesn't forgive any mistakes, so it's not only entertaining, but damn difficult. The rules are complex, so you will have to take some time to get used to them.

Dawn of the Zeds is recommended for 1 to 5 people aged 14 and over and has a playing time of 90 to 120 minutes.

Resident Evil 2: The Board Game

Resident Evil 2: The Board Game is a zombie board game aimed primarily at fans of the video game template. Steamforged Games has turned the digital horror game into a "tabletop game" - and they've done it exceptionally well. The look is convincing, the atmosphere is right, it is strategic and cooperative. The latter in particular provides that extra portion of fun in board games involving the undead.

Resident Evil 2: The Board Game is pure survival horror. This is supported by the shortage of ammunition, which fans of the franchise already know from the video games. Of course, this also has a tactical effect: Instead of shooting at zombie hordes without having to think like in a dungeon crawler, this game is about the cleverest possible movement to counter the opponents. At best, zombies are left to themselves in front of closed doors.

Steamforged Games implementation is on point. Resident Evil 2 as a video game is also Resident Evil 2 as a board game. The title keeps telling little stories, each time anew. A small downer: there is no German-language localized version, players have to use the original English game. This is basically not a problem if it weren't for the instructions, which even pose questions to native speakers. Fortunately, fan translations are available. But that doesn't hide the chaotic, sometimes incomplete set of rules. Setting up the board game also takes time. Getting used to it and struggling is worth it, though. There is rarely so much atmosphere and excitement - and there are hardly any survival board games anyway

Resident Evil 2: The Board Game is recommended for 1 to 4 people aged 14 and over and has a playing time of around 90 to 120 minutes.

Zombies!!!

Zombies!!! is a really big thing. The board game was first published in 2001, followed by a second edition in 2015. Anyone who can relate to films like Evil Dead will also enjoy Zombies!!! of Todd and Kerry Breitenstein. Players take on the role of survivors and fight against hordes of undead. A lot is thrown, so the luck factor is correspondingly high.

What sounds cooperative turns out to be completely different on the table: with zombies!!! there can only be one winner. At the end he killed 25 zombies or reached the saving helicopter place (including the final boss fight). If you die, it goes - not with go - and directly back to the start, you also lose half of your "kills". You could even find that a good thing in the zombie genre. Turn off brains and blow away brains - that's the motto of this title.

Zombies!!! is a relatively simple zombie board game, but it's fun. A shortcoming is the playing time, which is a bit too long. Nevertheless: In the right round of play, this work, which is based on zombie splatter films, provides a lot of fun and laughter. And there is plenty of supplies. Zombies!!! was the prelude to a whole series of Zombies!!! expansions. Each includes new game rules and cards.

Zombies!!! was published by Pegasus Spiele and is recommended for 2 to 6 people aged 12 and over. A game lasts about 60 to 90 minutes.

zombicide

Zombicide isn't just a board game, it's now a whole zombie horde universe. CMON had collected many millions of euros through the crowdfunding campaigns of the individual Zombicide offshoots - and in the process repeatedly lifted the cooperative dungeon crawler into other themed worlds: jungle, western, big city - the undead are up to all their mischief. You know that from film and television, with Zombicide you can experience the uncomplicated but quite demanding hunt for the living dead on the board game table at home.

Zombicide is in German Asmodee available. The board game's features are extensive, so you'll have to dig deep into your pockets to purchase it. Dealers charge around 75 euros for the game, but there are also lots of miniatures, cards and the obligatory plastic character boards on which you mark the active skills and life points with small buttons and sliders.

Zombicide is cooperative, demanding, but still has simple rules that require a round or two to get used to. If the set of rules is in place, nothing stands in the way of having fun. Players collect gear and level up their characters to fight back the undead in this classic zombie board game. It has been ten years since the premiere, but a second edition only appeared last year (2021). Zombicide and its offshoots have sold millions of copies worldwide - the board game is therefore also a financial success for the publishers.

Zombicide is published by Asmodee Germany. It is recommended for 1 to 6 people aged 12 and over and lasts 60 minutes.

Zombie Teenz Evolution

Zombie board games don't always have to be bloodthirsty - that's what Zombie Teenz Evolution by proves Asmodee. The family-friendly game with a “horror” theme even ended up on the list of nominees for Game of the Year 2021. The premise is still based on what we know from zombie films: the undead have overrun the city. Now it's up to the players to work together to find a cure against the zombie plague.

The board game is already the second release in the series, i.e. the sequel to Zombie Kids Evolution. The highlight: The board game changes with every game - so the word evolution in the title is not just a pure marketing gimmick. Even more clou: the two board games that have been released so far are independent, but also compatible with each other.

In Zombie Teenz Evolution, players must create an antidote from four components, so the ingredients must first be found. The colorful squad can only win together. Events and recurring zombies keep things entertaining, and players can name the heroes themselves. Zombie Teenz Evolution is a race against time - if the zombies can take over all the buildings, the idyll in a small town will be over.

Zombie Teenz Evolution is designed as a board game for the whole family. Children are motivated above all by the constantly new content: opening envelopes, unlocking new things for the characters, reacting to the random zombie spawn - there is enough to do. And the whole thing looks appealing on the gaming table. You have to cut back on the depth of the game, with Zombie Teenz Evolution the focus is on fast and uncomplicated fun. Despite the simple rules, not every game automatically ends in victory, there is definitely some challenge.

Zombie Teenz Evolution is for Asmodee has become a marketing project with resounding success. Together with the Super RTL division Toggo and under the label “Toggo Toys”, advertising for the board game is even shown on television.

Zombie Teenz Evolution is a family game for 2 to 4 people and recommended for ages 8+. A game lasts about 20 minutes.

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