Zombicide

Zombicide

Zombicide logo
Designers	Raphaël Guiton Jean-Baptiste Lullien Nicolas Raoult
Illustrators	Nicolas Fructus Édouard Guiton Mathieu Harlaut Eric Nouhaut
Publishers	Asmodee Asterion Press Black Monk CoolMiniOrNot Edge Entertainment Galápagos Jogos Guillotine Games Hobby World
Publication	2012
Players	1 to 6
Setup time	approx. 5 minutes
Playing time	A game lasts for 20 minutes (beginner board) to 3 hours (expert board).
Chance	Dice rolling
Skills	strategic thinking

Zombicide at Pyrkon, Poznań 2015

Zombicide, is a collaborative adventure board game with a modern zombie theme, created by Guillotine Games. It was launched on Kickstarter by publisher CoolMiniOrNot and raised $781,597 from 5,258 backers.

In the game, each player controls from one (for 6 players) to four (solo game) "survivors", human beings in a zombie-infested town. In fact, "survivors" hastily change to "hunters" to smash zombies through and through. However, the team must constantly keep the balance between survival and slaughter: as the zombicide's going on, the "danger level" is going up and infected are growing in numbers. Any misstep can turn to disaster.

Several sequels have been created and achieved major success: Prison Outbreak, Rue Morgue, and a fantasy-themed version Zombicide: Black Plague, all published by CoolMiniOrNot.

The franchise has raised $9,153,036 combined on Kickstarter as of 7 July 2015. Zombicide: Black Plague, the 4th installment in the series, was the highest funded tabletop game Kickstarter ever (as of 7 July 2015).

Gameplay

Each player in the game represents one or more survivors in a zombie apocalypse. Their goal is to complete the scenario objects dictated by their particular mission before being overrun by zombies. The game board represents a zombie-infested town, with large square tiles, laid according to the mission selected.

Before the beginning of the game, a mission is chosen. The playing area is built with board tiles and features (icons representing cars, doors and objectives) according to the selected mission. Each players chooses one or more survivors to play and everyone places their survivors on the starting area of the board.

A deck of zombie cards, which will be used to spawn zombies, is placed on the side of the board. The game starts after the group decides who will be the first player. In the game, time flows in “turns”, and each turn is composed of three “phases”.

In the first phase, the survivors perform their actions. They can move, attack and interact with inventory items. During their phase, players can trade items, move, kill zombies or perform other tasks to help their objective. They can also discuss strategies to triumph over the zombies. Also each survivor starts the game with a different zombie-fighting special ability. These special abilities grow as the survivor gains experience from defeating zombies and completing objectives during the game. After the first survivor completes their actions, the turn passes to the next survivor.

After each survivor has completed a turn of actions, the second phase begins. This "zombies phase" is completed by moving and attacking survivors with all the zombies on the board. These moves and attacks are programmed by the game mechanics, and are therefore completely predictable.

Finally comes the end phase, when tokens are managed, a new first players is determined, and another turn begins.

Throughout the game, survivors may collect better items and gain experience to help them kill more zombies and accomplish their mission.

If the players are able to complete all objectives, they are winners and may proceed to the following scenario. If, on the other hand, the zombies kill all survivors, the game is lost.

Expansions and Spin-offs

The popularity of Zombicide led to the creation of stand-alone expansions and spin-off games. Expansions are divided into "Seasons" (1, 2, and 3). Spin-off games are self-contained and feature significantly different mechanics and settings: fantasy (Black Plague) and sci-fi (Invader). Each Season and spin-off comes with special scenarios and miniatures to play with.

Season 2

Prison Outbreak

This stand-alone game expansion was an immediate market success. It features six survivors, each with a carefully planned personality, who face 10 missions in order to turn a prison into a shelter and to do so, they must first rid it from zombies.

The zombies, on the other hand, have gained a significant backing, with its berserker version, immune to ranged attacks.

The board has its own improvements, with doors opened from afar, observations towers and security zones, bringing fun new strategies to the game.

Prison Outbreak is completely independent from Season 1, which allows new players to join the game along with those who have already played the first season.

Toxic City Mall

This expansion brings four new survivors and ten mysterious Zombivor heroes, not to mention ten new missions, four of which can be played with the other game from this same season: Prison Outbreak.

Also, Toxic Zombies are a new feature. These zombies can infect players, turning them into Zombivors.

Season 3

Rue Morgue

In Rue Morgue, survivors have to face not only zombies, but also other players. In this stand-alone game expansion, new zombies lurk in the streets, making them more dangerous and demanding team work. Teams, however, do compete against one another, bringing new dynamic to the game.

Angry Neighbors

This expansion brings fifteen new missions, four new survivors and eight companion sidekicks. Survivors receive new weapon cards to plan different strategies and face new and more versatile zombies.

Zombicide: Black Plague

Launched in 2015, this new stand-alone game brings survivors who attempt to save the medieval world from a zombie apocalypse. Survivors face zombies using swords, bows and spells. One to six players may engage in this fantasy setting to save the Middle Ages from zombies. It is compatible with previous releases, for a time crossed adventure.

Wulfsburg

This expansion was created to be played with Black Plague. In it, survivors have to face packs of ravenous wolf zombies (Wolfz). They move quickly on the board and the pack leader has special abilities that could easily tilt the balance in favour of the zombies.

Green Horde

In this stand-alone game expansion, players fight to rid the land of an invasion of zombie orcs.

Friends and Foes

This expansion includes new survivors, weapons, familiars to aid players, all-new Tainted Walkers and an Abomination.

No Rest for the Wicked

This expansion contains a wide range of new enemies, as well as a Ballista siege engine weapon.

Zombicide: Invader

Launched on Kickstarter in April 2018, this version of Zombicide takes place in a future where aliens have contracted the zombie virus. This stand-alone game has manage to attract $3,352,208 from 18,486 backers despite the initial pledge of $250,000.

Reception

Zombicide has generally received positive reviews with spin-off games receiving more favorable reviews than the original board game. Board Game Authority have mentioned that it is "a perfect fit for all zombie themed lovers". Board Games Land noted that the board game was "brilliantly thought out and beautifully crafted game", whereas Tech Raptor said "The game is fun and challenging if you like cooperative games".

Awards

2013: As d'Or - Jeu de l'Année - Nominee

2013: Golden Geek Best Thematic Board Game - Nominee

2013: Le Lys Passioné - Finalist

2013: Ludo Award Best Board Game Editor's Choice - Winner

2013: Ludo Award Best Board Game Popular - Winner

2013: Tric Trac - Finalist

External links

• Boardgamegeek entry for Zombicide
• Official page for Zombicide