Zombie Cafe

Zombie Cafe is a SIM-like game, created by Beeline, available on iOS systems, in which the player is responsible for running a restaurant. There is a selection of menu items, each of which costs a different amount of money and time to cook, and will provide so many servings and earn so much money for the restaurant. As the restaurant builds up savings, the player can buy more and better furnishings and equipment, fancy novelties like a jukebox, ATM, or pizza oven. The player can even purchase pets and an expansion for the restaurant.

The waitstaff in this restaurant is made up entirely of zombies. The customers who dine at the restaurant can be selected and transformed into zombie slaves to serve the food and take up dirty plates. The player must keep an eye on the energy level of the zombies. If it gets too low, they will start attacking customers. A low-energy zombie must be sent to rest for a period. Or a vial of zombie toxin can be used to refresh the zombie instantly.

The game is influenced by Dungeons & Dragons style role-playing games. In addition to money, the player earns experience points for the restaurant. As the restaurant gains experience points, it goes up in levels, and the player is allowed to add new zombies to the staff. New levels also unlock new recipes and new items available for installation in the restaurant.

As a unique twist on the SIM model, the zombie staff can be sent out to attack and raid other restaurants. If victorious, they will bring back food to either serve in the restaurant, without the time or expense of cooking it, or add to the menu to be cooked whenever the player chooses.

Zombie Cafe offers in-app purchases. It is a slow game, gradually building up the funds to add or improve, but the player has the option of purchasing in-game money and/or toxin to speed up the process. Some of the restaurant facilities and furnishings cost a great deal of money and while the restaurant has a relatively slow rate of earning money, the player has the option of spending actual money to purchase in-game money or toxins.

The game was part of a lawsuit filed against Apple Inc. Children were using their parents' devices to play games and were exercising the in-app purchase options, costing their parents a lot of money. Zombie Cafe was one of the games that children had used to run up expenses. As a result of the lawsuit, Apple made in-app purchases only accessible through a security check.