Infection Free Zone is a unique concept that appealed to me instantly. I love the zombie genre, even if it has been done to death. Moreover, base building is fun, and who doesn’t enjoy the survival genre? This interesting blend of ideas could have ended badly. After all, too much of a good thing can end in disaster. Luckily, it did not, and I enjoyed my time with this unusual game.
Jutsu Games has developed this hybrid zombie experience. It is a single-player game that utilises real-world locations as you fight hordes of undead beasts, animals, and other humans. Moreover, you must scavenge for resources, help other survivors, and build a base to keep you alive. It’s a simple idea, but with so many ingredients, there is considerable depth, different pathways, and intriguing locations to explore.
Infection Free Zone tells a familiar tale.
“The Mad Virus” has infected humanity, and zombies take over. These demented creatures are aggressive, hungry, and the bane of your life. However, a pocket of survivors band together to rebuild mankind while trying to destroy the horde. As you can tell, the story isn’t original, but the main gameplay mechanic is unique.
The ability to build a base in your own city, town, or village was fantastic. I smashed my way through my neighbourhood as I searched for resources and stripped buildings of their metal, bricks, and wood. Additionally, I explored neighbouring areas as my group expanded and the desire to find new weapons, food, and cars increased. It was fascinating to see, and I liked the base-building elements, the fear of being attacked, and the people management.
Explore or build your defences?
Infection Free Zone demands a fine balance between flying the nest and staying at home. You create squads of fighters who can explore your surroundings and gather resources. This team are also your first line of defence against the zombie horde. Accordingly, sending them out and leaving your workers undefended is not recommended. This can be a tough balancing act, especially when you are expanding your horizons.
The desire to improve your farming, defences, research capabilities, and housing other survivors is key to progression. However, running before you can walk can be disastrous. This fine line is hard to walk, and keeping everyone happy while maintaining enough resources to survive is challenging.
If this wasn’t tough enough, there is a day-night cycle to contend with. As the sun sets, the brain munchers appear. If you haven’t built watchtowers, they’ll overrun you. If you haven’t gathered enough guns or formed a spare squad of fighters, you’ll be overrun. Effectively, if you haven’t planned, you’ll be overrun, and failure is all but assured.
This fine balancing act helps Infection Free Zone to stand out from its peers. However, the constant raiding and waiting for workers to complete their tasks can be tiresome. Sometimes, time goes too slowly, and you are left wondering how to speed things up to get over your problems. This may be a step too far for traditionalists from each genre, and you must be prepared to experiment if you want to get the best out of the game.
Infection Free Zone has a grim appeal.
Infection Free Zone has an isometric viewpoint and an array of camera angles, filters, and other layers to add realism and increase accuracy. This makes it much easier to play even if the learning curve is a little troublesome. Once you get past the initial problems, the game looks great with its grim aesthetic, simple character models, and easy-to-identify icons.
The audio blends dramatic and daunting music with moments of silence. This deliberate design delivers a chilling and atmospheric edge. If you then consider the juxtaposed sound effects, the developer has created a refined but effective soundscape with familiar zombie sounds.
Complicated controls.
The most controversial issue with this survival game is its clumsy controls. Designed with PC gaming in mind, the UI is suited for a mouse and keyboard. Thankfully, you can get used to it with enough practice, but moving between the menus and selecting elements can be a little frustrating.
Replay value and longevity are huge if you consider the limitless maps, the free-flowing gameplay, and the RNG approach. This roll-of-the-dice design isn’t always popular, but I like the surprises, the challenging progression, and the risk of failure.
Infection Free Zone is an unusual indie title.
This hybrid game is an unusual addition to the indie landscape. The chance to build a base near your real-life home was unique, and the random nature of the gameplay kept me coming back for more. Yes, it has its downsides, but the positives more than outweigh the negatives. Accordingly, it is good, and I recommend buying it here! Can you rebuild humanity? Find a new home, keep everyone happy, and keep the zombies at bay.
