Zombie Graveyard Simulator review

I love it when you get a hybrid of a well-trodden genre. Sim games have been done to death, and people know exactly what to expect. Except for some titles, the gameplay is addictive, repetitive, and satisfying. However, the visuals, audio, and plot tend to take a back seat. Zombie Graveyard Simulator follows this path with its basic graphics, simple soundscape, and gameplay-focused design. Yet, it is a blend of base defence, people management, and simulation that makes it different.

This breakaway-from-the-norm game was developed by threeW Games. It is a single-player, first-person title that focuses on morbid action. There is base building, combat, staff to manage, and plenty of zombies. Additionally, you must look after graves, grow flowers and food, upgrade your character, and much more. In short, it does a lot more than most of its peers.

Zombie Graveyard Simulator has no plot.

Zombie Graveyard Simulator demands that you clean and rescue a failed cemetery and farm business. With bodies stacking up and people wishing to mourn, you are a busy boy. However, getting things sorted is easier said than done, as zombies ruin your evening, and the bodies you’ve just buried can come back to life.

The lack of story was expected, but the small snippets of information are absurd. Why zombies wish to break in and munch on the dead is beyond me. Sadly, this is a thing, and when they dig up your prized assets, you are left to kill them and clean up the mess.

Plenty to do.

Zombie Graveyard Simulator should have been a straightforward experience. After all, you are managing a graveyard, so what’s the worst that can happen? Well, the day/night cycle, customers, mourners, and different burial methods ensure that you are kept busy. Alongside this, there is an upgrade system, plenty of weapons to buy, loads of tools to purchase, and a host of staff to hire and look after.

The people management and upgrade system were pretty easy to understand. Additionally, opening new areas, planting seeds, and mining for stone help you to cut costs and increase profits. However, you must manage your health and stamina if you take this approach. Alongside this, you must have enough energy to take down the zombie horde. As night falls, you must protect your business from a variety of zombies. Some are aggressive, and others have more armour. Consequently, you must plan your defences and keep yourself safe.

If you cannot defeat the zombies, they will dig up your bodies, and you’ll have more enemies to deal with. Furthermore, you’ll lose money as each grave brings in mourners, money, and additional revenue streams. Subsequently, it is a case of keeping your graveyard protected and your bank balance flowing.

Zombie Graveyard Simulator is rough as hell!

I know zombies are not the prettiest thing, but Zombie Graveyard Simulator is rough as hell. The textures are awful, the buildings look terrible, and the UI is clunky and dated. Thankfully, this doesn’t impact the gameplay; it is just hard on the eyes. There are glitches and bugs to contend with as well. Some of these prevent you from progressing, and that is a shame. I’m hoping the issues are ironed out with patches, but this could be a persistent problem. The audio is equally low-key. The music is okay but instantly forgettable. Moreover, the sound effects are effective but dull. Therefore, it won’t win any awards.

The controls are clunky but fine with a gamepad. The radial menus work well, and moving your equipment is a breeze. The decent tutorial and the easy-to-understand gameplay help things. Therefore, you needn’t spend hours mastering the controls or getting to grips with the mechanics. If you fall for its grisly charms, you can play this game for hours. Although it has its problems, it is addictive, fun, and simple enough.

Zombie Graveyard Simulator isn’t the best, but I enjoyed it regardless.

Zombie Graveyard Simulator isn’t the best simulator experience I’ve had. It is enjoyable if you don’t mind a few bugs, repetitive action, or poor visuals. However, if you need a seamless and well-polished game, you may wish to look elsewhere. I enjoyed it despite the problems, and I recommend grabbing a copy from the Xbox Store!