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 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.[2]
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.[3]
Development
Zombicide was funded on Kickstarter,[4] with the subsequent franchise funding $34,505,398 combined on Kickstarter as of 2 February 2022.[5]
Products
The game has been expanded to several settings and spin-off games. All settings and spin-off games feature significantly different mechanics. The game is designed for every product for each setting/spin-off game to be easily mixed, but not to be mixed across settings/spin-offs. Below is a list of all released content for each of the settings and spin-off games, sorted by their SKU.
Modern Zombicide
SKU
Title
Release
Type
Includes
Notes
GUG001
Zombicide
2012
Core Game
6 survivors, 65 zombies
GUG002
Nick the Bad Cop
2012
Figure Pack
1 survivor
GUG003
El Cholo
2012
Figure Pack
1 survivor
GUG004
Dave the Geek
2012
Figure Pack
1 survivor
GUG005
9 Double Sided Game Tiles
2012
Accessory
9 game tiles
GUG006
GUG007
Survivors & Zombivors #1
2012
Figure Pack
3 survivors
GUG008
Claudia the Rebel
2012
Figure Pack
1 survivor
GUG009
Ivy the Hitgirl
2012
Figure Pack
1 survivor
GUG010
Eva the Artist
2012
Figure Pack
1 survivor
GUG011
Marvin the Bodyguard
2012
Figure Pack
1 survivor
GUG012
GUG013
Box of Zombies Set #1: Walk of the Dead
2013
Figure Pack
24 zombies
GUG014
Toxic City Mall
2013
Expansion
4 survivors, 29 zombies
GUG015
Box of Zombies Set #2: Toxic Crowd
2013
Figure Pack
24 zombies
GUG016
Prison Outbreak
2013
Core Game
6 survivors, 78 zombies
GUG017
Box of Zombies Set #3: Angry Zombies
2013
Figure Pack
24 zombies
GUG018
Box of Zombies Set #4: Walk of the Dead 2
2013
Figure Pack
24 zombies
GUG019
Box of Zombies Set #5: Zombie Dogz
2013
Figure Pack
20 zombies
GUG020
Box of Dogs Set #6: Dog Companions
2013
Figure Pack
6 companions
GUG021
9 Prison Outbreak Game Tiles
2013
Accessory
9 game tiles
GUG022
4 Toxic City Mall Game Tiles
2013
Accessory
4 game tiles
GUG023
Special Guest: Kevin Walker
2013
Figure Pack
2 survivors
GUG024
Special Guest: Adrian Smith
2013
Figure Pack
2 survivors
GUG025
Special Guest: Karl Kopinski
2013
Figure Pack
2 survivors
GUG026
Dakota the Convict
2013
Figure Pack
1 survivor
GUG027
Lea the Teenager
2013
Figure Pack
1 survivor
GUG028
Adriana the Shopgirl
2013
Figure Pack
1 survivor
GUG029
Rick the Stunt Man
2013
Figure Pack
1 survivor
GUG030
Fred the Trader
2013
Figure Pack
1 survivor
GUG031
Will the Game Designer
2013
Figure Pack
1 survivor
GUG032
Survivors & Zombivors #2
2013
Figure Pack
5 survivors
GUG033
Skull Trackers
2013
Accessory
10 experience trackers
GUG034
Orange Dice
2013
Accessory
6 orange dice
GUG035
Red Dice
2013
Accessory
6 red dice
GUG036
Gaming Night #1: Cars, Food or Guns
2014
Game Night Kit
1 survivor
GUG037
Helen the Federal Agent
2013
Figure Pack
1 survivor
GUG038
Moustache Pack
2013
Figure Pack
3 survivors
GUG039
Gaming Night #2: Black Friday
2014
Game Night Kit
1 survivor
GUG040
Alyana Heska aka Elena
2014
Figure Pack
1 survivor
GUG041
Kyoko the Free Spirit
2014
Figure Pack
1 survivor
Included in GUG036
GUG042
Survivors & Zombivors #3
2013
Figure Pack
6 survivors
GUG043
Union Worker #42 aka Charles
2014
Figure Pack
1 survivor
GUG044
Gaming Night #3: Zombie Trap
2014
Game Night Kit
1 survivor
GUG045
Gaming Night #4: Tric & Trac
2014
Game Night Kit
1 survivor
GUG046
Ross the Manager
2013
Figure Pack
1 survivor
GUG047
Compendium #1
2014
Accessory
1 scenario book
GUG048
Rue Morgue
2015
Core Game
12 survivors, 80 zombies
GUG049
Thiago the Prince
2014
Figure Pack
1 survivor
Included in GUG039
GUG050
Bill the Prison Director
2014
Figure Pack
1 survivor
Included in GUG044
GUG051
GUG052
Red Storage Box
2015
Accessory
1 storage box
GUG053
Blue Storage Box
2015
Accessory
1 storage box
GUG054
Green Storage Box
2015
Accessory
1 storage box
GUG055
Angry Neighbors
2015
Expansion
4 survivors, 8 companions, 18 zombies
GUG056
Box of Zombies Set #7: Lost Zombivors
2015
Figure Pack
12 zombivors
GUG057
Team Building Deck
2015
Accessory
114 team building cards
Included in GUG-KS03
GUG058
Yellow Dice
2015
Accessory
6 yellow dice
Included in GUG-KS03
GUG059
Special Guest: Miguel Coimbra
2015
Figure Pack
2 survivors
GUG060
Special Guest: Paolo Parente
2015
Figure Pack
2 survivors
GUG061
Special Guest: Lucio Parrillo
2015
Figure Pack
2 survivors
GUG062
Special Guest: Edouard Guiton
2015
Figure Pack
2 survivors
GUG063
Box of Zombies Set #8: Murder of Crowz
2015
Figure Pack
15 zombies
GUG064
9 Rue Morgue Game Tiles
2015
Accessory
9 game tiles
GUG065
3 Angry Neighbors Game Tiles
2015
Accessory
3 game tiles
GUG066
3D Pack
2015
Accessory
69 doors, 2 barricades
GUG067
Plastic Token Pack
2015
Accessory
74 plastic tokens
GUG068
Box of Zombies Set #9: VIP#1 Very Infected People
2015
Figure Pack
20 zombies
GUG069
Box of Zombies Set #10: VIP#2 Very Infected People
2015
Figure Pack
20 zombies
GUG070
Ultimate Survivors #1
2015
Figure Pack
6 survivors
GUG071
Brown Dice
2015
Accessory
6 brown dice
Included in GUG-KS03
GUG072
Special Guest: John Kovalic
2015
Figure Pack
4 survivors
GUG073
Moustache Pack #2
2015
Figure Pack
3 survivors
GUG074
Patrick the Hipster
2015
Figure Pack
1 survivor
GUG075
Oksana the Stunt Woman
2015
Figure Pack
1 survivor
GUG076
Benny the Children's Performer
2015
Figure Pack
1 survivor
GUG077
Nikki the Gator Wrangler
2015
Figure Pack
1 survivor
GUG078
Curro the Bookmaker
2015
Figure Pack
1 survivor
GUG079
Kris the Repo Man
2015
Figure Pack
1 survivor
GUG080
Miss Trish the Kindergarten Teacher
2015
Figure Pack
1 survivor
GUG081
Audrey the Bookworm
2015
Figure Pack
1 survivor
Included in GUG-KS03
GUG082
GUG083
GUG084
GUG085
GUG086
White Dice
2012
Accessory
6 white dice
GUG087
Black Dice
2012
Accessory
6 black dice
Included in GUG-KS01
GUG088
Glow in the Dark Dice
2012
Accessory
6 glow in the dark dice
Included in GUG-KS01
GUG089
Gaming Night #5: Bluehand Protocol
2015
Game Night Kit
2 survivors
GUG090
Ultimate Survivors #2
2016
Figure Pack
8 survivors
GUG091
Compendium #2
2016
Accessory
1 scenario book
GUG-KS01
Abomination Pack
2012
Stretch Goals Pack
31 zombies
GUG-KS02
Fugitive Pack
2013
Stretch Goals Pack
31 zombies
GUG-KS03
Infected Pack
2015
Stretch Goals Pack
9 survivors, 54 zombies
TMNT PACK-1
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Pack #1
2019
Figure Pack
4 survivors
TMNT PACK-2
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Pack #2
2019
Figure Pack
4 survivors
ZCD-KS13
Comic Book Extras: Day One
2021
Figure Pack
8 survivors
M134 Gatling
2016
Promo Card
1 equipment card
Ghostbusters Pack #1
2022
Figure Pack
2 survivors, 1 companion, 1 zombie
Ghostbusters Pack #2
2022
Figure Pack
2 survivors, 2 zombies
Ghostbusters Pack #3
2022
Figure Pack
1 zombie
Fantasy Zombicide
SKU
Title
Release
Type
Includes
Notes
GUF001
Black Plague
2016
Core Game
6 survivors, 65 zombies
GUF002
Wulfsburg
2016
Expansion
4 survivors, 22 zombies
GUF003
NPC 1: Notorious Plagued Characters
2016
Figure Pack
20 zombies
GUF004
NPC 2: Notorious Plagued Characters
2016
Figure Pack
20 zombies
GUF005
Hero Box 1
2016
Figure Pack
5 survivors
GUF006
Special Guest: Paul Bonner
2016
Figure Pack
4 survivors
GUF007
Special Guest: Carl Critchlow
2016
Figure Pack
3 survivors, 1 zombie
GUF008
Special Guest: Karl Kopinski
2016
Figure Pack
4 survivors
GUF009
Special Guest: Stefan Kopinski
2016
Figure Pack
4 survivors
GUF010
Special Guest: Naïade
2016
Figure Pack
4 survivors
GUF011
Special Guest: Edouard Guiton
2016
Figure Pack
4 survivors
GUF012
Special Guest: Marc Simonetti
2016
Figure Pack
4 survivors
GUF013
Special Guest: Paolo Parente
2016
Figure Pack
4 survivors
GUF014
Special Guest: Jovem Nerd
2016
Figure Pack
4 survivors
GUF015
Special Guest: Adrian Smith
2016
Figure Pack
4 survivors
GUF016
Special Guest: John Howe
2016
Figure Pack
4 survivors
GUF017
Special Guest: Neal Adams
2016
Figure Pack
4 survivors
GUF018
Special Guest: Gipi
2016
Figure Pack
4 survivors
GUF019
Zombie Bosses: Abomination Pack
2016
Figure Pack
3 zombies
GUF020
Deadeye Walkers
2016
Figure Pack
21 zombies
GUF021
Benson
2016
Figure Pack
1 survivor
GUF022
Homer
2016
Figure Pack
1 survivor
GUF023
GUF024
Bone Dice
2016
Accessory
6 bone dice
GUF025
Red Dice
2016
Accessory
6 red dice
GUF026
Dice Bag
2016
Accessory
1 dice bag
Included in GUF-KS01
GUF027
Folding Dice Tower
2016
Accessory
1 dice tower
Included in GUF-KS01
GUF028
11 Game Tiles From Black Plague and Wulfsburg
2016
Accessory
11 game tiles
GUF029
Deck Holder Set
2016
Accessory
4 deck holders
GUF030
Counter Base Pack
2016
Accessory
27 counter bases
GUF031
Plastic Token Pack
2016
Accessory
62 plastic tokens
GUF032
3D Doors
2016
Accessory
27 doors
GUF033
Murder of Crowz
2016
Figure Pack
15 zombies
GUF034
Green Horde
2018
Core Game
6 survivors, 65 zombies, 1 siege engine
GUF035
No Rest for the Wicked
2018
Expansion
33 zombies, 1 dragon, 1 siege engine
GUF036
Friends and Foes
2018
Expansion
4 survivors, 6 familiars, 19 zombies
GUF037
Special Guest: Adrian Smith 2
2018
Figure Pack
3 zombies
GUF038
Special Guest: Paul Bonner 2
2018
Figure Pack
3 zombies
GUF039
Special Guest: Sean A. Murray
2018
Figure Pack
3 survivors, 1 zombie
GUF040
Massive Darkness / Green Horde Crossover Kit
2018
Crossover Kit
Massive Darkness cards only
GUF041
14 Game Tiles From Green Horde and Friends and Foes
TechRaptor stated "The game is fun and challenging if you like cooperative games".[6] An entry from The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction commented on the "complex gameplay" and difficulty. The writer Esther MacCallum-Stewart also praised the digital application that "greatly aids gameplay".[4]
Several media tie-in novels of the game were published by Aconyte Books.[13] The first novel based on the game was Last Resort by Josh Reynolds,[14] followed by Planet Havoc by Tim Waggoner[15] and Age of the Undead by C.L. Werner.[16]