Summary
The unique selling point of the popular Early Access city-builder,Infection Free Zone, is that it allows players tobuild their baseanywhere in the world. However, by spoiling players for choice,Infection Free Zonegives players plenty of room to shoot themselves in the foot.
There’s a lot that goes into choosing a solid starting location inInfection Free Zone, with each place having its unique pros and cons. Players should aim to find a starting location that features at least some of these traits, so it’s good to have examples of solid places to start a run. By carefully choosing a well-balancedstarting point for their civilization, newcomers are more likely to have a fighting chance against the various zombie hordes and vicious raids thatInfection Free Zonethrows at them.
Infection Free Zonegives players a variety of recommended starting locations when they attempt to start a new game. While it can be tempting for players to start in a location they’re familiar with, newcomers will likely have a better timelearning the gameif they begin in one of these recommended starting areas. These include Cambridge in the UK, Dijon in France, Crofton in the USA, Ruciane in Poland, and Templin in Germany, among others.
5Castles
Strong Defenses, But Fewer Buildings
Unlike larger walled areas,castles make great spots for the player’s headquarters. These places are usually well-defended but smaller in stature than entire towns and cities, frequently surrounded by trees and more open areas.
Edinburgh Castle is a great example of this, sporting a modest selection of buildings that players can quickly secure, all surrounded by thick walls from the very beginning. The only downside to this approach, specifically with Edinburgh Castle, is that the denser areas of the surrounding environment will be relatively far from the player’s headquarters.
One of the downsides to starting at locations such as Edinburgh Castle is the lack of building density. This is because buildings, in particular restaurants, are the easiest way of acquiring food early on in the game. Without food, the overall mood of the colony will dwindle, and eventually, people will begin to starve. By picking a location with plenty of restaurants to scavenge, players can guarantee themselves a reliable source of food in the early game. This can makeInfection Free Zonemuch more accessible for newcomers and is yet another reason why beginning the game in the recommended areas is great for beginners.
4Lower-Density Areas
Reduces Initial Difficulty
When players attempt to start the game in a densely populated area,Infection Free Zonewarns them of its difficulty, and this warning should not be ignored. High-density areas are tightly packed and generally more dangerous, making them much harder to defend, especially early on in the game.
By picking an area with a lower-density population, players can buy themselves some much-needed time to set up defenses. Prioritizing watchtowers, walls, andwell-armed soldierswill allow the player to be well-prepared by the time any swarms arrive.
More experienced players will be able to deal with higher-density populations much more easily, as they’ll be able to get a well-defended headquarters up and running much faster than the average beginner. However, if beginners truly wish to start in a place with a higher population, they should consider a castle or bastion fort. Furthermore, players should ensure they rush to build watchtowers and walls as soon as possible, to minimize losses against the zombie horde.
3Bastion Forts
Increased Defenses
Bastion forts, also known as “star forts,” are an early form of defensive fortress that provided solid defense against opposing forces, primarily cannons. These forts are typically large and heavily walled. InInfection Free Zone, these thick walls help dramatically withfending off zombies. This is especially so at the start of the game when players are unlikely to have built any walls of their own.
By building watchtowersand placing squads behind these walls, players can keep their HQ fairly safe early on. However, zombies can still spawn from within the fort, especially larger ones, so players will still have to contend with some enemies.
2Walled Towns/Cities
A High Density Of Buildings With Strong Initial Defenses
Hilltop towns and walled areas are great places to start as, similarly to castles and bastion forts, players begin the game with solid defenses. However, as zombies can still spawn inside the walls, and can always break through the walls, players need to ensure they build watchtowers and create armed squads.
Carcassonne is a great starting location, as it’s a hilltop town surrounded by two layers of walls. There’s a variety of resources to scavenge, including several trees, and a good chunk of buildings to search through and deconstruct. This makes Carcassonne and other lower-population walled towns alike some of the best places to start inInfection Free Zone.
Players should always ensure that their starting location has a solid density of trees. This is because collecting wood is massively important in building defenses and structures, which in turn increases the player’s chance of survival. As a result, locations without ample wood available should generally be avoided.
1Massive Buildings
A High-Risk, High-Reward Approach
Establishing the headquarters of a colony in a large building is an incredibly risky strategy. AsInfection Free Zonewarns players, these buildings can be dramatically difficult to defend. However, more experienced players who are capable of keeping zombies away from their colony will be able to take better advantage of the space these buildings provide.
It’s not recommended that beginners attempt this, as it’s easy to get overwhelmed in a large building. However, these buildings offer massive storage space and an abundance of room for living quarters, allowing players to isolate their colony and keep themselves from spreading too thin early on.
