Summary
Zombie games, and especially zombiesurvival games, have been popular for decades. Most of these games feature a crafting system and some type of base building mechanic, primarily as defense against zombies.
Some zombie games are single-player only, and haverole-playingaspects, while others are squarely aimed at the PvP community, with base building becoming a way to build defenses against player raids. However, one feature they all share is the need for the player to establish a safe space where they can undertake activities without having to defend themselves from zombies.
Not everyone has access to a modern gaming rig. Some gamers are quite happy to play survival andstrategy games with simple graphicsas long as the gameplay is good. And this is where games likeUnturnedcome in. This is a full zombie survival, PvP-enabled game that can run on any PC.
Base building is a large part of this game. Initially, a base gives the player a safe respawn point, but it can also offer so much more. Basic structures are constructed from parts, including floors, support pillars, walls, and roofs. All of which require the player to gather appropriate resources before they can be constructed.Unturnedtakes the bottom place on this list, as its base building mechanics are quite limited.
Base Defenses Are Key
They Are Billions
They Are Billions is a steampunk strategy game with base building and colony simulation in a distant future about building and managing human colonies after a zombie apocalypse destroyed almost all of human kind. Now there are only a few thousand humans left alive that must struggle to survive under the threat of the infection. Billions of infected roam around the world in massive swarms seeking the last living human colonies.Lead the campaign under the orders of Quintus Crane, ruler of the New Empire, and reconquer the lands devastated by the infected. Explore 48 missions with more than 60 hours of gameplay as you build fortified colonies to survive in infected territories. Destroy the swarms of infected with the Imperial Army. Make your colonies evolve with more than 90 available technologies and explore the ancient human fortresses with your Hero.Discover the story behind the apocalypse… how did this pandemic even start anyway?
They Are Billionsis a zombie survival game with a bit of a twist. The player will need to fight massive invasions of hordes of zombies. And this means setting up base defenses is a massive part of the gameplay. The game is included on this list due to the excellent top-down view that makes designing a base layout simple.
Game maps are generated randomly, and players can identify choke points in the map and set up base defenses to turn these into a kill zone for incoming zombie hordes. Gameplay is in third person, and the entire game plays very much like a real-time strategy game.
Mastering Puppets
SCUM
Explore, loot, craft and customise your way to dominance – or inevitable death. SCUM is a truly immersive and hyper realistic survival experience where you have total control of your progression.You start as a prisoner on the super-max SCUM island under the watchful eye of the sinister TEC1 corporation. Roam the rolling fields, lush forests and other rugged terrains of the island, using skills, guts and cunning to survive.Incredibly complex simulation makes every detail matter. Eat the right diet, keep your wounds free of infection or it won’t just be the physical threats that take your life. Seek to take out other players or join forces while you loot and craft your way to better gear and weaponry. Flex your creative muscles with extensive base building options and reinforcements that will make your fortress impenetrable.The island is vast and full of ways to die, from fellow prisoners to killer mechs and sinister ‘puppets’ suspended between life and death. All you have is what you’re carrying – everything else is up to you. Inventory space is minimal. Progression will be tough. Noobs will die.
The premise ofSCUMis that the player is an inmate of the super-max prison,SCUMisland. As an inmate of this island-wide prison, the player is left to fend for themselves, as this is primarily a survival game with a twist. InSCUM, zombies are called puppets, the reanimated corpses of previous inmates.
Base buildingand crafting are a huge part ofSCUM, and it has some of the best crafting mechanics out there. Whether the player is enjoying a PvE game or deeply involved with an active PvP server, base building is vital to long-term survival in this often brutal game. This game is often overlooked but deserves a place on this list due to the deep base building mechanics.
DayZis an open-world zombie survival game, most notable for its intense PvP action. However, this game isn’t all about combat. Base building is something most players will become involved in at some stage, as defensive bases are a requirement.
The base building inDayZis quite complex. There are many different building parts available, and each of these has a number of crafting requirements. Additionally, existing base parts can be modified and upgraded. For example, attaching some wire to an existing wooden wall will turn it into an operable door. Players need to learn the upgrades available in order to plan an effective base. No zombie game list would be complete withoutDayZbeing included, as it is considered one of the definitive titles of the genre.
State of Decayis an open-world zombie survival game that does base building a little differently. In this game, players can’t just build a base anywhere. Instead, the player can choose to turn an existing building or area into a base. An older game, but a good one, well worth a place on this list.
When a base location has been chosen, it will have a number of pre-defined base structure slots. The player is then free to decide which base facilities they want to build in each of these slots. For example, if the player chooses the Trucking Warehouse for their base, they are limited to 12 build slots and 8 outposts for the entire base.
Since its release in 2013,Project Zomboidhas become something of a cult classic, which has earned its place on this list. With its simple retro look, it has surprisingly deep gameplay. It can be played in solo mode or on a fully PvP-enabled server. Base building inProject Zomboidis a requirement rather than an optional activity, as it is needed for defense against zombie hordes or other players.
The base building mechanics are very complex in the fact the player needs to first locate the correct tools for constructing different types of base structures. They will then need to harvest all of the required resources, all the while fighting off any attacking zombies.
7 Days To Dieis part zombie survival game, parttower defense game. Every 7 days, a blood moon takes place. During this event, several waves of zombies will spawn and attempt to reach and attack the player. This continues until either the player or all of the zombies are dead. Therefore, having good base defenses is absolutely vital.
Base building in7 Days To Dieis done by constructing blocks. These blocks can be made from various materials and shaped to form complex structures. Furthermore, a good7 Days To Diebase will equip the player with plenty of crafting notations and lots of storage to store loot and materials. It earns to place on this list due to the fact that base design takes on a whole new level of importance on Blood Moon night.
