Contagion Reviews

They scared to come outside

This game is legendary.

good coop fun

ts is like l4d2 or l4d1 on steroids i highly rec this game

amazing game when you play with your friends

Played when I was a kid on release, pvp hunted was peak and even campaign with player zombies was insanity shoutout the single goat dev.

not bad and still has updates unlike most new games.. there are a bunch of odd crashes and tricks to play multi player

Contagion, developed by Monochrome, Inc., is a cooperative and competitive first-person shooter centered around a zombie outbreak scenario. Released on Steam in 2013, the game builds on the foundation of earlier zombie survival titles but introduces a few unique mechanics and a distinct tone. While it never achieved the popularity of genre titans like Left 4 Dead, Contagion has maintained a dedicated niche audience thanks to its slower-paced, methodical gameplay, diverse game modes, and emphasis on atmosphere over run-and-gun chaos. The game takes place in a world succumbing to a zombie apocalypse, with players thrust into various environments ranging from suburban neighborhoods to urban office buildings and underground labs. The environments are grounded and realistic in design, with a strong emphasis on tight interiors and dim lighting that enhance the feeling of tension and claustrophobia. Rather than giving players access to an arsenal of powerful weapons from the start, Contagion forces them to scavenge for limited resources, reinforcing the theme of survival. Ammunition is scarce, melee combat is risky, and every decision carries weight—adding a welcome layer of strategy and fear to encounters with both the undead and other players. One of the defining aspects of Contagion is its commitment to realism within the zombie shooter genre. Unlike arcade-style games where players can mow down hundreds of zombies without consequence, this title emphasizes slower movement, limited inventory slots, and more lethally dangerous infected. Zombies come in different types, some of which are faster or stronger, and they react to noise and light, meaning careless shooting or sprinting can attract deadly attention. This design philosophy rewards tactical movement and coordinated teamwork, making every mission feel like a true survival scenario rather than a shooting gallery. The game offers several modes, each with distinct gameplay styles. “Escape” mode tasks a group of survivors with reaching a designated extraction point while completing objectives and avoiding overwhelming hordes. This mode emphasizes progression through the map and resource management. “Hunted” is a more competitive experience, where players are pitted against each other in a last-man-standing deathmatch while zombies act as environmental hazards. What sets it apart is the death mechanic—when you die, you return as a zombie and can hunt the living, creating a dynamic shift in objectives. Finally, “Extraction” involves finding and rescuing civilians while keeping them alive, which adds a sense of urgency and complexity to what might otherwise be straightforward missions. Contagion thrives on its atmosphere, and the game makes smart use of lighting, sound, and level design to build suspense. Hallways are narrow, rooms are dimly lit, and the sound of a zombie groaning or a distant door creaking can immediately heighten tension. The game doesn’t rely heavily on jump scares, but rather creates a constant sense of unease. Audio design is especially effective—gunshots echo with intensity, footsteps reverberate down corridors, and zombie noises help alert players to potential threats. Combined, these elements build immersion and deliver a more grounded, horror-driven take on zombie survival. The game also includes a decent variety of weapons, though they're not the stars of the show. From pistols and shotguns to baseball bats and fire axes, the arsenal feels practical and fits the tone of the setting. There’s no over-the-top weaponry or sci-fi gadgets—just tools that make sense in a suburban or commercial environment during a crisis. The guns feel weighty and the aiming mechanics are solid, though not as smooth as some other contemporary FPS titles. The shooting experience is functional and effective, but clearly designed to support the survival aspect more than pure action. Graphically, Contagion isn’t particularly cutting edge, even by the standards of its release era. It uses the Source engine, which means visuals are functional but a bit dated in texture quality and animation fluidity. However, the level design, lighting, and overall mood more than make up for its lack of technical polish. The environments feel believable and appropriately dilapidated, which goes a long way in selling the post-apocalyptic setting. Characters and zombies are decently modeled, but animations can occasionally feel stiff or awkward, especially in melee combat. Multiplayer is where Contagion shines brightest, though it relies heavily on a coordinated group to deliver the best experience. Playing solo or with uncommunicative players can be frustrating, as the game's systems are built around collaboration and planning. Friendly fire is enabled, which raises the stakes but can also lead to chaotic or accidental team kills. The community, while smaller compared to bigger titles, is often passionate and helpful, with some long-time players hosting custom servers or modded content to extend the game's life. Steam Workshop support also allows for community-made maps and modes, which helps keep the experience fresh. Despite its strengths, Contagion does show its age in certain areas. The UI can be clunky, some bugs persist in both AI and physics, and the learning curve is steeper than what casual players might expect. The lack of a deep progression system or unlockables also means the game leans heavily on its core gameplay loop rather than offering long-term grind-based incentives. These shortcomings don’t ruin the experience, but they might deter players looking for a more polished or instantly gratifying shooter. In conclusion, Contagion is a thoughtful and atmospheric entry in the zombie survival genre that stands apart by focusing on realism, tension, and cooperation over sheer spectacle. It’s not a game that caters to every kind of FPS fan—it requires patience, teamwork, and a willingness to embrace its slower pace and punishing mechanics. But for those who appreciate immersive, methodical zombie horror with a tactical edge, it remains a worthwhile and satisfying experience, especially when played with a group of like-minded survivors. Rating: 7/10

At the time of this review the game is not functioning at all. Freezes dead when loading in the main menu. Current Setup: CPU - Ryzen 7 7800X3D RAM - 64GB GPU - XFX RX6900 XTX OS - Win 11 Pro.

My friend and I nabbed this game on the 2024 Christmas sale... Purely on the basis that it looked interesting. Turned out to be one of the most enthralling and addicting Zombie games on the market! And seems to be a passionate labour of love from dedicated indie devs that have been supporting the game even now! Unlike Left 4 Dead and other contemporary games, this one is a 'realistic' take, where the zombies are slower and die with a simple head shot. This makes for a interesting change of pace whereby the player can be lured into a false sense of security until they are ambushed by a seemingly endless large group. This creates an uneasy sense of tension that is rarely matched in other games especially when the player relies on a flash light in usually dark settings as well as the need to keep an eye on ammo consumption. The player can also enable an 'infection' mode that makes the player have a chance of becoming a zombie after getting hit even once for an extra challenge (although innoculators will cure the infection if you can find one). Every now and then the player will be faced with a sporadic 'horde' that will force the player to contemplate how best to 'crowd control' with a large group of zombies and it can be quit stressful! The best thing about the game is certainly the gun play. There is a variety of guns, each with different ammo types, although some guns are simply better than others and the inventory capacity limit to 4 is definitely a downside that could be better designed. The soundtrack is awesome, especially the 'Death Train' level track. The base campaign 'Last Stop' was thoroughly enjoyable, with lots of exploration and varied levels including some tough scripted sequences. The latest campaign that was recently added, is short but fantastic and very well polished. 'Escape' is the standard game mode that is also conducive of the campaigns, this is a story driven 'objective oriented' mode that is designed to be played single player as well as co op. 'Extraction' is where players must work together to save NPCs in incremental round based hordes. 'Panic' is a harder version of Escape that's recommended for co op, 'Hunted' is PVP where players can exploit being a zombie upon death, 'Flatline' is the 'COD Zombies' style arcade mode and 'Horde' is one endless horde that tasks you with surviving for 25 minutes per map for achievements ;) The game has the capability of modding and there are some custom campaigns in the workshop. All in all my friend and I had a blast and would thoroughly recommend this game for a great and unique zombie shooter that plays into a more 'realistic' niche made by excellent indie devs who clearly have a passion for what they do!