Zombie Exodus Reviews

Neat!

Was pretty fun.

A fun but difficult zombie chose your own adventure style game. My first playthrough was based off of decisions I would have made in each specific situation and experienced my first death on the Oil Rig, around the games midpoint. I ended with 'Ending 4' out of 9 possible endings. The single start to finish run took me six hours of gameplay and Just one Steam trophy - I could see collectors easily getting frustrated with this game. The most impressive thing is how much tension a text based game could cause me, I truly had to deliberate some of the choices I made. Well worth my time - and yours too!

Reviewing (mostly) every game (or DLC) in my library, part 115: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️☆☆☆☆ (6/10) [i]Zombie Exodus[/i] is one of the earliest major interactive fiction games published by Choice of Games—a classic zombie apocalypse story with solid mechanics, a sprawling plot, and surprisingly deep systems for an IF. It lets you build your survivor, manage supplies, and make major choices that affect who lives and dies. But while the structure holds up, the writing does not. The prose is dense and dry, and dialogue often feels flat. Characters rarely jump off the page, and the game spends more time describing logistics than letting you connect emotionally with your crew. If you’re looking for a narrative-rich experience full of personal bonds or romance, this ain’t it. But if you like old-school survival management with long-term consequences and a gritty tone, you might still get a lot out of it. 🪖[b] Pros: [/b] [list] [*] Solid survival systems. You scavenge, defend your base, manage supplies, and upgrade your skills over time. It’s satisfying to build your character into a strong, capable survivor. [*] Meaningful decisions. Choices actually matter. Whether you take charge, delegate, or split from the group has tangible long-term consequences. You shape the group’s direction, even if the emotional payoff is muted. [*] Massive length. This is a big game—easily 750k+ words. You get multiple chapters, shifting scenarios, and replay value. For an early title, it’s ambitious and content-rich. [*] Classic post-apoc setup. The tension is solid. You get attacked, betrayed, forced to flee. The major arcs feel like real survival scenarios rather than action movie set pieces. [/list] 📖[b] Cons: [/b] [list] [*] Dry, mechanical writing. Descriptions often feel like you're reading a checklist of events. The prose lacks flair, and there's little emotional texture. Moments that should be scary or sad fall flat because they’re told in such a utilitarian tone. [*] Flat characters. Few party members feel fleshed out. Most are there to be useful (or die), but their voices and motivations blur together. There's not much charm or levity, just serious people doing serious things. [*] Barely any romance. There are some options, but they’re minimal, shallow, and often mechanical. No slow burns, no emotional arcs, just an occasional checkbox. If you’re looking for meaningful bonds in the apocalypse, look elsewhere. [*] Pacing drags in places. Some chapters feel like filler, especially when you’re waiting for a major event to happen. The writing style doesn’t help—it makes downtime feel like homework. [*] It shows its age. As one of the first ChoiceScript success stories, it’s very much a prototype. The polish and narrative nuance found in later CoG titles just isn’t here yet. It’s function over finesse. [/list[