Zombies Overloaded: Review

fajoamorim
6 days ago
3 min read

Usually when we think of a "Zombie game" we think of the big open world, or resource management, or post-apocalyptic human relationships story driven games, such as Day's Gone, The Last of Us and State of Decay. We sometimes even think of open world arcade games with a comic flair such as Dead Rising. However, Zombies Overloaded while is quite different from any of these franchises. While at the same time it keeps things WAY too simple, it finds a way to have some sort of addicting nature into it.

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Zombies Overloaded is a twin-stick shooter that doesn't try to pretend to be more than it is: An arcade zombie horde game. While in everything that it offers it's quite basic, there's definitely some good fun to be had here.

From start to end, the game simply throws you into complete chaos of undead carnage. Just you, a default pistol, and hordes of zombies. Quite fair to say that the main strong point and charm of the game, is purely it's addictiveness of the provided gore. The game doesn’t waste time with narrative, there’s no story, no lore, no emotional stakes. It's basically, "Here's an arena. Here's a basic pistol. There are the zombies. Now go kill them and don't die!". You’re dropped into one of three arenas (two of which you’ll need to grind for), and your mission is simple: survive, get better weapons, kill, repeat. It’s a loop that’s both mind-numbing and strangely satisfying.

The weapon variety is quite well done. Shotguns, flamethrowers, nukes, and the glorious space gun offer brief moments of tactical joy.

The game also allows you to spend point to level up your character stats. However, once you’ve maxed out your stats (which doesn’t take long), the game’s challenge plateaus. Damage upgrades feel underwhelming, and bosses become bullet sponges that either die too slowly or kill you too quickly. It can be a balancing act, that for some people, can often tips toward frustration rather than fun.

Still, there’s something hypnotic about the rhythm of it all. The game offers two modes, the "Overloaded Mode", and the "Pacifist Mode". In "Overloaded Mode" is a pure test of reflexes and endurance (basically being the traditional horde mode of the game), while "Pacifist Mode" it's simply about surviving the longest without any weapons. This particular mode feels like a quirky afterthought.

Overall the game is not deep in any way. And that’s the interesting paradox of Zombies Overloaded: it’s shallow by design, yet it manages to hook you with its sheer volume of chaos. The grind for coins and bones to unlock cosmetics and arenas adds a layer of progression, but it’s thinly veiled. You’ll hit the ceiling fast, and once you do, the repetition becomes glaring.

Visually, it’s serviceable. The game doesn’t aim for artistry, it aims for adrenaline. The soundtrack sadly becomes repetitive after a while, and it feels a bit generic. There’s no innovation here, no clever mechanics or genre-defying twists.

Pros

Intuitive twin-stick controls that let you dive right in, backed by an infinitely available starter pistol.
A rotating arsenal of weapons and power-ups. Everything from flamethrowers to nukes keeps each run feeling fresh.
Persistent upgrades and stat boosts reward long-haul players, turning early struggles into late-game dominance.
Online leaderboards fuel competition, motivating you to refine your strategy and climb the ranks.
Charming retro-arcade visuals and sound design deliver a nostalgic zombie-slaying vibe.
Pacifist Mode flips the script by challenging you to survive through agility alone.

Cons

The first few hours feel grindy, with painfully slow progression until you unlock meaningful upgrades.
Reused level layouts and a limited enemy roster can make later waves feel repetitive.
Weapon feedback sometimes falls flat, particularly the shotgun, which lacks the satisfying kick you expect.
Graphics and audio hover in “serviceable” territory, without standout flair or personality.
No local or online co-op/PvP options, so you’re always tackling hordes solo.
Pacifist Mode often devolves into endless circle-running rather than offering a truly fresh challenge.

Ultimately, Zombies Overloaded is a game that knows its audience. If you’re looking for depth, story, or strategic nuance, look elsewhere. But if you want to switch off your brain and mow down thousands of zombies with increasingly absurd weapons, this game delivers in spades. It’s not a masterpiece, and it’s not trying to be. It’s a perfect definition of a pastime. And sometimes, that’s exactly what you need.

XPN Rating: 3 out of 5 (SILVER)