If you, too, can’t wait forProject Zomboid‘s long anticipated Build 42to launch, then now’s the perfect time to explore some other niche takes on the zombie survival fantasy. That’s whereTerminus: Zombie Survivorscomes in, a low-profile roguelike that had its full 1.0 release very recently.
Terminus: Zombie Survivorsis, in truth, far more similar toCataclysm: Dark Days Aheadthan it is toZomboidproper, but there’s just no mentioning one without also chiming in on the other, given the subject matter on show. To that end,Terminusis a dedicated turn-based roguelike (yes,like) that actually manages to boil down its incredibly deep survival gameplay systems into fairly straightforward verbiage. Graphics are, obviously, notTerminus‘ strong suit, but its strengths plainly lie in gameplay and simulation, and the fact that it’s currently got over 2,000 reviews and an ‘Overwhelmingly Positive’ rating on Steam kind of speaks for itself.
Terminus: Zombie Survivors released as a full 1.0 experience with stellar reviews
Now, even thoughTerminusdoesn’t enjoy the sort of limelight thatZomboidandC:DDAusually get – which is, in itself, relatively minor – it’s been trucking along for a fair bit of time. Having first released in Early Access in March 2021, the developer Longplay Studios had a good stint and proved itself with a genuinely compelling product. Its price, too, is similarlycompelling at a meager $19,99without any discounts applied.
Engaging withTerminus: Zombie Survivorsin a meaningful way is going to take some getting used to for sure, but this is one of those games that are going to keep you busy for dozens of hours on end if you enjoy the core gameplay loop. And, really, if the reviews are anything to go by, this is a must-play for fans of the niche.
Keeping all of the above in mind, I’m sure thatTerminus‘ turn-based nature is going to put off a significant number ofProject Zomboidfans. That’s perfectly fine, of course, as not every game is a good fit for every kind of player. It wasn’t too long ago that I myself came to terms withthe long,longwait between major builds ofProject Zomboid, actually, and this helped me temporarily move on to what may or may not be greener pastures. Oh, I’ll be back to playingZomboidas soon as B42 hits, of course, but in the interim,Terminus: Zombie Survivorslooks like just the sort of antidote I need to keep myself from turning.
