Release Date: August 19, 2024
Developer: Longplay Studios
Publisher: Longplay Studios
The Game
According to the Steam page, Terminus: Zombie Survivors is “a 2D turn-based survival roguelike set during a zombie apocalypse.” The goal of the game is to make your way through town, starting at your house, to a location called “Terminus” where a settlement of survivors is setting up base.
The player must make their way from location to location, most unknown until you get there, fighting zombies and gathering supplies along the way. When the game starts, the location of Terminus is unknown. The player must locate a radio, and either hope it has charge or find batteries. Each morning a dispatch from Terminus gives the location and any information they have on the area. This information could be anything from a particularly dangerous area to a supply drop off.
The decisions the player makes along the way increase or decrease the chance of survival. The more you play, the more careers and skills you unlock when you start a new game. On first play through, there are only three careers: Police Officer, Firefighter, and Soldier. There are also three traits to choose from at the start: Alcohol Preference, Cigarette Preference, and Coffee Preference. These preferences determine what the character prefers to double morale boost upon consumption.
The game is turn-based point and click. Each time the PC moves or interacts with an object, energy is consumed. Energy can be regained through certain consumables, or ending the turn. When the turn ends, the zombies get a turn. Each zombie in a location get a turn to move or attack.
The game isn’t easy. The player has to maintain the PC’s hunger, hydration, rest, and energy.
My Thoughts
I loved this game. My favorite genre is zombie survival games. My favorite games are Resident Evil and Project Zomboid. I don’t play a lot of turn based games like this and I wasn’t sure I would like it. I was pleasantly surprised at how much I liked it.
My first play-through I managed to get two stops away from Terminus before I was stuck in a death loop and had to give up and start over. My stubbornness had me dying over and over again because I was so close and didn’t want to give up.
I was on normal difficulty and had permadeath off. I will probably turn it on for the future. I don’t think the game is too difficult. If you are new to this type of game you may want to play on normal or easy at least one play-through to get the hang of it. There are a variety of ways to change up the game, with four difficulty settings, permadeath on or off, challenge modes, and sandbox settings to customize the game.
I’m looking forward to unlocking the different careers and trying out the challenge modes. If you like survival horror and roguelike games, I highly recommend this.
Rating
5/5
Alicia Coast 