Zombie Death for beginners: your first game, step by step

Your first game of Zombie Death starts with a save slot, a short lesson in walking and shooting, and then wave 1 with 12 slow zombies. This page walks you through the first ten minutes, one step at a time. You start with 150 scrap, which is enough for your first turret and a barricade.

Step 1: pick a save slot

When the game opens, you see the Contenta logo and then the Zombie Death title. Then the game asks you to Choose your adventure. There are three save slots: Save 1, Save 2 and Save 3. Pick an empty one and choose New game. Each slot is a game of its own, so a brother or sister can have their own. More on the saving page.

Step 2: learn to move and shoot

On your first visit, a hint line at the top teaches you the basics, one at a time. It uses the words of what you play with: keys, a controller or touch.

Each hint moves on when you have done it. At the end it says "Well done! Now keep the zombies out." Want to see the hints again later? Open the pause screen and press Show tips again. All the buttons are on the controls page.

Step 3: look around before wave 1

You start in the middle of the rest stop. A line at the top says "Get ready! Wave 1 is coming." with a few seconds to go. Look at the screen:

• Top left: the wave ("Wave 1 of 10") and how many zombies are left.
• Bottom left: your health. You start with 100, and it does not come back between waves.
• Bottom right: your bullets. The pistol holds 12. When it says "Reloading…", wait a moment.

Look for the orange spots outside the building. They glow where the zombies will come in. In wave 1 there are two of them.

Step 4: survive wave 1

Wave 1 has 12 walkers. They are slow, and a new zombie comes in about every three seconds, so you have time.

1. Walk to a window or door that faces an orange spot.
2. Aim at the closest zombie and shoot. A walker in wave 1 needs about 3 hits.
3. Reload when you have a quiet moment, not when a zombie is right next to you.
4. If a zombie gets close, walk away first. You are much faster than a walker.

Every walker you stop gives 5 scrap. When the last one falls, you get 20 more scrap and a break.

Step 5: build your first turret

Now open build mode: press B, Y on a controller, or tap Build. The next wave waits while build mode is open, so take your time.

1. Pick Turret · 75. That is key 3, or LB and RB on a controller.
2. Look at the floor near you. A green spot shows where it fits. Red means something is in the way.
3. Click or tap the green spot. On a controller, press A to build in front of you.
4. The turret now shoots the nearest zombie by itself. It holds 120 bullets.

Good first spots are inside the building, near a window or door that zombies come through. Turrets cannot shoot through walls, so give yours a clear view. Then add a Barricade · 20 in front of a weak window. Read more about each one on the building page.

Step 6: start the next wave

When you are ready, press Start next wave in build mode. On a controller, press left on the d-pad. Or press Done to close build mode and let the countdown finish by itself.

Wave 2 has 16 zombies, and the first runners come. They are fast, so shoot them early. From wave 3, a big one comes too. It is slow, but very tough. The zombies page tells you how to stop each kind.

If the zombies get you

The screen says "Oh no! The zombies got you." and shows the wave you got to. Press Try again to start a new game from wave 1. This is normal at first! If you want to keep going instead, turn on Easy mode in the pause screen. Then you get back up with full health. See Easy mode and settings.

Next

• Tips for new survivors: simple habits that help right away.
• All 10 waves: what each wave brings.
• The rest stop: the doors, windows and furniture you can use.
• Ready? Play Zombie Death.

• About Zombie Death
• All game guides