Undead apocalypse preppers take note: Yet Another Zombie Survivors has finally left Early Access and is ready to munch on your brains.
The 1.0 version of the game has left Early Access on PC, and it has launched on PS4, PS5, and Xbox Series at the same time (with a Switch version to follow – stay tuned for more on that soon).
While Yet Another Zombie Survivors is, I guess, yet another zombie-themed survivors-like, it has a few points of difference which I think make it worth a closer look.
The key feature is the party-based approach to bullet heaven gameplay, with players spending each run filling out a small unit of deadly zombie killing mercenaries. This team-focus allows each build to be tailored to the collective, and it works a treat at encouraging experimentation.
Over the Early Access process, the game has been regularly updated with new stages and characters, and we’re getting one of each in the 1.0 update. The character is a crossbow-wielding ranger and her companion pet, and the level takes us back to the Bio-Lab where the outbreak started in the first place.
Story is a much bigger focus in the final version of the game. Each of the characters has their own backstory now and there’s a new hub world where you can learn more about them. This characterful progression loop will also help drive your antics, as you’ll be able to see what you need to do to unlock the next story beats.
There’s also a new boss rush mode, plus there are so-called Torment modifiers, both of which will make things much more unconfortable, if you’re after added longevity and/or a good butt-kicking. To counter that, the 1.0 update adds new chances to synergise across your team, with new cross-party options that will let you further differentiate your build for each run, both individually and as a group.
All told, Yet Another Zombie Survivors just got a massive injection of new content, and if you’ve been waiting for the full version to land before diving back in, now’s the time to call in another chopper strike. Similarly, if you’re a bullet heaven fan and you’re after an action-packed zombie-fest, YAZS is a polished and engaging game, and it was already in my guide to bullet heavens and games like Vampire Survivors.
