By: Scorpion Masque Players: 2-4 Ages: 7+ Time: 5-15 mins
Zombies are coming to your school! You’ve always wanted this to happen but you can’t stand to see your school get trashed and teachers eaten!
Everyone else is running away so it’s up to you to hold back the horde! This game is perfect for family game nights.
The basic gameplay is simple and gradually becomes more strategic as new content is unlocked. Work together to save your school, gain achievements and unlock new missions along the way.
What’s Zombie Kidz Evolution: A Cooperative Game
Zombie Kidz Evolution is a cooperative legacy game for younger players where they have to protect a school from a horde of attacking zombies. Designed by Annick Lobet and published in 2018 by Scorpion Masque and nominated for several awards including Children’s Game of the Year in 2020. A sequel was released in 2020: Zombie Teenz Evolution which has similar gameplay and was also nominated for several awards. As the game evolve, it progresses and becomes more strategic, providing new challenges and content for players.
The game is all about teamwork and cooperation, players work together to kill the zombies and lock down the school. Players complete missions and track their development through a trophy-sticker system. If the players can lock all the doors and prevent the zombies from entering then they win the game.
Setup
The game board is double sided with a ‘day’ and ‘night’ side. If only 2 players are playing then use the ‘night’ side, otherwise flip the board to the ‘day’ side if 3 or 4 players are playing. The boards are very similar with several rooms and entranceways but the night side has more doorways and allows more movement. One zombie is placed randomly at each entrance and the remaining 4 are placed near the board in the zombie reserve. Each player then chooses a hero and places them in the red room in the middle of the board and the game can start.
How to Play
Players take it in turns to do a series of actions in a specific order, unfortunately it starts with a zombie entering the school!
Players start their turn by rolling the zombie dice. The result of this dice roll will determine which room the zombies queuing to the side of the board will enter. There is no limit to how many zombies can enter one room and if at any time there are no zombies in reserve (off-board) then the players automatically lose as they are overrun! If the players are lucky and the zombie dice lands on the white face it means no zombies enter the school this turn so there’s always something good that can come from rolling it.
Next the active player can move their hero to an adjacent space or stay put if they want to. The only exception to this is if three or more zombies are in a room. A player can’t move into a room with three or more zombies and must move out of the room if they find themselves in a room with three or more brain munchers.
Then players can kill zombies. This is just something that ‘happens’ by being in the room but players can use their imagination on how they dispatch them! Up to two zombies can be killed and once killed they are placed randomly at the back of the line of the zombies in reserve.
Finally if two players are in an entranceway they can lock the door to prevent more zombies from entering. Once all four doors are locked and players eliminate zombies, they win the game.
At first glance the game looks very simple and can be done very quickly. There is some strategy but the first time players play the game one way or another it will be over very quickly. It’s after the first playthrough that things start to open up.
The game comes with a ‘hunter passport’ where players can track their progress with stickers. After the first game, win or lose, players can place a brain sticker on the progress chart in the passport. There are missions in the book, some easier to complete than others and players can tick off their completion of these with a trophy sticker. Certain spaces on the progress chart are marked with envelopes which will indicate when one of the 13 sealed envelopes in the game can be opened.
These will give players one of several things: rank stickers to add to their passport, additional rules, extra missions or more game content. This is where the replay value of the game comes in as playing will give players all sorts of bonuses. Whether it’s a new way to play the game, a shiny new sticker or additional rules to make the game harder, players will be rewarded for their efforts.
In this day and age where achievements are common in video games and work to keep gamers coming back for more it just makes sense to do the same in board games. There are some out there that have already done this, Pandemic and Gloomhaven for example, but Zombie Kidz takes the idea and applies it to a game for a younger audience. Not only is Zombie Kidz easier to learn but each playthrough is much shorter than a game of Gloomhaven and will probably keep a 7 year old’s attention until the end! So players won’t have to wait long at all before they start to unlock some of these extras and in turn will be coming back for more to see what’s in the next envelope!
Additionally, completing special missions in the game helps evolve the gameplay further, adding new layers of excitement and challenge.
Which Game Should You Play: Zombie Kidz Evolution or Zombie Teenz Evolution?
When choosing between Zombie Kidz Evolution and Zombie Teenz Evolution, you need to consider the age group and interests of the players and the complexity and gameplay style of your group.
Age Group and Complexity: Zombie Kidz Evolution is a game for kids specifically designed for younger children, making it perfect for families and younger players. The game is simple and easy to learn so young kids can pick up the rules quickly and start playing. Zombie Teenz Evolution is slightly more complex and is for older children and teenagers. It adds more strategic elements and extra gameplay mechanics for those who want a bit more depth in their game.
Gameplay Style: Both games are legacy style games with evolving gameplay. Zombie Teenz Evolution is more challenging and requires more strategy. If your group likes a simple, fast-paced game with immediate rewards and progression, then Zombie Kidz Evolution is the way to go. If you prefer a bit more planning and a game that evolves with each playthrough with more complex goals and missions, then Zombie Teenz Evolution might be the better choice.
In summary, Zombie Kidz Evolution is for younger players and families looking for a quick, easy-to-learn cooperative game with lots of replay value. Zombie Teenz Evolution is for slightly older children or those who like more complexity and strategic challenges. Both games are unique and fun, so whichever you choose, you’ll be in for a zombie-filled good time!
Summary
Quick to set up
Bright artwork
Simple rules
Lots of extras to unlock
Replay value
Great introductory legacy game: Suitable for introducing new players to the legacy game genre and appealing to a wide audience, including families
Conclusion: Legacy games are great for kids
Zombie Evolution Kidz is a fun game for younger players that keeps the rules simple and streamlines gameplay while adding lots of replay value. As the game evolves, it develops and adds extra rules over time, making it more complex and engaging. Older players may find the gameplay repetitive but the drive to unlock the extras and the mystery of what’s in the next envelope will appeal to everyone. Cooperative gameplay, light strategy and legacy games make this a great gateway game that will open the door to more complex and challenging games in the future. With its bright artwork and simple rules it’s a game you can play in 10 minutes or 1 hour and will reward you for your time and effort. Unlike other legacy games, Zombie Kidz Evolution does not involve destruction, making the final rule set fun and replayable.
We recommend that as one of our best games for 7 year olds. Check out the rest of our list for more recommendations.
If You Liked This:
If you’ve had it with zombies and filled up your hunter passport below are some other games you’ll play again and again:
Zombie Teenz Evolution: Take on the next wave of zombies and save the town. Not just the local elementary school, zombies are trying to take over the whole town. Team up with friends and kill your foes, get rewards every time you play.
Pandemic Legacy: Season 1: A new spin on the classic coop game. Players travel the world using their skills, build research stations and treat the diseases before it’s too late. The game will change dramatically as more components are unlocked and no two games are the same.
Gloomhaven: An epic adventure. Play as a wandering adventurer and travel to the farthest reaches of the world. Clear out dungeons and ruins, learn new skills and spells and explore an ever expanding world where your choices affect the rest of the game.
Betrayal At House On The Hill: Explore a haunted house you build room by room, encountering spirits and omens that will determine your fate. One of your friends will betray you and it’s up to the rest of the group to figure out who before it’s too late.
Forbidden Island: Get off a sinking island with 4 legendary treasures. Work together and use your skills to navigate a changing landscape each time you play. Can you all get off the island with the treasures before the water rises too high?
FAQ
Q: How long does a game of Zombie Kidz Evolution take?
A: 10-15 minutes
Q: Is Zombie Kidz Evolution replayable after all the extras are unlocked?
A: Yes! The game is still fun and strategic even after all the extras are unlocked. Cooperative gameplay and variability will keep you coming back.
Q: Can I play Zombie Kidz Evolution solo?
A: While Zombie Kidz Evolution is a cooperative game, you can play solo by controlling multiple characters at once.
Q: What age range is Zombie Kidz Evolution for?
A: 7 and up. Suitable for younger players but fun for older kids and adults.
Q: Is there a lot of setup?
A: No. It’s quick to set up, usually 2-3 minutes.