Project Zomboid is a challenging survival game that can take you by surprise in the initial hours of gameplay. Even the smallest mistake can lead to your demise. To help you avoid having to restart every day or two, we’ve compiled the best tips and tricks for the beginning of the game! We tackle it in three stages, each presenting different challenges. These stages are essential and will prepare you for surviving the zombie apocalypse.
Preparations Before Starting the Game
Your journey begins before you dare to enter the world of Project Zomboid. There are several things you can do in advance to significantly simplify your later survival.
Master the Tutorial for the Perfect Start
We highly recommend playing the tutorial from the main menu to familiarise yourself with the controls and the menu navigation. The game has many complex systems and a rather cluttered inventory. In emergencies, you must know the controls to react correctly. Moreover, the tutorial is very brief and includes some humorous moments!
Settings for an Easier Survival Game
Project Zomboid is a sandbox game where you can customise your game save as you wish. You can choose from pre-set game modes like “Survivor” or “Builder,” but creating your own sandbox is also advisable. We recommend starting in Rosewood or Riverside, as both towns are small and have fewer zombies.
Here, you can reduce the zombie population and turn off respawns to focus better. Increase the day length to two hours to avoid panicking. Settings like “Starter Kit” and “Weapon Multi Hit” are particularly beneficial for beginners!
Maximise Your Character’s Fitness
We already have a dedicated article about everything you need to know about your character settings (Optimal Traits for Your Project Zomboid Character) . For your first rounds, focus primarily on traits that provide strength and stamina. This will make you less prone to injuries and better able to defend against zombies in emergencies.
Initial Measures After Starting the Game
After the ominous warning on the loading screen, the actual game begins! You almost always start in a family house to familiarise yourself with your surroundings. You might hear zombies, but they won’t be in your starter house.
Safely Start in Your New Home
First, thoroughly search the entire house. With some luck, it might even have two floors, which could provide more loot. Check every container and familiarise yourself with your inventory. Meanwhile, close the windows and draw the curtains if there are any, as zombies can see you through them.
Food and water are top priorities. You should leave most of what you find in storage and consume it gradually. Your character will indicate when they’re hungry.
By the end of the day, your inventory should contain the following:
Water Container: Any empty bottle will do. Your character will automatically drink from it if it’s in the inventory.
Snacks: Always keep a few small food snacks with you.
Weapons: Find a primary weapon—even a repurposed item like a frying pan will do!
Tools: Hammer, saw, axe, screwdriver, or can opener.
Entertainment: Some books and magazines are for fun, others offer valuable XP boosts.
Backpack: With some luck, you can find a backpack (or activate the Starter Kit) to have more space.
Bandages: Tear some clothes into strips to make emergency bandages. Trust me, you’ll need them!
Use TV and Radio for More Skills
You can spend the rest of the first day and a significant part of the second day in your house, utilising the entertainment media there. Watch TV or listen to the radio to receive news or enhance a skill. The “Life and Living” show at 6 a.m., 12 p.m., and 6 p.m. boosts your cooking, building, and survival skills.
Meanwhile, you can also start reading some Level 1 books to gain experience points even faster. The indicator for this is the three white arrows in your skill tab.
Understand and Master the Moodle System
Your character will indicate their current mood, the so-called Moodles, at the right edge of the screen. If there’s nothing, your character has no complaints. Sooner or later, some symbols will appear. Respond accordingly to what your character currently lacks.
Exploring the Environment – But Be Careful!
Now it gets boring sitting in one house. Your resources might also be running low. It’s time to venture outside. We provide some essential survival tips for your first steps in the outside world.
Stealth Techniques vs. Combat Strategies
Avoiding fights with zombies is the best strategy! The “C” key on your keyboard will likely become your best friend. Always sneak when you’re not in a safe area.
If a zombie sees you and you’re close enough, it will approach you. You can either prepare to fight by holding the right mouse button or try to escape. Conveniently, you need to walk and run to escape the zombie. You are faster than them! Try to break the zombie’s line of sight by rounding corners or fences.
For initial fights, we recommend enabling the outline for attacks in the options for all weapons. This shows when you can attack. With longer weapons, swing a few seconds earlier, as the larger the radius, the more damage you deal. Once the zombie is on the ground and you’re standing over it, it can’t get up. Strike with your weapon or stomp on it until it’s dead.
Conclusion
Hopefully, these tips will help you survive more than just a few days. It’s crucial to always be prepared for emergencies and avoid confrontations whenever possible. Rent your own server for Project Zomboid with us and start the adventure in the apocalypse with your friends. This way, you can support each other and have a better chance of survival!
