It can be quite difficult to master Project Zomboid, especially when playing the default game mode. Project Zomboid is a ruthless game, and beginners might have a hard time surviving their first couple of days. Thankfully, this is a highly customizable game, so it can be helpful for newer players to try it out after changing a few settings.
This article will help players navigate through the several advanced settings menus in Project Zomboid and guide them through the process of creating a custom game. Gamers will find out how they can customize their game to match their gameplay preferences, whether they prefer a challenging and cruel world or a deserted land where they can make their own shelter and farm peacefully.
Main Menu Options
Before creating a game, players should check out the Options screen on the Main Menu. This will allow them to modify their key binds, change the volume of specific game elements, the clock format, the text display size, and set any other preferences, such as their preferred degree scale.
Beginners should always change the Aim Outline in the Cursor section to "any weapon". This allows gamers to know whether their weapon will hit a zombie or not before using it.
Game Options
In Project Zomboid, there are three premade playstyles, but gamers can also select the Sandbox game mode to fully customize their gaming experience. On top of this, there are also several challenges for more advanced players. Here are the main differences between all of these options:
- Apocalypse - This game mode can be considered the default Project Zomboid experience. However, it is much harder compared to the other available playstyles. Apocalypse is a stealth-focused game mode, and it is best to avoid combat as it is much more severe.
- Survivor - Although the Survivor game mode is still reasonably challenging, the life expectancy is higher compared to Apocalypse mode. This playstyle is indicated for players who prefer combat over stealth.
- Builder - The Builder playstyle has a lower zombie population and scarcer resources, so while gamers won't have to face as many enemies, they'll have to try their best to acquire food by farming and exploring.
- Custom Sandbox - Players can use the Custom Sandbox option to fully customize their apocalypse experience.
Regardless of the playstyle that gamers decide to try out, they'll have to make a character. Players can choose one of several occupations (or not), and various positive and negative traits.
On top of this, they'll also have to decide where to spawn, and there are four options available: Muldraugh, Riverside, Rosewood, and West Point.
Before making any decision, players should read each option's description to see which one they'd like to choose.
Sandbox Options
Players can fully customize their Project Zomboid game by creating a Custom Sandbox.
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Setting |
Available customization options |
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Population |
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Time |
In this tab, players can select how long an in-game day lasts in real life and when their game starts, including the month, day, and hour of the day. |
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World |
Players can modify the options in this tab to alter how the world around them works, including how much the world has been impacted by the apocalypse. Changing these options can make the game slightly easier, especially early on. Here are the most relevant options in this tab:
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Nature |
This tab allows gamers to take control of how nature works, such as temperature, rain frequency, farming speed, and plant resilience. |
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Sadistic AI Director |
Here players can change the frequency of certain in-game events. It's even possible to disable them entirely. |
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Meta |
While playing Project Zomboid, players will sometimes find generators, safe houses, and even maps with useful notes, and in this tab, it's possible to change the likelihood of this happening. |
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Loot Rarity |
This option allows gamers to change the rarity of certain items such as food, weapons, supplies, and books. |
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Character |
Here, players can modify the settings related to their character, and this includes skill XP multipliers, the speed at which stats decrease, stamina regeneration, the number of base trait points, and several body fragility options. |
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In-Game Map |
In this tab, players can enable or disable the mini-map and the world map. |
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Vehicles |
Players can enable Vehicles in this tab and modify any customization option related to them. They can make cars easier to use, modify their spawn rate, how often they'll have gas, how much gas they'll consume when used, and even change how easy it is for a vehicle to attract nearby zombies. |
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Zombie Lore |
Z ombie Lore is one of the most important tabs in the Custom Sandbox game mode as it allows gamers to completely modify the zombies that they'll encounter in-game. If they disable the "proper zombies" option, players can change them from Fast Shamblers to Shambers or Sprinters, making the game much easier or much harder. Here are the most useful customization options in this tab:
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Advanced Zombie Options |
In the Advanced Zombie Options tab, players can change several zombie-related multipliers and respawn periods. |
Gamers can save several presets that they've created using the Custom Sandbox option. This way, they can freely save different settings and retry them later, according to their mood. For example, players can create a peaceful save with a low zombie population and fast farming speed, or they can create a chaotic save riddled with zombies and tons of canned goods and armor options.
Project Zomboid is available on PC via Steam.