7 Days to Die

About 7 Days to Die

The Fun Pimps released 7 Days to Die back in 2013, though a major update arrived on July 25, 2024. It launched on PC and later reached PlayStation, Xbox, Linux, and Mac platforms. This open-world title mixes first-person shooting with survival mechanics, tower defense elements, and deep role-playing systems. You start with nothing but your hands in a post-apocalyptic world filled with zombies. The game demands you scavenge resources, craft tools, build forts, and manage hunger while the undead hunt you down. It is a brutal sandbox where every decision about what to eat or which wall to reinforce matters for your continued survival.

Gameplay

You spend most minutes gathering raw materials like wood, stone, and plant fiber to forge primitive tools and weapons. Combat involves shooting zombies with crafted firearms or striking them with melee gear. You must dig through the ground to mine ores or break down trees to secure building blocks. The core loop revolves around constructing a base that can withstand horde attacks. Every seventh night brings a blood moon where zombie numbers explode, forcing you to fortify walls and set traps before dusk falls. You can play alone or team up with friends in co-op modes across various platforms. Success depends on managing your inventory, crafting better gear, and constantly expanding your defenses against the relentless horde.

What Players Think

Critics gave this title a rough reception. OpenCritic rates it 39 out of 100 with only 8.82% of reviewers recommending it. IGDB shows a score of 52.7 from over 200 ratings. Despite low critic scores, the community vibe leans towards creepy and dark experiences. Players have unlocked 43 achievements with an average completion rate of just 38.1%. The rarest achievement is Alexander the great, held by only 3.40% of players. ZTGD noted that while it does not demand constant commitment, many spend hours surviving and building with friends. Wccftech highlighted the interesting mix of role-playing and survival mechanics available in the multiplayer space.

PlayPile's Take

This game suits players who enjoy grinding for resources and managing complex crafting systems over polished storylines. The price sits around $37.99 on Green Man Gaming, which is steep given the mixed critical reception. You should only buy this if you want to spend dozens of hours building bases and defending them against waves of enemies. The achievement system offers a long tail for completionists willing to chase that 3.4% unlock rate. It lacks the polish of modern shooters but delivers a specific type of tension during those weekly horde events. Skip it if you want a quick, linear adventure.

Storyline

You awaken with only a bare minimum of clothes on you, some canned food, glass of water and only your bare knuckles to defend yourself - time to get creative by scavenging for rocks, wood, plant fiber and bones, to make primitive tools (stone axe, stone shovel, shiv), basic weapons (wooden club, bow and arrows) and simple clothing made from plants and a sleeping bag. Venture the lands to find weapons, building resources and cooking tools, hunt and gather for food, process down hide into leather and start making a forge and start crafting metal objects. How this will play out in the long run is up to you - survive and even thrive, or perish at the infested claws and teeth of the undead, but also harsh environment can be your demise. Beware of the 7th night though, with the blood moon shining the undead will rise in masses and will be stronger, faster and more aggressive. Make haste, prepare for this event so you can survive, rebuild, expand and survive another week!