Zombie Kidz Evolution! A Cooperative Board Game Where You Fight Off the Undead Horde and Upgrade Your Abilities

Prepare yourselves for an undead onslaught, fellow gamers! Today, we’re diving into the infectiously fun world of Zombie Kidz Evolution, a cooperative board game that throws you headfirst into a zombie apocalypse – but with a delightful, kid-friendly twist. This isn’t your typical “brains over brawn” survival horror; it’s about teamwork, clever strategy, and evolving your characters to face increasingly challenging undead threats.
Zombie Kidz Evolution is the brainchild of the French game designers Philippe desgeek and Sébastien Pauchon, published by the renowned board game company, Bombyx. The game was a hit upon release in 2019, winning awards and captivating families worldwide with its charming theme, accessible gameplay, and innovative “evolution” mechanic.
A World Overrun: The Plot Thickens
Imagine a sunny suburban neighborhood – kids playing, parents barbecuing, the scent of freshly cut grass filling the air… then BAM! Zombies appear, hungry for brains (or at least imaginary ones). In Zombie Kidz Evolution, you and your fellow players take on the roles of young heroes facing an escalating zombie threat. Your mission is simple: clear the town of the undead horde before they overwhelm it completely.
Each player chooses a unique kid hero with their own starting ability. There’s Momo, who excels at cleaning zombies from specific areas; Zoé, who can move across multiple spaces with ease; and others, each adding their own flavor to the gameplay.
But there’s a catch – these adorable kids aren’t invincible. They have limited “health” represented by cardboard heart tokens. Lose all your hearts, and you’re “zombified,” meaning you’ll need another player to help revive you. Teamwork is crucial in this game!
The Evolution Engine: Growing Stronger Together
Now for the really cool part – Zombie Kidz Evolution’s innovative “evolution” system. As you play, successfully completing scenarios and defeating zombies earns your team experience points. These points can be used to unlock new abilities for your heroes, upgrade existing ones, or even add entirely new characters to the mix.
For example, Momo might start with a single “clean” ability, removing one zombie from a specific area. Through evolution, she could gain the power to “clean” multiple zombies at once, making her an absolute undead-slaying machine! This sense of progression and growing power keeps the game fresh and exciting even after multiple playthroughs.
Gameplay: Roll, Move, Clean (and Hope for the Best!)
The game’s mechanics are delightfully straightforward. Players take turns rolling dice, moving their heroes around a modular board, and using abilities to “clean” zombies. The dice determine the type of action you can take – movement, cleaning, or even special actions like setting traps or calling for reinforcements.
Zombie Kidz Evolution incorporates an element of randomness through these dice rolls, adding suspense and unpredictability to each turn. Will you roll a cleaning die just when you need it most? Or will fate throw a curveball your way, forcing you to adapt on the fly?
Here’s a closer look at the basic game flow:
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Setup: Arrange the modular board tiles to create a unique town layout, place zombie tokens according to the scenario’s instructions, and choose your heroes.
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Turn Sequence: On each turn, roll the dice, choose an action based on your roll (move, clean, or special), resolve the action, and draw new zombie tokens.
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Scenario Progression: Complete specific objectives outlined in the scenario card to progress through the game. These might involve clearing certain areas of zombies, rescuing trapped civilians, or finding hidden items.
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Evolution: As you gain experience points by defeating zombies and completing scenarios, unlock new abilities for your heroes, making them stronger and more capable.
**Family Fun with a Bite: Why Choose Zombie Kidz Evolution
Zombie Kidz Evolution is an ideal choice for families seeking a fun, engaging, and cooperative gaming experience.
Here’s why it’s a winner:
Feature | Description |
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Theme: | A zombie apocalypse, but kid-friendly and adorable! |
Mechanics: | Simple dice rolling, movement, and action selection |
Complexity: | Easy to learn, but offers strategic depth through evolution |
Player Interaction: | Highly cooperative; everyone works together to succeed |
Zombie Kidz Evolution strikes a perfect balance between accessibility and challenge. The rules are straightforward enough for younger players to grasp, while the evolving gameplay keeps older players engaged. It’s a game that encourages teamwork, communication, and strategic thinking – all wrapped up in a delightful zombie-filled package.
So, gather your family, grab your dice, and prepare to face the undead horde in Zombie Kidz Evolution! This charming and engaging cooperative board game is sure to provide hours of laughter, excitement, and maybe even a few screams along the way.