How it plays
The board shows a school with five rooms and four courtyards. The active player rolls the die to see whether and where a new zombie appears, moves their figure one space at most and clears up to two zombies there. Three zombies block a space for heroes. If two heroes stand in the same courtyard, they high-five and lock the gate. If all the gates are locked, the team wins; if the zombie supply is empty when a zombie should appear, the team loses. Stickers after each game gradually unlock 13 envelopes with new rules.
What it can help develop
At its core is team coordination: a gate only closes when two heroes stand in the same courtyard, so players have to think ahead about where the others will move. Added to this is planning ahead: clear the group of two before it becomes three and the room is blocked, or head for the gate? The supply is the clock: only clearing zombies buys time. Because a lost game also earns a sticker, losing hurts less.
Especially suitable for
- School-age children from age 7 who enjoy working things out together
- Children who find losing hard
- Families who want to keep at it for weeks
Less suitable for
- Children who are genuinely afraid of zombies
- Adult-only groups looking for tactical depth
Our verdict
Zombie Kidz Evolution is a worthwhile choice for families with school-age children from age 7 who want to work things out together and keep at it for weeks. Simple rules, a rather comic tone and stickers that reward lost games too make this cooperative legacy game child-friendly; in 2020 it was on the Kinderspiel des Jahres recommendation list. Its limitations are that the later extra rules bring only small changes and that there is no connected story.
Getting started
- Follow the advice in the rules: clear groups of two zombies first, before a third one joins them and blocks the space for the heroes.
- Only open the 13 envelopes when the numbered space has been reached, and put on a sticker after every game, including lost ones.
- Allow time: some missions require a win no earlier than a week, a month or three months after the first game.
In detail
Variants and player count
According to the German rules (2019), the components include 13 sealed envelopes; the board shows five rooms and four courtyards. On their turn, a player rolls the die, adds a zombie, moves their hero at most one space and clears up to two zombies; with a second hero in the courtyard, the two high-five and lock a gate. The team wins with four locked gates and loses when the supply is empty. After every game, including a lost one, there is a sticker.
What reviewers say
According to Wikipedia, Zombie Kidz Evolution was on the recommendation list for the Kinderspiel des Jahres in 2020. The jury text in the database of the Spiel des Jahres (German game of the year award) calls it a clever cooperative race against time. Jury member Stefan Gohlisch praises the cheerful, cheeky artwork and motivating stickers but notes that there is no narrative arc; according to him, more rules make the game harder to keep track of, not necessarily better. Wieland Herold (mit80) considers good coordination within the team necessary and the scare factor low; he criticizes limited variability and extra rules that change only small details. Players’ comments on Jeux de Nîm mention simple rules, a cartoon style without frights and limited strategic depth.
How it compares
Bandido (from age 6, 1 to 4 people, about 15 minutes), like Zombie Kidz Evolution, has the skill areas of cooperation as well as logic and planning. Bandido is a cooperative tile-laying game that can also be played alone, but it needs a lot of space on the table. Magic Maze Kids (from age 5, 2 to 4 people, about 15 to 25 minutes) has the same skill areas; in Magic Maze Kids there are no fixed turns, and talking is allowed. Magic Maze Kids introduces families to the original Magic Maze, but the boards repeat themselves. Zombie Kidz Evolution (from age 7, 2 to 4 people, about 15 minutes) suits school-age children from age 7 who enjoy working things out together, children who find losing hard and families who want to keep at it for weeks. Children who are genuinely afraid of zombies are less well served by Zombie Kidz Evolution.
Sources
- Asmodee: Zombie Kidz Evolution rules (PDF, in German)
- Spiel des Jahres: Zombie Kidz Evolution (jury, in German)
- Spiel des Jahres: Stefan Gohlisch on Zombie Kidz Evolution (in German)
- Wikipedia (German): Zombie Kidz Evolution
- mit80: review by Wieland Herold (in German)
- Jeux de Nîm: players’ comments (in French)
Frequently asked questions
What age is Zombie Kidz Evolution suitable for?
The recommended minimum age is 7. School-age children who prefer solving puzzles as a team are ready; even those who take losing hard get a sticker after every game. Children who are genuinely afraid of zombies are less well served here.
How long does a game take and how many people can play?
A game takes about 15 minutes. The game is for 2 to 4 people, who play together as a team. The team wins as soon as all the gates are locked and loses when the zombie supply runs out.
What skills can Zombie Kidz Evolution help develop?
It can help develop cooperation as well as logic and planning. A gate can only be locked when two heroes meet in the same courtyard, so everyone agrees on where they will move. The supply works like a clock that can only be extended by clearing zombies.
Is the game scary?
Hardly. Reviews describe a cartoon style without frights, and the zombies are caricatures of teachers and janitors. Even so, it is unlikely to appeal to children who are genuinely afraid of zombies.
