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Rise of the Zombies!
2013
Rules assistance for Rise of the Zombies!
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 30–90 min
- 12+
- Complexity 2.0/5
Rules assistant for Rise of the Zombies!
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Rise of the Zombies! is a board game released in 2013 for 1–8 players, 30–90 minutes per game, and ages 12 and up. It was designed by Dan Verssen and its main mechanics are Area Movement, Dice Rolling, and Cooperative Game.
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About the game
In Rise of the Zombies, a fast-paced card game of zombie survival, players play Location cards to form a path from the Safe House to the Rescue Helicopter, while fighting off hordes of zombies. The players must also play fast because they are racing a real-world timer. If time expires, the Survivors are left behind and die. Players play cards during a common "Survivor Turn". At the start of the Survivor Turn, all players can discard and draw until the number of cards in their hands is equal to their Hand Sizes. There are no player turns. Declare what you are doing, which card you are playing, and which zombie you are attacking, and roll dice. This simulates the chaos of combat. Most cards can be used to perform more than one function. You can perform as many actions during the Survivor Turn as your cards can support. You can even trade weapons and items with other Survivors in your Location. Once all players have resolved their actions, the Zombies get to attack. The game is co-opish... how you play the game is up to you. You don't gain anything by having other Survivors die, but if you spend too much time trying to help others, it might cost you your own survival. Help them? Leave them behind? It's all up to you.
Designers
Publishers
- Dan Verssen Games (DVG)
Questions and answers
Rise of the Zombies! supports 1–8 players according to the catalogue. This range comes from the publisher’s listed player count, so the game can be set up for any group size within it. Some setups, rules and scoring details may still vary by player count, so check your edition’s rulebook for the exact configuration.
The listed playing time for Rise of the Zombies! is 30–90 minutes. This is the publisher’s estimate for a full game. The actual duration depends on the group, the player count and familiarity with the rules: first sessions usually run longer, while experienced groups often finish faster. Setup and teaching time are not included in this estimate.
The catalogue lists Rise of the Zombies! for ages 12 and up. This is the publisher’s recommendation and reflects reading demands, rule complexity and small components rather than theme alone. Younger players can often join with help from an adult, so check the age guidance on your edition and consider your group’s experience with board games.
Rise of the Zombies! has a complexity rating of 2.0 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a medium-light game. The rating reflects how much rules knowledge, planning and decision-making a typical game demands. Expect a longer first teach for heavier games, and use a preparation guide before game night.
Rise of the Zombies! belongs to these categories: Card Game, Fighting, and Zombies. Its main mechanics are Area Movement, Dice Rolling, and Cooperative Game. Categories describe the theme and setting of a game, while mechanics describe what players actually do on their turns. Each mechanic links to a catalogue hub with similar games, which helps when you want something comparable.
The credited designers of Rise of the Zombies! are: Dan Verssen. These credits come from the published game data and name the people responsible for the game’s design, not its illustrators or publishers. Designer pages on MeepleRules collect other titles by the same designers, which helps when you enjoy a game and want to find similar ones.
The catalogue lists Rise of the Zombies! as a base game. It can be played on its own with the components in the box and does not require any other title. Expansions, if any exist, add new content or rules on top of it and are listed separately in the catalogue with a link back to this base game.