State of Decay 2

Introduction:

State of Decay 2, developed by Undead Labs and published by Xbox Game Studios, is a survival video game that serves as a sequel to its predecessor, State of Decay. Launched on May 22, 2018, for both Windows and Xbox One platforms, the game immerses players in a world overrun by zombies. The core gameplay revolves around constructing a community, resource management, and surviving against relentless hordes of the undead.

Critics had varying opinions about State of Decay 2. While they lauded its challenging gameplay, impressive musical score, and combat mechanics, they also pointed out technical glitches and shortcomings in the depth of survival and management aspects. By August 2021, the game had garnered a player base exceeding 10 million. A sequel titled State of Decay 3 is presently in the works.

Gameplay:

Functioning as a zombie-themed survival game, State of Decay 2 places emphasis on scavenging for essential items. Players experience the action from a third-person perspective within an expansive open-world setting. The game enables cooperative play, accommodating up to three additional players. Players have the freedom to select and develop a base from various locations, enhancing its infrastructure with facilities such as watchtowers, gardens, sleeping quarters, kitchens, workshops, and medical bays. This strategic approach is crucial for the well-being and safety of the survivors. Managing resources like food, medicine, ammo, and construction materials is a pivotal aspect of the gameplay, with players acquiring them through scavenging or trading with NPCs. Interaction with non-group survivors involves trading, assistance, or recruitment. While control is limited to one survivor at a time, players can engage AI-controlled companions for aid, and specific missions feature AI companions. The game also supports cooperative multiplayer, allowing friends to temporarily join and assist each other in achieving objectives.


Each character possesses distinct "traits" that offer advantages or weaknesses, affecting skills and behaviors. Apart from characters tied to the story, most can be assigned to survivor groups and recruited. The morale of each character is influenced by events within the game, impacting their actions and necessitating player intervention. Zombies are a relentless threat, respawning continuously and attracted to noise. They possess remarkable speed, nearly matching that of the characters. Players can choose to confront them head-on, use stealth tactics to evade, or distract them with items like firecrackers. The game features specialized zombie types, including the animalistic "Ferals" and tank-like "Juggernauts," which pose significant challenges in one-on-one encounters. Additionally, the game includes various vehicles, each with unique attributes like maneuverability and speed. All vehicles are susceptible to damage and destruction through collisions with obstacles or zombies. However, players can repair their vehicles with the appropriate materials.

Undead Labs developed State of Decay 2 using Unreal Engine 4 and published it under Microsoft Studios. The game was announced on June 13, 2016, during Microsoft's E3 Xbox presentation. Initially intended for release in 2017 on Windows 10 and Xbox One, the game's launch was rescheduled to Spring 2018 as revealed during Microsoft's E3 2017 briefing. Subscribers to Xbox Game Pass gained access to the game at no extra cost upon its release. The game was designated an Xbox Play Anywhere title and supported cross-play between Windows 10 and Xbox players.

Final Words:

Special editions of the game, like the Collector's Edition, were introduced, featuring exclusive items such as a SteelBook case, a latex zombie mask, a human brain SteelBook stand, an iron-on patch with the game's logo, and a thumb-shaped 4GB capacity USB drive. Over time, the game received several downloadable content packs and expansion packs, enhancing gameplay and introducing new modes, missions, and enemies.

State of Decay 2 witnessed consistent growth in its player base, with milestones such as surpassing 2 million players by June 2018, reaching 3 million by that same month, exceeding 5 million by August 2019, and finally achieving over 10 million players by August 2021.