Zombie Kidz Evolution

We bought Zombie Kidz Evolution last week and I’ve been playing it with both my 5yo twins (and sometimes with my husband).

I mentioned Capt’n Pepe: Treasure Ahoy! a few months ago as my kid’s first legacy type game, but this one is their first actual legacy game where there are stickers that you put in the rulebook! So far we’ve played Zombie Kidz Evolution 5 times and unlocked one envelope (out of 13 or so), and my kids are loving it. With Capt’n Pepe, one of my kids was super into it and the other didn’t like playing it because the real-time aspect made it too hard for him. So at first he didn’t want to try Zombie Kidz since he thought he wouldn’t like it. Luckily I convinced them both to play it.

The base mechanics are pretty simple and good for a 5yo. It’s a cooperative game where you’re trying to lock the gates of the school before zombies overrun it. The board has different spaces that are rooms of the school, and the goal is to get locks on all four gates of the school. On your turn you roll a die that has the colors of the different rooms on it, and that determines where a zombie will show up. Then you can move one space, defeat 1-2 zombies on that space, and then lock a gate if you’re on the outside space next to it with another player. Also to lock a gate you high five the other player. My kids are both able to follow the rules well, and both kids loved it after their first play (and still do)! They got super excited to lock gates, and they got into high fiving each other and defeating the zombies.

You lose if the zombie reserve runs out and you need to place a zombie. There are 8 zombies total – 4 start in the outside spaces and one shows up each turn on the dice roll (unless you roll a blank). And if there are ever 3 zombies in a room, then no one can go into that room to clear them out. So you have to balance defeating those zombies that show up with going outside to close the gates. We’ve played at 3p and 4p, and I think it’s definitely easier at 4p since you need 2 people to lock a gate and sometimes a couple zombies will show up in the opposite room where no one is, but with 4 players it’s easier to get all the places covered. The board is double sided so for 2 players it uses the other side and there are more doorways to go between rooms easier.

For the legacy part – each time you finish a game (win or lose), you get to put a sticker on the campaign track. You also get bonus stickers if you complete different missions they have in the book. When you reach certain spots you get to open an envelope, and that can add new rules and missions. There are a few spots in the rulebook for those added rule and mission stickers. My kids also like the stickers and opening envelopes. They were a bit sad we didn’t get to open the envelope after the first game (it took 4 games), but they both enjoyed all the plays so I think it’s not gonna get old for them.

So far we’ve played one play with the new rules from envelope 1. I won’t spoil the rules, but it makes the game slightly less luck dependent so you won’t just lose from bad luck (rolling the same color a bunch in a row). It also makes it more complicated to play, but you also don’t have to use the new rules if you don’t want to.

Anyway, if you can’t tell, I think this is a great game for kids. I was very happy that both my kids are enjoying playing it together, because a lot of times one of them is more into board games and the other won’t want to play with us. But with this game they’ve both been wanting to play and they’ve both been super into it. They even both helped teach the game to my husband during his first game! I think it might get a bit boring for older kids who play more complicated games, but it’s perfect for my 5 year olds!