It’s hard to avoid comparisons in the zombie survival genre. It’s a relatively niche genre, mechanics-wise, that many titles often borrow from those that came before. In this case, many can’t help but compare HumanitZ to Project Zomboid. After all, it’s a zombie survival game with an isometric view, complex survival mechanics, and sprawling open world to explore and loot. However, there are key differences to consider as well. Let’s look at both!
What HumanitZ and Project Zomboid Have in Common
If you can’t help but compare Project Zomboid and HumanitZ, here are a few commonalities between the two zombie survival games to aid in your argument:
- Isometric zombie survival sims focused on realism
- Permadeath-centric gameplay
- Loot-driven gameplay with scarce resources and meaningful scavenging
- Base-building focused, turning abandoned structures into safe houses
- Sandbox style, allowing players to tell their own survival stories
- Solo or co-op friendly, not PvP-centric
- Obsessed with survival systems: hunger, thirst, fatigue, noise, injuries, etc.
The Key Differences Between HumanitZ and Project Zomboid
| Category | HumanitZ | Project Zomboid |
|---|---|---|
| Tone | More approachable, modern | Brutal, sim-heavy |
| Complexity | Streamlined | Extremely deep |
| Controls | Twin-stick/Controller friendly | Mouse & Keyboard dominant |
| Multiplayer | Drop-in co-op | Dedicated servers |
| Mod Support | Limited (for now) | Extensive |
| Longevity | Designed for short sessions | Endless |
| Learning Curve | Moderate | Steep |
| Development Style | Feature-forward, fast | Slow, long-term |
Which Is Better?
In this case, “better” is a subjective term. Everyone will, more than likely, have a preference. Some, perhaps especially the Project Zomboid community, will fight to the death over their preference.
In any case, they’re both excellent zombie survival games in their own right.
- Pick HumanitZ if you want:
- To jump straight into a zombie survival game
- Co-op-first survival
- Short-to-medium play sessions
- Pick Project Zomboid if you want:
- Endless replayability
- More complex survival mechanics
- Challenging gameplay
Which do you prefer?