The primary objective of the game is to survive under all circumstances. During daytime, players focus on establishing and expanding their shelter by constructing fortifications, adding new rooms, and exploring the surrounding environment for vital resources such as food, equipment, and weapons. This period is dedicated to gathering supplies and enhancing the shelter’s defenses. As night approaches, the player must defend their shelter against waves of hungry zombies, making survival a constant struggle between resource management and combat readiness.
The game offers a variety of features to enhance gameplay and strategic planning. Players can customize their character’s appearance using a character editor, explore a vast map filled with numerous locations, and build various fortifications to protect their base. Additional rooms can be created to increase the shelter's capacity and functionality. The game also includes exploration elements, such as discovering new areas by responding to distress signals received via radio, which can lead to valuable loot or additional challenges. A merchant NPC provides fresh items daily, aiding in survival and equipment upgrades.
Combat and survival are further enriched through random daily events that can either hinder or help the player’s progress. Players can build and enhance vehicles for quicker traversal across the forest, and manage an in-game economy by selling or trading items collected during raids. The game emphasizes resourcefulness, as players need to efficiently allocate energy production through generators, solar panels, and wind turbines to sustain their shelter. Experience points can be earned through various activities like combat, completing tasks, or reading, which allows players to enhance their skills and character attributes, making them more effective in surviving and fighting off threats.
The inventory system is comprehensive, accommodating a variety of weapons, clothing, and consumables essential for survival. Players can access a wide array of weaponry, including pistols, rifles, and melee weapons, and upgrade them for better performance. Clothing and armor customization provide both protection and aesthetic options. Consumable items such as food, ammo, healing supplies, seeds, and crafting components are essential for maintaining health and productivity. The game’s emphasis on time management requires players to carefully plan their actions, as each activity consumes time—making efficient use of daytime hours crucial to face the perils of night and ultimately strive for survival.