If you’ve ever looked at a zombie apocalypse and thought, “You know what this wasteland needs? A thriving black-market pharmaceutical empire,” then Gamecraft Studios has the perfect game for you.
The indie developers behind Vampire Hunters have officially opened the gates to their next delightfully unhinged project. Zombuds has officially launched its very first public playtest on Steam, giving players an early, chaotic look at an open-world co-op sandbox where survival takes a backseat to pure entrepreneurial hustle.
Turning Brain-Eaters into Brainless Workers
Zombuds takes place 15 years after the collapse of civilisation, but instead of the usual grimdark, ammunition-scarcity depression, Gamecraft Studios is serving up a colourful, lighthearted comedy fantasy.
In this sandbox simulator, you and up to three friends play as “Doompreneurs.” Your mission? Scavenge dangerous, abandoned locations, manufacture bizarre post-apocalyptic substances, and build an unstoppable underground enterprise.
But a massive corporate empire needs a workforce. That’s where the local population comes in. In Zombuds, you can hire human survivors—or, better yet, brainwash the zombies to automate your production lines and keep operations running smoothly while you’re out dealing with rivals. If manual labour isn’t your vibe, you can always just blow them up in spectacularly cartoonish, bloody ways.
“While others scramble to survive, you hustle to build your black market empire.”
Built from Scratch for Maximum Chaos
What makes Zombuds even more impressive is its development story. Built on a custom engine created completely from scratch by a dedicated two-man team, the game balances an incredibly heavy workload of complex mechanics, including full automation systems, an expansive open world, sandbox physics, and seamless 4-player co-op.
The game’s stylised, low-poly aesthetic isn’t just a stylistic choice either; it allows the developers to focus squarely on delivering tight, chaotic gameplay, massive zombie counts, and deep management loops without sacrificing performance.
How to Join the Playtest Right Now
Gamecraft Studios plans to use this public playtest to gather crucial feedback on everything from economy balancing and co-op pacing to zombie pressure. Following this playtest, the game is headed toward a Steam Early Access launch, where it will remain for at least six months to add more quests, weapons, and automation items.
Ready to get your hustle on? Getting into the action is incredibly simple:
- Head over to the Zombuds Steam Page.
- Click the “Request Access” button under the playtest banner (everyone who applies is automatically accepted!).
- Gather your crew, download the client, and start building your empire.
Make sure to jump into their official Discord to drop your feedback, report bugs, and help the team fine-tune the apocalypse.
TechMash Verdict
Zombuds is a refreshingly wacky spin on a tired genre. Blending the management mechanics of a tycoon simulator with the chaotic fun of a co-op zombie shooter makes for an addictive formula. Go grab your friends, request instant access, and see if you have what it takes to corner the post-apocalyptic market!
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