Just when you thought the zombie genre had run out of brain matter, Journey Through the Undead bursts through the grave with a remastered, reimagined take on apocalyptic survival. Developed by the two-person powerhouse Dazzling Divine, this Unreal Engine 5 shooter drops you into a world gone terribly wrong. You’re alone; the world is dead; and something even worse is lurking beyond the fog.
Welcome to the Aftermath
Set in a world ravaged by a failed experiment, Journey Through the Undead throws players headfirst into an eerie and mutated landscape. From crumbling urban ruins to sinister swamplands, every level feels like a lost reel from a zombie horror film.
Unlike sprawling open-world zombie sims, this game takes a linear mission-based approach, tightening the tension and ramping up the action as you progress. But don’t let the word “linear” fool you; this journey is anything but predictable. Furthermore, with clever level design and immersive ambiance, the world feels cinematic and unsettling. For example, one minute you’re creeping through abandoned buildings; the next, you’re ambushed by a horde of zombies you didn’t hear coming.
Firepower Meets Flesh
Your arsenal includes a satisfying mix of firearms, melee weapons, and grenades. Moreover, combat is punchy and visceral. Blasting explosive barrels to decimate a group of zombies is downright addictive. Whether you’re swinging a crowbar or spraying bullets, every fight feels like life-or-death chaos.
To survive, you’ll need to hunt down health kits and food, scattered across the map. Ammo’s limited and zombies don’t wait politely. For instance, you’ll be forced to think fast; or fall fast.
Tech That Shines (and Oozes)
Let’s talk visuals. Powered by Unreal Engine 5, Journey Through the Undead is arguably one of the best-looking indie zombie shooters on Steam. Nonetheless, thanks to cinema-quality textures and real-time Lumen lighting, the world feels terrifyingly real.
Each zombie is grotesquely detailed, with sunken eyes and ragged movements. Also, you can tell Dazzling Divine’s background in VFX and 3D modeling played a huge role here. Overall, this isn’t just indie-good looking; this is AAA-quality creepy.
From Aftertime to the Apocalypse
In addition, if you’ve played their earlier title Aftertime, this one might feel familiar. That’s no coincidence. Thus, Journey Through the Undead is a remastered, zombie-only evolution of that game; built from the ground up with reworked levels and cleaner gameplay.
It’s leaner, it’s meaner, it’s Aftertime with sharper teeth.
Small Team, Big Vision
Here’s what’s even more impressive: this entire game was made by just two people. However, Dazzling Divine isn’t just about games; they also create 3D assets for Unity, Fab, and Turbosquid. That expertise shows up in every inch of the game’s design.
Despite the small team size, the polish rivals games made by full studios.
Follow the Trail of Brains
Want to keep up with the devs or peek behind the scenes? You can find Dazzling Divine on:
Final Thoughts
Finally, Journey Through the Undead is a love letter to zombie games; with teeth. It’s atmospheric, action-packed, and visually stunning. To sum up, the pacing keeps you on edge, the combat is crunchy and fun, and the world oozes style.
In conclusion, for zombie fans or anyone seeking an intense indie survival experience, this one is an easy recommendation. Considering the tiny team behind it, it’s an absolute triumph. It proves once again: with passion, even a two-person team can take on the undead; and win.
