Posted by: Gianna Cosimini | October 7, 2025 | Demo, Survival
You’re a fan of point-and-click adventures, you enjoy a good scavenger hunt, and the zombie apocalypse setting still has its teeth in you. You’ve stumbled upon Z After: A Point and Click Survival on Steam. But before you wishlist it, what exactly are you getting into?
Here is an honest breakdown of the game, combining its unique selling points with some early player impressions, to help you decide if you’re ready to face the horde.
What is Z After? The Core Concept
Z After bills itself as a Narrative Zombie Survival Point and Click Adventure game with Hidden Object and Turn-based fighting mechanics. Think of it as a grittier, post-apocalyptic version of Where’s Waldo combined with the inventory puzzles of a classic adventure game, all wrapped up in a narrative-driven story.
The Gameplay Loop:
- Exploration (Point-and-Click / Hidden Object): You navigate through hand-drawn, static environments (like a ruined street or a house interior). The key is to click on interactive objects—some of which are hidden—to find weapons, ammo, armor, and crafting materials. The Steam page boasts over 100 individual pieces of gear and 100+ interactive objects.
- Survival & Crafting: The gear and materials you find are used to fortify buildings and help you survive, a key element of the “survival” genre tag.
- Combat (Turn-Based Tactical): When you inevitably encounter the undead, the game shifts to a turn-based tactical combat phase. You’ll need to use your gathered gear and resources wisely to fend off the oncoming zombie horde.
- Narrative: The experience is tied together by a storyline across seven stages, with multiple characters and concurrent storylines that promise a “surprise ending” and high replayability due to randomly generated item locations.
Honest Feedback for New Players
Since the game is still listed as “Coming Soon” and lacks a general All Reviews score on Steam, the feedback available is based on early impressions from the demo and development updates.
The Good: Unique Mix and Presentation
- A Fresh Blend of Genres: The combination of point-and-click exploration with hidden objects and turn-based combat is genuinely unique for a zombie survival game. If you’re tired of the same open-world survival experience, this offers a refreshing change of pace.
- The “Where’s Waldo” Appeal: Early impressions suggest the hidden object portion is engaging. Searching through the detailed, hand-drawn environments for critical gear is a primary source of tension and reward.
- Narrative Focus: Unlike pure survival sandbox games, Z After promises a strong, central narrative with multiple characters and concurrent stories. This makes it an appealing choice for players who prioritize plot and character development.
- Replayability Potential: The use of multiple characters with unique talents, coupled with the randomly generated item locations, is a strong selling point for players who want to jump back in after their first playthrough.
The Cautionary: Early Hurdles and Core Mechanics
- The Demo Experience Was Mixed: At least one early gameplay impression of the demo was notably disappointed. The player mentioned that they felt they weren’t making quick progress, found the core mechanics (like trying to find keys) a chore, and ultimately abandoned the demo early. They even noted that dropping items seemed to make them vanish entirely, which could be an inventory or quality-of-life issue.
- Pacing Concerns: The combination of detailed searching and narrative focus might lead to a slower pace than traditional action-oriented zombie games. If you are looking for fast-paced action and instant gratification, the deliberate point-and-click search phase might feel tedious.
- “Hidden Object” is a Key Mechanic: If you are not a fan of “Hidden Object” games, be warned: this is a core part of the gameplay. Your survival hinges on your ability to meticulously search scenes for items.
- No Community Consensus Yet: Since the full game is not out and there are no user reviews on Steam, there’s no way to judge the final polish, balance of the turn-based combat, or the quality of the narrative. You will be an early adopter, so set your expectations accordingly.
The Verdict: Who Should Play Z After?
You should consider playing Z After: A Point and Click Survival if:
- You love classic Point-and-Click Adventure games. The slow, methodical pace and puzzle-solving nature appeal to you.
- You enjoy the challenge of Hidden Object games. Searching busy scenes is fun, not frustrating.
- You are looking for a narrative-focused zombie game. You want a clear story to follow over pure sandbox survival.
- You are willing to try the free demo first. This is the best way to see if the core “searching and clicking” loop clicks with you.
You should hold off or exercise caution if:
- You prefer fast-paced action or real-time combat. The shift to turn-based fighting and methodical searching might feel too slow.
- You want a true open-world survival sandbox. The environment is a series of hand-drawn, linear stages, not a free-roaming world.
- You are easily frustrated by puzzles or item hunts. Early reviews of the demo suggest that the search mechanics can be a stumbling block for some players.
Final Note: Keep an eye on the Steam page for the full release and be sure to try the demo. If you enjoy the demo’s mechanics, you’re likely to enjoy the full narrative experience. If the demo frustrates you, this unique mix of genres might not be for you. Happy clicking, and watch out for the horde!
Maturity Note: The developers have described the game’s content as containing Frequent Zombie Killing and Blood, so expect typical zombie apocalypse violence.
Point & Click Adventure Game, FOOLISH MORTALS, Releasing November 5th
[…] Is Z After: A Point and Click Survival, Worth Your Click? 1 Big Honest Look for New Survivors […]