The zombie apocalypse survival game Undying is currently available for free, for Windows—100% free to keep—for a limited time in an Epic Store’s giveaway offer! Go get it! Undying usually costs US$19,99!
Undying is an independent action-adventure survival game with roguelike elements set in a zombie apocalypse, where a mother becomes infected and must do everything she can to ensure her son stays alive. It was developed by Vanimals and initially released on October 19, 2021.
Published by Vanimals in partnership with Skystone Games and available for Windows and Mac, Undying received mixed reviews from critics, though it has won some awards. On the Steam store, it has garnered thousands of slightly positive reviews—at least by the time of this publication.
You can get the game here, where there is also a free demo version that might be interesting after the offer ends.
Trailer
Gameplay
In Undying, players control Anling, a woman who has been bitten by a zombie. Knowing her time is running out before she turns, she tries to teach her 8-year-old son, Cody, how to survive alone in this post-apocalyptic world. As in many survival games, players must manage the health, hunger, and thirst of both Anling and Cody by exploring, cooking, and crafting items to survive another day.
Before Cody can learn skills, players must unlock prerequisites, such as having Anling perform certain actions alongside him a specific number of times. Once Cody’s skill trees are unlocked, players can customize his abilities and eventually have him help Anling with gathering supplies, preparing food, and even combat.
As Anling’s condition deteriorates, visual changes and interface signals indicate her degeneration. Each day, players must choose a new penalty in the form of symptoms, representing her gradual loss of humanity. However, she can also acquire special perks or “zombie skills,” such as the ability to heal by eating raw meat. Some symptoms can be treated with specific medicine.
Time management is essential, as if Anling becomes exhausted late at night, she will enter a “weakened state,” preventing her from taking any actions and increasing her risk of transformation. To avoid this, players must ensure she rests before reaching this limit. As the infection progresses, Anling enters a “decline stage,” a permanent effect that brings both advantages and disadvantages to her status.
In addition to Anling’s health, players must monitor Cody’s stress levels, which affect his ability to learn. To help him cope, they can spend time with him at home reading comics, playing video games, or playing music. Some books can even improve his skills if he answers questions correctly. If Cody survives long enough, he may investigate a rescue mission that could lead him to a safe place.
The game also offers a survival mode, where the challenge is to withstand zombie hordes for as long as possible. The story mode, on the other hand, reduces survival elements to focus on narrative.
About the game
Infected by a zombie bite, Anling’s days are numbered. With time running out, her only mission is to ensure her son Cody’s survival. To do so, she must protect him and teach him essential skills so that he can navigate a world devastated by the undead apocalypse.
While fighting the infection slowly overtaking her body, Anling must manage limited resources to keep herself and Cody fed and hydrated, as well as delay her own deterioration. Along this journey, they will encounter other survivors, each bringing unique challenges. Your choices will determine their fate: some may become allies, while others may turn into deadly enemies.
Can humanity still prevail?
Like Mother, Like Son
Cody will learn from his mother’s actions—from combat to cooking. Don’t forget to teach him the basics of survival before it’s too late.
When Life Gives You Metal Scraps…
Always keep an eye out for materials. You never know what might be valuable to a trader or what kind of useful item you can craft.
Ticking Time Bomb
Anling’s infection is always worsening. Manage your days and make the most of the time you have left. You’ll have to keep moving forward—time waits for no one.
Cherish the Moment
Don’t forget why you’re fighting. Enjoy the little moments…
Your Path, Your Choices, Your Story!
With everyone struggling to survive, helping others—or not—can lead to devastating consequences. Everyone has their secrets, raising the question… Who can you truly trust? Every decision you make changes the outcome of your story—how will it end?
Crafting 1.0: The Means to Survive!
It wouldn’t be a survival game without crafting, and now, with so many things to create and upgrade, will there even be enough resources? How you use the crafting system will determine whether you survive and how easy—or difficult—it will be.
A World Full of Dungeons, Stories, and Loot!
Did you really think we wouldn’t have David Brevik (the godfather of Diablo) helping design dungeons and making sure the loot is satisfying?
Each time you start a new game in Undying, you’ll never know how the map will unfold before your eyes. The 14 main locations will be scattered across the map in various layouts, while the other “Unsafe Areas” are filled with random events that can quickly change your plans. Will you help an ungrateful survivor? A group surrounded by zombies? You never know who you’ll meet on your journey, each with their own story to tell.
Highlights
- Top-down survival gameplay with real-time day and night cycles.
- A player-generated map.
- High replayability with rogue-lite elements that create unique situations you must overcome to survive. After all, zombies don’t mutate in the same way, do they?
- A beautiful low-poly art style.
- A vast cast of NPCs, each with their own story and unique ending.
- An emotional story about survival and letting go—be warned, it may be tear-jerking!
- Watch your child grow as the AI learns from you.
- A breathtaking, suspenseful soundtrack that sets the tone for Undying from the very beginning.
- Want to write a letter to Mom? Use the Comment Wall to share your words (anonymously) with Undying fans worldwide.
- Find your own kitten to care for during the apocalypse.
- Various mini-games to relax after slaying zombie hordes—so why not take a break?
- How will you teach Cody to survive? With over a hundred skills to learn, there’s no single way to equip him with the tools he needs to find safety.
Trivia
- Game Engine – Undying was developed using the Unity Engine.
- Developed in China – Undying was created by Vanimals, a Beijing-based studio.
- Initial Concept Change – The game originally featured a wounded protagonist searching for her missing son, but the developers felt the idea was “too lonely” and decided to include Cody from the start of the story.
- Inspired by The Walking Dead – Instead of an instant zombie transformation, the team took inspiration from The Walking Dead and chose to depict Anling’s infection gradually worsening, allowing for a deeper and more emotional narrative.
- David Brevik’s Contribution – Gameplay elements related to Anling’s progressive deterioration were influenced by David Brevik, co-founder of Skystone Games and creator of Diablo.
- Minimalist Art Style – Characters do not have faces, making the soundtrack play a crucial role in conveying emotions and indicating characters’ emotional states.
- Early Access and Updates – The game entered early access in October 2021. In November of the same year, survival mode was added, and in April 2022, players gained more control over Cody’s behavior, alongside expanded skill trees and added melee combat combos.
- Launch and Future – Undying was officially released for Windows on December 7, 2023, with versions for other platforms expected in 2024.
- 苏醒之路 – The game’s title in Chinese.
More info and survival
Overview
- GET Undying HERE - Download link(s) or store's listing.
- Size: 1500 MB
- License: Commercial
- Operational systems: Windows and Mac
- Developer(s) and/or publisher(s): Vanimals, Skystone Games
- Categories: Action, Adventure
- Added by: Valewson