One of the most frustrating things about the zombie apocalypse is how dumb everyone becomes. I understand that the characters on The Walking Dead are worn out and desperate after spending such a long time scrounging around, but they’d be in such better shape if they’d stop to think every once in a while. At least, that’s how I see it from my couch. One of the many reasons I love Undead Labs’ survival game State of Decay is how you're in charge of managing a group of survivors, not that hothead Rick Grimes.
You’re making the decisions; one moment you’re fending off waves of zombies on a solo scavenging mission, the next you’re babysitting a bunch of adults who should know better. Meanwhile, supplies are running short. Death is always close in State of Decay, and it’s permanent. I can’t promise following these gameplay tips will lead to a death-free time, but they’ll minimize the number of times you’ll have to watch your favorite characters get pulled apart because you did something stupid. Probably.
State of Decay: Year One Survival Edition revisits the original game and its two DLC packs, Breakdown and Lifeline. Changes that were introduced in Lifeline, such as the ability to create ammunition at your home base, have been incorporated into all of the other modes. There’s a new mission type, too, where you can retrieve special military air drops. The game’s gotten a bit of a visual upgrade, too, running at a higher frame rate and with higher-quality textures on the Xbox One.
There’s a lot to do in State of Decay, and few “right ways” of playing – aside from mitigating how many of your friends become zombie kibble. After playing this game for a couple of years, I’ve hit on a rhythm that works for me, and hopefully they help your community thrive as you start a new game in the Year One Survival Edition. Or at least keep your favorite survivors surviving.
Watch your stamina
Stamina management is one of the most critical parts of surviving in State of Decay. That little blue bar governs how far you can run and the effectiveness of your melee attacks. When you’re gassed, you’re more vulnerable to getting swarmed, and your ability to escape is severely limited. In short, keep your eye on that meter at all times.
While some characters are predisposed to having higher (or lower) stamina when they start, they’re all relatively puny at first. You can level up your cardio by running around, which increases your maximum stamina. That’s great, but keep in mind that you’re draining it while running. Eating snacks provides a temporary boost to your stamina, so put a couple of those in your inventory just in case. As you explore, your character becomes fatigued, which lowers their maximum stamina. When that happens you may want to head home as soon as you can. Grab a car – that’s usually a safe bet.
Get ‘em when they’re down
I like to use heavy weapons, because they have a tendency to knock zombies on their rotten asses. It’s a nice crowd-control move, but there’s a bigger reason for keeping them down: Press LB and Y at the same time in front of a knocked-down creep, and you perform an instant-kill finisher on them. When I’m swarmed, I swing my weapon and then immediately press those buttons. Even if nobody is knocked down, your character shoves the nearest zombie away – giving you a little extra space to breathe.
When you’re playing with an A.I. partner, pay attention to what they’re doing. There are times when I’ve just followed them around and smashed the heads of the baddies they’ve softened up. It’s an easy way to thin the herd, and it’s a low-risk move to boot.
Take your time
You rummage through plenty of buildings to find the tools and items that keep you alive. As you rifle through drawers and other hiding spots, you see a prompt to speed up the process by holding down sprint. It’s a tempting offer, but is too dangerous for a fresh character. You run the risk of making unnecessary noise, which attracts clusters of flesh-hungry monsters. It’s not worth it; be patient and let the search meter fill up on its own. Your wits level up over time, decreasing the amount of time it takes to loot.
Taking your time doesn’t necessarily apply to everything else in the game. I usually play like a maniac, running through herds and putting myself through all kinds of danger. I just tend to keep quiet while I’m searching for stuff.
Make the most of that time, too
Remember that time I said that you may want to bring your character back home when they’re getting fatigued? That’s great advice, but I don’t always follow it. I have a tendency to run my characters into the ground before making a return to home base. I’m too busy setting up outposts and finding supplies during the first few in-game days to take it easy. I know that run-down characters run the risk of getting sick or injured, but I’m kind of a hard-ass.
You don’t have to run your guys ragged, but your backpack should be full of loot every time you hit your home base’s welcome mat.
Mobile storage
Another important thing to keep in mind is that vehicles are more than battering rams on wheels. They’re also a great way to store items when you’re on a scavenging run. Walk to the trunk, press Y, and then you can access it like you would a supply cabinet. You’re welcome to fill them with snacks and ammo, but I typically use them for the big supply caches, such as medical supplies, fuel, food, or ammo. A character can haul one of these larger stashes at a time, which isn’t nearly as efficient as a loaded trunk.
Upgrade your base (listen to Lily)
State of Decay can be overwhelming when you first start out. You’re stranded, underpowered, and vulnerable. Moving into your first base helps, but it’s not likely to be in much better shape. Your arrival is a big deal for the existing survivors; who knows how they managed to last this long without you.
Be sure to listen to Lily the radio operator when you’re beginning. She has some pretty decent upgrade advice, and following it nets you some extra influence. That’s the currency you use to call for help, establish outposts, and more. Basically, you want (and need) influence. I typically prioritize getting beds and medical tents set up first, since you want your crew to be as healthy and well-rested as possible. Observation towers are important as well. Make sure to keep your building supplies topped off, too. When those are low, zombies are more likely to make it through your feeble defenses. That’s not great. There’s a reason you’re scavenging, after all.
Prioritize
The world keeps spinning whether you want it to or not in State of Decay. I try to have a plan in mind when I leave home base, but it’s important to be flexible. Lily bombards you with updates on stranded survivors, strangers who need help, and new points of interest to investigate. I’ve given up on trying to please everyone, and the earlier you can do that, the better. Zombie infestations (denoted by a bloody red house) aren’t great, but I don’t focus on clearing those out when someone needs help. I typically veer toward missions that strengthen my relationships with neighbors or lead me to meet new survivors. These events run on timers, so don’t wait too long if there’s something that you really want to investigate. I’ve missed out on missions because I was dinking around too much. Don’t be like me.
Don’t get cocky
Some of the best moments I’ve had in State of Decay revolved around running back to home base with a thread of health remaining or surviving what I thought was going to be a last stand. They’re great memories, and they highlight some of the things that make the game special. Even though the campaigns feature narratives, they’re sparse enough to allow you to make up your own story along the way. For me, stories of close shaves are the best.
At the same time, don’t be a bonehead. If you die, you can retrieve your belongings with another character, but it can be a hassle. Don’t die. Keep some pills in your inventory, and extra ammo or a melee weapon. The Year One Survival Edition gives every survivor a knife – no more slapfights – but you’ve messed up if you don’t have a better weapon on hand. Just because you can last a while without a weapon doesn’t mean it’s something you can maintain.
Don’t get too attached
Occasionally, it’s just your time. You’re pinned in a car between a telephone pole and a stampeding juggernaut. A herd of angry creatures have camped out underneath the water tower you just scaled, and you’re out of ammo. These things happen. Learn from your mistakes and move on. Goodbye random character who kind of looks like Jeremy Renner. You will be missed.