Project Zomboid: 7 Beginner Tips (2024)

While Project Zomboid has a great tutorial for teaching bare-bones mechanics, players will still need a guiding hand to survive and thrive. The game is always expanding and adding new content for players to try.

Players will have to manage lots of information and tasks from moodles, the best weapons to use, to figure out how to start a farm, and what to do when out of things to do. These tips will give vital information for players to survive longer, set up a good starter base, and inform players of custom sandbox settings to change to make the game more enjoyable to play.

7 Map & Location

Takeaway: Starting At Beginner Friendly Area

There are four options for towns to spawn in when starting with Project Zomboid. All towns have their pros and cons, but Rosewood is an excellent start for new players.

Rosewood has a low zombie population and offers excellent areas to loot. Players can learn the game mechanics without feeling overwhelmed by a larger zombie population. Once players get a feel for Rosewood, they can drive to another area for more loot. Muldraugh is a spawn point for players once they get the hang of the game.

6 Sandbox Settings

Takeaway: Tweak Settings For Personal Enjoyment

Opting for custom difficulty is a great way to tailor the game's experience to be a little more forgiving. Players can turn off zombie respawn by setting it to 0. This makes clearing out areas rewarding by creating safe zones.

Getting scratched and bit is part of an all too common experience of a new player's journey. Gamers can remove the punishing repercussions and give more time to learn the game by changing the transmission to saliva only, meaning that only bites will infect the player.

Alternatively, players can set infection transmission to none to give even more wiggle room to learn the game peacefully. Sandbox settings give players lots of freedom to spice up the game or make it easier, or less grindy, by increasing XP gain.

5 Traits & Starting Profession

Takeaway: Use Traits Wisely

Traits and occupations can make a big difference in Project Zomboid. Some negative traits have small downsides that can be easily negated and provide extra trait points at little cost. Smoker gives 4 trait points and will have no effects if players have a smoke once their character becomes anxious.

High thirst gives 6 trait points and requires that players only carry more water on their journeys. Gamers can't go wrong with strength and fitness-increasing traits for positive traits. Trait picks generally depend on playstyle, players who spend most of their time outdoors will benefit most from the outdoorsman trait, and Cat's Eyes is handy for players who spend a lot of time outdoors at night.

4 Starter Base

Takeaway: Find House In Central Area

The carry limit in Project Zomboid is a massive limit for players, and a backpack can only help so much. Finding a safe house to store valuable and heavy loot is an essential step in a new player's journey. Finding a house with two floors is a great step towards building a starter base.

With nails, a hammer, and sheet rope, players can create a makeshift rope from the 2nd-floor windows to quickly flee the house if it is flooded with zeds. Adding barricades to the windows is helpful, but keeping quiet and adding sheets over doors and windows will help keep a low profile. As for the area, picking a prime location with ample yard space for farming and water collection is a great way to future-proof a house.

3 Weapons To Use

Takeaway: Long Range Melee Weapons For Beginners

Without a solid getaway plan, using guns in Project Zomboid is a fast way to die as they will attract a hoard of zeds. Melee weapons will be the bread and butter for taking down zombies in most cases.

High durability weapons are the safest bet as having a weapon break during a heated moment will leave players defenseless. Some of the best weapons to use are fire axes and crowbars. Once players level up a weapon skill, their character will become more lethal with that weapon type. Opting for long-range weapons reduces the risk of getting bit during combat.

2 Power

Takeaway: Use Generator To Power Starter Base

By default, power will be cut off within 30 days. This is the first primary challenge that players must navigate. Power can be returned by finding a generator and the iconic 'How To Use Generators' magazine. Finding the magazine is based on luck, but searching in libraries or mailboxes will net good results.

Generators have a good chance of being inside a garage. After reading the magazine and transporting the generator to a starter base, players will need to find a consistent source of fuel. Gas tanks can siphon cars, but finding a gas station is the best way to obtain gas. Once the power goes out, gas stations will require a nearby working generator to get the gas pumps working again.

1 Water

Takeaway: Build Rain Collectors For Drinking & Future Farming

Aside from its requirement for survival, players will need a consistent water source for their farms in mid-game. Rain collector barrels will serve as the primary water collection method for players. One rain collector barrel will need 4 planks, 4 nails, and 4 garbage bags.

Garbage bags can easily be found in any garbage bin and should be stockpiled during the early game, especially since they do not weigh much. Players will need to level up carpentry to level 4 to build a rain collector barrel. Building around 5 rain collector barrels will ensure players never run out of water for washing clothes, watering crops, and water to drink. Water obtained from rain collectors must be purified in a microwave using a bottle.

Project Zomboid

Platform(s)

PC

Released

November 8, 2013

Developer(s)

The Indie Stone

Genre(s)

Survival Horror