They Are Coming!

there are some areas of frustration (those mines? don't need to be there) and moments of jank, but all around, this is pretty okay. you can do worse than this, especially if you get it on sale or in a bundle.

They Are Coming! is an indie action title developed and published by Wild Pepper Games that flips the traditional zombie survival formula on its head by placing players in control of the undead rather than humanity’s defenders. Set against the chaotic backdrop of World War II, the game introduces a fictional scenario in which a failed wartime experiment unleashes a zombie outbreak across the battlefield. Rather than focusing on horror or suspense, it embraces a chaotic, almost tongue-in-cheek tone that prioritizes arcade-style destruction and relentless forward momentum. The central gameplay loop is built around growth through consumption. You begin as a lone zombie navigating hostile territory filled with soldiers and civilians armed with machine guns, mortars, and heavy artillery. Every successful attack adds another body to your horde, transforming your fragile beginnings into a swelling mass of undead. This escalating scale is the game’s core appeal: watching your single character evolve into a chaotic wave of zombies crashing against human defenses provides a tangible sense of progression. The simplicity of movement and attack controls makes it easy to jump into the action without a steep learning curve. As your numbers increase, positioning becomes more important. Defensive emplacements such as machine gun nests and armored vehicles can quickly decimate a poorly managed horde. While the mechanics remain straightforward, there is a light strategic layer in deciding how to approach fortified areas. Charging directly into concentrated firepower can wipe out much of your army, while flanking or baiting defenders into open areas offers better odds of survival. The game’s challenge stems less from complex skill trees or upgrades and more from adapting to escalating threats as maps become denser with obstacles. Visually, They Are Coming! adopts a stylized and somewhat exaggerated aesthetic that emphasizes clarity over realism. The battlefield environments are functional, ensuring that players can easily identify enemy units, hazards, and pathways even amid chaotic swarms. Explosions, gunfire, and zombie movement are presented in a way that prioritizes readability during intense sequences. The sound design complements the action with frantic audio cues, reinforcing the scale of conflict as gunfire and explosions mix with the growls of the undead. However, the game’s simplicity can also become its limitation. While the initial novelty of commanding a growing zombie army is engaging, the lack of evolving mechanics or deeper progression systems may lead to repetition over extended sessions. Levels often revolve around similar objectives: advance, consume, survive defensive countermeasures, and push forward again. Without substantial variation in mission structure or meaningful customization options, the experience can feel somewhat cyclical once players have mastered its core systems. Difficulty spikes can also influence player perception. Some encounters demand precise timing and careful maneuvering to overcome heavily fortified positions, and the absence of flexible difficulty scaling may frustrate those unprepared for sudden surges in enemy firepower. At the same time, these moments can create satisfying victories when a well-timed assault successfully overwhelms a seemingly impossible defense. Ultimately, They Are Coming! succeeds in delivering a fast-paced, unconventional zombie action experience centered on scale and chaos. It offers an entertaining twist on the genre by casting players as the unstoppable horde rather than its prey. While its arcade-focused design and limited depth may not satisfy players seeking complex strategy systems or long-term progression, it provides bursts of energetic, destructive fun. For those intrigued by the concept of leading an ever-growing army of undead across a war-torn battlefield, it delivers a distinctive and chaotic take on zombie warfare. Rating: 5/10