Twilight Creations’ ZOMBIES!!! game turns 20 this year, so what better time to revisit this classic tile game? I remember getting a copy around 2002 or 2003 and playing it frequently. Add in an 80s-appropriate metal soundtrack and a few beers and you’ve got the makings of a fun zombie evening.
The graphics and play design were clearly inspired by a love of the Romero zombie movies, but with an insane 15 expansions and three spinoffs, this game also delves into Evil Dead territory, outer space zombies, zombie dogs, and even alien invaders. The folks at Twilight Creations may have milked this cow too long because I stopped being interested in the expansions at some point and stopped playing the game altogether. That doesn’t stop the original and a handful of the expansions from being classics, though.
The original Zombies!!! is a fun game, albeit one that isn’t very deep. This is a tile-laying and dice game, so there’s not a ton of strategy on tap. Still, there’s something to be said for a game that can be picked up easily, has fun components, and inspires the players to create their own sound effects. If you like board games and zombie movies, this one’s a no-brainer.