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Getting Started in Project Zomboid

Project Zomboid is a hardcore simulation where your eventual death is inevitable. Survival is your only goal. When you spawn into Knox Country, you start with nothing. This guide covers how to survive your first few days before the water and power shut off.

The First Day Priority List​

When you spawn inside a house, immediately close the curtains or blinds. Zombies can see you through windows. Once secure, follow this sequence:

  1. Find a weapon: Check the kitchen for a rolling pin, frying pan, or meat cleaver. Almost anything is better than bare hands.
  2. Find a bag: Look in closets and school bags. Garbage bags work in a pinch. You need carrying capacity to haul loot.
  3. Watch Life and Living TV: Tune any television to the Life and Living channel. On Day 1, the first accessible broadcast is Cooking at 12:00 PM (the 6:00 AM slot is missed since standard runs start at 9:00 AM). From Day 2 to 7, broadcasts run at 6:00 AM, 12:00 PM, and 6:00 PM. Day 8 has broadcasts at 6:00 AM and 12:00 PM. Day 9 has a final 6:00 AM broadcast before the signal dies forever.
    • XP Multipliers: Experience is distributed in ticks. Read the corresponding skill book before watching to multiply these ticks and skip the early-game grind.
  4. Scavenge food: Prioritize fresh food like fruit and vegetables from refrigerators. Save canned goods for later when the power fails and fresh food rots.
  5. Fill water containers: Fill cooking pots, saucepans, and empty bottles with water from the sink. The municipal water supply shuts off randomly within the first month.

Managing Needs​

Your character has physical and mental needs represented by Moodles on the right side of the screen. Keep an eye on them.

  • Hunger and Thirst: Eat and drink regularly. Being well-fed grants a small strength bonus and healing factor.
  • Fatigue: You need sleep. Fighting while tired drastically reduces your melee damage and vision radius.
  • Panic: Facing zombies causes panic. High panic reduces weapon accuracy and critical hit chance. Beta blockers stop panic temporarily.
  • Boredom and Depression: Staying indoors too long makes your character depressed, slowing down actions. Read books, eat high-quality meals, or step outside to fix this.

Sneaking and Evasion​

Running attracts zombies. Always walk or sneak when exploring. Press C to crouch and reduce your noise profile. Use fences and trees to break line of sight if a horde spots you.

Fighting more than two zombies at once is a death sentence for a new character. Backpedal while swinging your weapon. If things get overwhelming, turn around and walk away. You walk faster than the default shambler zombies. Save sprinting for absolute emergencies, as it drains stamina quickly.

Once you survive your first week, you need to transition to long-term survival. Check out these guides: