Projekt Z: Beyond Order is an upcoming first-person zombie survival shooter that combines four-player co-op, looting, weapon crafting and character progression with a World War II setting.
Developed by 314 Arts, the game takes place on a secret German island where Nazi forces have been carrying out experiments involving the undead as part of a mysterious programme known as Projekt Z.
Players take control of a group of survivors who must explore the island, uncover what happened there and fight their way through increasingly dangerous hordes of zombies and other hostile creatures.
The game can be played alone or with up to four players online, with four different playable characters available.
Each survivor comes with their own abilities, weapons and skill tree, allowing players to build characters around different roles when playing as part of a team.
A major part of Projekt Z revolves around the Hideout, a persistent base that acts as your main hub between missions.
Players can return to the Hideout to upgrade their characters, craft equipment, customize weapons and prepare for their next trip onto the island.
Resources and blueprints discovered while exploring can also be brought back to the base and used to unlock new weapons, equipment and upgrades.
Weapon customization appears to be particularly important, with players able to construct firearms and modify them using different attachments and upgrades depending on their preferred playstyle.
Looting is another major part of the experience.
While exploring the island, players can search for ammunition, weapons, medical supplies, resources and valuable blueprints.
Some of those supplies can be used immediately, while others can be taken back to the Hideout, sold or used to improve your equipment.
Projekt Z is primarily structured around missions, including both story missions and additional objectives that players can take on from the Hideout.
However, the game also features an Expedition-style mode that allows players to explore the island more freely.
This mode gives players the opportunity to search for hidden loot, hunt zombies, complete side objectives and explore areas outside of the main story missions.
The setting is one of the game’s biggest selling points.
Rather than another modern zombie apocalypse, Projekt Z mixes undead horror with an alternate World War II scenario centred around secret Nazi experiments and attempts to weaponize zombies.
That combination gives the game a feel somewhere between a traditional co-op survival shooter and the more exaggerated zombie modes found in games such as Call of Duty.
There are also broader survival and progression elements surrounding the experience, with players gradually strengthening their characters and Hideout as they recover more resources from the island.
Projekt Z: Beyond Order is currently in development for PC, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S.
The game previously appeared alongside earlier release windows, but the current Steam listing no longer provides a confirmed launch date and instead lists its release as to be announced.
With four-player co-op, extensive weapon customization, persistent progression and a World War II island filled with undead experiments, Projekt Z: Beyond Order could be one to watch for players looking for another co-op zombie shooter with a heavier survival focus.