State of Decay 2 Review (Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S & PC)

I’m just over a quarter mile away from home, with seven rucksacks of building materials, ammunition and medical supplies loaded in the trunk, a Plague Heart that’s spouting out hordes of zombies less than a hundred yards away, and an infected citizen back at the infirmary who has less than five minutes to receive a cure before they lean into their undead tendencies and obliterate the entire community. I have little to no fuel in the tank, an inadequate pocket blade, and an entire colony that is hell-bent on finding somewhere new for us to call home—a fortified fire station that can handle a garden for greater yields, a watchtower that can withstand monumental damage, and a medical ward that can treat the most tainted of hearts. Oh, and not to mention a “curveball” that needs squashing before the end of the day. Zombies, for some reason, are volatile for the next twenty-four hours. And I’m barely scraping the tip of the iceberg here. Thanks, State of Decay.

It almost sounds as if I’m bad mouthing Undead Labs, and that I’m making it out that the act of juggling a hundred jobs at once is a daunting process. The truth is, though, that every dark cloud here has a silver lining. It doesn’t always feel like a well-oiled machine, but little by little, that very machine often churns out fragments of competent human intelligence and a reason to push on. In one moment it can appear that all hope is lost, and that the community is on the brink of collapse. But then, out of the blue, a rucksack will appear at the locker. More resources provide us with stronger facilities and defenses, and having more survivors grants us additional soldiers, gardeners, and traders to help scavenge for better upgrades and items that can be exchanged for more Influence and perks.

In the first State of Decay, I never really thought about the consequences of my actions; I was far too busy ransacking abandoned homes and learning to keep myself alive rather than those who were less fortunate than I. However, when it came to finding a foothold in the second chapter, the pressure soon rose to an almost unprecedented level. It was no longer about foraging for supplies; it was about eliminating threats—Plague Hearts, for example—and ensuring that unspoken infections weren’t capable of funneling a deadly disease into the ecosystem. The world was bigger, and the pressures of climate change were loftier than ever. Frankly, I had a lot more to think about. Vehicles needed a constant supply of fuel; bunk beds required a daily supply of building materials; and hostile enclaves needed to be squashed before they could abolish our scavengers.

Suffice it to say that, as far as surviving the zombie apocalypse goes, State of Decay 2 gave me more than enough to ponder and wean. In this world, it wasn’t just about scavenging for materials and keeping one or two heads above water; it was about building an ironclad infrastructure that could not only withstand the ongoing downfall of the economy, but prosper in the aftermath of catastrophe. It was about deciding how to lead, how to evolve, and how to survive. Would I branch out and take matters into my own hands? Would I locate a community and help it grow? Or, would I take on the responsibilities of a Warlord and wage wars with other enclaves? At times it felt as if I had too much weight on my shoulders. But then, I’d find something to keep me going — another base, another warehouse, or another weapon to help me dismantle a local Plague Heart.

Thankfully, State of Decay 2 wasn’t all about survival. Well, it was, but it was also about freedom. Unlike the first sequence that almost forced me to colonize the apocalypse, the second chapter gave me a lot more wriggle room to explore various possibilities. And there was a lot to consider, too, with even more traits to upgrade, Heroes and Legacy characters to unlock, swaths of buildings to ransack, and a sizable suite of avenues to navigate. Consequences, too, doubled in size, and frequent curveballs made me think outside of the box. The core experience was still alive, but I had so much more to learn. And with a world that was a heck of a lot bigger than the first, it meant that I couldn’t just hop between enclaves. Instead, I had to strategize over the course of the journey, all whilst keeping a steady flow of materials, meds, and ammo in the locker. It wasn’t just the case of exploring and stockpiling; it was a strenuous process that involved a lot of legwork, a lot of casualties, and a monstrous amount of conflicts, both internal and external.

On the bright side, State of Decay 2 felt like a better game all around. Graphically, it was leaps and bounds above its predecessor. Moreover, from a gameplay point of view, everything felt more fluid and a lot less wooden. Characters were more fleshed out; skill sets were more complex; and progression involved a significant amount of legwork. Yet, it was a lot of fun, even when it meant traveling back and forth to find remedies, materials, and other survivors to onboard. With more missions to complete, base upgrades to chip away at, and a ton of Leader scenarios to tackle, State of Decay 2 just felt like a much, much meatier experience, and not so much of a cheap rehash of its forefather.

Verdict

State of Decay 2 builds on the previous installment with a fresh and fully revitalized survival-based base-crafting system that allows for more maneuverability, more flexibility, and a greater variety of gameplay options and legacy features. With an improved world design and a lofty amount of customization, missions, and character-building facets, it doesn’t just feel like an extension to the original, but a fully-fledged sequel that bears all of the mouth-watering boons of a great game. It might not be everyone’s cup of tea, but it’s safe to say that, if you happened to enjoy the first leg of the journey, then you’ll absolutely adore this one. It’s bigger, better, and above all, Undead Labs’ one true masterpiece in the zombie field.