GAME REVIEW / 77/100 / ORIGINAL HANDS-ON GAMEPLAY
A low-poly city full of zombies and mutated horrors might not sound like unfamiliar territory, but Outbreak: Dead City finds a few memorable surprises in its compact first-person adventure. What begins as a fairly straightforward mission through infected streets gradually introduces stranger enemies, more demanding boss encounters and a story that knows when to end.
Finding the rhythm of the fight
Our first impressions were mixed. An early boss fight initially felt like an abrupt difficulty spike, but a second attempt revealed the solution: dodge more deliberately and make better use of the ammunition available. Once that approach clicked, the encounter felt less unfair and more like a lesson in the game’s expectations.
The basic shooting and evasion loop is accessible, but it can become repetitive across the adventure. Some enemies are dealt with in much the same way as the last. Fortunately, the more unusual mutants give the combat occasional bursts of personality. The final boss, an enormous creature reminiscent of a nightmarish triceratops, is a particularly memorable sight.
A distinctive look, with navigation problems
The deliberately low-poly presentation gives the world a recognisable visual identity, while the variety of enemy shapes helps individual encounters stand out. Sound is less consistently prominent, although boss encounters give the audio more impact.
Navigation caused more frustration. At times, the objective marker was so distant that it became a tiny dot rather than a helpful direction. It was often only when we moved closer that the triangular indicator became readable enough to work out where to go. These moments did not dominate the entire game, but they interrupted its flow.
A short adventure that reaches an ending
The playthrough lasted a few hours on Easy difficulty. A higher setting could change the challenge, but that is not something this assessment can judge. The shorter runtime was not entirely a drawback: the story reached a proper conclusion, and the characters encountered along the way, including two who joined the adventure, received closure.
Verdict
77/100. Outbreak: Dead City is not a reinvention of the zombie shooter. Its repetitive combat and occasional navigation confusion are real limitations. But its oddball mutants, memorable bosses and complete, manageable adventure make it more enjoyable than the first hour suggests. There is a decent game beneath the rough edges.
Outbreak: Dead City launched on 4 November 2026 for PC and consoles, confirmed by publisher Eastasiasoft and the live Xbox store listing. Developer: ScrapGear Studio. Publisher: Eastasiasoft Limited.
Review disclosure: This article is based on an original completed playthrough manuscript and authentic contributor-captured screenshots received 31 October 2026. The 77/100 score reflects the editorial verdict on the completed playthrough. No guarantee of favourable coverage was offered in exchange for access.