Zombies, Run!

What is it?

Now, the thing about Zombies, Run! is that it’s not just a story. It’s actually a running app. The gist of the app is that you are a character in the midst of the Zombie Apocalypse. Everytime you run, you take on the persona of Runner 5 of Abel Township, one of the last bastions of civilization.

Runners using the app listen to audio clips as they run. Over the course of (currently) 9 seasons, Runners 5 of Abel dodge and distract zombies, run vital missions, and make friends (and enemies) of other characters, all while trying to discover the source and, hopefully, a cure to the Zombie Apocalypse.

The Medium

Zombies, Run! has a unique storytelling method. By using the medium of a running app, the creators, Six to Start and Naiomi Alderman, have to create compelling, motivating and strong stories and characters. They cannot rely on visual media – you can’t watch a video or scroll through pictures while you’re running.

It’s not even like a novel or audiobook where characters’ actions are described to you. Instead, it’s up to you to visualize what a character is doing based on a variety of sound cues, such as footfalls, gunshots, or radio static.

The medium is also unusual because you become a part of the story. While you can’t actually affect the storyline as Runner 5 or talk to other characters (at least in game – I’ve gotten some interesting looks when I accidentally yell at characters out loud), you are the main character and Runner 5 goes on some important missions.

By getting to play as Runner 5, you can immerse yourself in the world and the story.

Compelling Story

The story is compelling, and trust me, motivating, especially when zombies start chasing you. Before I started listening, I hated running. Now I consider myself a runner, and always want to find out what will happen next.

The story’s driving question, at least up to where I am in the story (about halfway through Season 3), is “what started the Zombie Apocalypse?”

Before I go on, beware, there are spoilers ahead.

From Mission 1, you are thrown into the midst of the Apocalypse, very literally when your helicopter crashes into a horde of zombies. As you make your way on foot towards Abel, you are warned that you may not be let in unless you detour through the now abandoned hospital to retrieve some CDC files that may help lead you to an answer to that driving question.

Each mission brings you a little closer to the answer, but many missions open a lot of new, secondary questions as well. If you ever want to find the answers, you have to keep running.

Strong Characters

Each character is well fleshed out, with strong characteristics that complement or foil each other perfectly. They are all dynamic, capable of change and they act like real people (a testament to the writers and actors).

Their diversity comes not only through characteristics and personality, but also through ethnicities, sexualities, genders, etc.. As the game is set in England, most of the characters are British, but there are also Canadians, Americans and African Americans, Australians, and mixed ethnicities, such as British-Chinese, among others.

There is also a good mix of genders and sexualities. The game does not make a big deal of its characters being male or female, straight or gay, bi or ace. They just are who they are.

Your character, Runner 5, can be exactly as you are. Other characters never use gendered language about you, referring to you most often as “5,” so whether you identify as male, female or any other gender, you can feel comfortable being the character.

By having such a diverse cast and being vague about Runner 5, Zombies, Run! makes itself very relatable. Runners can see parts of themselves in other characters, and Runner 5 can fit anyone’s identity.

Try it!

Zombies, Run! is an incredible story. The medium adds a new dimension to storytelling, and gets you active while you listen. The storyline itself is interesting and compelling. The characters are relatable and well developed.

If you decided to try it out, get ready for some highs and lows, be ready to laugh and cry (beware of Season 1 Mission 7 “A Voice in the Dark”) while you run. Be careful of responding to characters out loud, or get ready for some weird looks from passersby. And most importantly, run!

Stay safe out there!