Project Zomboid, the isometric zombie survival title from independent studio The Indie Stone, has had a long and complicated development. Although the game first released as a tech demo all the way back in 2011, the studio suffered multiple setbacks, including both digital and real-life thefts. However, development has continued for the last decade, and recently Project Zomboid saw its biggest update yet.
The start of any Project Zomboid game begins with choosing a starting town. Although the game doesn't give much useful information to go on, making the right choice for where to start can make a huge difference to a player's chance of survival against the zombie hordes.
The Best Starting Location for New Players: Rosewood
Project Zomboid isn't an easy game, and new players can expect to suffer a few deaths before they get to grips with the mechanics of zombie survival. In order to give themselves the best chance, players will need to find an area with low amounts of zombies, high amounts of loot, and plenty of good buildings to use for shelter. Therefore, it's strongly recommended that beginners choose to start in the town of Rosewood.
Rosewood is probably the easiest starting location in the game as its small size and rural location guarantee a low zombie population. There are a few isolated farmhouses outside the town that make good starting bases, and a construction site in the south-west that's a great spot to find building supplies. However, inexperienced players should steer clear of the zombie-infested prison to the north-west of Rosewood, as it's much more dangerous than the town itself.
The Best Starting Location for Experienced Players: Muldraugh
Although Rosewood provides a gentle start for newer players, it doesn't offer much in the way of interesting buildings or loot. Players looking for a more challenging but rewarding start should pick Muldraugh instead. Although it's still a small town, Muldraugh is much bigger than Rosewood, and contains a larger variety of looting opportunities.
Places of interest in Muldraugh include Cortman Medical in the south of the town, which contains a huge amount of medical supplies. There are also several warehouses in the west side of the town, which can be a great source of materials for base construction. Finally, players looking for a supply of food will be able to find many bars and restaurants by following the main road through town. All these opportunities come at the cost of a much higher zombie population than Rosewood, but with stealth and evasion, it's possible to make a good start in Muldraugh.
Project Zomboid is available now for PC.