Zombie Kidz Evolution
$22.95
Zombie Kidz Evolution at a Glance
| Game Type Zombies Cooperative Point to Point Movement Dice Rolling | Play Time 15 mins | Skill/Complexity (1.8 - 5) Light Strategic for Kids |
| Age 7+ | Publisher(s) Le Scorpion Masqué | Published 2018 |
| Categories Family / Teens / Children's | Players 2 - 4 | Rules Manual Official Rules PDF |
| Our Rating 9.6/10 | Cost Approx $22.95 |
About – Description
Le Scorpion Masqué published the children’s board game Zombie Kidz Evolution in 2018 which was the first Legacy type game created for kids.
What’s with the Legacy type game stuff?
Glad you asked! The simplest explanation is that Legacy style games have rules and components that can permanently change and affect the game which are not usually reversed. The changes that happen in this game do not interfere with the board and involves opening envelopes which is more like an advancement to the next level like a video game.
Zombie Kidz Evolution is a reworking of Zombie Kidz board game that was published in 2013 and there is a lot of similarities between them. Zombie Kidz Evolution is a lot better in our experience.
The theme is excellent and based on Zombies taking over the kids school, which might be ideal for classes that bore the life out of kids, however, they can also take over their favorite places like the gym and library as well. So, exterminate those Zombies, cooperatively…….you’ll be all be working together against the game.
A game plays out for around 5 – 15 minutes and it’s cooperative – players cooperate and play against the game which should reduce squabbles.
Two great awards and honors went to this game, the 2019 UK Games Expo Best Children’s Game People’s Choice Winner and 2019 As d’Or – Jeu de l’Année Enfant Nominee, so it’s up there with 2019’s top games.
Who’s it best suited for?
Most kids are going to love playing this game, even if they’re not fans of anything Zombie like. The manufacturers age recommendation is age 7 and up, although kids from around age 5 should be able to understand the rules and play with a little guidance.
It’s also fun as a parent to play along with kids, and children will need guidance playing at first to understand the rules.
Skill/Complexity
Of course a kids game like Zombie Kidz Evolution can’t be overly complex and difficult to play. It does advance more as the game goes along and envelopes are opened with new rules to be applied that really engages the kids, and then waiting to see what’s in the envelope is kind of exciting.
Setting up, Basics of How to Play & Rules
It only takes a few minutes to get set up which involves placing the board on the table, either side which depends on if two or three and four players are playing. A two player game uses the nighttime side and 3 or 4 players use the daytime side. You’ll also have the other components ready to place and use including the placing the heroes inside the standees.
Object of Game:
The object of the game is to eliminate all the Zombies together as a team and lock up the school to prevent any getting inside. You either all win as a team or lose as a team to the game and Zombies.
How to we eliminate the Zombies out of our School?
At first Zombie cards are placed on the board in the school entryway while other Zombies (cards) are waiting to get in. Each player in turn will roll the die and match a Zombie to be placed inside the school with what appears on the die (white = no Zombie can enter), and then that player decides on what effective action to take that will hopefully remove a Zombie.
The game continues in that way of following what appears on the die while also trying to lock entryways. When you have locked all the entrances you have won, however, if there are no more Zombie cards to add on a turn you have lost the game.
That’s the basics of the game with additional rules in between.
What’s Next? Evolution of the Game
Here’s a great aspect of the game for kids and where the Legacy stuff comes in to play that I mentioned earlier.
At the back of the rule book you’ll find a progress chart to place brain stickers on certain spots and when you get to various spots on the chart you’ll be able to open an envelope for the next game that will also guide you on the upcoming game.
The stickers for the progress chart also matches missions completed that you can refer to in the rule book to get yourselves some trophies.
Envelopes:
So, the envelopes add additional rules to play which keeps the game fresh and fun. There’s a total of 13 sealed envelopes. This Legacy aspect of the game really elevates it and takes it in various interesting directions while keeping the children wanting to play more games to get to the next envelope.
I’m not going to reveal what any of the envelopes say inside as it’s going to spoil the fun!
Likes & Dislikes
There’s nothing to dislike about Zombie Kidz Evolution. It has a fun theme that most kids are going to engage with, and it also has the Legacy aspect that keeps kids wanting to play more and more (addictive).
Adding the achievement aspect of completing missions and completing the progress chart is a great addition that was well thought through by the designer to keep kids engaged. And then the Legacy envelope stuff nails it for getting kids to replay again and again.
Final Thoughts
Zombie Kidz Evolution is a springboard for sure for the future of Legacy (rules or component changes) based board games for kids. It all works so surprisingly well and there isn’t many kids out there that wouldn’t love playing.
