The mechanics are simple. The heroes are few, the zombies are numerous. The heroes roll more dice, the zombies win a tie. The heroes die after multiple hits, the zombies don't die unless you roll doubles. The game is spent hustling for weapons that give you more dice in combat, but it takes time to search... and time is something the heroes can't spare.

The game starts off with a partially randomized board and a variable set of victory conditions. After you choose one person to play the zombies, the rest of the players draw two heroes. Fashioned after traditional horror movie archetypes, each hero has a different starting location, and each has special abilities that increase their odds of survival. The zombies are slow and have a few mandated rules on how they behave, but the zombie player gets a handful of cards that change the circumstances behind their ponderous swarm.

When Zombies are beaten in combat, they are merely fended off by the hero. Only if the hero rolls doubles on their attack, do the zombies fall back into the dirt. The heroes will need to search the various buildings in hope of random weaponry and hope that weaponry doesn't run out of ammunition after each use. Certain characters get benefits from certain weapons, while others aren't allowed to use some types. Searching for weaponry or healing requires a hero not move for one turn, and the last thing the heroes need to do is stop moving. With a steady drumbeat of shuffling feet, the walking dead will slowly consume the board.

Each turn, the zombies roll two dice and add more zombies to the board if they beat the number currently on the board. Each turn, certain characters are able to heal others while others heal themselves. The ever-present handful of zombie cards will oppress any attempts to wrest control from the zombies, so it's a constant dance for the heroes. It has a great beat... and I like it.

There are few games that make me feel this much joy on a first play. If the bourbon hasn't amplified the little hands on the clock, we probably would have played again. This is good, simple, repeatable fun. I can't wait to play again.