Zombie survival games tends to be grim and horrifying, but that’s not the case with developer Grapes Pickers’ new title, which blends lighthearted humor with tense encounters against hordes of the dancing undead.

At its core, Survival Machine is a journey across a zombie-infested land aboard a colossal machine. Players can explore alone or team up with up to three friends in a world designed to balance combat, exploration, base building and resource gathering. Solo adventurers will find the challenge tuned to their pace, while groups will face tougher encounters and resource management that scale with player count. Three tiers of difficulty ensure that each player can find a setting that feels just right.

The Early Access release delivers between 10–15 hours of gameplay and introduces you to the Frontier region, a sprawling wilderness filled with verdant forests, gentle hills and hidden dangers. As survivors venture forth they will meet the first wave of zombies and learn how to overcome landslides, collapsed bridges and sealed gates that block the path of your machine. Each obstacle tests a different skill, from solving environmental puzzles to fending off waves of undead hordes.

Scattered across the map are 34 points of interest. Some sites focus on platforming challenges that reward agility. Others open into brutal arenas where strategic combat is key. And a few present puzzles that demand careful thought. Completing these locations yields valuable supplies and gear upgrades. Beyond these known landmarks lie secret areas concealed in remote corners. Only players with sharp eyes and a willingness to experiment will uncover the legendary loot hidden there.

Equipment choices range from basic tools like axes, pickaxes and hammers to specialized sets that grant bonuses. The Woodcutter set boosts axe efficiency, while the Gravekeeper set protects your inventory on death and the Ironbound set slows item wear and tear. The Shadowstep set removes stamina costs for dodges. Finding and equipping these sets adds another layer of strategy to how you tackle each challenge.

Combat options include simple clubs and swords and sophisticated ranged weapons such as slingshots, bows and a powerful repeater rifle with a six-round magazine. Each firearm has a fast-reload mechanic that can deliver extra damage on a perfect reload. Shields also play a vital role, offering not just protection but special effects on perfect blocks like stunning zombies or restoring health. For those who prefer explosive solutions, the bomb thrower, light cannon and ballista offer heavy support while an array of traps can slow, damage or burn enemies when ammunition runs low.

Survival Machine welcomes players from around the globe with full voice and text support in more than twenty languages including English, Spanish, Chinese, French, German, Portuguese, Polish, Russian, Italian, Turkish, Dutch, Scandinavian languages, Japanese and Korean.

Early Access marks a starting point rather than an ending. The developers plan to evolve the game based on community feedback all the way to the final 1.0 release, with much more content coming over the next 12 months and beyond.

Survival Machine is now available in Early Access on Steam for $19.99 and includes a 20% launch discount to celebrate reaching the 170k wishlists milestone.