The Midnight Walkers offers a compelling concept, combining the intense aspects of the growing extraction shooter genre with a zombie apocalypse setting.
The prospect of battling both zombies and other players, coupled with the risk of losing valuable gear upon defeat, creates a unique sense of immersion. While this premise might appeal to many zombie game enthusiasts, the question remains whether The Midnight Walkers delivers a worthwhile experience.
The Midnight Walkers Emphasizes the “Hard” in Hardcore a Bit Too Much
Although a market exists for highly challenging games, particularly within the extraction shooter category, The Midnight Walkers struggles to achieve the right balance, with its steep learning curve posing a significant barrier for new players.
Many players will find it difficult to grasp the game’s mechanics, effectively scavenge for loot, complete objectives, and contend with various zombie types. Additionally, players must prepare for encounters with other human opponents and master the unique skills of each character class.
The “walkers” (zombies) present a formidable challenge on their own, and being matched against seasoned players can often lead to an unavoidable defeat.
However, as players become more proficient, the game transforms into an exciting and rewarding experience. Even confronting the walkers can be satisfying, as a single misstep can be fatal. Striking an object while attacking with a weapon will stagger the player, complicating combat in confined areas and introducing an additional strategic element.
This strategic consideration becomes even more critical when facing more formidable walkers, including agile runners that attack unpredictably, resilient construction workers and police officers, and powerful “tanks.”
The sheer volume of information and mechanics to learn in the initial matches can be overwhelming, even for players familiar with similar game genres.
It Gets Better, But Sticking Around is the Hard Part
After investing over 10 hours, players typically gain confidence for raids and might even transition to the more challenging, yet highly rewarding, survival game mode. Eventually, players may seek out tougher zombies and prioritize areas containing exceptionally valuable loot.
Looting becomes less daunting, with players simply collecting available items and selling excess. They begin to accumulate effective loadouts and actively engage in combat with other player squads.
Reaching this level of proficiency is a significant challenge, particularly when new players are matched with high-level opponents in the lobby. While players are matched by gear score, this metric does not always accurately reflect a player’s true power. Experienced players can still enter lower gear-score lobbies and dominate, though this issue could be addressed with balancing adjustments and improved queue mechanics.
Class balancing currently presents some challenges, with certain classes proving highly effective in PvP and often becoming essential for squads. Despite this, each class offers a distinct playstyle, and developers have indicated ongoing improvements, with work-in-progress projects visible within the game’s class menus.
In its early access state, The Midnight Walkers shows considerable promise and is in a respectable condition. The game introduces a refreshing take on the zombie genre, making it a worthwhile experience, especially for those who have a team to play with.
