Hi! Here’s a new update on the development of The City of Zombies!
As you may know, this is a zombie survival board game designed for kids aged 7 and up. That’s why the visual design is so important — it needs to be engaging, fun, and just the right amount of spooky.
Finding the Right Style
When imagining how the game should look and feel, we had two main sources of inspiration in mind: Rayman Legends and Low Poly 3D models. Both styles are colorful, playful, and anything but scary — making them perfect for a spooky-but-fun experience that younger players can enjoy without being intimidated.
Let’s take a closer look at the design process!
Sketching the Undead
We started with some quick paper-and-pencil sketches to explore different zombie concepts. The goal? Create a fun and memorable design that still gives a sense of increasing danger as players progress through the game. There are three zombie tiers: the Basic Zombie, the Super Zombie, and finally the Zombie Boss.
Below you can see a few early sketches of the Basic Zombie — complete with notes and ideas scribbled in the margins. For example, we originally considered giving zombies only four fingers, but eventually decided on a more traditional five-fingered hand.
From Sketch to Model Sheet
Once we had a direction we liked, we created model sheets for each zombie type. These help define proportions, poses, and details that are useful during the 3D modeling phase. They also guide the creation of a consistent color palette.
For the Basic Zombie — who’s meant to feel aimless and a little confused — we went with classic green skin, a yellowish shirt, and some ripped jeans and shoes.
The Super Zombie is the next level up: bulkier, stronger, and clearly more dangerous. It’s taller, smarter, and should instantly communicate a greater threat to players through its design.
And then there’s the Zombie Boss — a huge, powerful creature that looks worn down but absolutely determined to chase down players and take over the city. This zombie means business.
Why 3D Models?
Once the model sheets were ready, we moved on to building 3D models — starting with the Basic Zombie. You might be wondering: Why create 3D models for a board game?
Our answer: Why not? 😄
There are a few good reasons:
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Familiarity: Today’s kids are used to 3D characters. This style feels friendly and accessible to them.
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Flexibility: Need to tweak a color or a detail later on? With a 3D model, it’s quick and easy — no need to redo a full illustration from scratch.
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Speed: Since the game is still in the prototype phase, being able to iterate quickly is crucial.
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Aesthetics: Simply put… we love how it looks!
Say Hello to Our Basic Zombie
Here’s our “friendly” Basic Zombie, all modeled and ready to be rigged for posing. Next up is the “photo shoot” — aka the rendering phase!
Of course, we couldn’t resist having a little fun with it… so here are a few renders of our mindless buddy dancing around the studio. 🧟♂️💃
If you’re curious to see how the rest of the zombie crew turns out — or want to be the first to know when the game launches — follow us on social media or sign up for our newsletter!
