Date Z – A Heartbreak or a Zombie Outbreak?

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• DEVELOPER: Mass Creation
• PUBLISHER: We Dig Games
• PLATFORMS: PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S
• GENRE: Dating Simulator
• RELEASE DATE: August 30, 2024
• LAUNCH PRICE: 14.99€
• REVIEWED ON: PC

Imagine this: you’re a senior transferring to a new school. While school life is usually eventless, this place feels different, mysterious, even. Certain areas are off-limits, one teacher is conducting secret research, and strange phenomena haunt your dorm at night. By the end of the week, these oddities culminate in a full-blown zombie apocalypse, and your only hope for survival is… getting a date by Friday. Sounds unbelievable, right? Welcome to Date Z, a visual novel by Mass Creation, where zombies and romance intertwine, and both demand your attention.

Note: This is a review of Date Z and the Romance Completionist Pack DLC.

Love Is Contagious

Date Z blends high school drama, romance, and mystery into an engaging visual novel. Players take on the role of a student who has recently transferred to a small-town school, eager to make friends and succeed academically. However, things quickly take a darker turn, setting off a race for survival. You have until Friday to connect with one of the girls and secure a date that could save your life, a choice that may mean the difference between life and death as a deadly virus outbreak spreads. Choose wisely, every decision shapes your fate in the upcoming zombie apocalypse.

As in any dating simulator, Date Z introduces a diverse cast of romanceable characters: the intelligent Vivica, the kindhearted Patty, the rebellious Alicia, and the curious Bao. Although these girls clearly serve as love interests, there is also a mysterious figure lurking in the shadows, Oriana, who can reveal more about the supernatural events. Each girl has a unique trait that becomes cleverly integrated into the story’s ending, contributing to unraveling the mystery. In my opinion, all the girls are pretty likable, except Patty, who felt overly dramatic and inconsistent. I personally would have preferred Oriana or Jill, the science-loving student who appears as a side character, to take her place in the main cast.

I have to admit that although the game includes elements of high school drama and romance, the mystery itself doesn’t stand out as strongly. In the context of a zombie apocalypse, the cause and circumstances are fairly obvious, you can uncover most of it during your first playthrough, regardless of which ending you choose. And while there are other strange happenings around the school and dormitory, they feel less significant given that the zombie outbreak is essentially unstoppable. Additionally, since the apocalypse doesn’t occur until the very end, after all key decisions have already been made, what could have been the most thrilling part of the game ends up feeling a bit generic, as you’re always met with a similarly tense finale. The exception is Oriana’s route, which is full of puzzles and surprising revelations.

Comic Book Life

The visual style is what truly sets this game apart. Its hand-drawn comic-book aesthetic perfectly complements the casual and intriguing atmosphere. I especially loved that all the characters are animated, a refreshing change compared to many visual novels that rely on static JPG character sprites. The attention to detail is impressive, offering subtle hints about the girls’ personalities and the overarching conspiracy. Although there are occasional visual glitches, they don’t detract from the overall experience. The date scenes are designed to be sensual without revealing too much.

What I really enjoyed about Date Z is that it doesn’t take itself too seriously. Over-the-top dramatic moments, combined with screen shakes and hilarious sound cues, genuinely made me laugh. Whether it was a misunderstanding with a teacher or a comedic dialogue option, the game captured the fun side of teenage life perfectly. My favorite moments were the goofy sound effects that played during intense scenes, nothing beats a classic “dun dun dun” when your whole life seems to be falling apart.

Time to Rewind!

Here’s a small spoiler: you will die within the first 10 minutes, no matter what choices you make. This beginning caught me off guard, but I soon realized it was designed to introduce a special gameplay mechanic, the time rewind device. This tool allows you to return to specific choices or dialogue segments and adjust your responses. I have mixed feelings about this idea, so let’s start with the downsides. I feel that the ability to rewind key decisions undermines the premise of “choices matter.” I’ll admit, I often rewound time to select a better option, whether to gain more affection points with the girls or simply out of curiosity. Honestly, it felt a bit like cheating.

On the other hand, the device shows you the complete timeline for each run, displaying all possible decisions. Not only can you see how many opportunities you have at any moment, but you can also observe the connections between scenes and figure out the best possible outcomes. By completing multiple loops, you can uncover more clues about the outbreak and the characters’ backgrounds. This mechanic not only adds a unique twist to Date Z but also encourages replayability. Moreover, choosing one girl doesn’t limit you to a single ending, there are more possibilities than you might expect. Whether the time-loop mechanic is a helpful addition is ultimately up to you.

Final Thoughts

Date Z is a dating sim that brings many innovative ideas and fresh twists to the visual novel genre. While it has numerous strengths, I believe they could have been developed further to enhance the overall story. The dating mechanics are fairly simple, meaning the biggest “breakthroughs” depend heavily on your narrative choices. In my view, Date Z is an experience that will either resonate with the player or not. It certainly has both flaws and strengths, so I encourage you to try it yourself. Just remember: zombies aren’t meant for dating – keep your distance!

Review copy provided by the publisher