#SpookySpread- 7 Days to Die: Survival Horror With an Emphasis on Survival

7 Days to Die. No, I am not talking about the Ring (though I could. All day. Seriously). 7 Days to Die is the name of a survival horror video game. And it is the topic of today's #SpookySpread. So let's dive right in and take a look at this survival horror, with an emphasis on survival.

7 Days to Die Official Art

I am sure that most people reading this have heard of Minecraft, and many may even have played it at some point. Well, 7 Days to Die takes a lot of Minecraft's staple elements, and tweaks them to create a more mature setting. And of course, it adds some of its own disgustingly wonderful charm. Bloated zombies and all.

The general essence of this game is to spend seven days preparing for the blood moon on the seventh night, which just drives the zombies crazy. And if you do a good job and survive this, you get to repeat the cycle over and over in the wasteland you once called home. How and what do you prepare though? Good question!

A good first priority would be to find shelter. Zombies during the day aren't too difficult to manage, but at night they move much faster (and on that seventh night, there will be waves and waves of them to worry about). You can either build your own home, or you can fortify one of the many preexisting buildings that still stand in the world. Then, definitely place down a bed of some sort. That way, your home will appear on the map, and you will spawn there when you die (trust me, it'll happen, at least in the first few days while you're still getting the hang of things).

Could this be your new home?

Gathering building supplies and crafting from them is very similar to Minecraft. You can dig for dirt, chop down trees for wood, and chip away at rocks for stone and iron. Then, from your backpack you can use these materials to create all sorts of different things, from doors and construction blocks, to campfires and storage boxes. You can craft even more complicated things once you have access to a forge and workbench. 

Don't get so caught up in building that you neglect your basic human needs though! You will need to eat and drink. You can get too hot or too cold. You can become ill and injured. Obviously it is good to avoid death, but in 7 Days to Die it adds the extra incentive of max stamina and health. Every time you die, these actually get lower, thus making it easier to die again. You can raise it, but you need to keep on top of your wellness (which can be improved by decent meals and staying hydrated).

Don't drink from the river... trust me.

Have I made it sound like there is a lot to manage in this game? Yes? Good, because there is. It isn't overly complicated, and you will be informed if your character has been infected by a rabid dog, or is bleeding out, or even if they contract dysentery from drinking murky water you found in the river but didn't boil at the campfire (that one is fun...). You will know if you are dying of heatstroke, or freezing. It is just a matter of taking the correct step to ensure that none of this leads to your death (removing or putting on clothing, taking the appropriate medicine, using bandages, eating and drinking, and so on).

Alright, so you have your shelter, you're healthy, and you're itching to do something. Now is the time to explore your surroundings. Pick a direction, and walk in it. As you go, collect resources and materials. Kill the zombies you come across, and don't forget to loot them. You never know what you might find. Chop the door to that house down, and take everything you can get your hands on (come on, breaking and entering isn't a crime during the zombie apocalypse). Did you hear a plane overhead? That's what remains of the government, dropping off some medical supplies and schematics for you. You should definitely go pick that up. Have you come across a note, with either a treasure map or a challenge on it? Why not give them a go? But, do make sure to return home before dark. And remember, if you die out there, you'll wake up back at home, and then you'll have to trek out again and pick up the backpack you dropped.

Managing and organising resources may be a good activity at night time.

Now it's night time, and you don't want to be out of your home. So, what can you do with your time as you wait for the dawn? For all of the things you need to keep an eye on, sleep is not one of them. Instead, you could make some weapons, or cook some food. Or maybe you built an observation deck on your home, in which case, you can stand out there and keep an eye on things in relative safety. Just remember that heat, smells and sound can attract unwanted attention.

Then there is the dreaded seventh night. The zombies come hard and fast, and they are even more intent on eating you than usual. If you feel confident in your home's defences and fortification, you could stay inside and listen to the zombies attempt to break in (not a crime, remember?). Or, you can stand out on your observation deck, and shoot them with your bow/crossbow/gun before they even get to your house. You survived? Good job! See you again this time next week, it'll be fun.

I have already mentioned the similarities that 7 Days to Die has to Minecraft, but as I played I also noticed some similarities to another action survival horror, Dying Light. Graphically speaking, these games are leagues apart, and 7 Days to Die has a much simpler, if present at all narrative. But, as you fight to survive, you level up, and as you level up, you receive points. You can then use these points to purchase upgrades for your skills (some of which increase naturally as well- when you run, your athletics increases, but you can also invest points into it, for example). Looting abandoned properties, and the bodies of zombies occurs in both games as well. So does the construction, repairing, and upgrading of weapons. Both games even feature airdrops. And at nighttime, the zombies in each of these games become stronger and faster.

Shoot it!!!

Does 7 Days to Die sound like a lot of fun, but you'd rather buy a game that you can play cooperatively with someone else? Not a problem. Much like Dying Light, 7 Days to Die can be played online (with strangers or with friends). Opening your game to the public adds additional layers of danger, as other players can steal your hard to acquire possessions, damage your home, or even kill you outright. If that isn't your cup of tea, play a private game with a friend. Have a second controller and a willing teammate? Couch co-op is also a fun option here, and being able to split up activities between two people takes off a lot of the pressure as you work together to survive. My husband and I play together, and we have found a routine that works for us. His skills in gun crafting and construction have become quite high, while my skill in medicine and scavenging are up there. Our different play styles and skill sets really bring something refreshing to a game that can be considered repetitive in nature.

Overall, 7 Days to Die is an enjoyable game, especially if you like resource management and shooting zombies (who doesn't, really). While classified as a survival horror, for most people it probably won't really be scary, but the survival aspect is definitely present. And, considering how much fun I have had playing it, I thought it deserved a mention in #SpookySpread.

Can't wait until next Wednesday for more? Worry not! Check out @TheGamerSpread on Twitter for more content (spooky or otherwise), and feel free to check out my personal Twitter @gsrebecka. And remember, stay spooky!