Zombies - the game
Created | Updated May 17, 2002
Imagine a number of people slowly staggering around, chasing a mass of screaming victims. Perhaps they're playing Zombies ? A very silly game but potentially very good fun. The game is in fact a variation on a simple game of 'tag' - suitable for any large number of people, either indoors or outdoors.
The idea is that one person starts off as a zombie, who has to
'infect' the other players, simply by touching them. Of course, zombies have a slow lumbering gait, so they should be easy to escape from; but they keep coming. The typical Zombie should have their arms stretched out in front of them slightly, together with a glazed expression and a stiff-legged walk. Just to make sure that people know what's going on, they might even murmur "Zombieee" in a deadpan manner. And once they touch someone, that person becomes a zombie too, adding to the confusion and mayhem. (as you are turned into a zombie, you might even emit a blood-curdling scream, just for effect)
Even this simple version is good fun; but once you know the rules there are a number of interesting variations on this theme.
Firstly, "spontaneous zombie". There is no absolute need to
'announce' the fact that you are going to play Zombies. If you have a large enough crowd of friends (all of whom know how to play however) then at any moment, someone could decide to start a game of Zombies. Imagine the hilarious confusion, when the local pub, or your relaxing family picnic is transformed into a scene of chaos by one person suddenly turning "Zombie". (Picture, if you will, a group of complete strangers staggering around a shopping complex.)
Also, you might try to stop the zombie(s), you might allow one person to be a 'cleric' or 'anti-zombie' who is able to cure zombies. Or you
might think of other ways of stopping the zombie. (Water pistols
perhaps or pillows ?)
Of course the game is doesn't really have a 'winner' in the conventional sense; although it does have a 'competitive' element - it's just fun to play.
Enjoy!
The idea is that one person starts off as a zombie, who has to
'infect' the other players, simply by touching them. Of course, zombies have a slow lumbering gait, so they should be easy to escape from; but they keep coming. The typical Zombie should have their arms stretched out in front of them slightly, together with a glazed expression and a stiff-legged walk. Just to make sure that people know what's going on, they might even murmur "Zombieee" in a deadpan manner. And once they touch someone, that person becomes a zombie too, adding to the confusion and mayhem. (as you are turned into a zombie, you might even emit a blood-curdling scream, just for effect)
Even this simple version is good fun; but once you know the rules there are a number of interesting variations on this theme.
Firstly, "spontaneous zombie". There is no absolute need to
'announce' the fact that you are going to play Zombies. If you have a large enough crowd of friends (all of whom know how to play however) then at any moment, someone could decide to start a game of Zombies. Imagine the hilarious confusion, when the local pub, or your relaxing family picnic is transformed into a scene of chaos by one person suddenly turning "Zombie". (Picture, if you will, a group of complete strangers staggering around a shopping complex.)
Also, you might try to stop the zombie(s), you might allow one person to be a 'cleric' or 'anti-zombie' who is able to cure zombies. Or you
might think of other ways of stopping the zombie. (Water pistols
perhaps or pillows ?)
Of course the game is doesn't really have a 'winner' in the conventional sense; although it does have a 'competitive' element - it's just fun to play.
Enjoy!