THE DEAD WE KNEW is a 1–4 player co-op open-world zombie survival game. Your squad is dropped into an outbreak zone: scavenge resources, build and fortify a base, and survive the dead together until you can push deeper.
The core loop
- Scavenge. Loot the world for materials, weapons and supplies before the dead close in.
- Build. Raise walls, traps and a defensible base — fortification is survival.
- Craft. Turn scavenged parts into better gear, defenses and tools.
- Defend. Hold the base against escalating zombie waves, day and night.
- Push deeper. Survive, expand, and uncover more of the outbreak zone.
Co-op roles (announced design)
- Up to 4 players online co-op — split the squad: scavenger, builder, defender, scout.
- Survival is easier together: one gathers, one builds, one holds the line, one reconnoiters.
Five mistakes new squads make
- Spreading too thin — an undefended base is overrun by nightfall.
- Scavenging without a rally point — the squad gets picked off alone.
- Skipping traps — walls alone do not stop a horde.
- Burning supplies early — crafting without a plan wastes rare parts.
- No lookout — the dead flank you while everyone crafts inside.
Exact values (zombie HP, damage, craft costs, wave timers) are not in any public API pre-launch. This page is built from the official announcement and verified Steam metadata; gameplay numbers are filled only with sourced, attributed community verification.
Sources: MAY19 STUDIOSteamDB