Dawn of the Zeds (Pre Order Edition: June 2nd thru 30th)

Dawn of The Zeds is a 1-6 player cooperative survival game set in a zombie apocalypse. The undead are marching on your town. The nightmare ends only if you win.

Coming October 2026 | From Hermann Luttmann

The world you knew is gone. Don't look now, but the dead are marching.

A deadly virus has turned ordinary people into vicious, zombie-like killers - the Zeds. They are now converging on your isolated hometown of Farmingdale. The National Guard is fighting its way to you, but you're alone, cut off, and the horde arrives now.

This isn't a game of simply surviving; it's a desperate fight to become the hope of all humankind. The Defense of Farmingdale

In Dawn of the Zeds: Designer's Edition, you must coordinate and deploy the best defense possible across the town and its surrounding villages. As the Zeds advance along multiple, distinct avenues of approach, you'll depend on the bravery of ordinary citizens, who — with the right leadership — can emerge as stalwart heroes.

Your goal is two-fold:

1. Hold the Line: Halt the Zeds' advance by “re-killing” them before they breach the crucial Town Center.
2. Find the Cure: Research, discover, and implement a cure for the vile scourge that drives these monsters, thus helping save the remnants of humanity before it’s too late.

Every decision is a test of skill and nerve. Can you fight off the waves of Zeds while also protecting the townspeople? Will you survive long enough to unearth the cure? In this apocalyptic fever dream, the nightmare ends only with you being either a savior... or merely another zombie snack.

What's New in the Designer's Edition?

Dawn of the Zeds: Designer's Edition is a solitaire and cooperative survival horror game heavily influenced by the iconic States of Siege series. This new edition is a re-imagining of the first and second editions, serving as a comprehensive renewal of the franchise:

 What’s new in Dawn of the Zeds: Designer Edition
 
1) Totally revamped Combat System. Two types of Combat Dice, Special Ability triggers, dice roll mitigation opportunities, and more tactical options for the player. 
 
2) Special Ability mechanism. Every unit in the game has one or more Special Abilities
 
3) Saving the Refugees helps out by generating a Town Guard unit
 
4) New Town Guard civilians: more skilled and better armed than the regular Civilian units.  
 
5) Two new Hero Units. Please welcome Emily Orozco, an aspiring LPGA golfer, and Dwayne "The Mountain" Gooden, a huge brawling bouncer, to the Farmingdale family. 
 
6) Scenario Generation. There are multiple scenarios of varying difficulties, but each can be created and set up in only a few minutes. Each has three Acts and a Finale. 
 
7) New Options For Playing
-- You can use Zeitgeist (Spirit) Token to re-roll Combat Dice,
-- Change the mix of cards to change the difficulty level
-- Add a set of Optional Cards.
-- Increase or decrease deck size to change game length
 
8) New Dedicated Multiplayer Mode for up to 4 players! 
 
9) New Victory Point System that complements the normal narrative

The game design has been re-engineered for a quicker, smoother, and more accessible experience.   All rules are consolidated into a single, concise book, making it easier for both new and returning players.  Most of the original characters and events are back, alongside a sprinkling of brand-new heroes, units, events, and modes of play. 

Uncompromised Horror: This edition maintains the deep horror narrative, thematic events, and engaging fun that made the Dawn of the Zeds franchise a classic. The traditional horror mood is alive and well ... errr, I mean ... undead and not-so-well.

COMPONENTS:

• Mounted Board (11x17")
• 1 Rulebook
• 1 Reference Book
• 2 Player Aids
• 85 Event Cards
• 52 Fate Cards
• 16 Hero Cards
• 10 Custom Dice (10d6)
• 2 Fate Dice (2d6)
• 3 Punchboards
• 4 Wood Cubes
• 6 Standee Bases

Hermann Luttmann Talks About What's Different In The New Edition!

(C) 2025-2026
Published under license by Blue Panther LLC.