Have you exhausted the many supermarket simulator options available on steam? Are you looking for something that scratches that itch whilst looking for something a little bit unique? Enter Zombutcher by Odius. In this butcher shop simulator you take up the reigns as a zombie butcher selling animal produce by day. By night, you lock the shutters and start selling human meat to the undead who are waiting just outside your basement. The premise of Zombutcher makes it stand out immediately due to the absolute craziness of a concept. Does the oddity live up to the hype and deseve a place in your Steam library though? We played it to find out just how good this game was.
Zombutcher is currently £11.75 on Steam.
Brains…. brains… brai- Oh. Sorry. Packaged chicken is $5.
Gameplay
Zombutcher takes the standard store simulator and adds a little flair. When first loading up, I wasn’t sure what to expect; I went in completely blind. At first glance, I thought the aim of the game was to be the one chopping up the zombies. That is not the case. After a quick, seemingly normal tutorial, you’re thrown into the real depths of Zombutcher. Once past the tutorial, you’ve got debts to pay and zombies to keep happy. It’s time to lure unassuming patrons into your store, slam the shutters down and pounce! Alongside running your standard butcher shop, you now have a (somewhat) lucrative human meat shop as well.
To develop your shop you must serve customers and gain experience. With experience comes the ability to unlock additional items such as the crafting table, new meats such as rabbit as well as expanding the store. To help, there are objectives that gently lead you through development of your store to keep the game going. You never feel forced into completing these quests as they often are completed naturally.
Don’t rouse supsicion!
A big element of the game is making sure the nearby policemen don’t become suspicous of you and your shop. Killing people in broad daylight, running round half zombified and acting odd on an evening will increase the level of your butchery suspicion. You’ll often find that even with a queue out the door policemen will still enter the shop and take a look around. However, throughout my entire experience with Zombutcher I never once had the cops come down into the basement to look at my totally legal human meat butchery. It does take some of the worries away, especially when you can decrease your suspicion really easily by just serving your customers.
Graphics & Audio
The art style of Zombutcher is quirky with its cartoon styling and cell-shaded colours and I really enjoy it. It sets it apart from other simulator games that like to go for somewhat realistic visuals and also matches perfectly with the ridiculous premise the game has. It’s easy on the eyes without taking away from the bloody and gore that leads the game.
At first I wasn’t convinced that the game soundtrack was going to do anything for me. Then I turned into a zombie and started cutting up bodies and the soundtrack really came into its own. Next thing I know I’m slurping brains out of people’s skulls and bobbing my head to some crooning singer as if it’s a totally normal thing to do. The audio is fantastic and the graphics really elevate the game. I truly don’t believe this game could look like anything else and make as much sense as the current art style does.
Longevity
There are so many elements to Zombutcher that time passes way faster than you would anticipate. Not only is there the basic running of the store but there’s also the whole black market body part thing you have going on. It’s a lot to manage and at the start can be a bit overwhelming. Once you’re used to hanging bodies on hooks and cutting up chickens, though, it’s easy to lock in and run your shop.
Final Thoughts
Zombutcher really is a little diamond that I didn’t expect to find. Yes it has its quirks and some minor issues but it really feels like a one of a kind game. I have had a wonderful time testing this game out and will be continuing to play it. I’ve got to give Zombutcher the Thumb Culture Gold Award. It’s a shop sim like I’ve never experienced before.
Disclaimer: A code was received in order to write this review.
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