Play it if
You want strategy and planning rather than shooting.
Skip it if
You dislike losing a long game to one mistake.
Exhibit label
- Players
- Single-player
- Online co-op
- No
- Cross-play
- No
- Solo
- Single-player only
- Voice chat
- Not needed
- Threat level
- Frightening
- Survival time
- ~60 hours
1The outbreak
Humanity survives in walled colonies across a ruined steampunk world. Everything outside the walls is infected, and the infected are attracted by noise.
2How you survive
You place houses, farms and power, then build walls and towers in layers. You can pause at any time to plan. Huge final waves test every decision. The campaign and the survival mode offer different challenges.
3Alone or together
There is no multiplayer. It is a single-player strategy game.
4Look & sound
Clear, detailed sprites make thousands of enemies readable on screen at once. The tension of a horde approaching on the map is great.
5Setup & value
It lists at $29.99 and runs on Windows. It is Playable on Steam Deck, though mouse control is more comfortable.
Best bits
- Massive hordes on screen
- Every decision matters
- Pause lets you plan
Watch out
- Very punishing difficulty
- No multiplayer
Score sheet
- Survival feel 25%
- 90
- Gameplay 25%
- 88
- Easy to start 15%
- 72
- Replay 20%
- 88
- Value 15%
- 86
90 × 25% + 88 × 25% + 72 × 15% + 88 × 20% + 86 × 15% = 85.80 → 86
Curator's verdict
Verdict
“They Are Billions is the best zombie strategy game on Steam. It is hard, fair and very satisfying when a plan holds.”
By the Zombie Game Guide editorial desk · Updated 8 Oct 2026 · How we score · Report an error
