March of the Living Thumbnail

March of the Living similar games & best alternatives

March of the Living

PC (Microsoft Windows), Mac • 2016

Related articles

Quick resume

Roguelike-like inspired by FTL and popular zombie fiction. Guide a group of survivors to a rumoured safe haven.

Global score

71/100

Genres

Adventure, Indie, Strategy

Pros

  • Engaging narrative with meaningful choices
  • High replayability with randomized maps and events
  • Challenging tactical combat and resource management
  • Atmospheric audio and pixel art style
  • Strong survival theme and tension

Cons

  • Combat can be clunky and micromanagement-heavy
  • Limited character customization and expression
  • Some repetitive events after multiple playthroughs
  • Lack of multiplayer or social features
  • Steep learning curve and punishing difficulty

Motivations

  • Autonomy
    4

    "Players make meaningful choices affecting story and gameplay outcomes, with freedom to decide actions and strategies."

  • Competence
    3

    "Game requires skillful resource management, tactical combat, and strategic decision-making, though combat can feel clunky."

  • Competition
    -4

    "Focus is on individual survival and story progression without competitive or ranked elements."

  • Continuation
    4

    "High replayability with randomized maps and events encourages repeated playthroughs despite difficulty and permadeath."

  • Cooperation
    2

    "Players manage a group of survivors cooperating to survive, but no multiplayer or external cooperation."

  • Creativity
    1

    "Limited character customization but player choices and party composition allow some creative approaches."

  • Domination
    -5

    "Interactions emphasize survival and mutual respect rather than exerting control or superiority over others."

  • Escapism
    5

    "Strong immersion in a fictional zombie apocalypse world provides escape from real life."

  • Expectation
    -4

    "Players engage voluntarily driven by interest in story and survival challenge, not obligation."

  • Experimenting
    4

    "Randomized events and multiple choices encourage trying new strategies and exploring different outcomes."

  • Exploration
    4

    "Procedurally generated maps and diverse locations promote discovery and curiosity-driven play."

  • Expression
    -3

    "Minimal avatar customization; expression mainly through choices and party management rather than visual personalization."

  • Fantasy
    4

    "Set in a fictional zombie apocalypse with narrative elements and improbable events."

  • Fellowship
    1

    "Some social interaction with NPC survivors and party members, but no strong community or multiplayer aspects."

  • Growth
    3

    "Players learn and improve survival skills, combat tactics, and decision-making through repeated play."

  • Health
    -4

    "Primarily sedentary gameplay with no physical activity or health benefits."

  • Idle
    -3

    "Requires focused attention and micromanagement during combat and resource management."

  • Intimacy
    -4

    "Limited emotional connections mainly through text-based story; no deep relationship building."

  • Leadership
    3

    "Player leads and manages a group of survivors, making strategic decisions for the party."

  • Progression
    3

    "Players accumulate items, weapons, and survivors, progressing through maps and storylines."

  • Relaxation
    -3

    "Gameplay involves sustained tension, resource pressure, and challenging combat situations."

  • Sensation
    2

    "Atmospheric audio and pixel art provide moderate sensory stimulation and emotional engagement."

  • Status
    -4

    "No social recognition or ranking systems; gameplay is a personal survival experience."

  • Story
    5

    "Strong narrative immersion with branching storylines, character backgrounds, and impactful choices."

  • Strategy
    4

    "Requires tactical combat, resource management, and planning to survive and progress."

  • Thrill
    4

    "High suspense and tension from resource scarcity, combat danger, and permadeath."

  • Value
    3

    "Good perceived value for price with many hours of gameplay and replayability."

  • Violence
    4

    "Combat involves killing zombies and hostile humans with firearms and melee weapons."

  • Survival
    5

    "Core gameplay centers on managing resources, avoiding infection, and staying alive in a hostile world."

Similar games

    Last update: 06/03/2026