Exploring Medieval Birmingham in God Save Birmingham: A Zombie Survival Game with a Twist

In the ever-growing landscape of zombie survival games, you probably didn’t expect one set in medieval Birmingham. But here we are, with God Save Birmingham—a game that takes you back to 14th century England, where a mysterious plague has turned the population into relentless zombies. Forget the bustling city you know today; this version of Birmingham is all about surviving hordes of undead in a time before Maccies and TK Maxx were even a thought.

As the last uninfected Brummie, your task is straightforward: survive. This means doing the usual survival game activities like foraging, crafting weapons, hunting for food, and building a shelter. What sets this game apart is its setting—Birmingham, complete with historical locations like markets, blacksmiths, and the Church of St. Martin at the Bull Ring, all of which serve as key landmarks in your fight for survival.

The gameplay promises some interesting physics-based mechanics that let you use your environment to your advantage. According to the game's Steam page, you can stack furniture to create barricades, use low fences to trip up zombies, or maim them to slow them down. The trailer might not show much of this yet, but it’s clear the developers at Ocean Drive Studios are focused on creating a survival experience that’s both challenging and unique.

Ocean Drive Studios began work on God Save Birmingham with just two developers, but the team has since grown to six. Their plan is to launch the game into early access after some beta tests, with the initial release featuring "one-quarter of the entire town" to explore. The first year in early access will focus on expanding the town and its survival challenges, while the second year will introduce light story-driven elements.

Now, I’ll be honest—survival games often leave me exhausted. The thought of building yet another shelter out of wooden planks isn’t exactly thrilling. But there’s something intriguing about a game set in 14th century Birmingham, a city I’ve visited a few times. Whether it was for a wedding, meeting up with friends, or attending one of the world’s most prestigious badminton tournaments, Birmingham has its own charm. Maybe God Save Birmingham will let me explore the city’s history in a way I never expected—by sitting at my computer and building fences to trip up zombies.

If you’re into survival games and looking for a fresh setting, keep an eye on God Save Birmingham. It might just offer a unique spin on the genre with its historical backdrop and inventive gameplay mechanics.