A cinematic deep dive into HoYoverse’s next flagship action RPG The darkness in Varsapura is never merely absence it is intention. And in this 30-minute Official Gameplay Showcase , that intention becomes visible. As the first scene fades in, the city breathes like a living organism, its veins filled with shadowlight and its heartbeat echoing through metallic streets. The player enters not as a wanderer, but as an operative standing between Shadow Bureau and the enigmatic organization SEAL two forces shaping the destiny of a city that hides more than it reveals. Built entirely on Unreal Engine 5 , Varsapura abandons the pastel fantasy style familiar to HoYoverse and embraces a darker, sharper, hyper-real urban identity. The city is drenched in motion reflections ripple across neon puddles, steel shivers under rainfall, and the shadow-born enemies pulse with unnatural rhythm. And at the center of it all? A weapon disguised as an ordinary umbrella , capable of bending shadows...
.jpg)
What happens when the Black Death turns... undead?
Experience zombie survival in 14th-century England. God Save Birmingham is a gritty open-world action game set in medieval chaos.
📖 Check out the official trailer here:
📢 https://youtu.be/b8QX6RMEtL0
Table of Contents
-
Game Overview & Basic Info
-
Key Features That Stand Out
-
Storyline & Worldbuilding
-
Visual Style & Sound Design
-
Combat System & Gameplay
-
Pre-Order & Release Info
-
Comparison with Similar Games
-
Final Thoughts & What to Expect
1. Game Overview & Basic Info
Imagine this: you're stranded in the plague-ridden streets of Birmingham, England but it’s not the bubonic plague that stalks the night. It’s something worse. The dead walk, the city burns, and you are the only one left to witness the fall.
God Save Birmingham is an upcoming open-world survival action game developed by Ocean Drive Studio. It drops players into a post-catastrophic medieval city teeming with the undead, offering a dark and gritty experience unlike any modern zombie title.
Currently in development for PC (via Steam), the game has showcased its initial build via the PAX East 2025 gameplay demo, revealing a focused sandbox survival experience that precedes the full campaign release planned for the future.
2. Key Features That Stand Out
What makes God Save Birmingham so unique among the swarm of zombie titles?
-
Medieval Setting Meets Zombie Apocalypse
Forget guns and vehicles. You'll fight for survival in a plague-ridden 14th-century city using medieval weapons, tactics, and tools. -
Sandbox Exploration First, Campaign Later
The early access version offers sandbox-based gameplay within a section of the ruined city. The full campaign mode is expected to follow. -
Tactile, Gritty Survival Mechanics
Craft makeshift weapons, fortify abandoned structures, and loot historical ruins for anything useful. Every item counts when death is just a street away. -
Immersive Historical Environment
Foggy cobblestone alleys, burned-out churches, and crumbling castles set the tone for one of the most visually atmospheric survival games to date.
Would you have the patience to survive in a world without bullets or modern tools?
3. Storyline & Worldbuilding
The story unfolds in Birmingham, 14th-century England, where rumors of an unnatural plague begin to spread. Entire families vanish. Church bells toll endlessly. Eventually, the truth becomes undeniable the dead have risen, and no sanctuary remains.
Players assume the role of a lone survivor left behind in the ruins of civilization. With no sign of other humans, the story becomes as much about self-discovery and mental endurance as it is about physical survival.
There’s no grand exposition. No cutscenes with pre-written destinies.
Instead, the game asks you to piece together what happened, one burnt letter or bloodied chapel at a time.
4. Visual Style & Sound Design
Even in its early demo form, God Save Birmingham impresses with its commitment to environmental storytelling. Rather than relying on over-the-top graphics, it delivers:
-
Moody lighting across fog-filled alleys
-
Dynamic weather, enhancing immersion with thunder and rain
-
Abandoned medieval architecture, blending decay with eerie quiet
-
Sound design that emphasizes silence, broken by distant screams or crumbling stone
The visual palette is intentionally muted, evoking hopelessness while forcing players to pay attention to details like a flickering lantern light revealing movement in the shadows.
5. Combat System & Gameplay
Forget firearms or high-tech gadgets. Combat in God Save Birmingham is up close and personal and terrifying.
-
Melee-focused fights using axes, swords, farming tools, and improvised weapons
-
Stamina and weapon durability mechanics demanding careful decisions
-
Environmental interactions, like using fire traps or barricades
-
Minimal UI, allowing immersion but increasing difficulty
This is not a hack-and-slash. Timing, stealth, and positioning matter. Engaging a horde without preparation will likely be your last mistake.
How would you fight off the undead if all you had was a shovel and your wit?
6. Pre-Order & Release Info
As of now, there is no confirmed release date or price point.
The developers plan to launch a sandbox early access version first, with a full campaign mode to be added in future updates.
For now, you can preview gameplay via the official demo shown at PAX East 2025.
7. Comparison with Similar Games
To better understand the game’s position in the zombie/survival genre, let’s compare it with three popular titles:
1) Kingdom Come: Deliverance
-
Setting: Historical 15th-century Bohemia
-
Combat: Skill-based melee, realism over fantasy
-
Similarity: Emphasis on medieval realism and survival
-
Difference: No zombies or supernatural elements
2) Dying Light
-
Setting: Modern-day apocalypse
-
Combat: Fast-paced parkour, melee/gun hybrid
-
Similarity: Open-world, crafting, scavenging
-
Difference: High-mobility and modern setting vs. grounded medieval grit
3) Days Gone
-
Setting: Post-pandemic America
-
Combat: Vehicle-based traversal, guns + melee
-
Similarity: Emotional survival themes, large open map
-
Difference: Focuses on character drama and high-tech tools
In Summary:
God Save Birmingham stands out for its historical immersion, zombie realism without modern aids, and a more tactical, methodical form of survival rarely explored in the genre.
8. Final Thoughts & What to Expect
God Save Birmingham isn’t just another zombie game it’s an atmospheric dive into a time and place we rarely associate with the undead. Its sandbox approach, limited tools, and medieval setting create a punishing but rewarding survival experience.
While the game is still in early development, its unique premise and committed worldbuilding have already sparked intrigue among survival game fans.
Will it revolutionize the genre? Or will its harsh realism make it too niche?
What about you?
Would you survive in a world where the only light is a candle and your enemies don’t sleep?
#GodSaveBirmingham #ZombieGame #MedievalSurvival #OpenWorld #PCGaming #SteamGames #SurvivalHorror #GamePreview #IndieGames #StoryDriven