Beginner Settings - Project Zomboid Guide - IGN (2024)

Setting up a Project Zomboid run for the first time can be rather intimidating if you've never stepped foot in the game before. This title offers heaps of player freedom and customizable options, which are fantastic to play with but overwhelming for a new player.

Here, you'll find IGN's recommendations for the best Beginner Settings to pick when setting up a Custom Sandbox run for the first time.

If you're looking for more advice on where to get started when playing Project Zomboid for the first time, make sure to review our Beginner's Guide for handy how-to instructions and top tips. Even the simplest tasks like making an Axe or starting a Fire can take time and effort in this game.

• Best Project Zomboid Settings for Beginners
  • Zombie Metrics
  • In-Game Elements
  • Luck and Loot

Best Project Zomboid Settings for Beginners

To start, you'll need to pick which location you want to spawn in when setting up your map. Unless you've installed Mods, you will have 4 options to pick from.

We'd recommend picking the Muldraugh map when setting up your first playthrough. The other maps are good fun – and so are modded maps – but Muldraugh is the easiest to navigate while you're still figuring out locked doors, maps, and vehicles.

Once you've selected this, head to the next screen. You'll be presented with the following Custom Sandbox options to play with:

• Population. How many zombies are in the world at any given moment.
• Time. The exact time and date that your run starts.
• World. How time affects the in-game world with resources, spoilt food, and important events.
• Nature. How weather and natural elements act in your game.
• sad*stic AI Dictator. How often negative in-game events occur.
• Meta. Niche spawn metrics and timings e.g. how much fuel a generator consumes.
• Loot Rarity. How frequently loot shows up and what kinds of loot can be found.
• Character. What affects your character and how lucky they get during the run.
• In-game Map. Mini-map and map settings.
• Vehicles. How vehicles, hotwiring, and fuel works in the game.
• Zombie Lore. How zombies act in the game, including lethality, behaviour, and run speed.
• Advanced Zombie Options. How the zombie population performs as a whole.

If you're not a fan of horror games and want to lower your chances of running into undead, effectively turning Project Zomboid into more of a classic survival game, check out the Population and Zombie Lore tabs.

Zombie Metrics

You can drop the Zombie Count down to 'Low' in the Population tab and alter how the undead behaves in Zombie Lore. While experienced players may not feel the need to, lowering the zombie's strength, speed, and spawn points can make your first run much more enjoyable.

It's also worth looking at the Loot Rarity section, too. If you're playing Project Zomboid for the first time and you've picked an Occupation like Fire Officer, it's worth slightly altering your loot chances to ensure you come across a weapon or tool that makes sense for you – like an Axe.

In-Game Elements

The weather can be much scarier than it seems at first in this game. Rain can lead to your character catching a cold, for example, which can be lethal if left untreated. Thunderstorms can affect noise and attract hordes, and fog can change your visibility levels, too.

Experiment with the options in the Nature tab, too. There's no need to completely remove the weather or alter it entirely, but lowering the chances of the elements betraying you can make the game feel much more approachable.

Luck and Loot

The Meta tab is the final section that's worth exploring as a new player. Increase the rarity of key spawns and lower negative timings somewhat – Project Zomboid is just as luck-dependent as it is skill-based, so mildly adjusting your settings here can make a huge difference.

Following the game's brutal honesty for a moment – it's likely your first run won't last too long if you've not had much survival game experience. Don't worry too much about altering zombie behavior and lucky spawns, as you can always adjust these in your next attempt.

The best beginner settings in Project Zomboid are those that increase your luck and self-reliance slightly without making the game too easy. Focus on zombie behavior, loot, and weather-related luck, and you'll hit the tarmac running.