State of Decay 3 Preview: Years Of Lessons In Zombie Slaying Stalwart

Published Sep 10, 2026, 1:00 PM EDT

James is a gaming writer from London who has spent thousands of hours exploring titles from every genre. Though he has a particular affinity for multiplayer titles like World of Warcraft, Destiny 2 and League of Legends, he has also put thousands of hours into single-player experiences, from deep RPGs to epic PC strategies. When he's not playing or writing, he can usually be found supporting his beloved Brentford FC.

State of Decay is undoubtedly one of the biggest examples, and the series is set to drop a third game next year that seeks to advance the experience in some genuinely impactful ways. After going hands-on with State of Decay 3 while attending Gamescom 2026, it's clear that years of player feedback played a majorrole in the final product.

The gaming public's persistent fascination with zombies and the apocalypse more generally means that we're seemingly always going to have a glut of new releases tied to the theme. As such, it can be difficult for games to stand out when there's so much competition, and bringing something new to the party is usually the best bet for success.

A Solid Foundation

Undead Labs

State of Decay 3 is an upcoming survival horror game developed by Undead Labs, that was originally announced all the way back in the doldrums of 2020 as part of the Xbox Games Showcase. Things have been pretty quiet since then, but it really broke cover at gaming's biggest showcase, and there's certainly a lot to unpack, even for longtime fans of the series.

It's no secret that State of Decay 2 launched in an unacceptable state, and players were right to push back on the game they were given at the time. The developer deserves plenty of credit for everything that's happened since then, though, as update after update rapidly transformed the game into one of the best examples of the genre.

It's with all of that cumulative knowledge that State of Decay 3 enters the fray, and from the outset of playing the game, it's so clear that a similar launch is very unlikely indeed.

Push Back The Plague

Undead Labs

So what of the gameplay? The big addition this time around is Plague Nests, which functionally build on the Plague Hearts system from State of Decay 2. These nests are attached to sites on the map, and the undead will roam out of these central hubs to make it more difficult for you to take and hold sites that offer resources and other bonuses.

These function as one of the main gameplay mechanics for you and your group. If you clear and claim sites attached to the Plague Nest, you will weaken the resistance you face when you go to destroy the heart at the center of the nest. Conversely, you could go straight for the Plague Nest to simultaneously make all the connected sites much easier to claim, though the amount of undead there will be considerable.

It's a fascinating strategic element and one that gives players the freedom to approach the game as they wish, either with incremental increases to their survival standards or going for it all in a blaze of glory.

At the same time, fighting your way through the world has improved a lot. The mixture of melee and ranged combat returns, but switching between weapons feels smoother, and aiming feels like it has been tightened up to really account for the erratic movements of the zombies.

The game also allows you to switch between individuals at will, meaning that if you are planning on setting out to claim a resource zone or new settlement, there are better characters to pick. Some might have rifle or melee specialties, or bonuses that increase their durability and health, making them prime targets for forays out into the wild. Others are much more suited to home life, and you could quickly find yourself in trouble if you don't play as someone with the right skills.

Make Yourself At Home

Undead Labs

The other massive change this time around is the game's settlement system, which is considerably expanded and should, again, give players more freedom to play how they wish. State of Decay 3 lets players run three settlements simultaneously, with pooled resources to make managing the whole network a little simpler.

The cool thing is that you can really engage the tactical side of your brain, and there are myriad ways to improve efficiency and keep your population safer. Many of your citizens will come with specific skills that allow you to specialize the settlements they live in, and increase production of resources.

Some are expert electricians, making upkeep and generation much simpler, while others might have a green thumb and can ensure nobody in your settlements goes hungry. Ensuring that everyone is in the right place and doing the right thing, while also being proactive in going out to secure new land and resources, is the order of the day, all while spending plenty of time killing zombies.

The whole settlement tapestry is considerably more elegant and logical than anything else we've seen to date, and it seems like they have managed to avoid the micromanagement elements that could easily bog down a game of this type.

After spending an hour with State of Decay 3, it's very clear that this is going to be a considerably more ambitious effort at launch than either of its predecessors. There are a lot of plates to juggle heading into launch next year, but if they can do so successfully, then it has every chance of being one of the best games in the genre.

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