Midnight Walkers, brought to us by Wemade Max's One Way Ticket Studio, left a striking impression during testing with its funky visuals that stand in stark contrast to its grim world. Unlike other extraction shooters that rely on horizontal dungeon or field layouts, this game opts for the 'Liberty Grand Center'—a vertical structure based on realistic settings like hospitals, hotels, and casinos—creating a sense of immersion that's hard to ignore. The inclusion of the all-too-familiar zombie apocalypse genre is also worth noting.

From the arcade-style animation in the tutorial to the gloomy, gritty, yet oddly realistic setting, Midnight Walkers positions itself as a beginner-friendly zombie apocalypse extraction title. It provides just enough systems to ensure that even those new to the genre can make a safe escape if they possess a modicum of quick thinking and decision-making skills.

The most defining element of Midnight Walkers is its spatial design. The Liberty Grand Center serves as the core stage, utilising familiar locations like hospitals, hotels, casinos, and underground parking lots. Layering these with a zombie apocalypse setting amplifies the feeling of desolation and the inherent anxiety of being in a space that should feel mundane. The thoughtful placement of items tailored to the atmosphere of each floor really sells the immersion.

The architectural layout makes for easy stealth, but don't get too comfortable—it works just as well for enemies and zombies. The building spans from B1 to 15F, with a rotation system between B1-7F and 8-15F, preventing that repetitive feeling during longer sessions. Furthermore, halfway through the 18-minute time limit, four out of the eight active floors are randomly consumed by toxic gas, forcing players into smaller zones and inevitable encounters.

While it might seem slow at first—dropping only eight survivors into an eight-floor building—the constant pressure to move due to zombies, gas, and environmental hazards makes for a fascinating experience. You have two primary ways to navigate the gas: elevators, which are quick but noisy and liable to attract opportunistic killers, or stairs, which are quieter but prone to face-to-face encounters.

The elevator and stair systems make vertical traversal feel like a survival mechanic in its own right. Stairs, in particular, are harder for zombies to navigate and act as a reliable way to track how many players are left in the building, serving as a surprisingly safe haven depending on the situation.

The four available characters—Brick the tank, Crow the assassin, Lockdown the ranged damage dealer, and Bartender the support—have distinct playstyles. Brick is arguably the most beginner-friendly; his high health, stable two-handed weapon combat, and wrench-based melee attacks make him the go-to for players in the 'Rookie' tier.

Crow excels in PvP but struggles with looting efficiency. Lockdown has incredible range but lacks survivability when flying solo. Bartender offers great utility but is hampered by low health and a complex control scheme, which can be daunting for newcomers. Brick, however, has the edge not just in durability, but also with an 'Acceleration' skill that boosts movement speed, making him invaluable for hit-and-run tactics.

That said, the character balance leaves something to be desired. While Crow and Lockdown have clear drawbacks like low health or ammo limitations, Bartender, aside from the high skill ceiling, can sustain health, throw items, and engage in stable one-handed melee combat without significant risk. In fact, in solo play, Bartender was the most common sight after Brick.

I’d love to see the developers retain the core identity of these characters while fleshing out their passive skill trees to make them more dynamic. This would surely help move the meta away from the current Brick-and-Bartender-only landscape.

Noise is the wild card here. Zombies react to sound, and it frequently ruins your plans. I’ve had moments where opening a door to hide in a conference room led to an ambush by a massive boss zombie and its horde, and even while patrolling hallways, legless zombies would burst from vents to catch me off guard.

Zombies aren't necessarily fast, but dealing with a massive wave alone is a tall order. The 'Howler' special zombie is particularly annoying, screaming and drawing in more threats, especially when the floor is about to be sealed. Thankfully, the AI and combat patterns aren't overly complex, so you can usually kite and strike them down using active skills.

The most useful mechanic is the guaranteed stagger on hit. Time your swings right, and you can dominate a fight. The attack animations are relatively smooth, and manipulating distance with two-handed weapons or using one-handed weapons for quick strikes feels solid. The gritty sound effects and blood splatter really sell the hunting experience.

Utilising the verticality of the terrain is key. Large special zombies often have slow, wide-sweeping attacks. If you lure them to uneven terrain, you can stay below their reach and chip away at them safely.

Some special zombies like the Spitter can even damage their own kind, which is a tactical layer I hope to see expanded. With boss zombies teased for future updates, the PvPvE content is set to grow. If the raid content hits the mark, it could be the catalyst for a significant player base surge.

Beyond the core loop, the 'Mission' system offers rewards to help players adapt, functioning much like an RPG quest line or a battle pass. Back at the base, crafting, equipment upgrades, and the funky 'Rabbit Hole' marketplace further lean into the game's gritty, stylish aesthetic.

Of course, for a debut title, there are teething issues. The UI/UX needs work—opening the inventory can cause frame drops—and the lack of a friend list, combined with content that feels deeper than the tutorial implies, are valid criticisms. However, these don't break the core gameplay loop. With plans for continuous feedback and updates, I hope to see the developers polish the balance and convenience to ensure long-term success.