Zombies, Run!

Zombies, Run! is an immersive running game. Players act as the character "Runner 5" through a series of missions, during which they run and listen to various audio narrations to uncover the story,{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2012/mar/25/zombies-run-naomi-alderman-app"|work=The Guardian|date=March 24, 2012|access-date=October 6, 2013|title=Zombies, Run! - review|author=Moses, Toby}} between listening to music from their own playlists.{{Citation | author1=Shatto, Rachel | title=The Jogging Dead: Zombies, Run! puts a post-apocalyptic spin on your workout | journal=Curve | date=2013-05-01 | publisher=Avalon Media LLC | volume=23 | issue=4 | page=35 | issn=1087-867X }} While running, the player collects supplies which can be used to benefit the base camp of Abel Township.{{cite book|editor=Justin D. Edwards|editor-link=Justin D. Edwards|last=Gardner|first=Kelly|chapter=Braaiinnsss!: Zombie Technology, Play and Sound|title=Technologies of the Gothic in Literature and Culture: Technogothics|page=78|date=2015|publisher=Routledge|isbn=9781317632856}} The app is hands-free while the player runs and items are automatically collected. The app can record the distance, time, pace, and calories burned on each mission through the use of the phone's GPS or accelerometer. When using the GPS feature, the user can also opt to participate in a zombie chase which requires the player to run faster (at least 10% faster{{cite book|author1=Rick Krohn|author2=David Metcalf|title=mHealth Innovation: Best Practices From The Mobile Frontier|date=2014|publisher=HIMSS|isbn=9781938904622|page=104|chapter=Zombies, Run!: A Case Study}}{{Cite web|url=http://support.sixtostart.com/hc/en-us/articles/203780596-How-do-Zombie-Chases-work-I-keep-getting-caught-|title=How do Zombie Chases work? I keep getting caught!|website=Six to Start Support|language=en-US|access-date=2020-01-17}}—a form of interval trainingKim, B. 2015, "Gamification", Library Technology Reports, vol. 51, no. 2, pp. 10-0_3.) for a short period of time or be caught by zombies and lose their supplies. The app has 23 missions for season 1.{{cite web |url=http://assets.sixtostart.com/runners-guide/zrg.pdf |title=The Runner's Guide |publisher=Six to Start |date=2012 |access-date=2015-12-20 |archive-date=2015-09-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150908184433/http://assets.sixtostart.com/runners-guide/zrg.pdf |url-status=dead }} Season 1 focuses on the player's arrival and acceptance at Abel Township and Abel's rivalry with New Canton, a larger outpost which treats its citizens harshly.Zombies Run! Season One Missions Season 2 was released in April 2013,{{cite web|last=Klosowski |first=Thorin |url=http://lifehacker.com/zombies-run-2-adds-new-missions-and-modes-is-on-sale-473319127 |title=Zombies, Run! 2 Adds New Missions and Modes, Is on Sale for 50% Off |date=16 April 2013 |publisher=Lifehacker.com |access-date=2015-12-21}} and has over 60 missions.{{cite web|url=http://blog.zombiesrungame.com/post/37838410020/introducing-zombies-run-2 |title=Zombies, Run! — Introducing Zombies, Run! 2 |publisher=Blog.zombiesrungame.com |date=2012-12-13 |access-date=2015-12-27}} Season 3 was released in April 2014,{{cite web|last=Klosowski |first=Thorin |url=http://lifehacker.com/zombies-run-3-overhauls-the-look-adds-new-stories-a-1563792090 |title=Zombies, Run! 3 Overhauls the Look, Adds New Stories, and More |date=16 April 2014 |publisher=Lifehacker.com |access-date=2015-12-21}} and has 40 missions.{{cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/health/2015/04/29/ozy-apps-to-get-you-moving/26568979/|title=Get up and get moving with 3 new apps|last=Ramachandran|first=Vignesh|date=29 April 2015|work=USA Today|access-date=28 November 2015}} Season 4 was released in May 2015 with 40 missions, when the game became free-to-play.{{cite web|last=Dotson |first=Carter |url=http://toucharcade.com/2015/05/14/zombies-run-goes-free-to-play/ |title='Zombies, Run!' Gets Season 4 Update and Goes Free-to-Play |publisher=TouchArcade |date=2015-05-04 |access-date=2015-12-22}} Season 5 was released in April 2016, with 40 missions.{{cite web| url = http://toucharcade.com/2016/04/21/zombies-run-enters-season-5-with-new-content-and-upcoming-tie-ins/| title = 'Zombies, Run!' Enters Season 5 with New Content and Upcoming Tie-ins – TouchArcade| date = 21 April 2016}} Season 6 was released in April 2017, with 40 more missions.{{Cite web|url=https://blog.zombiesrungame.com/2017/04/11/season-6-is-coming-on-april-26th/|title=Season 6 is Coming on April 26th|last=Hon|first=Adrian|date=2017-04-11|website=Zombies, Run!|language=en|access-date=2020-01-17}} Season 7 was released in April 2018, with another 40 missions.{{Cite web|url=https://blog.zombiesrungame.com/2018/04/26/season-7-has-arrived/|title=Season 7 Has Arrived!|last=Hon|first=Adrian|date=2018-04-26|website=Zombies, Run!|language=en|access-date=2020-01-17}} Season 8 was released in May 2019, adding 30 missions to the game.{{Cite web|url=https://blog.zombiesrungame.com/2019/05/15/season-8-new-adventures-have-landed/|title=Season 8 & New Adventures Have Landed|last=lulukadhim1|date=2019-05-15|website=Zombies, Run!|language=en|access-date=2020-01-17}} Each mission typically lasts from 35 minutes to an hour.{{cite web|last=Carey |first=Bridget |url=http://www.cnet.com/news/best-running-apps/ |title=Hit the track with these running apps |publisher=CNET |date=2015-05-19 |access-date=2015-12-22}}

In addition to the standard "Season" missions, which advance the central story, several additional modes have been introduced. These include virtual races, radio mode, and airdrop and supply missions.

The first special "virtual race" event was released in October 2015. For an additional cost of $40 entry, entrants received exclusive training missions, a race mission, private forums, and prizes such as a medal, a running bib, etc., with all results recorded (anonymously if desired) on global leaderboards.{{cite web|url=http://blog.zombiesrungame.com/post/128259406604/zr-virtual-ace-2015-enter-now |title=Zombies, Run! — ZR Virtual Race 2015 - Enter Now! |publisher=Blog.zombiesrungame.com |date=2015-09-03 |access-date=2015-12-21}} Entrants were required to complete a 5k and/or a 10k run between specific dates. The virtual race missions remained available to entrants to run again, but runs taking place after the event window aren't recorded on the global leaderboards. Players created over 200 real-world meet-ups for the virtual race. The next virtual race took place in March–April 2016.{{cite web|url=http://blog.zombiesrungame.com/post/135190577154/the-spring-2016-virtual-race-is-here |title=Zombies, Run! — The Spring 2016 Virtual Race is Here |publisher=Blog.zombiesrungame.com |date=2015-12-14 |access-date=2015-12-21}}

Six to Start now release a virtual race every Spring and Autumn. The associated stories all take place before or during Season 1, so as not to introduce spoilers for entrants who have not yet completed all seasons. The format usually includes two "training" missions, whose stories gives background and context to the actual race mission, and emails giving further background, often containing links to specially created augmented reality game in-universe websites or phone lines. For example, the autumn 2016 virtual race centred around recovering a flu vaccine. Entrants received an in-game 'leaked' email outlining practices of the corporation that had created the vaccine, and a telephone number contained in the email worked, containing recorded messages about the corporation. One of the training missions centred around creating a biometrically coded T-shirt in order to bypass the corporation's security systems.

Six to Start has released 15 virtual races, which include:

Six to Start spun the virtual races concept off into a separate app called Racelink, where participants listen to audio while participating in a charity race remotely.{{cite news|last1=Lake|first1=Howard|title=Virtual race platform Racelink to expand to more charities|url=https://fundraising.co.uk/2017/05/03/virtual-race-platform-racelink-expand-charities/|access-date=6 May 2017|work=UK Fundraising|date=3 May 2017}}{{cite news |last1=Wood |first1=Billy |title=The developers behind Zombies, Run! are crowdfunding their latest venture |url=https://bdaily.co.uk/articles/2017/04/25/the-developers-behind-zombies-run-are-crowdfunding-their-new-virtual-races-platform |work=Bdaily Business News |language=en}}{{Unreliable source?|date=February 2024}} Racelink was closed down on December 10, 2019. Most of those virtual races have been incorporated into the Zombies, Run! app as New Adventures.

An 'airdrop' feature was released where the player sets a real-world location to run to, and the app creates a mission that will last the distance needed.{{cite web|url=http://www.gamesradar.com/meet-game-turns-real-5k-runs-zombie-nightmares/ |title=Meet the game that turns real 5K runs into zombie nightmares |date=23 October 2015 |publisher=GamesRadar |access-date=2015-12-22}} Supply missions allow the runner to gather additional supplies to be used for the in-app Home Base feature.

In 2020, a series of 35 workout missions designed to be done at home was released as a reaction to the lockdown during the COVID-19 pandemic. The series is also available in German as The Home Front Deutsch. The workout missions combine classic bodyweight exercises such as Squats, Lunges, Sit-Ups, Jumping Jacks, High Knees, and Chair Dips.

The supplies collected while running can be used between missions to enhance a small version of Abel Township, with detailed buildings similar to SimCity. The more runs the player goes on, the more supplies they collect. They can use those supplies to expand their Abel Township base and unlock more missions.

Players start with three level one buildings: Janine's farmhouse, an armory, and a defense tower, which are all surrounded by a fence. As a player runs, supplies are picked up to build new structures or improve structures. Each structure has some type of bonus attached to it.

Expanding the base reflects the player's dedication to their exercise, and the more the player exercises, the larger and better-equipped the base becomes. Expanding the base can influence story events and availability of missions.

The game was conceived when writer Alderman attended a running class, during which the instructor asked attendees why they wanted to run, and one answered, "I want to be able to out run the zombie horde."{{cite news|url=https://www.npr.org/2012/02/19/147008041/the-new-running-game-where-zombies-chase-you |title=The New Running Game Where 'Zombies' Chase You |date=2012-02-19|publisher=NPR|work=All Things Considered |access-date=2012-03-19 }} The game was funded by a Kickstarter campaign which raised more than five times what was expected, a total of $72,627 from 3,464 backers in October 2011.{{cite web |url=http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/sixtostart/zombies-run-a-running-game-and-audio-adventure-for |title=Kickstarter: Zombies, Run! |access-date=2012-03-19}} Developer Hon described the gameplay's aim as being more role-playing than gamification.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.wired.com/2011/10/zombies-run/|title=Zombies, Run! Makes Your Workout a Race for Survival|last=Schreier|first=Jason|date=3 October 2011|magazine=WIRED|access-date=28 November 2015}} The developers' aim in creating Zombies, Run! was partially to make use of the features of a smartphone such as GPS and the gyroscopes, creating a game that could only be played on a smartphone.{{cite book|author1=Tracy Fullerton|author-link=Tracy Fullerton|title=Game Design Workshop: A Playcentric Approach to Creating Innovative Games, Third Edition|date=2014|publisher=CRC Press|isbn=9781482217179|pages=463–465|title-link=Game Design Workshop}} Although the game uses GPS and the accelerometer, these are to estimate distance, not track location, and Zombies, Run! has been described as "one of the few actual distance-based games".{{cite book|editor=Masaaki Kurosu|title=Human-Computer Interaction Applications and Services: 16th International Conference, HCI International 2014, Heraklion, Crete, Greece, June 22-27, 2014, Proceedings, Part 3|date=2014|publisher=Springer|isbn=9783319072272|pages=249–250}} Zombies Run! does not have as much quantification of data as other exercise apps do, and Alderman regards their decision not to consult professional help in design as a strength, arguing that much of Zombies, Run!'s uniqueness comes from that lack of professional involvement.{{cite journal|last1=Witkowski|first1=E.|title=Running With Zombies: Capturing New Worlds Through Movement and Visibility Practices With Zombies, Run!|journal=Games and Culture|date=5 November 2015|doi=10.1177/1555412015613884|s2cid=148282515}} The team were trained in Objective C for iOS and the player character, Runner 5, was designed to be genderless.{{cite web|url=http://www.gamespot.com/articles/the-story-of-zombies-run/1100-6382310/|title=The Story of Zombies, Run|last=Walton|first=Mark|date=13 June 2012|work=GameSpot|access-date=28 November 2015}} Stories were written with generic landmarks included to give a sense of place, and to encourage the player to identify their own local landmarks as being what the characters are talking about.{{cite book|editor=Justin D. Edwards|last=Gardner|first=Kelly|chapter=Braaiinnsss!: Zombie Technology, Play and Sound|title=Technologies of the Gothic in Literature and Culture: Technogothics|page=79|date=2015|publisher=Routledge|isbn=9781317632856}} The story was designed to be episodic, more like a TV show or a novel than a film.{{cite web|url=http://www.polygon.com/2012/10/24/3525446/zombies-run-fights-for-the-rights-of-stories-in-games |title=Zombies, Run! fights for the rights of stories in games |date=24 October 2012 |publisher=Polygon |access-date=2015-12-22}}

The story is written by a team. Alderman is the head writer and co-creator.{{cite web |url=https://zombiesrungame.com/presskit/presskit.html#credits |title=Zombies, Run! - Press Kit |publisher=Zombiesrungame.com |date=2015-05-14 |access-date=2015-12-21 |archive-date=2016-03-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304071916/https://zombiesrungame.com/presskit/presskit.html#credits |url-status=dead }} Staff writers include Rebecca Levene, Andrea Klassen, Kayt Lackie, Grant Howitt, Mathilda Gregory and Gavin Inglis. Several guest authors who are notable in speculative fiction and video games, such as Margaret Atwood,{{cite web|url=https://medium.com/@adrianhon/two-million-runners-five-cdb53cd793a1|title=Two Million Runners Five|last=Hon|first=Adrian|date=6 October 2015|work=Medium|access-date=28 November 2015}} Joanne Harris, Elizabeth Bear, and Andrea Phillips, have contributed missions. A fan fiction author contributed ten missions for season 2.{{cite web|url=http://www.sf-encyclopedia.com/entry/zombies_run |title=Media : Zombies, Run! : SFE : Science Fiction Encyclopedia |publisher=The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction |access-date=2015-12-21}}

In June 2012, Zombies, Run! expanded onto Android and Windows Phone.{{cite web|last=Langshaw |first=Mark |url=http://www.digitalspy.com/tech/smartphones/news/a387518/zombies-run-launches-on-windows-phone-and-android/ |title='Zombies, Run!' launches on Windows Phone and Android |publisher=Digitalspy.com |date=2012-06-15 |access-date=2015-12-22}} Windows Phone support ceased in December 2012.{{cite web|url=http://blog.zombiesrungame.com/post/37914607024/zombies-run-windows-phone-update-and-some |title=Zombies, Run! — Zombies, Run! Windows Phone update - and some difficult news |publisher=Blog.zombiesrungame.com |date=2012-12-14 |access-date=2015-12-27}}

For the release of season 2, the team rewrote the apps, added in a lot of new features and changed their behavior, which led to backlash from some players.{{cite web|last=Orin |first=Andy |url=http://lifehacker.com/behind-the-app-the-story-of-zombies-run-1632445358 |title=Behind the App: The Story of Zombies, Run! |date=10 September 2014 |publisher=Lifehacker.com |access-date=2015-12-21}} As of May 2015, Zombies, Run! became free-to-play. At this time, between 15 and 20% of all purchasers were still playing the game.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2015/may/14/zombies-run-freemium-1m-sales-apple-watch|title=Zombies, Run! goes freemium after 1m sales to attract hordes of new players|last=Dredge|first=Stuart|work=The Guardian|access-date=28 November 2015}} Existing players were given access to all content up until the end of Season 3 and the Interval Training and Race Missions features. Existing players can also unlock one episode of Season 4 for free per week, and have a discounted rate on "Pro Membership" subscription. New players get part of Season 1 for free, and can unlock a new episode every week.{{cite web|url=http://blog.zombiesrungame.com/post/118924432364/the-all-new-zombies-run-is-out-now-and|title=Zombies, Run!|date=14 May 2015|work=zombiesrungame.com|access-date=28 November 2015}} As of November 2015, Zombies, Run! is available on the Apple Watch.{{cite web|url=http://www.pocketgamer.co.uk/r/Apple+Watch/Zombies,+Run!/news.asp?c=68408|title=Zombies, Run! is available on Apple Watch at last, gets new custom Training Plans|date=26 November 2015|work=Pocket Gamer|access-date=20 December 2015}} A spin-off game for the Apple Watch is in development, codenamed Overwatch.{{cite web|url=http://www.polygon.com/a/smartwatch-history-guide-evolution/watch-future |title=Watch Future | Time killers: The strange history of wrist gaming |publisher=Polygon |author=Brian Crecente |date=2015-12-07 |access-date=2015-12-20|author-link=Brian Crecente }}

• Alice Dempsey was the immediate past runner 5 before you became Runner 5. Under Sam Yao's time as a radio controller, there were also two other Runner 5s before Alice.Zombies, Run! episode A Voice in the Dark
• Evan Deaubl is runner #7 and head of runners.
• Sarah Smith is runner #8. She was at a military base 5 months after the outbreak.Zombies, Run! episode "Recovery"
• Jack Holden – the co-host of Radio Abel; has a great relationship with his mother but she is disappointed that she will not have a grandchild. His preference anti-zombie weapon is WG, a cricket bat. Jack Holden produced the "This Zombie Life" program which is a pastiche/homage of WBEZ's This American Life hosted by Ira Glass.
• Eugene Ben Woods – the co-host of Radio Abel; he was in for a week in London to do an article about pop up restaurants; missing an entire leg; met Jack at a rave 3-days into the Zombie outbreak. Told Jack “Come with me if you want to live.”
• Radio Abel – a radio station from Abel Township and its alternative call sign is WNYZ. The alternative frequency is 5200 kHz.
• ROFL Net – is a radio-based network that stands for Radio Operated Freeform Link as a network recovery effort, not a “network resurrection effort”. It is a low-tech version of the Internet using ASCI character to transmit pictures of funny cats. It contains emails and text-based sites such as Wikipedia and Survivor's Bible.
• Dr. Maxine Meyers – a medical doctor, who put an ad on Radio Abel for help in the hospital – 1 pair of clean socks for 4 hours of grunt work and she is looking for staff who can suture a wound better than a competent 4-year-old child. Abel Township's Hospital's motto is “Abel Hospital: What heals you”
• Z-bay – a ROFL net trading and sell site based out of Norwood and named in reference to eBay but with more zombie-related issues
• Sam Yao – radio controller of the Abel Township runners. Before the series, he was a "really, really, really" bad 4th year engineering student, who only was doing it due to family pressure.
• Jodie is runner #4.
• Father Michael – a preacher on Season One radio call-in show, who believed that the zombie plague was engineered because: 1-month before, the outbreak government buildings has their water supply switched to private water; 6-months before the outbreak, oil tankers were diverted; 2-days before the outbreak, there was a teleconference of the Emergency Action Committee with a 3-hour notice before the meeting.

Zombies, Run! became the highest-grossing Health & Fitness app on Apple's App Store within two weeks of its initial release.{{cite news|last=Chatfield |first=Tom |url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2012/mar/25/mobile-app-zombies-fitness |title=Escape the marauding zombies… and burn calories at the same time | Technology |work=The Guardian |date=2012-03-23 |access-date=2015-12-22}} As of 2014, Zombies, Run! had over 750,000 players.{{cite web|url=http://www.giantbomb.com/articles/this-fitness-developer-s-secret-sauce-is-story/1100-4837/|title=This Fitness Developer's Secret Sauce Is Story|last=Klepek|first=Patrick|date=7 January 2014|work=Giant Bomb|publisher=CBS Interactive}}

Pocket Gamer regarded the "compelling narrative" of Zombies, Run! as being a way to trick the player into exercising.{{cite web|url=http://www.pocketgamer.co.uk/r/iPhone/Zombies%2C+Run!/review.asp?c=50321|title=Zombies, Run!|last=Diener|first=Matthew|date=24 April 2013|work=Pocket Gamer|access-date=28 November 2015}} Zombies, Run! has a score of 71 on Metacritic, averaging 5 reviews.{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/zombies-run/critic-reviews/?platform=ios-iphoneipad|title=Zombies, Run!|work=Metacritic|access-date=28 November 2015}} USA Today said of the story "If you're a fan of radio, zombie stories or need an extra push to get fit this year, Zombies, Run! excels in concept and execution."{{cite news|url=http://content.usatoday.com/communities/technologylive/post/2012/03/zombies-run-a-creepy-way-to-stay-fit/1#.UlIZStLBJ8E|work=USA Today|date=March 2, 2012|title=Zombies, Run!: A creepy way to stay fit|access-date=October 6, 2013|author=Saltzman, March}} Caelainn Hogan writing for the Washington Post noted that she was interested in using the app weeks after beginning.{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/magazine/apptitude-zombies-run-might-scare-you-into-healthy-habits/2014/09/23/d13c020c-2231-11e4-958c-268a320a60ce_story.html|title=Apptitude: 'Zombies, Run!' might scare you into healthy habits|last=Hogan|first=Caelainn|date=23 September 2014|newspaper=Washington Post|access-date=28 November 2015}} Mur Lafferty, writing for the Escapist, also noted that it was fun to follow the story in the app, and therefore Lafferty sustained running.{{cite web|url=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/articles/view/video-games/columns/specialattack/9882-10-Things-I-Love-About-Zombies-Run.2|title=10 Things I Love About Zombies, Run!|last=Lafferty|first=Mur|date=23 August 2012|work=The Escapist|access-date=28 November 2015|archive-date=8 December 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208095023/http://www.escapistmagazine.com/articles/view/video-games/columns/specialattack/9882-10-Things-I-Love-About-Zombies-Run.2|url-status=dead}} The base-building feature has been regarded as a good way to sustain interest in the game when not running. Fast Company named Six to Start as one of their top 10 most innovative companies of 2013, describing Zombies, Run! as "one part audio book, one part video game, and one party sneaky personal trainer".{{cite web|url=https://www.fastcompany.com/most-innovative-companies/2013/industry/fitness|title=The World's Top 10 Most Innovative Companies in Fitness|last=Rockwood|first=Kate|date=11 February 2013|work=Fast Company|access-date=28 November 2015}} Rachel Shatto of Curve magazine praised the app, noting that the strong acting and good storyline made the app accessible to people who weren't "zombiephiles". Rick Broida, writing for CNET, was not engaged by Zombies, Run!, finding the dissonance between the urgent radio clips and his upbeat track list distracting.{{cite web|last=Broida |first=Rick |url=http://www.cnet.com/news/feet-on-with-zombies-run-2-jogging-game/ |title=Feet-on with Zombies, Run! 2 jogging game |publisher=CNET |date=2013-04-19 |access-date=2015-12-22}} Zombies, Run! was shortlisted for the Design Museum's Design of the Year Award in 2013.{{cite news|last=Chalcraft |first=Emilie |url=http://www.dezeen.com/2013/01/14/designs-of-the-year-2013-shortlist-announced/ |title=Designs of the Year 2013 shortlist announced |publisher=Dezeen.com |date=2013-01-14 |access-date=2015-12-27}} Maureen Halushak, an experienced runner who writes for The Globe and Mail, "struggled to suspend [her] disbelief" when running. Halushak noted that the app was more about using the player's imagination than "pushing [the player] to the limit", citing the low frequency of zombie chases.{{cite news|last=Halushak |first=Maureen |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/health-and-fitness/fitness/running/need-running-motivation-zombies-should-do-it/article550700/ |title=Need running motivation? Zombies should do it |publisher=The Globe and Mail |date=4 March 2012 |access-date=2015-12-27}}

Zombies Run! has drawn academic attention for its genre and mHealth applications. In a discussion of the trend to use audiobooks while exercising, Zombies, Run! has been discussed as "pushing the audiobook towards new forms", as the audiobook is embedded in other digital media as well as the activity of running.{{cite book|author1=Iben Have|author2=Birgitte Stougaard Pedersen|title=Digital Audiobooks: New Media, Users, and Experiences|date=2015|pages=72–73, 118|publisher=Routledge|isbn=9781317588061}} Kelly Gardner notes that Zombies, Run! relies on audio to create an apocalyptic environment.{{cite book|editor=Justin D. Edwards|last=Gardner|first=Kelly|chapter=Braaiinnsss!: Zombie Technology, Play and Sound|title=Technologies of the Gothic in Literature and Culture: Technogothics|page=74|date=2015|publisher=Routledge|isbn=9781317632856}} Martin French and Gavin Smith regard Zombies, Run! to be an example of the trend for the gamification of health surveillance, which makes tracking one's progress rewarding.{{cite journal|last1=French|first1=Martin|last2=Smith|first2=Gavin|title='Health' surveillance: new modes of monitoring bodies, populations, and polities|journal=Critical Public Health|date=December 2013|volume=23|issue=4|pages=383–392|doi=10.1080/09581596.2013.838210|s2cid=144778779}} A paper in The American Journal of Medicine compared Zombies, Run! with other popular health and fitness apps. It noted that the aim of the app was to increase aerobic exercise, that it included audio cues, exercise monitoring, the option to share on Facebook or Twitter, integration with the user's music playlist, a narrative, progression, the ability to sync with other apps, and tailored feedback. It recommended Zombies, Run! for healthy patients wanting to begin aerobic exercise.{{cite journal|last1=Higgins|first1=John P.|title=Smartphone Applications for Patients' Health and Fitness|journal=The American Journal of Medicine|date=June 2015|doi=10.1016/j.amjmed.2015.05.038|volume=129|issue=1|pages=11–19|pmid=26091764|doi-access=free}}

A study of 51 teens studied the use of Zombies, Run! 5K Training, Get Running-Couch to 5k, or a control. It found that fitness did not significantly improve between the app groups and the control after the experiment, but that the app groups intended to continue using their apps and that the Zombies, Run! 5K Training app had positive feedback on the storyline and ability to track progress.{{cite journal|last1=Direito|first1=Artur|last2=Jiang|first2=Yannan|last3=Whittaker|first3=Robyn|last4=Maddison|first4=Ralph|title=Apps for IMproving FITness and Increasing Physical Activity Among Young People: The AIMFIT Pragmatic Randomized Controlled Trial|journal=Journal of Medical Internet Research|date=27 August 2015|volume=17|issue=8|pages=e210|doi=10.2196/jmir.4568|pmid=26316499|pmc=4642788 |doi-access=free }}

A twelve-week study was performed with the use of Zombies, Run!, The Walk, or a control group. 39 participants chose between Zombies, Run! and The Walk based on their interest in the app. All participants had their activity tracked with the Moves app. It was found that in the groups using either Zombies, Run! or The Walk, activity decline due to returning to an academic schedule after summer holidays was not as great as in the control group.{{cite journal|last1=Cowdery|first1=Joan|last2=Majeske|first2=Paul|last3=Frank|first3=Rebecca|last4=Brown|first4=Devin|title=Exergame Apps and Physical Activity: The Results of the ZOMBIE Trial|journal=American Journal of Health Education|date=6 July 2015|volume=46|issue=4|pages=216–222|doi=10.1080/19325037.2015.1043063|s2cid=143115291}}

Knöll et al. considered Zombies, Run! to be an important contribution to urban exergaming due to its commercial success and the "innovative" way that the app makes the player exercise harder.{{cite book|editor1=Minhua Ma |editor2=Lakhmi C. Jain |editor3=Paul Anderson |title=Virtual, augmented reality and serious games for healthcare 1|date=2014|publisher=Springer Berlin Heidelberg|location=Berlin, Heidelberg|isbn=9783642548161|edition=Aufl. 2014|pages=194–195}}

It was noted that players found the approach of the game compelling, and that it changed their attitudes to exercising and finding routes to run, but that there could be more integration with the player's real world—an example was given of a player who was caught by zombies while waiting at a traffic intersection.{{cite book|author1=Simon Robinson|author2=Gary Marsden|author3=Matt Jones|author-link3=Matt Jones (interaction designer)|title=There's Not an App for That: Mobile User Experience Design for Life|date=2014|publisher=Morgan Kaufmann|isbn=9780124166998|page=140}}

Astrid Ensslin and Alice Bell examine this work as a piece of electronic literature, noting this as an example of a way to merge a story world and with a real world experience. {{Cite book |last1=Ensslin |first1=Astrid |title=Digital fiction and the unnatural: transmedial narrative theory, method, and analysis |last2=Bell |first2=Alice |date=2021 |publisher=The Ohio State University Press |isbn=978-0-8142-1456-5 |series=Theory and interpretation of narrative |page=76 |location=Columbus}}

This work was exhibited at the British Library 2023. File:Zombies Run, exhibit at the British Library 2023.png

In October 2012, Zombies, Run! 5k Training, a spin-off app designed as a "couch to 5k" training program was released.{{cite web|url=http://blog.zombiesrungame.com/post/33424518769/zombies-run-5k-training-is-out-now |title=Zombies, Run! — Zombies, Run! 5k Training is out now! |publisher=Blog.zombiesrungame.com |date=2012-10-12 |access-date=2015-12-20}} The 5K training has 25 workouts to be run over 8 weeks, lasting approximately 40 minutes each.{{cite web|url=https://www.engadget.com/2013/05/02/daily-iphone-app-zombies-run-5k-helps-novices-train-for-a-5k/ |title=Daily iPhone App: Zombies, Run! 5k helps novices train for a 5K |publisher=Engadget.com |date=2013-05-02 |access-date=2015-12-22}} The trainings start the player off slowly and have been designed by experts, and the game can be used with a treadmill.{{cite web|last=Allen |first=Jennifer |url=http://www.148apps.com/reviews/zombies-run-5k-training-review/ |title=Zombies, Run! 5k Training Review |publisher=148Apps |date=2012-10-18 |access-date=2015-12-22}} In the storyline, the 5k training takes place between the first and second mission of season one. Advice on exercises, like heel lifts, is included with the app, and it does not include the 'zombie chase' feature or the base-building feature.{{cite web |url=http://www.technologytell.com/apple/108802/appidemic-zombies-run-5k-training/ |title=Appidemic: Zombies, Run! 5k Training - AppleTell |publisher=TechnologyTell |date=2012-12-05 |access-date=2015-12-22 |archive-date=2015-12-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222173106/http://www.technologytell.com/apple/108802/appidemic-zombies-run-5k-training/ |url-status=dead }}

A board game spinoff was launched for crowdfunding on Kickstarter in September 2016.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnet.com/news/zombies-run-board-game-is-on-kickstarter/|title = Zombies, Run the Board Game is on Kickstarter}} It was fully funded in two days{{Cite web | url=https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/sixtostart/zombies-run-the-board-game/posts/1692424?ref=backer_project_update | title=Update 3: Rules Release · Zombies, Run! The Board Game | date=11 January 2018 }} and the board games were released in December 2017.

This game was featured in the British Library's Digital Storytelling Exhibit, 2023.{{Cite web |title=British Library |url=https://www.bl.uk/press-releases/2023/june/digital-storytelling |access-date=2023-08-26 |website=www.bl.uk |archive-date=2023-08-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230826153455/https://www.bl.uk/press-releases/2023/june/digital-storytelling |url-status=dead }}

Six to Start and Alderman also created The Walk, a similar game to encourage increased physical activity throughout the day.{{Cite journal | doi=10.1186/s12885-016-2244-y| pmid=26960972| pmc=4784467| title=Testing the effects of narrative and play on physical activity among breast cancer survivors using mobile apps: Study protocol for a randomized controlled trial| journal=BMC Cancer| volume=16| pages=202| year=2016| last1=Lyons| first1=Elizabeth J.| last2=Baranowski| first2=Tom| last3=Basen-Engquist| first3=Karen M.| last4=Lewis| first4=Zakkoyya H.| last5=Swartz| first5=Maria C.| last6=Jennings| first6=Kristofer| last7=Volpi| first7=Elena| doi-access=free}}{{Cite journal | doi=10.2196/10918| title=Breast, Prostate, and Colorectal Cancer Survivors' Experiences of Using Publicly Available Physical Activity Mobile Apps: Qualitative Study| journal=JMIR mHealth and uHealth| volume=7| pages=e10918| year=2019| last1=Roberts| first1=Anna L.| last2=Potts| first2=Henry WW| last3=Koutoukidis| first3=Dimitrios A.| last4=Smith| first4=Lee| last5=Fisher| first5=Abigail| issue=1| pmid=30609982| pmc=6329432| doi-access=free}} The app was sponsored by the UK's National Health Service and Department of Health{{Cite web|url=https://www.mobihealthnews.com/28082/six-to-starts-nhs-funded-the-walk-app-launches|title = Six to Start's NHS-funded "The Walk" app launches|date = 11 December 2013}} and was the first game to be funded so.{{Cite web|url=https://news.sky.com/story/nhs-mobile-fitness-app-aims-to-beat-obesity-10424768|title = NHS Mobile Fitness App Aims to Beat Obesity}} In 2018 The Walk was turned into a podcast and released through Panoply Media.

In March 2021 OliveX acquired Zombies, Run! developer Six to Start.{{Cite web |date=2021-03-08 |title=OliveX Acquires Zombies, Run Dev Six To Start For $9.5M |url=https://www.thegamer.com/olivex-acquires-six-to-start-for-9-5m/ |access-date=2022-05-18 |website=TheGamer |language=en-US}} Dustland Runner was released in March 2022 and is a move-to-earn fitness app built on the same game engine and play mechanics as Zombies, Run that rewards players by combining crypto and blockchain elements.

• Hyperreality
• Location-based game
• Magic Circle (virtual worlds)
• Run for Your Lives (obstacle racing) – a zombie-themed obstacle course race
• Activity tracker

{{reflist|30em}}

• Emma Witkowski. 2013. Running from zombies. In Proceedings of the 9th Australasian Conference on Interactive Entertainment: Matters of Life and Death (IE '13). ACM, New York, NY, USA, Article 1, 8 pages. {{doi|10.1145/2513002.2513573}}
• {{cite journal |last1=Darby |first1=Kris |title=Our encore: running from the Zombie 2.0 |journal=Studies in Theatre and Performance |date=13 October 2014 |volume=34 |issue=3 |pages=229–235 |doi=10.1080/14682761.2014.967020 |s2cid=191320741 |url=}}
• Alexander Kan, Martin Gibbs, and Bernd Ploderer. 2013. Being chased by zombies!: understanding the experience of mixed reality quests. In Proceedings of the 25th Australian Computer-Human Interaction Conference: Augmentation, Application, Innovation, Collaboration (OzCHI '13), Haifeng Shen, Ross Smith, Jeni Paay, Paul Calder, and Theodor Wyeld (Eds.). ACM, New York, NY, USA, 207–216. {{doi|10.1145/2541016.2541038}}
• {{Citation | author1=Smith, David M | title=Run from the zombies: How video games might be changing the way we exercise | journal=Student BMJ | date=2013-07-01 | publisher=British Medical Association | volume=21 | pages=16(2) | issn=0966-6494 }}
• {{Citation | title=Zombies, Run!(HEALTH APP WRAP[TM]: Practical tools for research, patient counseling, and professional development.) | journal=Pharmacy Times | date=2013-02-01 | publisher=Pharmacy & Healthcare Communications, LLC | volume=79 | issue=2 | pages=86(1) | issn=0003-0627 }}
• {{cite journal|last1=Gillman|first1=Arielle S.|last2=Bryan|first2=Angela D.|title=Effects of Performance Versus Game-Based Mobile Applications on Response to Exercise|journal=Annals of Behavioral Medicine|volume=50|pages=157–162|date=11 September 2015|issue=1|doi=10.1007/s12160-015-9730-3|pmid=26362539|s2cid=3700306|doi-access=free}}
• Moran, Martin J. and Coons, John M. (2015) "Effects of a Smart-phone Application on Psychological, Physiological, and Performance Variables in College-Aged Individuals While Running," International Journal of Exercise Science: Vol. 8: Iss. 2, Article 1. Available at: http://digitalcommons.wku.edu/ijes/vol8/iss2/1
• {{Citation | editor1=Leaver, Tama | editor2=Willson, Michele A. |author=Henthorn, Jamie | title=Social, casual and mobile games : the changing gaming landscape | date=2016 |chapter=Rewriting Neighbourhoods: Zombies, Run! and the Runner as Rhetor | publisher=New York Bloomsbury Academic | isbn=978-1-5013-1060-7 }}
• {{cite book|last1=Alderman|first1=Naomi|title=Zombies, Run!: Keeping Fit and Living Well in the Current Zombie Emergency|date=2016|publisher=Penguin UK|isbn=9780241281482}}

• {{Official website|https://www.zombiesrungame.com/}}

Category:2012 video games

Category:Android (operating system) games

Category:Audio plays

Category:Casual games

Category:Fitness apps

Category:Fitness games

Category:IOS games

Category:Location-based games

Category:Kickstarter-funded video games

Category:Video games about zombies

Category:Outdoor locating games

Category:Video games developed in the United Kingdom

Category:Single-player video games

Category:2010s electronic literature works

Category:British electronic literature works