Welcome to Paradize

Welcome to Paradize is shaping up to be a contender for the most controversial title of the year for me. Base-building? Great. Controlling zombies? Awesome. Riding on the back of an undead creature? Fun. Wiping out the undead? A bloodbath. Graphics? Average. Music? Non-existent. Humor and exaggeration? Fun for a while, but soon becomes terribly boring. I’m not sure what to make of this game, but one thing’s for sure: it’ll entertain any survival game fan. Sometimes, just being wacky isn’t enough to save the world.

More PontinZ than ParadiZe

Welcome to ParadiZe‘s premise sounded a lot cooler on paper than in practice. The sheer limitations on the zombie taming aspect made the game feel like a mere Diablo-ish clone, at best, with the only difference that you and your friends have four more brainded AI allies to help you out on your raids. It’s serviceable with friends, and really boring if you decide to play it by yourself. All in all, it’s not inherently bad, but far from good either. I’ve played better zombie games, and worse zombie games.

ParadiZe doesn't take itself too seriously and takes the zombie theme lightly. It's one of those games that offers a mix of genres and if you don't accept them as a whole, you simply won't fully appreciate the game. Either take it all together and have fun, or leave it alone.

If you are looking for a mix of action-GdR, survival game and base simulation set in a world full of zombies, Welcome to ParadiZe might prove to be a pleasant surprise.

Not bad, not great: Welcome to ParadiZe is a fun passtime that made me want to play more Diablo IV.

I may have been hesitant at first but as Welcome to ParadiZe opened up, it quickly became one of my favourite co-op games.

Welcome to ParadiZe isn’t without its merits. It is an appealing-looking game, ran well on PlayStation 5, and it is mercifully short for what it is. The average gamer could potentially reach the end in under 15 hours, so it won’t feel like work. It is functional, mediocre, forgettable, and can be charitably considered a guilty pleasure.

Welcome to ParadiZe has a great sense of humour and super satisfying combat and crafting systems that elevate it above the surface jank.

Welcome to ParadiZe has a great core concept that is just shy of fully capitalizing on. I think it could have been a serious winner if the game had leaned more heavily into its base-building and crafting identity. As it stands, it is more of an okay ARPG title that, while definitely full of some interesting mechanics, isn’t the most exciting one on the market.