Russian Game Developers Put the World on Zombie Lockdown
An indie game from a Russian studio has turned quarantine control into a tense survival mechanic—drawing tens of thousands of viewers on Western streaming platforms and climbing into Steam’s top sellers.
A new post-apocalyptic game from Russia is unexpectedly breaking through on Western platforms. Quarantine Zone: The Last Check, developed by Brigada Games and published in partnership with Devolver Digital, has launched on Steam and quickly turned into a streaming hit.
The game has attracted tens of thousands of viewers across Western platforms and sparked active discussion on gaming forums, according to the Russian gaming outlet Shazoo. In a crowded post-apocalyptic genre, Quarantine Zone stands out by putting players not on the front lines—but at the checkpoint.
Playing the Gatekeeper
At its core, the game casts players as an officer stationed at a control hub after a zombie apocalypse. The task is deceptively simple: decide who gets into the safe zone, who must be quarantined, and who is already infected and must be eliminated.
The gameplay echoes the cult classic Papers, Please, but swaps document checks for biological inspection. Players must scrutinize survivors for signs of infection—red eyes, bite marks, unexplained bruises. As the game progresses, new diagnostic tools unlock, including flashlights, scanners, and even a reflex-testing hammer. That hammer, in particular, has become a recurring meme in Western videos and livestreams.
A Steam Breakout
Momentum built quickly. On Steam, Quarantine Zone: The Last Check reached nearly 24,000 concurrent players and climbed to second place in overall sales around the time of its release.
Beyond its core inspection mechanic, the game layers in light management systems. Players must monitor base resources and defend the perimeter from zombie attacks using automated turrets. While apocalyptic settings are nothing new, critics point to the game’s tightly focused role and clear mechanical hook as the reason it cuts through the noise.
Going Viral Before Going Live
The game’s success extends beyond Valve’s platform. On Twitch, streams featuring Quarantine Zone drew close to 130,000 viewers—a standout figure for an indie title. Notably, the game gained viral traction on TikTok before its Steam debut, helping fuel early demand.
Industry watchers say that mix—simple rules, satirical tone, and social-media-driven discovery—allowed the project to break out beyond its domestic market. Developers are now discussing what comes next, including new levels, tools, and scenarios designed to expand the game’s world and reach a broader global audience.
For an indie studio from Russia, Quarantine Zone: The Last Check is a reminder that in today’s gaming economy, the fastest path to international attention may run not through blockbuster budgets—but through a mechanic that streams well and spreads fast.
