Item: Rebuild
Rating: 88
Author: Dinsun

Our Site Score

88/100

Rebuild is a brilliant fusion of city management and zombie survival horror. It’s not just about killing the undead; it's about the social and logistical struggle of reclaiming a city one block at a time. The game forces you to make difficult decisions: do you send your best scavengers out for food and risk them getting bitten, or do you focus on fortifying your borders and risk starvation?

The writing is what sets Rebuild apart. Every survivor has a name and a set of skills, and as you progress, you start to feel a genuine connection to them. The random events—ranging from cultist attacks to internal bickering—ensure that no two playthroughs are the same. It’s a tense, atmospheric, and deeply strategic game that successfully captures the 'day after' feeling of a zombie apocalypse better than most big-budget action titles.

Reviewed on: Sun May 19 2024

Dinsun Review

Before the market was flooded with generic zombie 'base builders,' we had Rebuild. It’s much more of a board game than a modern mobile 'wait-timer' game. You’re actually making meaningful decisions: do you send your best soldier to scavenge for food, or keep them back to guard the wall?

The writing is surprisingly sharp, and the random events keep you on your toes. It captures the grim reality of a collapse without being overly edgy. The graphics are simple—mostly static menus and a top-down map—but it works for the style. It’s a game that respects your time and your intelligence, which is rare these days. It’s a bit repetitive once you find a winning strategy, but the journey there is excellent.

Overall Stats

Pros & Cons

Deep strategic choices
Engaging survival mechanics
High replayability

Static visuals
Late-game can feel like a grind
Simple UI

Technical Report

Performance: Lightweight and runs on almost anything. Fast loading times.

Accessibility:

Difficulty Presets

Audience Fit

Buy if: You like strategy games and making difficult decisions in a survival setting.

Skip if: You want an action-packed zombie shooter or flashy 3D graphics.

Similar Games:

Rebuild 3: Gangs of Deadsville
Civilization
This War of Mine

Reviewer Context

Reviewer: Dinsun
Hardware: iPhone 15 Pro
Playtime: 40 hours
Status: Reclaimed multiple cities

The Game

Available on: iPhone, iPad, iPod

478523928

$2.99 13+★4.5 255 reviews

Author : Northway Games Corp.

Pubish Date : Fri Nov 11 2011

Last Update Date : Wed Dec 23 2020

Support Languages : English

Genres :

Version 3.26Wed Dec 23 2020

Fix 1/4 sized screen bug on iPads.
"I don't wave around non-words like 'unputdownable' often, but Rebuild deserves it." - Touch Arcade (4.5/5)
"Rebuild is a solid, fun, unique and just plain awesome game." - JayIsGames (4.6/5 Best strategy or simulation game of 2011)
GAMEPLAY
Gather survivors of the zombie apocalypse and defend your fort against undead attacks. Reclaim one building at a time and put your survivors to work scavenging for food, building houses, rediscovering technology and of course killing zombies.
Beware of rival gangs, illness, thieves and even riots as you rebuild a city in this post apocalyptic turn based strategy game.
FEATURES
- Unique turn-based strategy gameplay
- Randomly generated cities
- Customizable characters
- 5 levels of difficulty
- 7 endings to discover
- Game Center highscores and achievements
Requires iOS 9.0 or later. Compatible with iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch.
"I don't wave around non-words like 'unputdownable' often, but Rebuild deserves it." - Touch Arcade (4.5/5)
"Rebuild is a solid, fun, unique and just plain awesome game." - JayIsGames (4.6/5 Best strategy or simulation game of 2011)
GAMEPLAY
Gather survivors of the zombie apocalypse and defend your fort against undead attacks. Reclaim one building at a time and put your survivors to work scavenging for food, building houses, rediscovering technology and of course killing zombies.
Beware of rival gangs, illness, thieves and even riots as you rebuild a city in this post apocalyptic turn based strategy game.
FEATURES
- Unique turn-based strategy gameplay
- Randomly generated cities
- Customizable characters
- 5 levels of difficulty
- 7 endings to discover
- Game Center highscores and achievements

Ratings & Reviews

4.5 out of 5 with 255 Counts

★★★★★

Age Rating 13+

In Rebuild, the world has ended, and the dead are walking. You must gather a band of survivors and defend your fort against zombie attacks. Reclaim the city one building at a time by sending survivors on dangerous missions to scavenge for food, recruit new members, and research new technologies. With 7 endings to discover and randomized maps, Rebuild offers endless strategic depth and emergent storytelling.

Features

Turn-based strategy gameplay

Randomly generated cities

Customizable survivors with unique skills

7 different story endings

Tips

Early Game Survival

Focus on reclaiming apartments first to increase your population capacity, then secure a farm to ensure a steady supply of food before expanding further.