Zero Hour brings Tactical Zombie Horror to Kickstarter

Zombie stories often begin after society has collapsed. Zero Hour is taking a different approach, and wants its players to be part of the effort to prevent that collapse.

Created by Ben Tobitt, the tactical survival horror roleplaying game puts players in the boots of special operations mercenaries working for Cerberus, an Undead Tactical Response organisation. Their missions take place in a contemporary world still worth saving, as teams enter quarantine zones to contain outbreaks. The campaign promises more than a succession of fights too, as there’s a mystery to uncover amid the violence and escalating danger.

The rules use a straightforward roll-over mechanic. Most tests call for a d20 roll plus relevant stats, with a total of 12 or more succeeding. Combat gives players a choice between taking a quick shot, where the hit location is determined randomly, or spending a round lining up a called shot for the chance of dealing double damage with a headshot. Weapons deal flat damage, while attachments let players tune their loadout for each mission. The aim is to keep firefights moving wile making tactical choices matter.

The pressure can build even when a character is trying to improve their odds. Players can push a roll for a bnous, but in doing so they add stress. Horror and accumulated stress can trigger a roll on the panic table, with effects that change both the situation and the character’s behaviour. Six character classes each have their own skills and advancement paths, while the game master also creates a Handler - the operations commander who communicates with the team and may have their own agenda.

The campaign lists inspirations ranging from Resident Evil and The Last of Us to Train to Busan, Dawn of the Dead and Aliens. Ben obviously likes his action-horror where things go horrible wrong, so players beware!

The Kickstarter offers digital and hardcover editions, plus a Kickstarter-exclusive version and bundles that combine editions or add a custom portrait. The exclusive edition is split into a players guide and a game master’s guide housed in a slipcase. Backers are also promised a digital starter pack with rersources such as character sheets, weapon sheets, injury cards, tokens, and a mission template. The book is all finished so the crowdfunding campaign is funding polishing, printing and production.

Ben Tobitt is an animator, illustrator and game designer whose prevous roleplaying work includes Black Powder and Brimstone, published by Free League Publishing.

Zero Hour has passed its funding goal and the Kickstarter campaign is running until Wednesday 21st October 2026, with digital rewards due for release in March 2027 followed by the physical release in July 2027.

Images courtesy of Ben Tobitt.