Summary
The wait for the official release of7 Days To Dieis finally over, and after years of playing its Alpha versions, 1.0 launches with a ton of exciting new features, tweaks, and changes. Theinfamous survival gameis still familiar compared to previous Alphas, but it’s surprising how much these changes together add up to a refreshing new experience that might compete with some of thebest games in the survival genre. The updates include improvements to performance, striking graphical upgrades, along with several welcome additions to its maps. Yet, the biggest changes by far revolve around massively rebalancing difficulty and progression.
7DTDis harder. Quality loot and money are scarce, zombies are tougher, and the quest system has been completely overhauled. While this definitely hikes up the difficulty,it should also address one of the title’s glaring issues, which saw interest plummet rapidly because of how easy it was. A few weeks into the game, savvy survivors could expect to have most of their skills and the gear to streamline most challenges. With 1.0 finally in full swing, those days may be long gone.
10Visual Overhauls Give 7 Days To Die Improved Graphics
Characters, Animals, & Vehicles Have Better Models & Animations
The official 1.0 release of7 Days To Diebrings a massive upgrade to its graphics.Character models have been overhauledwith more options for faces, hair, eyes, and ethnicity. Animals like deer, wolves, and lions now boast improved models and animations, with the addition of a small bear variant and a buck. Vehicles have received new models, and bicycles, minibikes, motorcycles, 4x4s, and the gyrocopter now sport updated models when modded. The copter now has two seats by default, while the 4x4 has four by default to a maximum of 6 with mods.
These graphical improvements do much to bring the game to life. Prior to 1.0, character creation took a back seat to character building, and while that hasn’t changed, the models in Alpha were so blocky that character customization was easier to ignore. The enhancements not only make customization feel more impactful, butmany animations look more natural and more realisticcompared to their Alpha counterparts.
916 New Armor Sets Have Come To 7DTD 1.0
Armor Pieces Provide Unique Buffs
7DTD1.0 introduces 16 new armor sets, and each set looks fantastic on 1.0’s updated character models. In addition to each piece providing unique bonuses, there are extra bonuses for wearing a complete set. Armor slots have been reduced from ten to four, and armor types now include light, medium, and heavy, rather than just light and heavy. The new armor sets include:
Enforcer
Assassin
Surprisingly, the update trimmed the fat on some of the needless bulk that existed in Alpha.Clothing items are long gone, but their stat boosts have been woven into the new armor; those that weren’t are now mods. The update ensures there are even more ways to customize a survivor’s playstyle beyond their skill tree, and there are good reasons to hang on to multiple sets for different situations besides.
8New Mods & Mod Changes Bring Greater Build Customization
New Mods For Stat Boosts And Progression
7DTDmade several tweaks to existing mods andadded a handful of new mods to accommodate their major armor update. For one, there is now a quad pocket mod and players can wear one of each pocket mod on a single piece of gear. Attribute mods have replaced their armor counterparts from Alpha, with the cigar now serving as a mod rather than a face item. Other notable additions include:
boosts XP gain and loot quality
reduces noise and stamina usage from medium and heavy boots
Night Vision Goggles
now grayscale and useable alongside a helmet light mod (swap with the F radial menu)
These mod updates supplement the armor changes nicely by giving more layers for customizing the experience in7DTD. Like with armor, there are good reasons to hang onto different mods for different situations.
7Map Updates Bring Greater Variety To 7 Days To Die 1.0
75+ New POIs, Faster Random Map Generation, New Landmarks & Props
In line with developer The Fun Pimp’s style of environmental storytelling,7DTD1.0 significantly enhances the game world with new props and itemsscattered throughout the map. The Burnt Biome makes an official return, random map generation is much faster, and there are smoother roads and big bridges over large bodies of water. Additionally, there are over 75 new points of interest, including:
Athletics Complex
US Army Post 7
More than anything, though, survival games hinge on a gameplay loop that carefully balances the same activities so they continue to feel fresh for as long as possible. The new POIs look amazing, but more importantly,they serve to pad the experience so tasks feel unique despite being fundamentally the same.
6Better Performance Improves Gameplay Across The Board
Blood Moons Will Be Smoother
The 1.0 release of7DTDpromises smoother gameplay, addressing previous issues with lag, especially in highly populated areas and during Blood Moons.The developers have optimized the game to handle the increased complexity of the updated environment, and many remnants are less cluttered or empty until a quest is triggered. As a result, the game runs more efficiently, providing a more seamless experience during intense moments, such as zombie horde attacks.
Since there’s nothing like dying to a horde because of lag, this one update goes a long way toward making7DTDmore enjoyable.
This improvement is crucial for maintaining playability, and frankly, viability. Day-to-day tasks like exploring, questing, and looting were generally okay, but entering a location with several zombies – especially in enclosed spaces – would see the frame rate plummet dramatically. The issue was exacerbated when playing with friends, and some Blood Moons were so bad they were almost unplayable. Since there’s nothing like dying to a horde because of lag, this one update goes a long way toward making7DTDmore enjoyable overall.
10 Best Co-Op Games, Ranked
There have been a lot of great co-op games over the years, and the best of the best cover a wide variety of genres while maintaining the fun.
57 Days To Die 1.0 Introduces Harder Zombies
Several Zombie Models Have More Health & Hit Harder
7DTD1.0 sees zombies become more formidable, and that’s regardless of a campaign’s difficulty setting. Key zombie models have received significant health boosts, with the Feral Wight getting a massive 120% bump in health.Blood Moons are now relentless, with a continuous stream of undead from dusk till dawn, replacing the previous three waves exhibited in Alpha.
Additionally, the redesigned Demolition Zombie now has its explosive button moved from the chest to the shoulder. The model looks absolutely horrific (in a good way), and the modification of its button position is an interesting one. This should make headshots a lot riskier, but the plus side is it could make accidentally triggering it with turrets less likely. Overall, this increased difficulty will require zombie hunters to choose their battles carefully. They will need to think tactically and adapt in the relentless fight against the undead.
4Rebalanced Loot Progression Changes The Pace Of 7DTD Dramatically
Resources Are Harder To Acquire
The7DTD1.0 overhauls loot progression, making high-quality items much harder to come by. Dukes are scarcer, items sell for less, and tools, weapons, and armor are no longer quest rewards. Additionally, legendary gear must now be crafted using legendary parts, which are only guaranteed from tier-six quests.
This rebalanced system will slow progress down pretty significantly, andthat’s actually good news for veterans who are all too familiar with how quickly they could peak in7DTDAlpha 21.2. It was too easy to ignore many elements of the game in favor of the overpowered trader quest system, and there’s a clear shift in focus from questing to crafting and scavenging in 1.0. The new armor sets should enable survivors to respond to a multitude of situations, but they should also expect to progress slower and be broke for longer.
3Trader & Quest Updates Revamp Tier Progression In 7 Days To Die 1.0
Traders Are Now Found In Specific Biomes
7DTD1.0 introduces big updates to trader mechanics and quest dynamics. Each trader features revamped dialogue, with new voice actors for Bob, Hugh, and Joel.Over 1,200 lines of dialogue have been addedto further enhance 7DTD’s immersion. More importantly, however, is that quests now follow a new system where completing 10 quests of a tier unlocks the next tier, totaling 60 quests among all traders. The journal now tracks progress and displays tier points for each quest. Additionally, each trader can only be found in their respective biome:
Joel
Wastelands
It’s no longer possible to collaborate on quests for tier completion. Survivors can join each other for quests for trader rewards, but only the person who picked up the quest will get credit for tier progression. While there are still ample reasons to join each other for quests, this update further ensures progress will be slow in 1.0.
2Challenges Supplement Quests For Even More Rewards
Another Layer To Questing That Are Worth The Effort
Replacing the tutorial questline,challenges in7DTDoffer a structured approach to mastering game mechanics. Accessed with the Y key, challenges start with basic tasks and unlock further challenges as survivors progress. Each challenge provides XP rewards along with tips and tricks, guiding players through crafting, exploration, and zombie encounters. Some challenges offer tangible rewards in addition to XP, which can be redeemed from traders upon completion.
Challenges are a fantastic supplement to questing as it is in 1.0. Completing them feels much like hunting achievements, andthe XP reward alone is worth the trouble. However, many of the rewards are useful upgrades, like mods for crafting stations. Additionally, challenges provide tips for getting the most out of the game. They’ll guide new players in learning7DTD’s fundamentals, and they offer plenty of tricks that even vets will find useful.
1Updated Storage Crates Are A Big Help In 7DTD 1.0
Basic Chests Allow Labeling
7DTD1.0 consolidates storage solutions with updated storage crates, resulting in basic chests that survivors can label for ease of use. Players can upgrade crates from wood to iron to steel directly, maximizing storage efficiency without replacing containers. Upgrading requires only 10 units of iron or steel, and their durability is equal to building blocks of the same material, andupgrading adds more storage space to the container.
Labeling crates is not new in7 Days To Die, but creating containers that could be labeled used to require wood and nails. Additionally, there was a basic storage chest anyone could make early on that required only wood but could not be labeled. The updated crates combine the two items, and because they are easy to upgrade, it’s easier to organize right from the beginning.
7 Days to Die
7 Days to Die is a survival horror game in which players must survive as long as possible against hordes of undead enemies. Players are free to spawn in a pre-determined world or a procedurally generated one and must monitor their food and water supply closely. The game can be played Singleplayer or with a group.
