Zombie defense

Inspiration

The game was inspired by my passion for survival gameplay, wave-based mechanics, and tower defense systems. I’ve always loved the thrill of defending a position against overwhelming odds, and zombies felt like the perfect enemy to create constant tension and urgency. Horizon Worlds gave me the ideal environment to experiment with this concept in an immersive space.

What it does

"Zombie Defense" is an endless survival game where players must protect a castle from incoming waves of zombies. As time passes, the enemies become more aggressive and numerous. Players can upgrade their weapon stats, increase their movement speed, and heal the castle to hold out longer. The goal is simple: survive as long as possible.

How we built it

he game was developed using the Meta Horizon Worlds desktop editor and TypeScript. At its core, it features a progressive wave generation system and weapon upgrades that allow the player to adapt to increasing difficulty. I wrote modular scripts to handle enemy spawning and score management. I also made extensive use of generative AI to create music, sound effects, and voiceovers, adding a more immersive and dynamic feel to the experience. Every element was tested and optimized to ensure smooth performance within the Horizon environment.

Challenges we ran into

One of the main challenges was optimizing performance while managing numerous enemies on-screen, given the specific limitations of Horizon Worlds. Another obstacle was working solo without a team, which meant I couldn’t create custom assets and had to rely on those available in the public library. Nonetheless, the biggest challenge was balancing the increasing difficulty with the right amount of tension, without ever overwhelming the player.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

I’m really proud of creating a fun and functional endless mode within the constraints of Horizon Worlds. The wave progression system and zombie behaviors create authentic tension, while weapon upgrades allow players to feel growth and control throughout the game. Additionally, the multiplayer mode integrated in Horizon Worlds added an extra layer of fun, making the experience even more engaging.

What we learned

This project allowed me to refine my TypeScript skills, particularly in creating scripts for real-time interactive systems. It was exciting to explore and use Meta's editor to build Horizon Worlds, discovering the endless creative possibilities it offers. I also learned how to structure the code in a modular way, making future expansions of the project easier.

What's next for Zombie Defense

The next steps for Zombie Defense include the introduction of a resource collection system, allowing players to build defensive turrets controlled by NPCs to assist in defending the castle. I also want to improve weapon management and upgrades, add new types of monsters with unique behaviors, and further enrich the gameplay experience with new challenges and mechanics.

Built With

• blender
• chatgpt
• elevenlabs
• suno
• typescript