Comparison

Zombie Outbreak Simulator vs Sandbox Zombies

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both games, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Zombie Outbreak Simulator

Simulate and customize zombie outbreaks in real-world locations using Google Maps. Control outbreak parameters, observe chaos unfold, and even join the fight with military interventions. Explore thousands of player-created maps or offline options.

Highlights
  • Real-world map simulation with Google Maps integration
  • Customizable outbreak parameters (zombie speed, civilian numbers, etc.)
  • Observe infection spread from satellite to street view
  • Direct intervention with bombs, soldiers, and helicopters
  • Thousands of player-created maps
  • Offline map play
Features
Read full description

Zombie Outbreak Simulator is a sandbox app where you can customize your own zombie outbreak. Choose from thousands of real locations around the world on Google Maps! ◆ Over 3 million downloads! ◆ • "a killer timewaster" - Gizmodo • "zombies plus Google Maps equals fun" - Games Radar • "a splendid idea, no matter how omnipresent zombies may be" - Rock, Paper, Shotgun • Apple Staff Favorite in the US, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, Spain and 14 other countries! • Top 5 in Simulation and Strategy on the iPad! Watch a zombie outbreak unfold in real world environments, and alter the outbreak parameters to your liking. Do you prefer old-school slow movers, or the new fast movers? Is the population armed? How well can they shoot? How many police will be on patrol? Customize your own outbreak then watch the chaos unfold. Zoom in and out to keep track of the infection as it spreads across the map! Watch from a high satellite view to get an overview of the infection, or zoom right in and watch as civilians run for their lives, shoot at zombies and inevitably become infected. Keep track of the people's only hope - local law enforcement, as they fight back against overwhelming odds. Join in the action by raining fire from above with Mk81 and Mk82 bombs, delivered by A-10 Tank Killers! Parachute soldiers into the front lines to protect the civilians. Deploy helicopters to rescue civilians before they become overwhelmed. From the Settings screen you can change the following parameters: • Civilian numbers • Civilian armed % • Civilian accuracy • Initial zombie numbers • Zombie outbreak direction (N, E, S, W, Map Wide) • Zombie speed • Infection time (how long it takes for infected civs to turn into zombies) • Number of police • Police accuracy • Soldier accuracy From the Map Select screen you can choose from: • 15 featured online maps, using Google Maps • 5 offline maps (play anywhere even without an Internet connection) • Over 2,500 player maps using Google Maps, created by players of the game at www.class3outbreak.com This free version of the app contains limited features, with in-app purchases for upgrades to unlock the full functionality. Initially you have access to two maps (one online, one offline), limited outbreak settings, and limited numbers of bombs, soldiers and helicopters.

About

Sandbox Zombies

Engage in chaotic battle simulations by creating custom levels with diverse units and a vast arsenal. Pit humans against monsters like vampires, werewolves, and ninjas, or combine their abilities for unique combat scenarios. Enjoy a regularly updated, ad-free experience with an optional one-time purchase for the full version.

Highlights
  • Custom level creation
  • Diverse unit types (humans, monsters, supernatural)
  • Hybrid unit abilities
  • Wide arsenal of weapons
  • Silly and unique weapon options
  • Regular updates
  • Ad-free experience
Features
Read full description

Sandbox Zombies is an action level editor. With zombies in it. Carefully set up your own elaborate scenarios, or just revel in causing chaos. With no innate goal, Sandbox Zombies trusts you to find fun in creativity and mischief. No ads and no internet required. Sandbox Systems: - Factions: Humans can fight humans too! There are 12 factions and you can edit who fights who. - Territory: Many units will try to claim territory for their faction, and this funnels units towards where the action is. - Modifiers: Units can be given a wide variety of modifiers such Invisibility, Armor, Vampirism, and much more. Many modifiers can be combined. - Spawners: Keep units respawning forever. So the battle can be endless while you just sit back and watch. - Electric Grid: Connect power sources (such as sensors and solar panels) to powered terrain (such as turrets, doors, spawners, lures, capture points, and more) to turn them on, or even make a certain faction control them. - Ground Mess: Bullet casings, scorch marks from explosions, and (depending on your settings) blood and guts from the injured will gradually paint the floor. You can wipe it clean by hand. - Day/Night Cycle: A Sun and Moon orbit the level separately, and can affect some units and terrain. - Offline Level Sharing: The entire sandbox data can be encoded into text for easy no-internet-required cross-platform sharing. - Controller Support: Optionally plug in a controller to take over any number of units and turrets at once and control them in the style of a twin stick shooter. Hand the controller to a friend and that's asymmetric local multiplayer. Support for multiple controllers is planned. Sandbox Content: - Normal Weapons: Shotguns, Rocket Launchers, Uzis, Miniguns, Smgs, Assault Rifles, Snipers, Revolvers, Flamethrowers, Swords - Silly Weapons too: Teleporter Guns, Paintball Guns, Frost Thrower, Zombification-Injector Guns, Braimwormifiers - Units: Humans, Ghouls, Mummies, Skeletons, Witches, Demons, Angels, Ninjas, Ghosts. And most of those can also be either Werewolves or Vampires on top of that! And zombified on top of that! - Terrain: Turrets, Crates, Explosive Crates, Sandbags, Barbed Wire, Mud, Fog, Doors, Lures, Sensors, Capture Points, Solar Panels - Units can be given extra modifiers: Metal Armor, Wings, Invincibility, Invisibility, Regeneration, Being On Fire, Being Frozen, Locust Breath, Emergency Teleport, Divinity, Brainworms, Vampirism, Lycanthropy, Zombification - And much more! There's just a one-time purchase for extra content, but the basic game is free so jump in and start causing chaos!

Screenshots

Zombie Outbreak Simulator4 screens
Sandbox Zombies4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: Sandbox Zombies at none against Zombie Outbreak Simulator's shown. Sandbox Zombies also leads on update cadence (every 11 days vs every 3 months) and review sentiment (84% vs 69%). Zombie Outbreak Simulator's advantage is ratings volume (1.7K vs 324). On price, in-app purchases, monetization model and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Zombie Outbreak Simulator sells 10 one-off in-app purchases and Sandbox Zombies sells 2 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Sandbox Zombies holds the better App Store score, 4.3 against 4.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Zombie Outbreak Simulator has 1.7K ratings behind it against 324, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 69% of Zombie Outbreak Simulator's written reviews are positive against 84% of Sandbox Zombies's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Zombie Outbreak Simulator ships an update every 3 months, Sandbox Zombies every 11 days. The most recent releases landed on October 17, 2026 and October 18, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
Zombie Outbreak Simulator versus Sandbox Zombies: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterZombie Outbreak SimulatorSandbox Zombies
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.1 (1.7K ratings)4.3 (324 ratings) — better
Positive reviews69.3% of reviews83.5% of reviews — better
Number of ratings1.7K — better324
Update frequencyEvery 3 monthsEvery 11 days — better
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS12.08.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size103 MB46 MB
Age rating12+12+
DeveloperBinary Space Pty LtdMOSS RED LLC

Customer experience

Zombie Outbreak Simulator

All ratings1,699 ratings
Positive78.1%
Neutral6.6%
Negative15.3%
Written reviews368 reviews
Positive69.3%
Neutral10.6%
Negative20.1%

Sandbox Zombies

All ratings324 ratings
Positive81.2%
Neutral6.8%
Negative12.0%
Written reviews237 reviews
Positive83.5%
Neutral8.4%
Negative8.0%

User reviews

Zombie Outbreak Simulator

From 1.7K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Great simulator
  • 🚀 Immersive gameplay
  • 👍 Beautiful graphics
  • 👍 Addictive and fun

Room to improve

  • 💰 Pay-to-play model
  • 🐛 Bugs and glitches
  • 🐛 AI issues
  • 🔒 Limited free content

Sandbox Zombies

From 324 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Fun sandbox experience
  • 👍 Variety of units and weapons
  • 💡 Potential for great updates
  • 👍 Good value for premium version

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Frequent crashes and freezing
  • 🔇 Lack of sound effects
  • 🔒 Premium features locked behind paywall

Bugs and requests

Zombie Outbreak Simulator

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Civilians getting stuck in buildings
  • Online and player-created maps not working
  • Issues with watching ads for in-game rewards
  • Restore purchases not working after reinstallation

Requested features

8 requests
  • Add more military units (tanks, helicopters, etc.)
  • Implement a sandbox mode with more customization
  • Improve zombie and civilian AI
  • Add more maps and locations
  • Introduce different zombie types and mutations
Show 3 more
  • Allow players to control individual units
  • Implement a base-building or fortification system
  • Add a wave-based survival mode

Sandbox Zombies

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Crashes and freezes when playing for extended periods
  • Inability to restore premium purchases after reinstallation
  • Spawner and control issues when reaching entity limit

Requested features

7 requests
  • Add more weapons and units
  • Implement unit control and customization
  • Increase map size and entity limit
  • Introduce destructible terrain and buildings
  • Add sound effects and background music
Show 2 more
  • Implement save/load functionality
  • Add vehicles and transportation options

In-app purchases

10 purchases

Zombie Outbreak Simulator

One-time10
  • Unlock Offline & Online Maps$0.99
  • Unlock Outbreak Settings$0.99
  • Unlimited Soldiers$0.99
Show 7 more
  • Unlimited Mk81 Bombs$0.99
  • Unlimited Mk82 Bombs$0.99
  • Unlimited Helicopters$0.99
  • Unlock Player Maps - Americas$1.99
  • Unlimited Bombs, Soldiers & Helicopters$2.99
  • Unlock All Player Maps$2.99
  • Unlock Everything$4.99
2 purchases

Sandbox Zombies

One-time2
  • Sandbox Zombies Unlocked$4.99
  • Sandbox Zombies Premium$4.99

Questions

Is Zombie Outbreak Simulator free?
Zombie Outbreak Simulator is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Sandbox Zombies free?
Sandbox Zombies is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Zombie Outbreak Simulator or Sandbox Zombies?
Sandbox Zombies is rated higher. Zombie Outbreak Simulator averages 4.1 out of 5 from 1.7K ratings, while Sandbox Zombies averages 4.3 from 324 ratings.
Do Zombie Outbreak Simulator or Sandbox Zombies have ads?
Zombie Outbreak Simulator shows ads; Sandbox Zombies does not.
Which is updated more often, Zombie Outbreak Simulator or Sandbox Zombies?
Zombie Outbreak Simulator ships an update every 3 months, and Sandbox Zombies every 11 days. Most recently, Zombie Outbreak Simulator was updated on October 17, 2026 and Sandbox Zombies on October 18, 2026.

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