7 Days To Die 1.0 Review

It's been more than a decade since we have had early access to the game 7 Days To Die. The developers have finally released version 1.0 with a whole bunch of new features.

It has always been about survival, but with the new update, it’s a fully-fledged, open-world experience that blends horror, action, and RPG elements into a compelling package.

Let’s not waste much time talking about how amazing the update is; instead, let's dive headfirst into everything new you will find in it.

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Challenge System

One of the most significant additions in 7 Days to Die 1.0 is the Challenge System. This system replaces the old, somewhat lackluster tutorial and introduces a structured progression path for players.

You will immediately notice that the new system is divided into multiple categories, such as Basics of Survival, Homesteading, Advanced Survival, and more.

Each category contains a series of challenges that players can complete. These challenges range from simple tasks like crafting a specific item to more complex objectives like defeating a certain number of zombies.

Once you have completed each challenge, you will be rewarded with XP points, which will help you level up and unlock new skills and abilities. By simply trying out all the challenges from different categories, you can get acquainted with different activities.

For instance, a player who enjoys building might focus on the Homesteading challenges, while someone who prefers combat might prioritize the Zombie Slayer category.

Armor- Buffs, Quality, and Mods

There have also been some major changes to the entire armor system. A total of 16 new sets of armor, serving various functionalities, have been added for you to try in the gameplay.

Some of the core changes you will notice right away are that the clothing and armor sections have combined into one. The number of armor pieces was reduced from five (head, chest, arms, legs, feet) to four (head, torso, hands, feet), streamlining the system.

Armor now has three definitive categories:

  1. Light: Primitive, Lumberjack, Preacher, Rogue, Athletic, and Enforcer. These are perfect for early-game survival.
  2. Medium: Farmer, Biker, Scavenger, Ranger, Commando, and Assassin. These offer more protection than the light armor and minimal noise penalty.
  3. Heavy: Miner set, Nomad, Nerd, and Raider. Rightfully so, they provide the maximum protection but also give out heavy penalties.

Speaking of the buffs, you will now get bonuses with each individual armor, and once you have the full set, there is a special bonus.

For example, if you are wearing the full set of Ranger armor, the bonus given will be “Reload faster with Revolvers and Lever-action Rifles.”

Now, you also need to make sure that you are using all the top-tier armor sets for maximum bonus. For example, Tier 5 Athletic boots give 10% run speed while Tier 6 gives 20%.

Ultimately, it all depends on the best combination you can choose for the maximum bonus and advantage in your gameplay. I would surely not recommend going with the Primitive armor set since they are of absolutely no use and have no bonuses to offer.

New and Redesigned Character System

The character system has also gotten better. You can open the Player Profile and choose from the list of premade models.

Or you can create your own character from scratch. Go to Create and enter your character name. Choose from the different categories to create your own preferred character model.

You have the option to choose between Male or Female, whether you want your character to be White, Asian, Black, or Native American. You also have 32 different faces to choose from based on the type of race you have opted for.

In addition, there are different sets of eyes, hairstyles, hair color, mustaches, chops, and beards.

Furthermore, you can even just select Randomize to create a character faster with the given options. Apart from this, you can actually make out the change in graphics and clarity when it comes to the character movements. It's a massive improvement in making the characters look more realistic, including the body movements and head movements while navigating around.

Vehicles Modifications

We always had five vehicles in the game: a Bicycle, a Minibike, a Motorcycle, a Gyrocopter, and a 4x4 Truck.

All the existing vehicle models received a much-needed facelift, aligning them with the game's improved graphics. This not only enhanced the overall look of the game but also made vehicles feel more immersive and realistic.

Starting with the bicycle, minor improvements to its handling and performance and other graphical changes make it look more realistic. Furthermore, in terms of mods, you can add a light to your bicycle that is visually represented on the front.

Next, the Minibike is so much better than what we had in the Alpha updates. It is much easier to handle and navigate around the town. The maximum seating capacity it currently has is two, which is great.

Our favorite vehicle is the Motorcycle. Not only does it look super cool, but the new armor mod gives it an extra edge. It is much easier to navigate around the wasteland than the 4x4 truck, and the new armor mod reduces the damage when any object hits the vehicle.

The 4x4 Truck, on the other hand, comes with 4 seats by default and can now be modified with 2 more seats. In addition, the new Plow Mod can be placed on the front, making it easier to clear your path from zombie attacks. It's a bit difficult to take them on the wasteland, but they're easier to drive on the roads.

Lastly, the Gyrocopter has always been very difficult to handle, and many gamers have hardly used it. However, with the new 1.0 update, it can be rightfully said that it has become a bit better to fly it around and even park it over buildings. This, too now comes with a new armor mod, as seen in the motorcycle, serving a similar purpose.

New Animals and Zombies

In addition to new vehicle mods and redesigned characters, the developers have added new models for various animals, giving them a more defined look.

You will see HD animal rosters, such as deer, mountain lion, wolf, and stag. At first glance, they look more vibrant, and the fur is shaded to make them more realistic.

Moving on to the Zombies, they had already been updated to HD models earlier, but now we have new variants coming into play. For example, the nurses have different colored and printed uniforms, the party girls have different colored dresses, and the fat Hawaiian zombies have printed shirts as well.

Furthermore, the Demolition Zombie has undergone a major makeover as well. It does look more terrifying, and the button placement around its shoulder moves a lot, making it a bit difficult to shoot it compared to how easy it was earlier.

Random World Generation

The 1.0 update introduced substantial refinements to the Random World Generation (RWG) system, significantly enhancing the overall gaming experience.

It is around four times faster now to create new worlds, making the game more enjoyable. Likewise, you might be able to explore more worlds.

We have new options for Biome layouts: Central Forest, which is the default, Center Wasteland, Circle, and Line.

Once you select a map, you can zoom in and notice that the POIs are color-coded, such as Light blue for Rural, Yellow for Industrial, and so on.

Crafting Update and New POIs

Crafting is known to be a core mechanic in the game and has been revamped in the 1.0 update.

You will have to craft the quality 6 gear from scratch since it is no longer available for purchase or loot. Once you visit the inventory, you can find all the requirements you will need to craft the gears and tools. However, there is a new entry on the list, i.e., Legendary Parts. These are rare and can only be found in tier 5 POI loot or as a reward from tier 5 or 6 quests.

You will need these Legendary Parts for every Quality 6 armor you wish to make, so you might often run out of them.

Similarly, you now need an Armor Crafting Kit to craft armor. The kit can be created with the use of Armor Parts, Sewing Kit, and Duct Tape. Whether you are looking to craft a quality one armor or quality six, Armor Kit is a must.

Speaking of the POIs, the new update has 75 new additions. Five Tier 5 POIs, including Haven Hotel, 7 Days Suites, Navezgane Athletics Complex, Grover High, and Minotaur Theater, have been added to the latest update.

The developers have also added multiple Remanents to keep the performance at par. Well, if you are new here, a Remanent doesn’t have much loot and was created to make cities look filled with structures.

Is It Worth Playing?

We have surely left out a ton of other minor updates for you to figure out once you get your hands on it. If you are caught up in the hype of this game and wondering if it's worth starting now, well, the answer is yes. It's addictive, and you can never get enough of it.

Many of you may have read the patch notes already that were released weeks before the 1.0 update release, but there is much more to the game. Get yourself a dedicated server now and start playing to make the most of this game.