They Are Coming

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About the Game

They Are Coming is a 2D zombie survival shooter with roguelike progression, defensive construction, firearms, melee weapons, traps, and physics-based combat. You fight repeated zombie waves and use your available resources to improve your chances of survival.

🧟 Your Main Objective

In Defense mode, you take the role of a survivor who returns to the orphanage where you grew up. Your goal is to protect your younger siblings while zombie waves become harder over time.

You can purchase weapons and tools from the administrator, then use them during the attacks. Every wave requires you to manage your equipment and defenses carefully.

The core gameplay cycle includes:

Prepare your equipment.
Purchase useful weapons and tools.
Set up defensive objects.
Fight incoming zombie waves.
Manage your resources.
Survive as long as possible.
Start again after a failed run.

🔫 Your Arsenal Has Plenty of Options

Your equipment can include both ranged and close-range weapons.

Documented firearms include:

Rifle
Assault Rifle
Shotgun
Sniper Rifle
Machine Gun
Minigun

Melee weapons include:

Baseball Bat
Axe
Hammer
Japanese Sword
Chainsaw
Lightsaber

The available item pool has expanded through later updates. Recent additions include the Benelli M4, Benelli M4 BP, Flint 66, Flint 67, Snake Spear, and PIR-L3 OC.

🧱 Build Your Defense Before the Horde Arrives

Weapons are only one part of survival.

You can use defensive equipment such as roadblocks, spike barriers, and claymore mines. Defensive placement matters because the game gives you control over how you prepare for incoming attacks.

You can therefore use a mixture of:

Firearms
Melee weapons
Barriers
Mines
Traps
Other defensive tools

💀 One Run Can End Everything

Death has a major consequence in They Are Coming.

The game uses a run-based structure where a failed attempt ends your current progress. The official itch.io description specifically states that you must start again after death. The Steam page also lists losing everything after death as one of the game's defining drawbacks.

This makes resource decisions important. A useful item can help you survive longer, but your available resources still need careful management.

🧪 Playground Mode Gives You Room to Experiment

Playground mode works differently from Defense mode.

You can use unlocked in-game items without the normal threat of death. This gives you a place to test weapons, defenses, and different setups before using them during a serious survival run.

You can use this mode to:

Test weapons.
Examine defensive setups.
Try different traps.
Experiment with unlocked items.
Create your own defensive arrangements.

🧟 Different Zombies Change the Pressure

The game does not rely on one basic zombie type.

Community feedback specifically mentions runners and boomers among the enemies that appear as the difficulty increases. The mobile description also states that different zombies require different weapons and traps.

This means you need to pay attention to the type of threat approaching rather than using exactly the same response every time.

⚙️ Physics Play a Role in Combat

They Are Coming uses ragdoll physics as part of its combat presentation.

The official Steam description lists ragdoll physics and bloody kills among the game's features. The mobile listing also specifically identifies ragdoll physics as one of its core features.

The physics system is particularly noticeable when zombies receive heavy attacks or interact with defensive objects.