The Midnight Walkers: Zombie PvPvE Extraction in a Mega-Mall

Zombie shooters are everywhere—but The Midnight Walkers, from indie OneWay Ticket Studio, aims to carve its own path by marrying extraction-FPS mechanics with PvPvE tension in a massive, multi-level mall overrun by the undead. Its new cinematic trailer teases poison gas traps, rival squads, and high-risk loot runs—ingredients we’ve seen before, but with a twist that could invigorate a genre teetering on repetition.

What Is Extraction-FPS and PvPvE?

Extraction-FPS tasks players with entering a hostile zone, gathering loot, and escaping before time or enemies seal the exit. Death means losing everything—permadeath stakes that heighten every encounter. PvPvE layers in rival human squads competing for resources alongside AI-controlled threats. The Midnight Walkers promises both: players face mutated zombies and each other, all racing to exit alive with the best haul.

Setting the Stage: Liberty Grand Center

Rather than a generic city block, the game unfolds across the Liberty Grand Center: interconnected shopping wings, hospitals, casinos, and service tunnels. This varied architecture could reward exploration—if the level design delivers meaningful shortcuts, ambush spots, and environmental hazards that force dynamic decision-making.

Enemies and Arsenal: Beyond Bullet Sponges?

• Zombie variants: Expect crawlers, acid-spitters, and hulking mutant bosses—each requiring different tactics.
• Weapons: From katanas and shotguns to sledgehammers, the “custom slayer’s arsenal” hints at build diversity. Key questions remain around stealth mechanics, skillshot depth, and ammunition scarcity.

True innovation hinges on how these foes interact—with the environment, with each other, and with players. If bosses behave like walking loot crates rather than strategic threats, enthusiasm will fade fast.

Indie Studio with Big Ambitions

OneWay Ticket Studio is composed of industry veterans, but this marks their first full release. Titles like GTFO and Ready or Not show that indie horror shooters can break out, but late 2025’s crowded calendar—featuring stalwarts like Warzone DMZ and rising hits such as Lethal Company—means The Midnight Walkers must prove its distinct identity.

Key Factors for Success

• Map Interactivity: Do doors, ventilation shafts, and dynamic events enhance replayability?
• Risk vs. Reward: Will the “lose it all” permadeath feel fair, or just punitive?
• PvP Balance: Can solo players compete without being ganked by organized squads?
• AI Variety: Are mutant bosses challenging in unique ways, or merely health bar sponges?

Final Verdict: Keep on Your Wishlist?

If OneWay Ticket Studio nails a living, interconnected mega-complex with diverse threats and meaningful loot decisions, The Midnight Walkers could stand alongside extraction-FPS heavyweights. But if it leans too hard on genre buzzwords and underdelivers on core mechanics, it risks becoming another forgotten Steam sale staple. For now, add it to your wishlist, follow early access updates closely, and watch for hands-on previews before diving in.