Zombies, Run!

58 of 100 · reviews
4.8of 5 · store
23,955ratings on the App Store
495reviews read

An editorial reading of the saved reviews

A narrative running motivator with audio stories set in a post-apocalyptic world. The unique zombie-chase mechanic makes you genuinely speed up. Motivation through story works: users run six days a week without noticing the effort. Serious problem: a recent update wiped unlocked episodes from long-term users, the app is unstable on current iOS, and Apple Watch support has disappeared.

Screenshots

What people use it for

People who find plain running boring and need an external reason to go outside. Fans of audio dramas and narrative games who can live with technical rough edges for the sake of the story.

What reviews praise

An audio drama with live actors and a compelling plot turns each run into the next episode of a story.
The zombie chase mechanic with a customizable speed-up percentage creates a real game incentive.
Users find themselves running 6 days a week with noticeable speed gains and no feeling of "I have to train."

What reviews complain about

Loss of years-worth of unlocked episodes after an update with no compensation is a critical trust breach.
No standalone Apple Watch mode: without the phone the app does not work.
No transcripts, so users with hearing loss are cut off from the narrative.
The chase is set to maximum but you can still outrun the zombies with a fast walk, so there is no real challenge.

What users experience

2 excerpts from the breakdown. These are individual cases, not a verdict on all users.

I had this app for sometime now and really enjoy the story and the fact it keeps healthy but I encountered issues where my steps don't get counted when I run on a treadmill and I recently got a Apple Watch and it's unfortunate that I can't start or be tracked on my Apple Watch instead of my phone.

I returned to Zombies, Run! a few months ago after time off. It quickly has gotten me running six days a week. It keeps it fun and the writing is really engaging. And I'm getting faster. A lot faster.