Quarantine Zone: The Last Check – Cooking or Over Seasoned?
Let’s be honest—we’ve all wanted to be that grumpy border control agent with unchecked authority, deciding fates with a rubber stamp and dead eyes.
Papers, Please scratched that dystopian itch in 2D, but now Quarantine Zone: The Last Check drags the concept into a fully fleshed-out 3D nightmare with zombies, base-building, and just enough tedium to remind you it’s still “early access.”
This free demo just dropped on Steam, and while the full release isn’t due until September 2025, what we’ve seen so far is bloody promising… with a few splatters of “why is this in here?” thrown in for good measure.
Image Source: Quarantine Zone: The Last Check | Brigada Games
The Brains Behind the Game
At its core, Quarantine Zone is “zombie checkpoint simulator meets base management.” You’re stationed at the last border of humanity, deciding who gets into your fortified quarantine zone and who gets a free ride to bullet-town.
But unlike Papers, Please, this game isn’t content with just deskwork.
Oh no.
You’ve got zombies to mow down, survivors to inspect, a base to upgrade, resources to juggle, and the creeping suspicion that you might be working for some shady future-corp that’s one secret experiment away from causing the outbreak all over again…or I hope so at least.
Let’s break it all down.
The Good
Zombie Inspections: Glorious Desk Job Carnage
This is where the game really shines. You scan people for infection using thermometers, UV lights, and good ol’ fashioned paranoia. Is that a scratch or just a weird tattoo? Why is that guy sweating? What’s in the bag? The tension of possibly letting a ticking zombie-bomb into your base gives every decision weight.
Image Source: Quarantine Zone: The Last Check | Brigada Games
It’s got that Papers, Please flavor but dials the stakes to “death by dismemberment.” I’d love to see the devs add timed inspections or weird side-stories—like a secret faction trying to smuggle zombie parts for science or some secret plot dripping in conspiracy.
Right now, it’s solid, but it could become something special with a few narrative twists.
Base Building: Centralized and Surprisingly Satisfying
Your base development happens through an in-game tablet, which is a really nice touch. It keeps you immersed, and the UI is clean and functional. You can unlock upgrades that affect some other parts of the game, but there’s definitely room to go deeper.
Image Source: Quarantine Zone: The Last Check | Brigada Games
Imagine unlocking new inspection tools or weapons by upgrading your tech tree—now that would be pretty damn cool in my opinion.
Still, I respect the setup. It feels centralized and smart without being overwhelming.
Base Defense: Let’s Talk About That Drone
Sometimes, the infected don’t bother with the front gate and just zerg rush your base in between days.
That’s where the drone defense mode kicks in.
You hop into a turret-mounted drone perspective and blast zombies into meat confetti with a Gatling Gun and infrared vision that makes everything look like a funderful Predator cosplay.
Image Source: Quarantine Zone: The Last Check | Brigada Games
Secondary weapons like the bomb or RPGs or whatever that is? Meh. Kinda underwhelming.
But that main gun? Certified brrrrrrrt.
There are purchasable upgrades, but honestly, they don’t do much yet. I’m hoping for balance tweaks before launch, because this part has the potential to be fire if the upgrades feel meaningful.
The Bad
Resource Management: Why Is This Here?
Look—I get it. Survival games need resources. But this part of the game feels like someone checked a box on a dev wishlist titled “Things Games in 2024 Must Have.”
Running around to refill food, gas, and medkits with some damn cart every single day? Bro, just let me automate this or do it from the tablet.
It kills the pacing.
You go from tense zombie inspection mode to “fetch gas can #227” simulator. And this is just the demo. I’m scared to think how much more repetitive it could feel in the full game.
Don’t make me hate playing your game by forcing chores between the fun parts.
Image Source: Quarantine Zone: The Last Check | Brigada Games
The Bigger Picture
Quarantine Zone is ambitious. Maybe too ambitious.
It’s throwing everything at the wall—inspection mechanics, base building, turret defense, survival sim… hell, I half expected a farming minigame to show up (do it and I will send you to Zombie Jesus).
And sometimes, that “more is more” mindset trips over itself.
But I respect the hell out of what it’s trying to do. If they can iron out the pacing issues, deepen the narrative, and maybe tie the mechanics together more cohesively (like upgrading base tech unlocking new inspection tools? Yes please), this game could be a cult hit.
Image Source: Quarantine Zone: The Last Check | Brigada Games
The 3D presentation makes it feel way more immersive than Papers, Please, and if they add some secrets, hidden storylines, or multiple endings, I could easily see myself diving back in on release day.
Final thoughts
Quarantine Zone: The Last Check is a bold remix of an old favorite. The inspection gameplay is top-tier, the drone sequences are a blast, and the base building feels modern and intuitive. But the resource grind?
That needs to get yeeted into the sun.
It’s still just a demo, so there’s plenty of time for polish—and honestly, I’m rooting for this one. There’s a clever, dark little game buried under the clutter. If the devs can focus the experience and trim the fat, this might just be the next great entry in the “border patrol with moral dilemmas” genre.
And if not?
Well, it was free—and you got to fry zombies with a really fun gun.
So that’s still a win in my book.
Final Review Score
7.2/10
“Stamps, Scans, and Some Seriously Stupid Supply Runs.”
Would I recommend trying the demo? Absolutely.
Would I recommend tightening this game up a bit? Also yes.
Would I recommend forcing me to refill gas again? Only if you want me to uninstall.
If you’re still not convinced it’s awesome, make sure to try it for yourself on Steam for free!
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Francisco
May 22, 2025
Looks pretty cool, how much does it cost?
Ayefkay
May 22, 2025
Hey Fransisco, thanks for stopping by! My super fast commenting friend, I think I said it (cough 3 times cough, don’t worry I don’t read this crap either), but it’s absolutely free as a demo so you can play for yourself right now. Pretty fun and I do recommend for sure.