World War Z
The first 3 hours are a test
What the data shows
- In the first 2 hours 1 in 2 reviews are negative (50%); after 10h it's 1 in 7 (14%).
- The opening is criticised more than in 77% of games we track.
- 33% of players who start reach the ending.
- Most players drop off before “Escape” (Finish episode "New York" on any difficulty): only 58% of starters get there.
- 82% of owners got the first achievement.
When it gets good
Share of positive reviews by how many hours the reviewer had played when writing the review.
before it gets good opening up fully opened up
Based on all 33,371 Steam reviews in every language. Median playtime in a sample of 293 reviews: 11h for positive, 5.2h for negative. Almost every game is rated lower in the first 2–3 hours: that window includes refunds and quick first impressions. What matters is how deep the dip is and how fast the game recovers.
Where players quit
Share of players who started the game and reached each story milestone. 100% is the most common achievement (82.1% of owners), so people who bought the game and never launched it don't count.
- Started playing 100%
- Escape Finish episode "New York" on any difficulty Most players quit here 58% −42
- Hope Finish episode "Jerusalem" on any difficulty 54% −4
- Salvation of the Motherland Finish episode "Moscow" on any difficulty 43% −12
- This is just the beginning Finish all episodes on any difficulty 33% −9
story milestone ending biggest drop-off
Story milestones were labeled by AI from achievement names and descriptions; mistakes are possible.
All achievements (35)
story milestone ending side
- Teamwork Finish any level with full team 100%
- Sport kills Kill Lurker midair 95%
- Explosive Kill 10 zombies with balloon explosions 73%
- The floor is lava Burn 10 zombies with one gasoline puddle 70%
- Torero Kill Bull during charge 63%
- Strong immunity Finish any level without using health packs 61%
- Escape Finish episode "New York" on any difficulty 58%
- Hope Finish episode "Jerusalem" on any difficulty 54%
- Genocide Kill 10,000 zombies 48%
- Salvation of the Motherland Finish episode "Moscow" on any difficulty 43%
- There are many guns but this one is mine Open and buy final version of any weapon 35%
- Builder Build 100 defences 34%
- This is just the beginning Finish all episodes on any difficulty 33%
- High caution Finish any level without dealing friendly damage 28%
- Can't fool me Kill 20 lying zombies before they get up 25%
- First Aid Rescue 30 incapacitated teammates 23%
- Burglar Open 15 rooms or containers with breaching charge 19%
- Friend of machines Capture 15 turrets 15%
- Specialist Open and buy all perks in one specialization 13%
- Chain reaction Hit 10 zombies with one tazer shot 13%
- Dispenser Dispense 10 explosive ammo packs to teammates 13%
- What the doctor ordered Heal 30 teammates with health lower than 20% with health packs or stim pistol 12%
- Well, what did you achieve? Finish all episodes on insane or extreme difficulty 8.9%
- Waste of time Defuse 10 mines 6.6%
- Imposing arsenal Open and buy final versions of all weapons 6.3%
- Handyman Open and buy all perks in game 6.2%
- I am safe! Use masking grenade on 3 teammates with zombies near 6.0%
- Madman Finish 100 games in PvE 5.6%
- Toxicomaniac Walk into toxic cloud 100 times 5.5%
- Effective communication Mark special zombies 50 times 3.9%
- Winner in life Finish PvP match with highest score in any mode 2.6%
- The most effective way Finish any level using just pistol 1.7%
- Owner Capture the point and hold it until the end of match 1.0%
- Walking bank Gather 200 resources during single match in scavenge raid mode 0.9%
- Veteran Finish 25 PvP matches in any mode 0.9%