It topped over 1.3 million wishlists and had two million players who tried the demo: Quarantine Zone: The Last Checkpoint. Released last week, it sold over 300,000 copies in three days. So, what is it about this rather unusual game from Brigada Games and Devolver Digital?
In Quarantine Zone: The Last Check, players assume the role of a government agent stationed at a vital checkpoint during a zombie apocalypse. Their task is daunting: they must screen survivors one by one in first-person perspective to determine whether they are infected, and then decide what to do based on the examination. There are also administrative and management elements of the camp, but these play a minor role. The focus is more on examining survivors.
Quarantine Zone: The Last Check © Brigada Games and Devolver Digital
Throughout the campaign, players follow this process and unlock more tools for examining people, in addition to the detailed visual inspection for bite marks and other symptoms. The most important aid here is a tablet with a corresponding list of examples. More tools include a thermopulsometer, a portable X-ray machine to scan internal organs for signs of infection, an ophthalmoscope (matioscope) to check for signs of the virus in people's eyes, a medical reflex hammer and more. Over time, the list of symptoms grows longer, and depending on what the player finds, they sort the people into three categories: Green: everything's fine. Yellow: must be quarantined and checked again later. Red: infected. Those in the red category are then liquidated, but the players don't carry out the liquidation themselves; instead, only the sound of gunshots can be heard. Alongside the campaign, there's an endless mode where all the tools are available right from the start.
In addition, survivors with unknown symptoms must be examined in the laboratory to discover new signs of the virus, which includes an obscure dissection mini-game. If there are zombies in the quarantine cell, they can be 'fed' corpses. Occasionally, waves of zombies can be shot down with a drone and heavy firepower.
Quarantine Zone: The Last Check © Brigada Games and Devolver Digital
Despite the serious subject matter and life-or-death decisions, the game lacks emotionally engaging stories. The mini-stories in the side missions could add far more tragedy to the game, especially as a routine sets in over time. As more tools are added, the investigations become longer but are not necessarily more thrilling. Base management (managing food, power and medicine) and side activities are similarly expandable.
In this respect, Papers, Please and Contraband Police are deeper and more emotionally impactful. This is especially notable given that the intense nature of the proceedings is often alleviated in the game. For instance, familiar characters from other games, such as Dwight Fairfield, Meg Thomas, Claudette Morel and Jake Park from Dead by Daylight, appear. Additionally, survivors attempt to smuggle obscure or occasionally inappropriate items through the area. This should also be prevented, of course. Last but not least, some players are reporting bugs on Steam.
The game was developed by Brigada Games, which was founded in the United Arab Emirates in 2017. Previously an outsourcing studio, Brigada Games has now released its first game, Quarantine Zone: The Last Check. The game's publisher is Devolver Digital, an American company specialising in indie video games that embraces unconventional game concepts and unusual marketing campaigns. Also announced for release this year are the major expansion Cult of the Lamb: Woolhaven (22 January) by Massive Monster; the maze-building roguelite game Minos by Artificer; the boomer shooter Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun 2 by Auroch Digital; and the narrative exploration game Virtue and a Sledgehammer by Deconstructeam & Selkie Harbour.
Quarantine Zone: The Last Check © Brigada Games and Devolver Digital
Quarantine Zone: The Last Check was released on 12 January 2026 for PC via Steam and the Xbox Store. The game is also available on Xbox Game Pass for PC. Despite its presence on Game Pass, the launch on Steam was highly successful for Devolver Digital. In terms of concurrent users, it was the publisher's fourth-best launch with 31,653, just behind Ball X Pit in third place with 35,402 and behind Loop Hero (51,156) and Cult of the Lamb (61,780).
Quarantine Zone: The Last Check thrives on its atmospheric setting and oppressive mood, which it lightens up every now and then. However, the game would have benefited from a little more variety and emotional depth.
