Devolver Digital and Brigada Games have announced that the apocalyptic checkpoint simulator Quarantine Zone: The Last Check launches on January 12, 2026 for PC via Steam.
The game has amassed over 1.2 million wishlists since its reveal and attracted 2 million demo players. The numbers don’t lie – it’s one of the most-watched indie sim launches of early 2026.
Game Overview and Gameplay Loop
In Quarantine Zone: The Last Check you step into the role of a government agent tasked with operating a vital checkpoint during a zombie apocalypse. Your job is to screen incoming survivors, manage limited resources, and make difficult moral choices that determine who is allowed into your safe zone.
That’s the premise – now let’s look at how the gameplay actually works. It’s divided into a few main parts:
Identity & infection screening
Players check documents and symptoms of infection to make sure who can be trusted and who will be allowed into the checkpoint.
Resource management (food/fuel/defenses)
Each refusal or approval affects supplies, so players must carefully balance food, fuel, and defensive upgrades.
Base defense under pressure
Escalating threats force players to reinforce their base management and respond to sudden crises.
Narrative tension and consequence-driven decisions
Story is full of moral choices, each decision matters and has impact on the survivors behavior and internal stability.
What’s new? Launch features
Quarantine Zone: The Last Check includes several launch features that were not present in the demo version, including:
- New portable X-ray for scanning signs of infection
- Metiascope eye inspection and reflex testing
- Laboratory diagnostics for unknown symptoms
- Zombie feeding cage for corpse disposal (and government payouts)
- A new top-down base management interface
- Rooftop zombie threats
- Gameplay refinements
The game fits neatly into popular “job sim under stress” and “moral choice management” trends, but stands out by combining mundane bureaucratic routines with constant survival horror pressure. Paperwork, inspections, and resource allocation mix with hard moral calls and constant tension.
What rules would you enforce at your checkpoint? Who would you let in – and who would you turn away? What’s the most suspicious symptom you’ve spotted during a screening so far, and what was your most stressful “paperwork under pressure” moment in the demo?
Share your stories from the demo in the comments, and let us know if Quarantine Zone: The Last Check is already on your wishlist – or if you’re planning to jump in on launch day.
Final Thoughts
Quarantine Zone: The Last Check release date is on January 12, so it’s just around the corner. With all the improvements introduced for release, the game is shaping up to be an exciting experience. If you want a quick preview, a new release-date trailer is now available.