ZED ZONE Horde Mode
Horde Mode is a camp defense with roguelike progression: a trader hires you to protect his RV camp, and every dusk the horde comes back stronger. It was also the mode of the 1.0 launch leaderboard event.
- 20 waves wins the defense; Endless keeps going.
- Airdrop after each wave, long rest every 5 waves.
- XP, attribute points and skills carry to the next run.
ZED ZONE Horde Mode rules
| Your job | Keep a trader’s RV camp standing. Official |
|---|---|
| When attacks come | Each dusk. Waves grow tougher one after another, and later ones bring raiders, giant creatures and cataclysm-class monsters along with the infected. Official |
| Resupply | A supply airdrop lands in camp once a wave is beaten; waves 5, 10, 15 and so on are followed by a long break. Official |
| Winning | Survive 20 waves on default rules, or switch on Endless and play until you fall. Official |
| Progress | XP, attribute points and skills from one run are kept for the next; the world itself is not saved. Official |
| Players | 1 to 4, ranked on separate solo and team leaderboards. Official |
Planning a run
Because progress carries over, early runs are partly investment: the attribute points and skills you earn make the next run easier. The long rest every 5 waves is the moment to repair, reload and rebuild defenses. Turrets and traps and the skill tree matter more here than in Standard Mode.
The 1.0 launch leaderboard event
From launch, the developer ran a four-player Horde Mode leaderboard challenge. Official
| Leaderboard window | 6 Nov 15:00 to 15 Nov 24:00, Beijing time (UTC+8); the English post gives 5 Nov 23:00 to 15 Nov 08:00 PST |
|---|---|
| Submission deadline | 16 Nov, 12:00 Beijing time; results 16–17 Nov; prizes 18–20 Nov |
| Prizes | 1st US$30, 2nd US$20, 3rd US$10, 4th–10th US$5 Steam Wallet gift cards |
| Counts | Only the four-player Horde Mode leaderboard |
| Rules | A legitimate copy on your own account, at least 2 hours played during the event; trainers, console commands, save swapping, boosting or doctored screenshots disqualify |
Entry is by email with leaderboard screenshots; follow the official announcement for the address and format. Official This section is kept for reference after the event ends.
Why players start with Horde Mode
It is the fastest way to test weapons and defenses: you restock and improve your setup between waves instead of scavenging first, and the 5-wave long rest is the moment to rebuild. 1.0 review It is also the co-op mode a group can jump into immediately, capped at 4 players. Official Because it does not save the world, treat each run as self-contained; only experience, attribute points and skills carry over. Official
Checked against version 1.0.4Last verified 2026-11-07
Sources
- Patch notes: Zed Zone 1.0 is out now (New Island, co-op, farming) · 2026-11-06 · official
- Announcement: Horde Challenge leaderboard event · 2026-11-06 · official
- Patch notes: 1.0.4 (co-op room list, exoskeleton weight, fixes) · 2026-11-06 · official
- YouTube: Gaming Plus TV, “ZED ZONE 1.0: Don’t Buy Until You Know This!” · 2026-11-07 · single player report
