Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

Zombie Wranglers throws players into a frenetic third-person action experience where coordination is key. Up to four players can join forces as members of Wrangler Union 138, each specializing in unique wrangling techniques. Whether you’re tossing glue bombs to immobilize clusters of Emo zombies or slipping shrink grenades into the tight crowd of Skater undead, the game constantly demands quick thinking and teamwork.

The mission structure keeps things fresh: across 20 stages, you’ll clear suburbs, infiltrate a ransacked summer camp, and fight your way through an overrun strip mall. Each level tasks you with a mix of objectives—destroying specific monster types, rescuing trapped civilians, or deactivating hazards like zombie-spawn generators. The variety ensures you never feel like you’re doing the same thing twice, and the constant pacing prevents downtime.

Central to your arsenal is the versatile Wrangler Pack. Beyond standard firearms, it converts defeated undead into raw essence—the game’s currency. This mechanic gives a satisfying loop: the more zombies you wrangle, the better gear and upgrades you can purchase between missions. It encourages players to explore every nook of each map in search of secret hordes and hidden caches of essence droplets.

Graphics

Visually, Zombie Wranglers opts for a cel-shaded, cartoony aesthetic that instantly sets a lighthearted tone. The exaggerated character designs—complete with neon mohawks on Skater zombies and battered uniforms on Mailman shamblers—pop against the bold, saturated backdrops. This style choice keeps the undead menace from feeling overly grim, making the game accessible to a wider audience.

The environments themselves are surprisingly detailed. Suburban streets feature overgrown hedges and boarded-up driveways, while the summer camp bursts with color—think graffiti-splashed cabins and rusted metal playgrounds. Even the strip mall, though battered, brims with visual storytelling: flickering neon signs, broken storefront glass, and mannequins stuck in mid-posing, all hinting at the suddenness of the outbreak.

Performance remains stable even during the most chaotic moments. With dozens of zombies on-screen, the frame rate holds firm, and the distinctive outlines of the cel shading never waver. Subtle particle effects—glue splatters, sparkling essence droplets, and smoke trails from shrink grenades—add polish without overwhelming the hardware.

Story

While Zombie Wranglers doesn’t aim to deliver an epic narrative, its light-hearted story framework is enough to keep players invested. You step into the boots of one of four eager wranglers who answer the call when Potters Field is overrun. Each character has their own banter and one-liners, lending personality to otherwise straightforward objectives.

The Wrangler Union 138 backstory unfolds in bite-sized cutscenes between missions, revealing a grassroots group of kids determined to reclaim their hometown. Though the plot never dives into deep emotional territory, it strikes a charming balance between humor and heroism. You’ll not only shoot zombies, but also foil the Mayor’s misguided plan to “quarantine” the undead with a giant, monstrous fence.

Side dialogues peppered throughout the game add flavor: an exchange about whether glue bombs count as “chemistry” in summer camp or the wranglers debating the best strategy to handle a Mailman swarm. These tidbits give more depth to what could have been a throwaway premise, making each successful extraction feel like a small victory for kid-powered ingenuity.

Overall Experience

Zombie Wranglers delivers a highly replayable, co-op-focused romp that’s perfect for friends looking to team up on a weekend gaming session. Its core loop—takedown zombies, collect essence, upgrade gear—remains engaging from start to finish, and the distinct mission objectives stop the experience from feeling stale. Whether you’re a seasoned action gamer or new to the genre, the difficulty curve and upgrade paths allow for plenty of flexibility.

The whimsical graphics, combined with the rapid-fire gameplay, strike a tone that’s both fun and inviting. You’ll find yourself laughing at the over-the-top animations even as you frantically plant explosives amidst a charging mob of undead. The story, while not groundbreaking, provides enough context to care about your tiny heroes and the quirky world they inhabit.

All told, Zombie Wranglers stands out as a polished, entertaining title with enough content to justify multiple playthroughs. Its emphasis on teamwork makes it an excellent choice for groups, and the consistent performance ensures that nothing breaks the immersion. If you’re in the market for a lighthearted but action-packed zombie game, Zombie Wranglers is worth wrangling into your library.