Is Zombies, Run! still updated in 2026?

Yes. Six to Start still releases new seasons, usually one new season per year. The base game is free to download and new seasons are available with a subscription or one-time purchase.

How does Zombies, Run! work?

You put on headphones, start a run, and audio story missions play between your music. Runner 5 (you) completes objectives for Abel Township while radio chatter and occasional zombie chases interrupt the story.

What is a zombie chase?

Periodically during a mission, you hear "Zombies! Incoming!" and a countdown starts. If you do not speed up, the horde catches you and you drop supplies. Chases can be turned on or off.

Is Zombies, Run! free?

The first 4 missions of Season 1 and a few side missions are free. Full access to all seasons and interval training requires Zombies Run Pro at about $4.99 per month or $39.99 per year.

Does it work on Apple Watch?

Yes, Zombies Run has an Apple Watch companion that lets you see distance, time, and supplies collected from the wrist. The audio still plays through the phone or paired earbuds.

Can I run at the treadmill?

Yes. Zombies, Run! has an accelerometer-based mode that works without GPS, so treadmills are supported. Distance is less accurate than outdoor GPS but the story experience is identical.

How many seasons are there?

As of 2026 there are 13+ seasons covering hundreds of missions, plus standalone story packs and seasonal events like the Halloween Race.

Does Zombies, Run! have training plans?

Yes, a separate 5K Training plan called "5k Training by Zombies, Run!" exists. It is the gamified version of a couch-to-5K plan with story integration.

Who made Zombies, Run!?

Zombies, Run! is made by Six to Start, a London-based game studio. It launched in 2012 as one of the first gamified running apps on mobile.

Zombies, Run! vs Motera, which should I use?

They solve different motivation problems. Zombies, Run! gives you a story to chase. Motera gives you a persistent map game with leaderboards. Many runners alternate between them.

Zombies, Run! Review

Zombies, Run! in 2026: Is It Still the Best Story Running App?

Over a decade after launch, Zombies, Run! still delivers the most immersive story-driven running experience on phones. Here is what is still great, what has aged, and where Motera fits in alongside it.

4.6 App Store rating

10M+ downloads

13+ seasons

What Zombies, Run! Actually Is

Zombies, Run! is a narrative audio game that plays while you run. You are Runner 5, a newly arrived member of Abel Township, one of the last human settlements after a zombie outbreak. Every run is a mission: pick up supplies, rescue survivors, or deliver messages between bases while radio chatter and occasional zombie chases punctuate your music.

It is the original gamified running app, launched in 2012, and despite its age it still has a serious following. The production quality rivals a BBC radio drama, which makes it one of the only fitness apps genuinely worth listening to.

In 2026 the app still feels novel for new users, though long-time listeners may notice the UI has aged. The story is what keeps people running.

8 Core Features

Audio Story Missions

Hundreds of missions across 13+ seasons. Each run advances the Abel Township narrative.

Zombie Chases

Random speed intervals disguised as zombie attacks. Great interval training in disguise.

Radio Mode

Free-form runs with radio chatter but no narrative progression. Perfect for casual runs.

Base Building

Collect supplies during runs and spend them rebuilding Abel Township between sessions.

Music Integration

Plays your own Spotify or Apple Music playlist, with story clips dropping in between songs.

5K Training Plan

Separate 8-week couch-to-5K plan with story wrapped around each workout.

Season Missions

Each season is a full story arc with about 30 to 60 missions.

Virtual Races

Seasonal event runs like the Halloween and Christmas races. Finisher medals mailed to paying subscribers.

Season by Season Breakdown

New Beginnings

25 missions

Your arrival at Abel Township and the original apocalypse setup.

Big Pharma Conspiracy

55 missions

Mysterious drug trials and secrets inside Abel.

Hope Returns

55 missions

Expanding territory and meeting other survivor groups.

New Canton War

60 missions

Political drama and escalating conflict with rival townships.

Resistance

42 missions

The stakes escalate. Your character choices shape the story.

S9+

Current Arcs

30-50 each missions

Ongoing seasons with new arcs launched annually.

Pros

Unique narrative experience
13+ seasons of content
Works on treadmill and outdoors
Interval training hidden as zombie chases
No GPS required for core gameplay
Long-term replay value

Cons

Most content behind Pro subscription
UI feels dated
Story quality varies by season
Cannot fast-forward through story
Limited social features
Missions require a solid chunk of time

7 Tips to Get the Most From Zombies, Run!

Start with Season 1, Mission 1

The story is cumulative. Starting mid-series ruins key reveals.

Leave zombie chases on

They feel like HIIT and drastically improve your pace. Turn off only if injured.

Use radio mode for recovery runs

Save story missions for medium and long runs, use radio mode for slow days.

Headphones matter

Story dialogue has dynamic range. Cheap earbuds butcher the experience. Use proper running headphones.

Pay annually, not monthly

The annual Pro subscription is 35 percent cheaper per month.

Save episode binges for long runs

Missions are roughly 30 to 45 minutes long. Plan your runs to finish a mission cleanly.

Pair with a pure tracker

Zombies, Run! syncs to Strava and Runkeeper. Let those handle the cold stats while you focus on the story.

5 Alternatives Worth Trying

Motera

Gamified map game

Turns your city into a live strategy game. Capture territory, battle for streets, earn XP. No story, just ongoing competition.

The Walk

Narrative walking app

Also by Six to Start. 65 episodes of story wrapped around walking. Less intense than Zombies, Run!.

Runna

Coached training

For runners who want structure over story. Adaptive plans with voice coaching and strength work.

RPG Runner / Race Yourself

Small gamified trackers

Smaller indie apps with quest style features. Less polished than Zombies, Run! but often cheap or free.

Peloton Audio Runs

Coached audio

For runners who want human coaching instead of narrative. Monthly subscription.

If You Like Gamified Running

Alternate story mode with a real-world map game.

Zombies, Run! is a limited-content narrative. Motera is an infinite game: your actual neighborhood becomes a live battleground. Run a loop, capture a street. Run more, climb the city leaderboard. Different motivation, just as fun, and a perfect pair for Zombies, Run! listeners.

Download Motera

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