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| God Save Birmingham is free to try on Steam until November 9, including co-op for up to four players. |
If you're looking for something to do this weekend, Ocean Drive Studio has you covered with a free public playtest of their upcoming medieval zombie survival game, God Save Birmingham.
The open-ended survival sandbox, set in a plague-ridden medieval Birmingham, is available to try for free until Monday, November 9. Following a successful closed test with over 1,000 participants, the developers are now inviting everyone to jump in and experience the brutal, physics-driven world for themselves.
A Different Kind of Zombie Game
Unlike traditional narrative-driven survival titles, God Save Birmingham drops players into a sandbox environment with no story mode. Your only goal? Survive. That means scavenging for food, finding clean water, securing shelter, and fending off hordes of hungry undead using medieval weaponry and whatever improvised tools you can get your hands on.
What really sets the game apart, however, is its ambitious physics system. According to the developers, nearly every object in the world can be moved or repurposed. A dining table can be shoved against a door to create a barricade. A rolling barrel can be sent crashing into a crowd of zombies like a medieval bowling ball. But the physics cut both ways—trip over debris and you might drop your weapon, or misjudge a jump and end up with a broken leg.
In God Save Birmingham, players can craft weapons, furniture and various items to secure and furnish their shelter. (Pictured: A screenshot from God Save Birmingham.)
Co-op Arrives in Early Alpha
For the first time, the playtest also includes a co-op mode for up to four players. While still in an early alpha state, it allows friends to team up, scavenge resources together, and build a makeshift home in the ruins of Birmingham. The full game is expected to enter Early Access soon, with the developers planning roughly a year of active development to complete the town and sandbox experience.
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| Alongside medieval weapons such as clubs and swords, players can also use a scythe in combat. (Pictured: A screenshot from God Save Birmingham.) |
Co-op Arrives in Early Alpha
For the first time, the playtest also includes a co-op mode for up to four players. While still in an early alpha state, it allows friends to team up, scavenge resources together, and build a makeshift home in the ruins of Birmingham. The full game is expected to enter Early Access soon, with the developers planning roughly a year of active development to complete the town and sandbox experience.
Community Feedback Highlights Early Hiccups
As with any beta, not everything is running smoothly. Steam discussions reveal some players struggling with the game's demanding survival mechanics—particularly the constant hunt for food, which can leave little time for exploration or crafting. Others have reported zombies spawning inside previously secured shelters, and some co-op sessions have experienced issues with enemies not appearing on private servers or attacks failing to register.
Given the game's beta status, these issues are understandable, and the developers at Ocean Drive Studio have emphasized that player feedback is central to their development process. The studio has committed to regular Steam blog updates and community engagement throughout Early Access.
How to Join the Playtest
The free playtest runs until Monday, November 9. Interested players can request access directly on the God Save Birmingham Steam page, where they can also wishlist the game to stay informed about its Early Access launch.
With its unique medieval setting, tactile physics, and hardcore survival mechanics, God Save Birmingham offers a fresh take on the zombie genre. If you have a free weekend and a tolerance for broken legs and barrel-based combat, it might just be worth a look.