Zombies, Run!
An audio drama that turns your runs, walks and treadmill sessions into missions in a zombie apocalypse
by ZOMBIES RUN LTD · listed Oct 21, 2026
Quick verdict
If plain fitness trackers have never kept you motivated, Zombies, Run! is worth trying for its storytelling alone. Expect to subscribe if you want more than a taste of the missions.
Best for People who get bored exercising and want a story to pull them through walks and runs
Reviewed by AppsPicks on Oct 21, 2026. How we review
Zombies, Run! review
Zombies, Run! is a fitness app built around an ongoing audio story. You play Runner 5, a scavenger in a post-apocalyptic settlement, and each workout is a mission told through your headphones. It suits beginners who need a reason to get out the door, and regular runners who find steady miles dull. It works at any pace, walking, on a treadmill or in a wheelchair, and includes a Couch to 5K plan wrapped in the same story.
Day to day, you pick a mission, start your playlist and go. Story clips play between your songs, and the app tracks distance and pace with GPS. Supplies collected on runs feed a light base-building side game where you grow the town of Abel Township. With hundreds of missions across many seasons, there is plenty to work through before you run out of story.
Why we picked it: It solves the motivation problem with writing and voice acting good enough that you want the next episode, without adding pressure about speed.
Watch out for: Most missions sit behind a subscription, and the Google Play rating is noticeably lower than on iOS, so Android users may want to test the free tier first.
What we like
- Story-driven missions that make workouts feel like episodes of a show
- Works for walking, jogging, treadmills and wheelchair users
- Built-in Couch to 5K plan for new runners
- Story clips play between tracks from your own music
- Large back catalogue of missions across many seasons
What could be better
- Full mission library requires a paid subscription
- Android reviews are much weaker than iOS reviews
- Base-building side game is shallow compared with the story
- Less useful if you want detailed training plans beyond 5K
Questions about Zombies, Run!
Is Zombies, Run! free?
You can download it and try it for free, but unlocking every mission requires a subscription that renews automatically until cancelled.
Which platforms does it run on?
It is available on iPhone through the App Store and on Android through Google Play.
Do I have to actually run?
No. It works at any speed, so you can walk, jog, use a treadmill or work out in a wheelchair.
Can I listen to my own music?
Yes. The story segments are played between songs from your own playlists.
Is it suitable for complete beginners?
Yes. It includes a Couch to 5K programme that teaches you to run while following the story.
From the developer: how Zombies, Run! describes itself
Run in the real world. Become a hero in another.
Zombies, Run! is the world’s most popular smartphone fitness game — over 10 million runners, a 4.8-star rating, and 500+ missions across 11 seasons and counting, co-created by award-winning novelist Naomi Alderman.
Every run becomes a mission. You’re Runner 5, and through your headphones the story unfolds: rescue survivors, gather supplies, outrun the horde, and uncover the truth about the zombie apocalypse. It’s so much fun you’ll forget you’re working out.
• Made for every body and every pace. Total beginner or marathon veteran, it works anywhere and at any speed — jog in a park, walk a trail, use a treadmill, or work out in a wheelchair.
• Includes a Couch to 5K training program like no other. Learn to run with thrilling, immersive storytelling.
• Your music, your soundtrack. The story weaves between tracks from your own playlists.
• A fully-featured fitness app. GPS tracking, detailed stats, and unlockable story extras as you progress. Rebuild Abel Township from a few shivering survivors into a fortified beacon of civilisation.
Try Zombies, Run! for free, or subscribe to unlock every mission.
Subscriptions renew automatically unless cancelled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period, and can be managed in your App Store account settings.
Terms: https://support.zombiesrungame.com/hc/en-us/articles/10967895586461-Zombies-Run-Subscription-Terms
Privacy: https://support.zombiesrungame.com/hc/en-us/articles/360005935458-Privacy-Policy
Note: Continued GPS use in the background can decrease battery life.
Text from the app store listing, quoted for reference. Our own take is above.
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