by Alexandra Edwards

Zombie terror stalks the darkened maze in this thrilling adventure game based on George A. Romero’s classic horror film…

Dawn of the Dead

100 zombie, adventurer, and game action playing pieces!

Full-color playing map based on the actual film setting!

Complete easy to learn rules!

Fantastic fun for two to four gamers or for one player using the intriguing solitaire version. Accurately re-creates all the action and tension of the great original film scenario!

It may seem ironic to create tie-in products for a film that condemns the consumerist impulse, but that didn’t stop the marketing geniuses of the 1970s from trying.

Honestly, though, who could resist a zombies-in-the-mall themed board game?  Admittedly, it’s a pretty great idea.

Published in 1978 — and already predicting of the film’s future classic status — the Dawn of the Dead board game featured action for 1 – 4 players, and was recommended for ages 12 and up.  Players could play as humans or as zombies, in varying configurations and with different game goals for each.  Game play is listed as lasting 90 minutes.

Dawn of the Dead (based on the classic 1978 horror film) can be played as a two-player game (humans vs. zombies), as a solitaire game, or as a cooperative game with two to four players controlling the human heroes. The game map represents the shopping mall from the movie. Cardboard counters signify the human characters and zombies. To win, the zombie player must kill any three characters; the human player must secure the mall by closing all four entrances and eliminating all zombies within. (Via BoardGameGeek)

We’ve never seen one of these games in the wild, and it doesn’t look like any are available on eBay at the moment either.  BoardGameGeek has some great detailed photos up — enough to make us pine after playing this on rainy afternoons.

Play as Peter, Roger, Steve, or Fran! Go beserk! Close stores! Shoot zombies with tiny hunting rifles!

The game was still being sold — and advertised — as late as 1981.  (Game manufacturer SPI went bankrupt not long after this, in the early 80s.)

Some enterprising fans have since recreated the game for themselves — this one is translated into Italian.

Has anyone out there in internet-land played the game?  Is it as awesome as it seems?  We’re dying to know!