The history of Humans vs. Zombies is a tale that takes place across the country. Below you'll find our club history, national history, and silly things from our organization.

How did HVZ start?

The first official game of Humans vs. Zombies (HvZ) originated in 2005 at Gonzaga University in Spokane, Washington, when a group of students sought a fun and engaging way to foster community and interaction on campus. Inspired by classic games of tag and zombie films, they created a week-long game where players took on the roles of humans or zombies, with the objective of surviving the zombie apocalypse. The unique combination of strategy, teamwork, and playful chaos quickly gained popularity, spreading to other universities across the United States and eventually around the globe. As more students participated, HvZ evolved into a beloved campus tradition that not only entertained but also encouraged friendships, teamwork, and memorable experiences among participants.

National History

Origins

The game was created in the fall of 2005 at Goucher College in Towson, Maryland, by a group of students including Chris Weed, Brad Sappington, Joe Sklover, Max Temkin, Trevor Moorman, Justin Quick, and Ben Hwang. It started as a fun twist on traditional tag, where players are divided into humans and zombies.

Rapid Spread

After its inception, HvZ quickly gained popularity and spread to approximately 1,000 colleges and universities across the United States and beyond. The game's unique blend of strategy, teamwork, and social interaction made it appealing to students.

Evolution

Over the years, the rules and gameplay have evolved, with various campuses introducing their own twists and modifications. The core concept remains the same: humans must evade being tagged by zombies, who grow in number as the game progresses.

Covid-19

The COVID-19 pandemic significantly disrupted HvZ events across college campuses, as social distancing measures and health guidelines made traditional gameplay challenging. Many campuses had to suspend or modify their games, leading to creative adaptations such as online versions or smaller, socially-distanced gameplay, highlighting the resilience of the HvZ community and their commitment to maintaining connections during a time of isolation.

Current Status

Today, HVZ is harder to find on college campuses (At the time of writing this, I could only find 3 semi-active university clubs besides our own), and numbers have never truly recovered since Covid. We at the ZAO strive to keep this amazing game alive for our community!