A new free-to-play zombie shooter titled Operation: Outbreak has been released on Steam, offering a short, self-contained survival experience built using Unreal Engine 5 and developed as a student project.
The first-person shooter is designed as a 10 to 20-minute survival run rather than a full-length campaign. According to its Steam description, the game was created solo over a few weeks as part of an academic exam, with the developer clearly outlining the limited scope and ambitions of the project.
See also: Indie RPG Kingdoms of the Dump Gains Traction on Steam Charts
In Operation: Outbreak, players take on the role of a lone survivor known as “Nomad” after a patrol mission goes wrong and a viral outbreak overwhelms a city. Guided by a radio operator called “Sentinel,” players must navigate through dangerous streets and underground tunnels to reach an extraction point, with the game encouraging cautious movement over direct confrontation.
Combat mechanics emphasize scarcity rather than constant action, with players relying primarily on a pistol and managing limited ammunition, healing items and night vision. The environments feature dark corridors, derelict buildings and flickering lights, creating a tense atmosphere aligned with survival horror design.
See also: Zombie Franchise Dead Island Expands With Third Game Teased
The Steam page notes that artificial intelligence was used for voice-over work due to budget constraints, asking players to consider this when leaving reviews. As the developer states on the store page, the project is “a 10–20 minute experience built solo in a few weeks as a student exam project.”
Released on Dec. 20, 2025, Operation: Outbreak is currently free to download on Steam and has received a “Very Positive” rating, with about 80% of early user reviews marked as positive. Steam has not yet finalized compatibility labels for Steam Deck or controller support.