Killing Floor 3 takes place in 2091, which is 70 years after the previous entry in the popular action/horror franchise. With such a large time gap in the setting, Killing Floor 3 has a lot of opportunity to evolve what Zeds look like and how they function within the world.
Zeds make up the enemies players face in Killing Floor 3. While they’re commonly referred to as zombies, they’re not actually undead. Instead, they’re specimens that have been used in experiments gone wrong. These enemies come in many different varieties, from a basic Clot to the enormous and aggressive Fleshpound. While these foes have been present since the beginning of the franchise, Tripwire Interactive has kept busy evolving and growing the Zeds to pose a greater threat to players. To learn more about Zeds and how they function in Killing Floor 3, Game Rant recently sat down with lead combat designer Bill Munk.
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Munk went into detail about what players can expect to see from Zeds in Killing Floor 3, expressing that the gunplay is at the core of what makes the franchise addicting and fun. While gamers will see new Zeds at some point in the future, Munk felt it was important for the existing Zeds to evolve within the setting of the sequel. In doing so, Tripwire hopes to make the game feel fresh while also feeling recognizable for returning players:
“When we started developing Killing Floor 3, we wanted to make sure that people who played the first two would feel at home in the game. Like, this is Killing Floor. Instead of trying to make all new Zeds, we wanted to take the Zeds that we had, take a step back, and amplify their design and role on the battlefield. We spent a lot of time trying to elevate what they do and how they do things, while still being recognizable to previous fans of the IP. We are working on new stuff that will be in future updates that we cannot speak on right now.”
Killing Floor 3 Encourages Players to Target a Zed’s Critical Points
Munk further explained that Killing Floor 3 is about more than just aiming for an enemy’s head. Instead, players will be able to strategically take down Zeds by targeting different parts of their body. In doing so, they can be turned into a living weapon and an asset to the player. This is all part of a new “execution system,” which is unique to Killing Floor 3.
“One of the things you’ll notice is the Zed’s limbs and their hit detection system, like with the Scrake. Killing Floor 2 was all about just shooting the head. We wanted to elevate that gameplay where Zeds, especially big ones, had more critical spots to focus on. You’ll be able to interrupt or kill them quicker. That’s where the whole execution system comes in with the Scrakes and Fleshpounds. If you can destroy their critical zones, they essentially become a free grenade. If there are any Zeds around them, they’ll also be killed.”
Munk later commented on improvements made to Zed Time, which will undoubtedly help players target an enemy’s weak points. In the revamped version of Zed Time, everything is enhanced, allowing players to move faster and deal more damage to enemies. The goal was to make the feature a boon regardless of the situation, and it sounds as if Tripwire has managed to do just that. Gamers looking to jump in on Killing Floor 3‘s action will be able to do so when it releases on March 25.
- Released
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March 25, 2025
- ESRB
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M For Mature 17+ // Intense Violence, Blood and Gore, Strong Language