- Zombies, Run! has been reacquired by its co-creator, Naomi Alderman.
- This innovative fitness-narrative hybrid is now entering a new chapter.
- Alderman suggests a renewed creative focus on human-crafted storytelling.
Fitness games remain a niche market today, but back when that niche was practically microscopic, Zombies, Run! was already surging ahead of the pack. It also happened to be my accidental introduction to running – a younger, far less athletic version of myself downloaded it on a whim, and suddenly I was jogging because fictional zombies told me to. No regrets.
Now, over a decade after its original launch, the world's most successful smartphone fitness game is experiencing a poetic homecoming. Award-winning novelist and co-creator Naomi Alderman has officially regained ownership of the series from OliveX as of today, November 24th.
Zombies, Run! did more than just gamify running with stats and streaks; it made you care about its characters, the next story chapter, and the fictional community depending on you to bring back supplies safely. That heartbeat – both figurative and literal – stemmed from Naomi's writing, so having the series back under her guidance feels like everything is clicking back into place.
Alderman has been clear about her desire for creative control, especially in an era where algorithmically generated stories are increasingly hard to distinguish from noise. Her position is straightforward: players can tell when a story is human, personal, and crafted by someone who genuinely cares.
Given Zombies, Run!'s origins as a UK success story and its global popularity across the US, Canada, Germany, Australia, New Zealand, Scandinavia, and beyond, this move feels like a win for both the creator and the dedicated community still running its missions.
With the series back where it began, the future of Zombies, Run! looks a little brighter and is likely to be even more thrilling – and terrifying – in your headphones.
If you're feeling nostalgic or seeking another "get outside, something's happening" experience, explore our list of games similar to Pokémon Go on iOS and Android!
