->''[[SarcasmMode "This video game product represents a culmination of years of intensive psychological research, bleeding edge engineering, and artistic collaboration by over two dozen internationally recognized art houses, using such technologies as the HYPERMAGIC 3.0 engine to power never-before-seen eye candy with the MEGACORE X parallelization processor for smooth-as-glass presentation."]]''
-->--Official Ska Studios product page

[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/imaed.png]]
A "[[XtremeKoolLetterz Twin-Stick Sh00ter]]" made by James Silva (best known for ''VideoGame/TheDishwasher'' games), and released on the Platform/XboxLiveArcade Indie Games Marketplace on August 16, 2009, where it was sold for a dollar (80 microsoft points). It became the top-selling indie title on that marketplace, selling around 310,000 copies within a year, until it was passed by a wide margin by ''VideoGame/FortressCraft'', which sold in the millions.

In 2011, it was also made available as "[=Z0MB1ES!!1=] (on teh ph0ne)" for Windows Phone, in a version which includes a second game "Time Viking" and endless mode for $2.99.

On September 27th, 2021, James Silva released the source code of his previous games, including ''[=Z0MB1ES=]'', for free to use. On September 29th, 2021, a fan-made free port developed by Dcrew and approved by James himself was released on PC via [[https://dcrew.itch.io/z0mb1es Itchio]] and on Platform/{{Steam}} on November 11th, with keyboard and mouse support, as well as online play.

!!This game provides examples of:
* AffectionateParody: Of all the other shoot-em-ups and zombie-themed games on XBLA.
* AmazingTechnicolorBattlefield: Multi colored lasers, flashing words on screen and spacy themed backgrounds, cool.
* TheArtifact: The Windows Phone port keeps the "It costs a dollar" lyric intact. $2.99 is the minimum price for Xbox Live enabled titles in the Marketplace. They included a second game, Time Viking, to make up for it. Also applies to the PC port, which is free.
* AsteroidsMonster: Which appear to be asteroids even.
* AwesomeButImpractical: The Laser and Rocket Launcher can kill several enemies in one hit, but their fire rate is pathetic. Don't bother.
* BottomlessMagazines: None of the weapons need reloading, and the basic machine gun has infinite ammo.
* BulletHell: The ''VideoGame/GeometryWars'' [[ShoutOut bit]].
* ContinuingIsPainful: [[DownplayedTrope Slightly.]] You lose your current weapon and are stuck with the default. But you can only hold one special weapon at a time anyway, and they all have very finite ammo, so it really only means fighting your way to the next one is harder.
* CreatorCameo: The song is sung by Silva.
* EpicRocking: The theme song is long enough to last for an entire playthrough of the game, which is about [[LeetLingo 13:37]] minutes. Over the course of the song, you will hear verses explaining the game and its creation, choruses featuring {{Title Scream}}s, and numerous instrumental jam sessions that shift genres from rock to electronic to metal.
* ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin: The song is pretty much about how the guy made an XNA game with zombies in it that cost a dollar.
* ExcusePlot: It could be argued the game itself is an Excuse Game to carry the song.
* ExpositoryThemeTune: The BGM not only talks about the game's title and creation, but later applies to the scene changes and enemies you face.
* FollowTheLeader: Invoked. Mocks the recent trend of every developer needing to make a zombie game.
* GainaxEnding: Right the heck out of no where, [[spoiler:you explode.]] There is no context to this and it feels completely out of place, making it fit this trope.
* KillItWithFire: One of the weapons you can get is a flamethrower. Surprisingly, it does ''[[AvertedTrope not]]'' [[VideoGameFlamethrowersSuck suck]], dealing incredible damage to every enemy, but has a pitifully short range to compensate.
* LeetSpeak: Didn't you notice the title?
* MoreDakka: The Heavy Machine Gun. Less range, but a whole load more shots.
* MutuallyExclusivePowerups: You can only carry one weapon at a time, but getting the same one twice gives you more ammo.
* PostModern: The background music has the creator sing about how he made the game and put in zombies [[EverythingsDeaderWithZombies only to appeal to consumers]].
* ShoutOut: There are sections based on ''VideoGame/{{Snake}}'' (also, each Snake enemy is comprised of ''VideoGame/{{DwarfFortress}}'' faces), ''VideoGame/{{Asteroids}}'' and ''VideoGame/GeometryWars''.
* TimedMission: The game lasts 13 plus minutes, the length of the title song.
* TitleScream: During the gameplay music.
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