A collection of extremely reasonable rules we have repeatedly ignored.

๐ŸŒŒ Space Rule โ€” Nothing good happens in space. If the Zombies quest wants us to go to space, assume disaster immediately.

โฐ Time Rule โ€” Stop messing with time. Time travel, time loops, paradoxesโ€”leave the timeline alone. We have suffered enough.

๐ŸŽฌ Willard Wyler Rule โ€” NOTHING GOOD HAPPENS IN A WILLARD WYLER MOVIE. We have sufficient evidence. Case closed.

๐Ÿงช Experiment/Straub Rule โ€” STRAUB, FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, STOP EXPERIMENTING. This now applies to every scientist, corporation, military organization, or lunatic conducting obviously dangerous experiments.

๐Ÿšข Boat Rule โ€” DO NOT GET ON SUSPICIOUS BOATS. Ships count. Aircraft carriers count. Saying โ€œtechnically, it’s a shipโ€ is NOT a loophole. WE LEARNED NOTHING FROM VOYAGE OF DESPAIR.

๐ŸŽˆ Airship Rule โ€” If the creepy scientist owns the aircraft, DON’T BOARD IT. โ€œBut it’s not a boat!โ€ Nice try.

๐Ÿš‚ Minecart Rule โ€” Somehow, minecarts are more trustworthy than boats. We don’t understand it either.

๐ŸŸ Fish Rule โ€” If the fish starts flying, something has gone terribly wrong. We shouldn’t need a rule for this. Somehow, we do.

๐Ÿ›๏ธ Ancient Civilization Rule โ€” If an ancient civilization sealed something underground, LEAVE IT SEALED. They probably had a reason.

๐Ÿ” Investigate Rule โ€” If the objective says โ€œInvestigateโ€โ€ฆ DON’T.
Game: Investigate the mysterious noise.
๐Ÿ“– Rulebook: โ€œNOPE.โ€

๐Ÿฆพ Exo Rule โ€” If the company responsible for the outbreak gives you experimental technology, DON’T STRAP IT TO YOUR BODY. This feels self-explanatory.

๐Ÿ” Burger Town Rule โ€” If a fast-food restaurant is surrounded by zombies, the drive-thru is CLOSED. And don’t order the mystery meat.

๐ŸŠ Alligator Rule โ€” A cute name does not mean a cute animal. Looking at you, Bubbles.

๐Ÿš Rescue Rule โ€” Never trust โ€œYou’re safe now.โ€ Because approximately five seconds later:
โ€œUmโ€ฆ sir?โ€
โ€œYeah?โ€
โ€œSomething went wrong.โ€

๐Ÿฆˆ Shark Rule โ€” If you’re already on a suspicious boat and someone tells you to deal with a shark, GET OFF THE BOAT. You already violated Rule #5. Stop digging.

๐Ÿšข Boat Rule Amendment #1 โ€” An aircraft carrier is STILL A BOAT. ๐Ÿ“– Rulebook: โ€œI’M CLOSING THE LOOPHOLE.โ€

๐ŸŒŠ Underwater Rule โ€” If the secret laboratory is at the bottom of the ocean, THERE’S PROBABLY A REASON THEY DIDN’T BUILD IT NEXT TO WALMART.

๐ŸŒ€ Teleportation Rule โ€” NOTHING GOOD HAPPENS WHEN YOU TELEPORT. AT ALL. Portals, teleporters, dimensional gatewaysโ€”changing the name does not create a loophole.

๐ŸŒŒ Interdimensional Being Rule โ€” DO NOT TRUST INTERDIMENSIONAL BEINGS.
Mysterious entity: โ€œTrust me.โ€
๐Ÿ“–: โ€œNo.โ€
Entity: โ€œI can help you.โ€
๐Ÿ“–: โ€œNo.โ€
Richtofen: โ€œI have a plan.โ€
๐Ÿ“–: โ€œWHICH RICHTOFEN?!โ€

๐Ÿšช Suspicious Door Rule โ€” If an ancient door requires blood, souls, artifacts, or a ritual to open, IT WAS LOCKED FOR A REASON.

๐Ÿฉธ Soul Box Rule โ€” If something needs zombie souls to โ€œcharge,โ€ congratulations: WE FOUND ANOTHER SUPERNATURAL BATTERY.

๐Ÿ“ป Mysterious Voice Rule โ€” If a random voice comes over the radio, knows your name, and starts giving instructions, DON’T IMMEDIATELY OBEY IT. Ask questions first.

โšก Power Rule โ€” If turning on the electricity requires six generators, three dimensions and a boss fight, MAYBE WE DON’T NEED ELECTRICITY. Candles exist.

๐Ÿ”ซ Wonder Weapon Rule โ€” Before assembling a weapon from alien rocks, demon artifacts, radioactive components, or mysterious machinery, ASK WHO DESIGNED IT.

๐Ÿ—ฟ Artifact Rule โ€” STOP TOUCHING GLOWING ARTIFACTS WITH YOUR BARE HANDS.
Us: โ€œBut it’s glowing!โ€
๐Ÿ“–: โ€œTHAT’S WHY YOU DON’T TOUCH IT!โ€

๐ŸŽถ Creepy Music Rule โ€” If a music box, piano, children’s song, or mysterious singing starts playing by itself, LEAVE. We’re not investigating it. See Rule #10.

๐Ÿ‘๏ธ Glowing-Eyes Rule โ€” If someone’s eyes suddenly start glowing an unnatural color, BACK AWAY. Conversation privileges have been revoked.

๐ŸงŸ Keep-One-Zombie Rule โ€” During an Easter Egg, KEEP ONE ZOMBIE ALIVE WHEN POSSIBLE. We’re done solving interdimensional algebra while an entire horde is chasing us.

๐Ÿšจ Point-of-No-Return Rule โ€” If the game asks โ€œAre you sure?โ€, WE ARE NOT SURE. Check armor. Check ammo. Check perks. Check weapons. Check equipment. THEN press the button.

๐Ÿ“– THE UNIVERSAL ZOMBIES RULE โ€” If anyone says โ€œI have a plan,โ€ ASK WHAT THE PLAN IS. No more blindly activating machines because a suspicious voice told us to.

And there’s one unofficial rule that’s basically been proven by the entire series:

โ˜ ๏ธ THE UNIVERSAL ZOMBIES RULE

If someone says:

โ€œDon’t worry.โ€

โ€œIt’s perfectly safe.โ€

โ€œNothing bad could happen.โ€

โ€œWhat could possibly go wrong?โ€

or

โ€œTrust me.โ€

SOMETHING IS ABOUT TO GO HORRIBLY WRONG. ๐Ÿ˜ญ

And somehow, despite creating 17 rules plus the universal rule, our success rate at actually following them is approximately:

0%.