Extra Lives is an action-adventure game focused on restoring order in a city and defeating zombies. You begin by choosing one of more than 30 characters, including figures inspired by well-known movie and video game personalities. From there, the game places you at one of the island's shelters, where you can travel between regions by crossing the boundaries of the map.
Choose a character and enter the island
The opening choice determines which character you take into the world. The wider setting contains more than 200 characters divided among eight factions, and each faction has its own view of the pandemic. Your actions can affect how these groups respond, with the source describing possible new paths as well as conflict. This gives movement through the city a relationship-driven layer rather than treating every encounter as an isolated fight.
Explore locations and respond to threats
More than 50 locations are available to explore while you work toward restoring order. You can travel between different regions in search of safer areas or fresh challenges. Hundreds of interactive items are also part of the environment. They can be used during combat, handled in different ways, or used to restore energy, while the broader faction system changes the reactions you may encounter as you move through the world.
Use hand-specific combat controls
The control scheme assigns different actions to buttons on each side of the screen. A red fist button attacks with the left or right hand. Blue hand buttons pick up or drop items, and holding the directional keys throws an item. Pressing two buttons on one side uses the item held in that hand, with examples including eating and reading.
Some actions require both hands. Pressing both pickup buttons together can combine items or lift larger furniture without another tool. Pressing both attack buttons grabs an opponent; pressing them again releases the opponent or enables other inputs for special moves. Double-tapping the arrow keys makes the character run, tapping the health bar puts the character to sleep, and tapping the clock pauses the game.
Optional upgrades and additional choices
The core game content remains playable without the optional upgrades described in the source. An upgrade can add character creation, the ability to save game progress, control over the initial number of zombies, and full access to Deathmatch mode. These options allow players to adjust parts of the setup and preserve progress, while Deathmatch provides a separate mode centered on fighting zombies.
Scope and documented limitations
Extra Lives combines a large cast, faction relationships, environmental interaction, and open travel across its island setting. The supplied description also notes that the game does not have a central mission or overarching storyline. Exploration and encounters may become repetitive, the controls can take time to adjust to, and the source identifies the need for more weapons and areas as limitations.