State of Decay 2: What is Heartland?

·September 27, 2022

With the original State of Decay, developer Undead Labs opted for hand-crafted characters, complete with quirks and backgrounds, and an overarching narrative to tell a story. But in State of Decay 2, they opted for more of a story generator method, in which the player makes their own tales during the apocalypse with randomized characters. For many, this was fun. But for others, they wanted more storytelling, which is precisely what State of Decay 2 Heartland offers!

It is the first and only narrative DLC available for State of Decay 2.

What is Heartland?

State of Decay 2: Heartland features a cast of hand-crafted characters returning to Trumbull Valley—the first game’s setting—to revisit a few familiar faces and places. The story thrusts the player into a deadlier post-apocalypse, complete with roaming blood plague zombies and special infected, along with Plague Walls, to defeat. It’s a tough challenge.

Stories of Heartland

There are two storylines to follow in State of Decay 2: Heartland—The Last Wilkerson and Searching for Santos. Both offer unique perspectives and narratives.

The Last Wilkerson

In “The Last Wilkerson,” players will take on the role of a young woman returning to Trumbull Valley alongside her distant aunt. The two search for the young woman’s estranged father in the valley. Instead, they find an old family clinging to their past way of life, and the blood plague spreading viciously through the land.

Searching for Santos

In “Searching for Santos,” players take on the role of a young detective and an ex-con who partner up to track down Santos, a valuable ally who was once part of Lily’s entourage. The two find that, by working together, they can overcome the blood plague and bring closure to Trumbull Valley.