Don’t you hate when sand gets between your toes? The zombies do, too
PORTLAND — Aug. 12, 2026 — Go barefoot into scorching sands as the new Desert biome in Lazy River, the co-op waterpark zombie survival FPS developed by Secret Hitlercreator Mike Boxleiter and featured at Day of the Devs at Summer Games Fest 2026, is revealed alongside a beach wagon’s worth of new features in today’s new trailer.
The galaxy’s most unregulated waterpark is now open! It’s practically endless…buuut the water is filled with extraterrestrial bacteria. Turns out someone peed in the pool, and the murky mixture turned all of the park’s guests into zombies. As the last remaining humans, survive a wet and wild expedition to the exit while fending off hunger, zombified patrons, and security robots.
The new Desert biome may be mostly dry, but when there’s water, there’s a way! Wade in and out of the stream into dusty dunes as a solo survivor, or turn up the heat with three uninfected friends.
Go from floating to offroading with the addition of tires and air fan engines, but avoid prickly innertube-popping cacti! Scan for sand-swimming zombies beneath the shifting sediment, and squirt them into submission with five previously unrevealed water guns.
Craft an escape raft by combining scavenged innertubes with raw materials, then turn dinghies into floating fortresses with zombie-proof reinforced walls and turrets. Tether sails and rudders for mobility, incorporate bathtubs for on-the-fly water balloon filling, and place grills for cooking meals on the go. Make sure she’s seaworthy, as Lazy River’s full water physics simulation takes weight distribution and buoyancy into account with every add-on.
Gear up with all kinds of wet weaponry, including pool noodles, water balloons, and 14 distinct water guns, including hand-pumped and battery-powered. Zombies explode when waterlogged, so aim high to account for stream strength, then soak them until they burst!
Rummage through abandoned food stalls for snacks, and restock on supplies at restroom facilities along the path to the exit, all while avoiding triggering the park’s alarm system. If it rings too long, a cataclysmic self-cleaning cycle will vaporize all lifeforms on the spot!
Close out summer in style and try Lazy River’s newest demo at PAX West 2026’s PAX Rising booth, at the Seattle Convention Center from Fri, Sept. 4 – Mon., Sept. 7, 2026.
“Collaborating with friends to build vehicles is such a special part of online co-op games,” says Mike Boxleiter, lead developer. “Lazy River’s fully simulated water physics and offroading dynamics will make players think about every design choice. It may be a lighthearted summer co-op game, but there’s a ton of depth to experiment with. We can’t wait for PAX attendees to try their hand at escaping the waterpark at PAX!”
Lazy River’s intergalactic summer vacation arrives on PC via Steam in early access in 2027 with language support in English. For more information, visit the official website, follow Mike Boxleiter on Bluesky, and join the Discord community.
About Mike Boxleiter
Lazy River is led by independent developer Mike Boxleiter, co-creator of the iconic social deduction game Secret Hitler and the web and mobile skiing game Solipskier, who has worked in indie games since 2007. He is joined on Lazy River by producer Karlee Esmailli, games narrative writer with credits on Monster Prom and Monster Prom 2: Monster Camp and work for Cards Against Humanity. Based in Portland, Oregon, Mike continues to develop Lazy River as an independent creator.
