The graveyard simulation that stood apart from cozy, healing-focused life sims is back—and this time, it’s bringing a zombie army and an automation system along for the ride.

Lazy Bear Games unveiled 'Graveyard Keeper 2' on the 9th during the Triple-i Initiative indie game showcase. Developed once again in partnership with TinyBuild, the team behind the original, this sequel promises to be far bolder and feature a much wider variety of systems.

The core of the game lies in its combat and automation systems. While the original title used life simulation as its foundation and layered graveyard management on top, it was set in a somewhat realistic village, despite its dark, irreverent take on handling corpses and graves. This time, however, the scope has expanded beyond the graveyard to encompass an entire town overrun by zombies.

With the kingdom plunged into a zombie crisis, the gameplay style has been significantly bolstered. While retaining the resource gathering and production elements of the first game, the sequel emphasizes automation—a staple in modern crafting games. Captured zombies will work indefinitely, operating conveyor belts and handling manual labor as long as they are placed in the right spots.

The tools and weapons produced through these methods serve as defenses against the zombies attacking the town. Combat has been brought to the forefront, with players taking up arms alongside soldiers to fight off the undead. The game also includes elements of rebuilding the kingdom's ruined villages.

Alongside the announcement of the sequel, the developers are offering the original Graveyard Keeper for free until 2:00 AM KST on the 14th.

The game is scheduled for release in 2026, with a multi-platform launch confirmed for PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch.