The new update currently available in public testing, dubbed "The Animation Overhaul", completely changes the visuals of character models, along with so much more than I never expected to come in such an update, including: tailoring, visual damage and bandaging, complete and in-depth player-character insulation system, and a lot more.

The closest game you'll find to a true Zombie apocalypse simulator. It uses an isometric perspective and various survival mechanics to help keep you alive: such as carpentry, farming, fishing, foraging, and more. Project Zomboid is about how long 'you' survived the zombie apocalypse. The goal given by the game is to simply survive. It is your job to survive as long as you can, before your inevitable death.

One of my favourite things with Project Zomboid, that makes it that little bit more special than other simulation/survival games, is the character creation. Whilst it is currently lacking in the visuals of your character, it makes up for it when deciding, "who is this person and what did they do prior to the outbreak?" Choosing from a list of both positive and negative personal traits, along with their previous occupation, makes each character feel special and unique; which by the way, you will be making a lot of; since one simple scratch or bite could mean the end of your character's life.

Since the goal is to survive how 'you' would, everything is up to you, with very little (if any) guidance from the game.
Example:
Sneak around town, jumping from house to house scavenging for supplies whilst trying not to catch the attention of the undead that wander the streets all day and night. Getting late? Find a good house to hole up in, salvaging any piece of furniture for supplies, then barricade the windows and doors for some added protection whilst you rest, read a book or cook a meal with the dynamic cooking system.

Most Zombie games, whether they be sandbox or story-driven, make guns your main priority, basically saying "if you have no ammo, you're dead". Project Zomboid makes that much more realistic, shooting a gun in town is a VERY bad idea. Noise attracts zombies. Guns are very loud. I'll let you put 2 and 2 together.