Outbreak

How to win

Everyone shares a 3D arena — above ten the class splits into parallel arenas on one scoreboard. Hit another student three times and they are infected, for 3 points; a question takes over their screen, and nobody can hit them while they answer, and only a correct answer puts them back in play somewhere else. Zombies and spiders come into every arena in waves, each bigger than the last: curing one is a point, a brute two, and three bites puts you on a question too. Clear a wave and a right answer buys an upgrade, Zombio's own. Most points when the clock runs out wins. Nobody is hurt and nothing is a kill — zombies are cured, and the only way back is an answer.

What happens in a game

• InfectLine someone up and fire. Three hits infects them: 3 points.
• Answer to recoverInfected? You are out until you answer right, and nobody can hit you while you answer.
• ZombiesZombies, runners, brutes and spiders keep coming. Cure them for points.
• WeaponsPick a blaster on the way in, and swap to a sword with X. Clear a wave and answer right for an upgrade.
• CratesShared boxes. Reach one first, answer, and take the prize.
• BossesSomething walks in that is nobody's classmate. Classmates can't infect each other until it is down.
• 3D arenaMouse to look, WASD to move — eight arenas to choose from
• Safe while thinkingYou cannot be hit while a question is open, so nobody is pinned down
• Every fiveFive infections and you owe the class a question before the next
• BuildQ for a wall, E for a ramp. It stands for the whole arena, until a zombie chews through it.

Why it works in a lesson

Outbreak makes the question the way back into the game rather than a toll on the way in. Nobody is ever knocked out for long and nobody can coast: the fastest player is forced to answer at five infections, the zombies give a student who struggles to hit a moving classmate another way up the table, and a boss turns the room co-operative for a minute. It is the most game-like mode splycr has, so it suits a class that has earned it — and because it is mouse-and-keyboard 3D, it needs laptops, not phones.

Why splycr has eight game modes, and when to use each