Suddenly, zombies were everywhere. Powered by the new trope of post-apocalyptic fiction that so often comes bundled with the undead. The same beasts that once struck fear into the hearts of thousands in Romero’s Night of the Living Dead now walked among us again, fueling a media revolution. Watching zombies, running from zombies, hiding from zombies and killing zombies are just some of the many zombie-related past-times of our generation. To celebrate this festival of the macabre that has become the zombie genre, I’ve put together this post ranking some of the all-time greats in zombie-related video gaming. Be it voodoo, necromancers, viruses or fungi – there’s always something willing to grant the dead a second chance.
30. Killing Floor 2
First up is the second installment of a widely loved indie title, Tripwire Interactive’s Killing Floor 2. This FPS started as a zombie horde survival game where you could set up a game or join someone else’s and just get down to business. The sequel, available on PC, PS4 and Xbox One, remains largely the same. There’s a barebones story about “Zeds” overrunning Europe and so on. But it’s entirely accessory. What matters is that you’re down there, surviving hordes and killing bosses by yourself or with your squad. Yeah, it can get repetitive. But if what you need is to shoot some zombies, no strings attached, this may just scratch that itch.
29. Arizona Sunshine
Another game with a heavier focus on the overall experience than the narrative is Vertigo Games’ Arizona Sunshine – a survival horror FPS made entirely for VR. It’s hardly the only game to attempt this. But it’s one of the few to feel like a complete product rather than a proof of concept. The graphics are solid. And your trip to reach Sunshine, Arizona is long enough with plenty to do. And there’s even a basic storyline to keep you interested. What’s not to like here?
28. The House of the Dead: Overkill
Most of us are familiar with the classic House of the Dead rail shooter since it could be found in almost every single arcade through the ‘90s, and even the early 2000s. Developed by Headstrong Games’ for the Nintendo Wii, The House of the Dead: Overkill is a non-canonical prequel to the original. It captures the art-style and feel of the classic shooter title, but features much better graphics, an absurd plot, and memorable characters with a bizarre sense of humor. If shooting zombies with motion controls is too “normal” for you, consider The Typing of the Dead. Which is essentially the same game, but the shooting is done by typing words. Peculiar but fun.
27. Urban Dead
Speaking of unorthodox gameplay, let me introduce you to Urban Dead. This is a free-to-play text-based survival experience by British developer Kevan Davis. In the virtual cities of Urban Dead, all survivors and zombies are controlled by real players, leaving the game completely free of NPCs. Each participant can make decisions, level up, manage their inventory and perform all kinds of actions, all through a text-based interface. Characters can either turn into a zombie if bitten or turn back into humans if they find the right tools. That way, any single character when played for a long enough usually spends some time as both.
26. State of Decay 2
The original State of Decay tries to deliver a co-op multiplayer experience rooted in survival, rather than just killing as many zombies as possible. Its sequel follows the same basic concept with enhanced graphics and a much better soundtrack. What keeps this game from greatness is that it can get somewhat tedious as time goes by. Sure, surviving is hard and you need to be on your toes. But there isn’t enough depth to keep you interested in doing so.
25. DayZ
DayZ started as an interesting mod for ARMA 2. But its popularity grew. As did interest in the genre, until Bohemia Interactive decided to make it a standalone title which released in 2018 for Windows, Xbox One and PS4. This came after five years in early access. It takes place in the fictional post-soviet Republic of Chernarus, now overrun with “infected”, after a deadly virus devastated the land. As an immune survivor, you’re forced to team up and or compete against other scavenger groups, fighting over resources like bullets and medicine. The best part about DayZ is its focus on realism. Including mechanics like realistic contagious sickness and very detailed simulated injuries.
24. Lollipop Chainsaw
Comedy and horror go strangely well together, as do sexy protagonists and lots of gore. Mix them and you’ve got a recipe for… some very specific kind of success. Developed by Grasshopper Manufacture for the PS3 and XBOX 360, Lollipop Chainsaw is what happens when you take Suda51, known for his work in Killer 7 and No More Heroes, and ask him to design a b-movie starring a sexy cheerleader. Accompanied by the talking head of her boyfriend Nick, zombie hunter Juliet Starling must hack and slash her way through hordes of zombified former classmates to find the source of the outbreak and stop it. All armed with a chainsaw and a lot of style.
23. Onechanbara Z2: Chaos
If you like the concept of sexy ladies cutting down zombies but don’t really dig comedy, consider Tamsoft’s Onechanbara Z2 released in 2015 for PS4 and PC. Onechanbara Z2 is just the last in a long line of titles about cuties using their demonic powers, and some over-the-top moves to mow down hordes of zombies for… some reason I can’t quite recall. This decidedly Japanese hack-and-slash is all about the hedonistic pleasure of cutting through as many enemies as you can. And watching your scantily-clad warriors bathe in their blood.
22. Plants vs. Zombies
If you haven’t played PopCap’s Plants vs. Zombies, you’ve probably inhabited the underside of a rock for far too long. It’s the origin story of thousands of casual gamers, but even the more hardcore crowd was in love with the title back when anyone with an iPhone had it installed. Gameplay consists of guarding your lawn from incoming zombies by setting up pea-shooting plants and the like. It’s easy to jump into this with little-to-no experience in the Tower Defense genre… or any other gaming genre for that matter. Nowadays Plants vs. Zombies is considered one of the most influential titles of the decade. And referencing it in subtle ways has become a bit of a meme among game creators.
21. They Are Billions
If you liked PvZ but need something a bit more complex, then Numanitan Games’ They Are Billions is something you should consider. The game marries two of my favorite things in the world – the steampunk aesthetic and zombie survival – to make a very special RTS focusing mainly on building the most resistant and defensible base you can. But don’t get too comfy in your steampunk fort. You’ll also need to venture out into the randomly generated world to raid zombie-infested villages and loot their resources. This is the kind of game you’ll sit down to play after work on a Friday night… then it’s suddenly Monday morning, your smell like rotting corpse, and you have to work in 15 minutes. So you know it’s a good time.
20. ZombiU
Originally released for the WiiU back in 2012, ZombiU is Ubisoft’s first foray into the world of zombie survival, with some interesting roguelike mechanics that make it worth a try. What sets this game apart from other generic “survive in the infected city” games is that death is final. You’ll get a new survivor, and your inventory is forfeited. This makes the stakes feel real and gives you reason not to be a suicidal maniac all the time. We can’t yolo through every level in every game!
19. World War Z
Some of us just really, really like shooting zombies. The more, the better. And few games pit you against quite as many zombies as Saber Interactive’s World War Z. This TPS follows different groups of survivors in cities like Moscow, New York, and Tokyo as they traverse scenarios inspired in a 2006 novel of the same name, as well as Paramount Pictures’ film adaptation. The fast-paced and exciting gameplay is pretty similar to Left 4 Dead, with satisfying shooting mechanics and amazing visuals being World War Z’s strongest selling points.
18. Dead Nation: Apocalypse Edition
I first got to play Dead Nation for the PS3 after Sony gave it out to apologize for the PSN outage of 2011. I was quite surprised to find just how good a game it was. The gameplay is just what you’d expect from a top-down dual-stick shooter, but thanks to exciting power-ups, a great ambiance and amazing effects, blowing zombies up had never felt as satisfying. Plus, being able to play couch co-op with a friend is always a win in my book.
17. Days Gone
Developed by SIE Bend Studio for the PS4 and released in 2019, Days Gone is an open-world TPS focused on exploration and resource management. It takes place in post-apocalyptic Oregon, where main character Deacon St. John is desperately looking for his long-missing wife. There are some intense moments in Days Gone where just barely overcoming a rampaging horde of zombies feels like the best thing in the world, and riding your motorcycle from point A to point B is also quite satisfying. But the game lacks polish and it can get repetitive pretty fast. So I’d say YMMV but do try it out. It sold wonderfully upon release, and perhaps we’ll see a sequel sometime in the future.
16. Dead Island: Definitive Edition
Dead Island: Definitive Edition gives players the complete Polynesian survival experience by bringing together both the original Dead Island and its sequel, Riptide. Put simply, this title is a first-person survival horror with a great focus on melee combat and exploration. It’s a bit like Skyrim, except it takes place in the Banoi Archipelago. And instead of bandits and dragons, you’re fighting frenzied undead tourists and deformed abominations. The best part about this game is its weapon mod system which lets you make your AK47 shoot fire-rounds, or turn your throwing knives into tasers.
15. Zombies Ate My Neighbors
Inspired by old-school B-movies and some newer ones like Friday the 13th and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Zombies Ate My Neighbors on the SNES and SEGA Genesis is a love letter to campy horror as a genre. And really, this is a classic. This top-down run-and-gun follows teenagers Zeke and Julie as they attempt to rescue their surviving neighbors after a horde of zombies, werewolves, vampires and the like plunge their town into chaos. They’re armed with unusual weapons like explosive soda cans, silverware, and crucifixes… all which they must use strategically. Or rather, you’ll need to use them. Good luck! Considering its fun gameplay and appealing graphics, it’s no wonder why it became so popular. And this is still worth a play if you’ve got a free afternoon with a SNES hooked up.
14. Dead Rising
Few games manage to blend a serious narrative with absurd humor quite like Dead Rising. And it’s a mix that fits this beat-em-up’s gameplay perfectly. The original follows Frank West, a photojournalist who’s trapped in a shopping mall in Willamette during an outbreak. It’s up to him to uncover the secrets behind the disaster, and help other survivors until help arrives. The shopping mall setting gives Frank access to interesting equipment, like shopping carts to run zombies over and soccer balls to use as projectiles against the undead menace. So far there are three sequels, and a remake on the Wii. They’re all pretty solid games, but I’d suggest you go for Dead Rising: Chop Till You Drop on the Wii and work your way up from there.
13. Telltale’s The Walking Dead
On the other side of the stylistic spectrum we find Telltale’s The Walking Dead series, which does away with any pretensions of lightheartedness tell a heart-wrenching tale of pain and loss. And showcase how disasters like a zombie apocalypse may bring out the best in humankind… or the worst. Like most other Telltale titles, your role as a player is to make the right decisions and try not to die during quicktime events. Yay! Depending on your performance in both aspects, the game’s story will progress one way or another. With emotional storytelling and a well-crafted narrative, once you start this episodic adventure you won’t be able to stop.
12. Resident Evil (2002 Remake)
You can’t talk about zombies without mentioning the survival horror classic that defined the genre – Capcom’s 1996 Resident Evil. That said, considering just how cheesy the dialogue can be in the original, and the graphical strides we’ve made since then, I’m recommending the 2002 remake for GameCube. It continues to look pretty good almost 20 years later and it’s basically the same game, but better. Lead S.T.A.R.S. members Chris Redfield and Jill Valentine as they work their way through the Spencer Mansion, surviving zombie attacks and trying to decipher the truth behind the horrors around them. To achieve this you’ll have to carefully handle limited supplies, solve complex puzzles, and try not to die of a heart attack when zombie dogs break through the windows. Easy, right?
11. Resident Evil: The Umbrella Chronicles/The Darkside Chronicles
If the classic survival horror gameplay proves too stressful for your modern self, consider the Resident Evil Chronicles rail shooter series. This title has singlehandedly kept me from getting rid of my Wii thanks to its amazing graphics and super fun-to-run gameplay. It parades you through some of the most iconic moments in RE history along with some new scenarios while you worry about pumping enemies full of bullets and finding every collectible you can. While both the original Umbrella Chronicles and its sequel are perfectly fine on the Wii, you can also get them together on your PS3 as the Resident Evil Chronicles HD Collection.
10. Dead Space
I know, I know. Necromorphs don’t look like what you’d usually picture as a “zombie”. But they’re reanimated humans, even if it was done by y Lovecraftian space magic. And it would be a disservice to the horror genre as a whole if I didn’t include this absolute masterpiece, which is one of the few games in this list that’s actually scary. You know that at any point you’re liable to be jump-scared to death by a Necromorph, and every single step you take is an act of bravery and faith. Further sequels are perfectly good games as well. But they’re much more action-heavy, and that overbearing sense of dread is greatly diluted in consequence.
9. Red Dead Redemption: Undead Nightmare
It’s always amazing to see a mod or an expansion take the groundwork laid out by a game and build something entirely new on top. Especially when it’s something as good as the Undead Nightmare expansion for Rockstar’s Red Dead Redemption. This DLC turns the entire open world of Red Dead Redemption into a zombie-infested wasteland where John Marston must look for a cure to save his now-zombified family. But don’t think this is just a re-skin or a fun minigame. Undead Nightmare is a full-fledged game with its own mechanics like liberating towns overrun by zombies, and plenty of side-quests and storylines to follow, just like the regular Red Dead Redemption.
8. Left 4 Dead 2
While the squad-based zombie survival craze began with the first game, Left 4 Dead 2 polished the formula further. Which has helped it remain somewhat relevant to this day. The story makes no sense, but it doesn’t have to. It’s just there to hold scenarios together and give the charming characters a motivation to keep fighting zombie hordes. Something this game does better than a lot of newer squad-based zombie shooters is that you must accomplish complex objectives while zombies are trying to tear you to shreds. This puts you in some really tight situations, and clearing them after a bunch of tries is exhilarating.
7. Call of Duty: Zombies
Just to be clear, I’m not talking about the iOS game of the same name. I’m referencing the whole slew of Call of Duty Zombies modes that have been included in Treyarch’s CoD games ever since World at War. Wacky weapons, wackier characters, and the hedonistic pleasure of blowing up zombie brains by the hundreds. All while trying to survive as many waves as possible. This is the stuff that makes this series so good. What really sets these games apart is how much love the developers pour into each map, crafting a different experience every time. The result is the fact that you can play 100 times in Kino der Toten and still want more.
6. Resident Evil 4
The fourth installment in the well-loved RE franchise was a turning point for the series, bringing with it a much-needed change in gameplay and a higher focus on intense action than ever before. It follows Leon S. Kennedy, known from his main role in RE2, as he ventures into rural Spain to find the US President’s daughter. Apparently she’s been kidnapped by a cult or something crazy that fits perfectly in any RE game. This was the first RE to feature an over-the-shoulder perspective and real shooter mechanics, but what really made it such a good game was how much care was put into retaining survival horror elements like inventory management. Great title with a classic Resident Evil aesthetic.
5. Dying Light
Techland’s open-world FPS looks just like any other at first. But thanks to a fluid parkour system, mostly melee-based combat, and an increased focus on running away to find shelter when things get hairy, all have helped it set itself apart from the chaff. Not to mention the dynamic day and night cycle that characterizes the game keeps you on your toes as you try to make the most of each day, all while still having enough time to get back to base before night falls. That’s when the real monsters come out to play…
4. Resident Evil 3 Remake
It’s hard to say whether it’s unfortunate or extremely appropriate that the 2020 remake of the classic Resident Evil 3: Nemesis came out in the middle of a worldwide pandemic. Especially considering the game opens with live-action footage of a reporter talking about “the fastest spread of a virus in human history”. Be that as it may, it doesn’t change the fact that RE3 is an incredible horror game that finds the precise middle ground between being a shooter and a resource-managing survival experience. Much like the preceding RE2 Remake, this game looks beautiful and successfully provides a very immersive experience.
3. Resident Evil 2 Remake
The first title in the line of RE remakes was Resident Evil 2, a retelling of the original 1998 game. The updated release changes gameplay and graphics heavily while preserving the general setting and story of the original. The game’s graphics were beautifully re-done, and the over-the-shoulder camera is galaxies away from the fixed camera of the original. Not only that, but both the screenplay and voice acting come improved to the point where it feels like watching a big-budget film. This title’s greatest achievement was bringing this story back to life and modernizing it without losing the survival horror feeling. You can aim and shoot now, but zombies are incredibly resistant and bullets remain scarce. Which makes the game even more of a challenge than the original ever was.
2. Resident Evil 7: Biohazard
It had been years since I’d actually felt scared by a horror game when I picked up Resident Evil 7, which I did almost out of responsibility as a fan considering how little I’d enjoyed RE6. My expectations were blown completely out of the water by one of the scariest horror games released in the past few years. And this is a much different product than what I’d come to expect from the RE franchise. Not only is the first-person perspective perfect for the dirty and decaying setting(which is just superb). But the constant danger, precarious inventory management, and the ominous feeling that your enemies are vastly more powerful than you all came together in this truly terrifying experience. Absolutely, definitely, super duper for sure make time to give this a try.
1. The Last of Us
What I love about the zombie genre is how good of a vehicle it can be to provide gaming experiences and tell engaging stories. Just like a sandwich isn’t about the bread, zombie games aren’t about the zombies. Tough metaphor but we made it through. Naughty Dog’s The Last of Us is an incredibly polished experience that’s an emotional rollercoaster, an exercise in beautiful level design, and a tense strategic take on the survival horror genre. All at the same time. Every aspect of this game is wonderful. From the intricate cordyceps-infested enemy design to the way it handles themes of societal collapse and interpersonal relationships in times of great strife, all wonderfully wrapped by Gustavo Santaolalla’s melancholic musical score. I’m sure you’ve heard of this game and heard some good things. But if you’ve never played, well it’s out there and remastered for PS4.
