There are lots of great zombie games on offer these days, many of which are based on movies or television shows. Some take the form of linear action games or first-person rail-shooters, but an increasing number of zombie game developers are looking toward the open-world genre for inspiration on how to keep their players engaged.
Games With The Most Threatening Zombies
Not all video game zombies come across as dangerous, but some are downright intimidating.
The best open-world zombie games find ways to utilize their larger settings, either by filling them with death and destruction or by lulling players into a false sense of security with more sparsely populated locales. Both can be incredibly effective in their own ways, as evidenced by these fantastic zombie survival games.
1 Dying Light
Metacritic Rating: 75 (PC)
Though there had been plenty of great zombie games before the release of Dying Light, few had found ways to successfully bring an undead outbreak to the open-world genre. As a result, Dying Light broke a lot of new ground and went on to serve as something of a blueprint for many future open-world zombie games.
One of the things that make Dying Light such a great zombie survival game is the threat that some of its zombies pose. Rather than the slow, ambling creatures found in many other undead adventures, the game's infected can come at players pretty fast, particularly at night. This forces them to remain on their toes at all times and encourages the use of the game's fantastic parkour system.
Dying Light
- Released
- January 27, 2015
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Techland
- Publisher(s)
- Warner Brothers Games
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC
- Genre(s)
- Open-World, Survival Horror
2 Dying Light 2
Metacritic Rating: 77 (PC)
It should perhaps go without saying, but those who liked Dying Light will almost certainly enjoy the game's sequel. After all, both games were developed by the same team and are set in the same universe. Sadly, however, a lot of people seem to be sleeping on Dying Light 2 despite enjoying the original.
Like its predecessor, Dying Light 2 is an open-world zombie game with survival elements and provides players with a ridiculous amount of content. The game looks great, the combat is fast and fluid, and the parkour system ranks among the very best in gaming. Fans of zombie games would do well to check it out, particularly those looking to kill time as well as the undead.
Dying Light 2 Stay Human
- Released
- February 4, 2022
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Techland
- Publisher(s)
- Techland
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, PlayStation 5
3 Project Zomboid
Metacritic Rating: N/A
The simplistic art style and isometric viewpoint may suggest otherwise to some, but Project Zomboid is a fantastic game. Initially released as a tech demo in April of 2011, it received numerous updates over the course of the following decade, with Build 41 arriving in late 2021. It really has come a long way and is now widely considered to be one of the best open-world zombie games on PC.
The story is set amidst a zombie outbreak in Louisville, Kentucky, and supports both single and multiplayer gameplay. It incorporates a mixture of survival and RPG mechanics and places a heavy emphasis on avoiding or escaping zombies rather than trying to tackle them head-on. There are plenty of great Project Zomboid mods too, allowing players to further customize the experience to better meet their needs.
Project Zomboid
- Released
- November 8, 2013
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- The Indie Stone
- Publisher(s)
- The Indie Stone
- Platform(s)
- PC
- Genre(s)
- Survival Horror
4 The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners
Metacritic Rating: 81 (PC)
The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners is an open-world game in the same way that Pokemon Legends: Arceus is. This is to say that it isn't, really, though does boast sections that could be described as being open-world. For those who enjoy zombie survival games though, it's something of a must-play, as the VR carnage that it's able to provide really is top-notch.
Saints & Sinners throws players in at the deep end; often surrounding them with waves of terrifying zombies and forcing them to fight for their lives. The game also allows for a more stealthy approach at times, which can be as exhilarating as it is unnerving. With a sequel looming large on the horizon, those set up for VR would be foolish not to check it out, particularly if they're fans of the show.
The Walking Dead: Saints and Sinners
- Released
- January 23, 2020
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Skydance Interactive, Skybound Entertainment
- Publisher(s)
- Skydance Interactive
- Platform(s)
- Oculus Rift, Oculus Quest, PC, PlayStation VR, PlayStation VR2
- Genre(s)
- FPS, Survival Horror
5 DayZ
Metacritic Rating: 56 (Xbox One)
Admittedly, the zombies in DayZ don't really pose too much of a threat and can be easily avoided by those who know what they're doing. Like in similar open-world zombie games with online functionality, it's usually other players that pose the real threat, which, perhaps ironically, ends up mirroring most television shows and movies about the zombie apocalypse without even meaning to.
Those who've watched The Walking Dead will know that outside of the first few seasons, it was actually other survivors that ended up killing off most of the main cast. Granted, a walker would occasionally pop up out of nowhere and take a bite out of someone much like a zombie might in DayZ, which is why the immersive ARMA mod is arguably one of the best and most realistic open-world zombie games out there.
DayZ
- Released
- December 13, 2018
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Bohemia Interactive
- Publisher(s)
- Bohemia Interactive
- Genre(s)
- Survival
6 7 Days to Die
Metacritic Rating: 45 (PS4)
Set in a post-apocalyptic future following a nuclear war, 7 Days to Die's premise is not too dissimilar to that of the Fallout universe. Where it differs, however, is the emphasis that it places on survival, with players having to start from scratch if they perish at the hands (or teeth) of the game's zombie hordes.
Though the game didn't quite live up to some of the promises made during its successful Kickstarter campaign, it's still a lot of fun to play. Nighttime can be particularly enjoyable due to how daunting everything feels, although playing with friends can make survival a lot more manageable. At least until the Blood Moon occurs on the seventh day, anyway.
7 Days to Die
- Released
- June 28, 2016
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- The Fun Pimps
- Publisher(s)
- Telltale Games
- Platform(s)
- Linux, macOS, PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One
7 Night of the Dead
Metacritic Rating: N/A
Although Night of the Dead does have some open-world sections, these are typically used for resource gathering rather than exploration. Without these vital resources, however, players would struggle to build up their defenses and would likely be overrun by zombies pretty quickly as a result.
There have been plenty of zombie-themed tower defense games over the years, but few have managed to blend the genre's mechanics together with realism so seamlessly, nor are many quite as enjoyable as this. The game is still in Early Access on Steam at the moment but is already shaping up to be an excellent zombie game.
Night of the Dead
- Released
- August 28, 2020
WHERE TO PLAY
- Platform(s)
- PC
- Developer
- jacktostudios
- Publisher
- jacktostudios
- Genre(s)
- Adventure, RPG, Indie Games
8 State of Decay 2
Metacritic Rating: 69 (PC)
State of Decay 2 is just one of many Xbox-exclusive zombie games released over the past decade or so, though some will argue that it's probably the pick of the bunch. The combat on offer here is absolutely fantastic and is backed up with a great score and some decent visuals too.
One of the things that makes the same so enjoyable is its relentless difficulty, which demands improvement from players if they're to have any hope of surviving the game's brutal and unforgiving world. It does have one or two problems, but these shouldn't be enough to sour the experience for most players.
State of Decay 2
- Released
- May 22, 2018
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Undead Labs
- Publisher(s)
- Microsoft Game Studios
- Genre(s)
- Action, Survival Horror
9 Unturned
Metacritic Rating: N/A
Unturned is a little like Minecraft, only with a lot less crafting, far more zombies, and a boatload of assault rifles. It's free to play, is available on PC and current and last-gen consoles, and offers a ridiculous amount of customization, both when it comes to cosmetics and map design.
There are a few different game modes available, although they all revolve around surviving hordes of zombies in some capacity. Most of them are multiplayer only, with some encouraging players to work as teams rather than go it alone. While there are PvP elements included, players aren't obliged to kill their peers, allowing everybody to focus solely on taking out zombies if they choose.
Unturned
- Released
- July 7, 2014
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Smartly Dressed Games
- Publisher(s)
- Smartly Dressed Games
- Platform(s)
- PC, PS4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
- Genre(s)
- Survival
10 Strange Brigade
Metacritic Rating: 75 (Xbox One)
Developed by the same team behind the Zombie Army trilogy, Strange Brigade took quite a few people by surprise when it was released in 2018. Rather than the spiritual successor to Zombie Army that many had expected, the game plays a lot more like Left 4 Dead, although this isn't necessarily a bad thing.
The 1930s setting is interesting and makes a refreshing change from the dark backstreets and abandoned research facilities that typically host these kinds of games. The co-op elements also work incredibly well, although the narrative can at times feel a lot more B-movie than it does AA title. For those more interested in gameplay, though, it's a solid pick.
Strange Brigade
- Released
- August 28, 2018
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Rebellion Developments
- Publisher(s)
- Rebellion Developments
- Genre(s)
- Third-Person Shooter