Zombies and video games will always go together, and history has proven that they can be a match made in heaven. From Days Gone's overwhelming hordes to Lollipop Chainsaw's colorful foils, the undead are more flexible than they get credit for, as they can be horrifying, intimidating, hilarious, or even endearing. The best zombie games often lean into horror and survival, but we have also gotten plenty of fantastic action romps that are just a joy to play.
Over the decades, the gaming industry has produced a lot of zombie fiction, to the point that the theme was overexposed during the early 2010s. While not every release managed to leave a lasting positive impression, the greatest zombie games are eternally replayable and unforgettable.
12 Dead Rising
Zombie Apocalypse Mayhem
As established by Resident Evil, Capcom knows how to craft an undead classic. However, rather than using eerie, desolate environments and jump scares, Dead Rising leans on an almost comical number of undead as the source of its thrills and chills. While the sequels brought new features, like adding zany new items to the vast weapon arsenal, this breakthrough has scarcely been matched in appeal.
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There's ample arcade-style fun and chaos to be had as players try to escape the zombie-infested mall as photojournalist Frank West. There's something uniquely rewarding about traipsing through various stores while bashing waves of zombies with everything one can get their hands on, from barbells to battle-axes.
11 Zombies Ate My Neighbors
A Classic Zombie Game That Is Still Charming Today
Zombie games don't need to be decorated with modern graphical glitz to be fun or frightening, as proven by games like Plants Vs Zombies and this hidden gem by Konami, Zombies Ate My Neighbors. This wacky action shooter isn't just a great zombie game, but possibly one of the most thrilling co-op experiences of the 16bit generation.
Zombies Ate My Neighbors is as bonkers as its title indicates. The mission is to scramble through the various neighborhoods, dungeons, and other spooky settings. The young heroes wield meager weapons like Uzi water guns and weed-wackers in an attempt to save the oblivious neighbors. Of course, players will also be slaying many zombies and other monsters in the process. Cool themes and an even cooler soundtrack help paint the scene for a delightful undead retro thriller.
10 Telltale's The Walking Dead
Raised The Bar For Storytelling In Zombie Games
- Developer(s)
- Telltale Games
- Genre(s)
- Graphic Adventure, Horror
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, PlayStation Vita, Xbox One, Xbox 360, PC, Mobile
While Telltale's formula eventually started to wear thin, its long life can almost entirely be credited to The Walking Dead, which was such a fresh experience in 2012. Before this point, most zombie games focused on action or survival mechanics, with their stories and characters often being pushed to the side. The Walking Dead represented a shift toward character-driven journeys that emphasized human morality rather than the undead, something that was common in movies but not games.
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Despite being over ten years old, these zombie games are still a blast to jump into thanks to their timeless gameplay, visuals, and stories.
Instead of feeling fear through encounters with the walkers, pressure comes from the decisions you have to make, as you know full well that a seemingly small choice could have significant consequences. Although packed with great characters, The Walking Dead's biggest success was the relationship between Lee and Clementine, which stands alongside Joel and Ellie's as the best dynamic in the zombie gaming genre.
9 DayZ
Redefined Multiplayer Survival
Despite launching to a pretty terrible reception, DayZ has not only come a very long way over the last decade, but it is nowadays established as a cornerstone of multiplayer gaming, and we are not talking just about projects featuring zombies. The original mod helped shape and propel the survival sandbox boom that we have been in for the last few years, and DayZ still delivers the most compelling experience as it perfectly balances the threat of zombies with resource management and the danger posed by other players.
Except for maybe one game played from an isometric angle, DayZ arguably presents the most realistic zombie apocalypse, one that really captures the feel of true societal collapse. The game caters to a hardcore audience while still being accessible to relative beginners, and the threat of losing a character and hours of gameplay makes every moment tense.
8 The House Of The Dead 2
An Arcade Staple That Will Always And Forever Be A Blast
Iconic when it comes to both zombie and lightgun games, this rail-shooter from Sega has scarcely been matched in the genre despite being decades old. Originally an arcade favorite, House of the Dead 2 made its way to consoles and, thanks to the help of its lightgun peripheral, proved just as fun as a couch co-op romp.
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Horror games are often most effective when they isolate their players, but these games prove that the scares don't need to let up in co-op play.
Players will blast their way through closely-pursuing undead as well as tough bosses as they're guided through corridors and outdoor locales, fighting for survival as well as high scores. Simple as its gameplay loop might be, House of the Dead 2 just has a certain timelessness that makes it always a fun time.
7 Dying Light
Parkour, Relentless Zombies, And True Horror
- Developer(s)
- Techland
- Genre(s)
- Open-World, Survival Horror
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC
Very few survival horror experiences truly immerse players like this surprise hit from Techland, Dying Light. This game, with its sleek presentation and gritty, realistic feel, really gives the vibe of being stranded in this Middle-Eastern city of Harran.
This vast open-world is rife with detail and a slew of survival, stealth, and rescue-based missions. The zombies are both abundant and often tough to take down, which makes the experience all the more creepy as players venture through the city. Combat is highly satisfying and chock-full of detailed zombie-slaying animations, and the game even has a pretty solid multiplayer feature to boot.
Rearrange the covers into the correct US release order.
Rearrange the covers into the correct US release order.
6 Project Zomboid
The Most Realistic Zombie Survival Game
A fixture of Steam's early access, Project Zomboid has been one of the platform's most popular games for a decade, and it technically isn't even out yet. Debuting during an era when zombie titles embraced action, Project Zomboid sought to simulate a proper apocalyptic scenario, or at least as realistic as such a concept can be. Players are cast as nobodies destined to die, and their goal is to survive as long as possible. Heck, you might even thrive and build yourself a nice little home; however, society has already collapsed, and you are just postponing the inevitable.
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Packed with survival and almost life-sim mechanics, Project Zomboid is dense with content, despite not really having a plot. In place of a traditional campaign, players write their own stories that emerge naturally during their playthroughs, many of which tend to end with a fatal last stand.
5 Resident Evil 4
Maybe The Most Popular Zombie Game Of All Time (And For Good Reason)
Perhaps the most universally esteemed game in the Resident Evil franchise, Capcom pushed all the right buttons with this cinematic RE sequel, upping the ante in terms of production, action, and gore. Instead of staggering undead, players must tangle with ravenous villagers infected by a mind parasite.
Added to this lineup of hostile 'Los Illuminados' are monstrous 'Verdugos' and chainsaw-wielding madmen; all of whom Leon Kennedy must deal with at different points. With a perfect blend of action, puzzle-solving, and cinematic flair, Resident Evil 4 is probably the best action-horror zombie game of all time, and it casts a wide shadow that still has influence today. Its success led the series down a bumpy road, but that does not take anything away from RE4's brilliance.
4 Dead Space
Space Zombies
I know Dead Space's necromorphs are unique, but they are ultimately reanimated infected corpses like zombies.
Famously inspired by Resident Evil 4, Dead Space leans far more into survival horror, and an argument could be made that it was the first truly brilliant entry in the genre of the HD era. With their grotesque cosmic horror designs and spastic movement, necromorphs are a terrifying evolution of zombies that are truly unsettling, and the original game goes out of its way to highlight just how dangerous they are.
Except for maybe the mansion in the first Resident Evil, the USG Ishimura might be the greatest singular setting in the zombie genre, and the minimal HUD amplifies its immersion. As Isaac Clarke explores, he constantly hears distant moans, scratches, and sounds of life, stressing the fact that he is never, ever safe. While the sequels lean more into action, the original Dead Space is all about slow-burn tension, limited resources, and claustrophobia.
3 The Last Of Us
Naughty Dog's Zombie Horror Masterpiece
Naughty Dog rarely disappoints when it comes to flexing its chops on Sony's potent hardware, and this undead masterpiece, The Last of Us, is no exception. The game contains a gripping narrative from start to finish and a neat post-apocalyptic American setting. It dazzles with a tremendous presentation even by today's standards.
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The Last of Us stresses flashiness and enthralling story elements over straight-up action, but make no mistake; there's plenty of thrilling survival horror gameplay to be had. The shooting mechanics are sharp and satisfying, and there's a wealth of content and depth. The game's form of zombies, "The Infected," are some of the most cunning and, thus, horrifying zombies in gaming, especially given how fast and powerful they are.