Zombies have been one of the most terrifying and longest-running tropes in horror. The entertainment industry is full of content for all fans of zombie-ridden post-apocalyptic worlds, from board and video games to TV series and movies. But nothing managed to surpass zombie video games in terms of popularity.
Thanks to the popularity of the genre, many developers were quick to have their take on the global zombie craze. So fans of action-packed post-apocalyptic survival, rejoice — you have plenty of options to keep you occupied! If you are a fan looking for new game ideas, you’ll love this list of the best zombie video game titles of recent years. We decided to highlight some of the best gems the industry has to offer. We have included various game types for gamers of different preferences — from shooter to story-driven survival games; you’ll find it all!
Are you ready to enter a new post-apocalyptic world and fight tooth and nail for your life? That’s what we thought!
8 Best Zombie Video Games Fans of the Genre Mustn’t Miss Out On
Here are our picks for the eight best zombie video games of recent years in no particular order.
1. World War Z
World War Z is likely one of the most action-packed co-op zombie survival games out there. If you wish to find out if you have what it takes to survive hordes counting hundreds if not thousands of undead, this game is perfect for you!
The game offers players plenty of versatility with its character class system to complement different playstyles. Are you an aggressive player? Try the Slasher class who has special benefits for going on large killing sprees! Are you more of a strategic gamer? The Fixer is the perfect class for you — make plans, lay traps, and protect your team’s flank with this character’s unique toolkit.
But the best part about World War Z is that it allows for some jolly cooperation. Bring your friends along, create an ultimate team composition, and massacre the undead in this intense zombie shooter game!
2. Dying Light
Dying Light is an ambitious and highly innovative zombie survival game; it’s one of the first titles in the genre to throw players into a huge open world. This game will have players scavenging for supplies to survive while doing various missions for some of the last remaining bastions of humanity scattered throughout the world.
Dying Light gives gamers all the tools needed to satisfy many different playstyles. The fans of stealth and strategy will have as much fun as those who prefer to go in guns blazing. Dying Light gives players access to plenty of different weapons, vehicles, quests, safe hubs, tools, traps, and much more — it even has a fully fleshed out day/night cycle!
If you are an avid fan of open-world and zombie horror games, immersing yourself in the world of Dying Light is the perfect way to spend your time!
3. Project Zomboid
Project Zomboid is an indie zombie video game still in early access but is nevertheless worth a spot on our list. Although the graphics quality may seem lacking at first glance, believe us when we say that this game has much more to it than meets the eye!
Project Zomboid is an ambitious title that is likely one of the most realistic zombie survival games on the market. The game has a single goal — survive for as long as you can in the world with an ever-increasing number of zombies! Players start their journey with next to nothing on their character and will have to go around the world scavenging for supplies.
To make things even harder for the player, all the standard survival elements are present. You will have to fulfill all your characters’ needs for food, water, sleep, and much more. When you combine an incredibly versatile arsenal of items, uses for the said items, perk and leveling systems, combat and crafting mechanics, you can begin to realize why Project Zomboid offers one of the most realistic zombie survival experiences in the gaming world!
4. Killing Floor 2
Here we have another wild co-op shooter in Killing Floor 2! This fast-paced, chaotic zombie video game is best played with friends, as it was designed with co-op in mind.
Killing Floor 2 is easy to pick up as it has all the elements of your typical shooter game, just with a wide variety of undead enemies that will rush at you regardless of how many limbs they’re missing. If you’re a fan of carnage, blood, gore, and zombies, this is the right game for you! With its variety of enemies and player classes, Killing Floor 2 is guaranteed to keep you entertained for hours on end!
5. Left 4 Dead 2
If you’re a fan of zombie video games, you must be familiar with Left 4 Dead 2. If not, now’s the perfect time to fix that!
This co-op zombie shooter is probably the most iconic game of the genre and has had a dedicated fan base for over a decade. Take three of your friends on a journey through various levels overflowing with the undead and go on a rampage! This game features some of the most memorable zombie enemies in gaming, like the Tank, the Witch, and many more. Not only is this game spooky as hell, but it’s also swift and will test reflexes and FPS skills as much as your wits.
Even if you’re a Left 4 Dead 2 veteran, this game is always worth revisiting. So consider giving it another run or two with your gaming buddies one of these days!
6. Telltale Games: The Walking Dead
If you haven’t heard about the legendary Telltale Games, you’ve been missing out! If you had to ask us what started the global zombie craze, we’d have to say it was the TV show The Walking Dead. And if you loved the series, you’re going to adore this storytelling game too!
Telltale Games take players on a story-driven adventure through the world of The Walking Dead, the way it was imagined in the original comics. The company is known for its many interactive storytelling titles that give players plenty of choices. They get to choose the direction they wish to take their story in, ultimately influencing its outcome. The Walking Dead is likely the company’s most successful game to date! The game is incredibly successful at recreating the horrors of the post-apocalyptic world of The Walking Dead and the moral dilemmas its characters face every day.
If you are looking for a change of pace from all the action-driven shooters, this should be your go-to game. Even if you’ve never tried any similar titles, we are positive you’ll get hooked as early as the end of the first episode. Just be prepared to deal with a rollercoaster of emotions if you opt to play. Don’t say we didn’t warn you!
7. The Last of Us
The Last of Us might not be one of the most action-packed zombie games out there, but it’s undoubtedly one of the most successful post-apocalyptic video games to date. This story-driven RPG follows the hardships and dark journey of two lovable characters, Jollie and Ellie, on their cross-country journey across the zombie-infested U.S. The duo has to overcome the undead and the living alike in one of the most heart-wrenching adventures in modern gaming.
Although the game focuses more on stealth and telling Joel and Ellie’s tragic story and following the development of their relationship than combat, it is what gives it its charm. The father-daughter-like relationship that the duo develops will feel like the light at the end of the tunnel in an otherwise barren world of post-apocalyptic America. Regardless of whether you’re a fan of these types of games, the Last of Us is a masterpiece all gamers should play at least once!
8. Call of Duty: Zombies
Last but not least, we have the infamous Call of Duty: Zombies! We know that this isn’t a standalone game (or at least wasn’t for the longest time), but this Call of Duty: World at War mod started small but blew up overnight! Nowadays, there are no fans of FPS games that haven’t played this iconic survival COD mod. In fact, the Zombies mod was so popular that Activision decided to include it in multiple future releases too, improving upon the older versions every time.
Call of Duty: Zombies takes a familiar game model and takes it to perfection. Multiple players fight against ever-increasing waves of zombies in a small arena while conserving as many resources as possible. The mod allows players to pick between various classes with different specialties and weapons. That is why creating the optimal team composition is essential if you want to get a competitive score. Overall, Call of Duty: Zombies has been one of the most successful zombie video games of recent years; it is a must-play for all fans of challenging, fast-paced first-person shooters.
Did you like our list? Are there any games you’d like to add to it? Let us know in the comments below! Have fun on your post-apocalyptic adventures!