Summary
Though the undead are clearly decrepit and stale, the love gamers have for zombie video games is still alive and kicking. People just can’t get enough of fighting the living dead. Whether they are just an annoying hindrance to deal with on the side or an integral component to a narrative, zombies make for fun additions to games.
As we continue to keep this list updated, it would be remiss of us not to include the bestCall of DutyZombies offering we’ve seen in years.Black Ops 6, in many ways, was a return to form for the series. The inclusion of a campaign and the suite of multiplayer options are all hallmarks of the bestCoDtraditions. But whereBlack Ops 6shines in particular is its Zombies mode.
Long a fan-favorite experience, the mode has seen its ups and downs. But we’re happy to report that it’s most definitely hitting a high point in this latest entry. Unlocking new areas, taking down bosses, progressing through round after round after round after round is an undead delight. If the inevitable next installment in theCall of Dutyfranchise adheres to these Zombies principles, we won’t be disappointed.
Technically speaking, the remadeCall of Duty: Modern Warfare IIIis a serviceable first-person military shooter with an emphasis on its campaign and multiplayer matches. On its own, it’s not a straightforward zombie game. But you know what else theCoDfranchise has become known for over the years? That’s right! Its Zombies mode!AndModern Warfare IIIis no exception. As one of the firstCall of Dutygames to make it onto Game Pass (and not the last, withBlack Ops 6having arrived),Modern Warfare IIIleaves a bit to be desired.
But with the updates to it over the months since its launch, the zombie-shootin’ side of things has improved. So if you want more undead-slaying in your zombie games rather than the heart-wrenching choice-driven gameplay of a title likeThe Walking Dead, it’s not an overall bad time. Plus, who doesn’t like the sort of mindless-popcorn-munching style of zombie-killing that it can provide?
Though it’s a shorter experience thanResident Evil 2, the third entry in this remake tradition Capcom has going on is still an action-packed, zombie-filled adventure. And the inclusion of “Nemesis” makes this brief experience all the more terrifying. You’re playing as the haunted yet capable Jill Valentine, who grapples with her memory of the “Mansion incident” while the fall of Raccoon City is happening around her.
As she runs past and shoots through the zombified citizens, the seemingly unstoppable Nemesis dogs her footsteps. No matter how many bullets you shoot into him, grenades you toss at his feet, or rocket launchers you aim at his face, he just keeps on coming. We mentioned the brevity of this title earlier, and perhaps that’s more of a pro than a con.
There are plenty of lengthy games you need to sink dozens of hours into;Resident Evil 3remake offers a good time in a short time, and that plays to its strengths. (Also, it’s an added plus to play it while it’s on Game Pass.)
Zombies fans are eating well on Xbox Game Pass today, thanks to the addition ofResident Evil 2to its library of available games. This remake of the originalRE2is not only a master class on how to remake a game, it’s just an overall fantastic zombie game. The zombies shamble toward you with sudden lurches, making it terrifyingly easy to miss a shot. And with limited ammo and resources at your disposal, every missed shot is like a knife in your stomach.
And to top the whole experience off, the Raccoon City Police Station is a veritable zombie-shooting playground. The corridors of the massive building are tight, and some of them are just shrouded in dim lighting. If you love zombies, if you loveResident Evil, and if you love games,Resident Evil 2’sremake should be on your to-play list.
We’ll 100% stand by the notion that Darktide is a zombie game. For one thing, one of the dominant enemy types are Poxwalkers, and these are undead beings that have been brought back to life through the Chaos-damned powers of Nurgle. For another thing, come on, seriously, this game is basically Horde Mode Simulator. You are consistently swarmed by shambling, lurching, gross-looking crowds. If that doesn’t scream zombie, we don’t know what will.
Think Left 4 Dead but in Warhammer 40K.
Defining what makes an undead a true zombie aside, Darktide is a fantastic game to dive into if you’re looking for a title to scratch both that zombie-loving and cooperative run itch simultaneously. Up to three other players work alongside your character to complete objectives in various runs in the hive city of Tertium. And if you don’t keep an eye on your compatriots and work together as a unit, you can bet you’ll all be swarmed and torn apart by Chaos scum.
Are the Necromorphs in theDead Spaceseries really zombies? Well, even though the unfortunate, deceased crew of the USG Ishimura was reanimated thanks to an ancient alien infection brought on by the raising of a Marker, they’re still technically reanimated corpses that have been horribly mutated.Dead Spacetakes everything we love about zombie games and throws it in space. And the 2023 remake ensures the experience is shiny and new.
As a major fan of the original game, I hope I can assure you that the remake is chef’s kiss.
The creeping horror of undead things lurching at you, unique mechanics for bringing them down, and blood and gore painting the walls are just a few of these things found in this amazing survival horror title. If you love zombies, you have to love space zombies.
Minecraftcertainly wouldn’t strike one as the typical “zombie game” at first blush, lacking the bombast and visceral horror visuals typical of the niche. However, the essential driving mechanic of survival mode is building and fortifying a base before hordes of mostly undead creatures shamble out of their hiding spots and attempt to murder players after nightfall.
Even before the sun sets, players can band togetherto plumb the depths of deep, dark cavesand abandoned mineshafts for treasure and valuable ores as they dodge or defeat skeletons and literal zombies. All things considered,Minecraftcertainly can scratch the itch for fans of zombie survival scenarios.
Unlike in standardMinecraft, zombies inMinecraft Legendsare your allies. They’re here to help players fight the threat that is the Piglin invasion. As with Golems and Creepers, you eventually gain the ability to spawn zombies as a friendly mob. They have a decent chunk of health, so they’re one of the sturdiest spawns you can throw at a Piglin fort.
A sight we’re more used to seeing, zombies inMinecraft Dungeonsare enemies you’ll have to eliminate as you make your way through the various caverns and castles of the game. They’re your average sort of enemy, with some wearing armor so they’re a bit on the tough side. As long as you and your friends are on top of things, zombies here won’t pose a major threat.
The goal ofDayZis simple: survive. However, the means of reaching that goal can get infinitely complex. Essentially a standalone iteration of the immensely popularArma 2mod of the same name,DayZis a survival sandbox that drops you into the middle of the zombie apocalypse’s aftermath — you’re motivated and compelled to brave zombie-infested ruins in search of food, medical supplies, and weapons to improve your odds of surviving and thriving. However, zombies are arguably not the most pressing adversaries you’re confronted with.DayZ’s servers are inhabited by up to sixty other players wandering its vast open-world environment, and a great many of them are more than happy to either rob, kill, or capture you to their own ends.
Looking for a more lighthearted take for your zombie needs? Head on down toNeighborville. Offering the latest spin on the ever-popularPlants vs. Zombiesformula,Neighborvilleis a third-person multiplayer shooter that pits… well, plants versus zombies. Both sides of the battle feature a whimsical bevy of beautifully-designed classes, ranging from the zombified 80s Action Hero (complete with a radical Rambo-style bow-and-arrow) to the pun-heavy Snapdragon, a literal fire-breathing plant-dragon.Plants vs. Zombie’s cartoonish aesthetic and low-violence approach render it kid-friendly, so even youngsters can get their fill of zombie carnage.
It can be rare indeed for a zombie video game experience to focus on other gameplay mechanics rather than just shooting zombies, butState of Decayhandles this aspect of the apocalypse in style. Rather than just mowing down hordes of undead,State of Decaytasks players with ensuring the survival of a small community.
You have to build a base, make tough resource management decisions, and maintain a positive attitude if you want your group of survivors to thrive. And what makes all these survival considerations even more entertaining is the fact thatthey are also accompanied by robust open-world action gameplay. A variety of weapons and vehicles are at your disposal to help ensure your community makes it to the end.
