There is a lot associated with the living dead in popular culture: zombies have appeared in hundreds of movies, TV series, and games in one way or another. But unfortunately, the concept of the apocalypse with walking corpses does not seem to bore either the developers or the players.
Some projects are darker, while others are aimed at fun and entertainment. In this selection, we have collected the best zombie games. In some of them, you can relax and enjoy destroying hordes of the dead; in others, you should pay attention to exciting storylines and characters. Even many online casino slots have a zombie theme, attracting many players.
Among the best games can be classified as such titles:
- Resident Evil;
- Left 4 Dead;
- Dead Island.
The Last of Us
Of the entire selection, this is the most highly rated game. It seems that everyone has heard of The Last of Us. The project was released on PS3 and then ported to PS4 with improved graphics. There is also a second part, which many have dubbed the best game of the decade. The events of the titles unfold in a world where the fungus cordyceps are rampant. Through its spores, people get infected and become zombies. The protagonist of the first part is Joel, who has to lead a girl named Ellie across America. As the story progresses, a solid emotional bond develops between the characters. In The Last of Us Part 2, we will play an adult Ellie, who has her problems. This year’s complete remake of the first part will be released on PS5, and in 2023 the game will reach PC.
World War Z
This game is considered the successor of the Left 4 Dead cult, which is also on our list, but we will discuss it later. The essence of the game is the missions and overcoming hordes of zombies. These projects are usually designed for group play because killing the dead with your friend is more fun. Also, the title offers a rich arsenal of enhanced zombies. Not so long ago, World War Z received the Aftermath version, an improved version of the original shooter. The developers added more content and improved the technical part of the game. The developers are also proud that they can contain hundreds of zombies on one screen. The project will please you with a variety of maps. There is Rome, the Vatican, and snow-covered Kamchatka. Despite the good reviews, the game was criticized for boring gameplay and attempting to repeat the greatness of Left 4 Dead.
Resident Evil
Who hasn’t these days heard of Resident Evil at least once? This cult horror franchise has been around since 1996 and includes more than 15 games. Fans especially love Resident Evil 2 and Resident Evil 4. The Capcom company understands the franchise is in great demand, so they are releasing remakes of old parts for modern players. For example, Resident Evil 2 and Resident Evil 3 remakes were released, and now the fourth part is about to be released. Each game is about survivors who face a dangerous T-virus that turns people into the murderous dead.
In 2017, with the release of Resident Evil 7, the franchise was gently rebooted and taken to the next level. Instead of a fixed third-person camera, there was the ability to enjoy your favorite first-person game. The last part of the series, Resident Evil Village, was released in 2021 and completed the new storyline.
Deadlight
A good zombie game doesn’t have to be big on a big budget. That’s what Deadlight, from small studio Tequila Works, proves. It takes place in the zombie apocalypse world, and the game itself is made in 2.5D style, which means it has a side view. The main character is Randall Wayne, a city park ranger looking for his family, and the action took place in 1986.
In gameplay, players are limited, as you can only move left and right. There is also the ability to kill people with a rich arsenal of weapons. The aim of the Deadlight game is grim and gloomy – so the developers wanted to transmit the game’s atmosphere. The developers also took care of the filling of levels and put a lot of collectibles in them. The game received primarily positive feedback from users and critics.
Dead Island
In 2011 the Polish studio Techland released Dead Island. The game was immediately received warmly, as it was a breakthrough for its time. At the story’s beginning, you have to choose one of the four characters offered. Each of the characters has a description, and they also differ from each other in skills. For example, one is proficient with melee weapons, while the other uses pistols and shotguns.
The protagonist wakes up on a resort island with online roulette games and understands nothing. There are zombies and few survivors, and his main goal is to escape. The game has a rich arsenal with a full-fledged crafting system. And Dead Island is much more fun to play with your friend because there is such an opportunity. In 2023 we will release Dead Island 2, which has had many problems with development.
DayZ
It is one of the most popular zombie games. DayZ was released in early access back in 2013. Since then, the popularity of the project and its audience have grown. The full release of the game took place on Steam in 2018. DayZ is an open-world survival game teeming with the walking dead, and the title’s action is set in the fictional state of Chernorussia. DayZ is designed for the multiplayer game because it will be more enjoyable with a friend.
Many people have loved DayZ for its hardcore nature. The game starts at a random location. Your character has nothing: all necessary items must be found in the larger world. It is also essential to monitor your hunger and thirst and eliminate ailments. A big problem during the game will be zombies and hostile players, who will try to kill you and take your loot. Every player survives in DayZ as best they can.
Dead Rising
It is the second most popular zombie franchise from Capcom in our selection. Unlike Resident Evil, Dead Rising is not so dark; but on the contrary. The game was loved for its cheerful gameplay, charismatic characters, and light atmosphere. There are several parts and main characters in the Dead Rising franchise. Each piece is a mix of action and puzzle. The story and its characters also play an essential role in the games in the series, but the gameplay is undoubtedly the main draw.
The latest installment, Dead Rising 4, came out in 2017 and completed the storyline of a critical character in the entire franchise. Fans especially love the first two installments, though the rest of the game has also been warmly received. But there has been controversy in the community since the original game over the appearance of the zombies. So if you want to check out the zombies’ quality, it’s best to do it on a powerful PC or console.
