Best Forgotten Zombie Games – Investment Policy

When people think of zombie games, Resident Evil and Dead Rising usually come to mind. Both games are made by Capcom, a company that’s become well-known for its success in the horror genre, and that’s a major reason why it continues to do so well.

The Resident Evil and Dead Rising series have many popular games, but some lesser-known titles also deserve recognition. These games often only received a single installment before fading into obscurity, lacking a large following. While they can be difficult to find and play today, they still offer unique and potentially humorous zombie gameplay experiences.

Dead Head Fred

Brain Dead

Released in 2007 exclusively for the PSP, Dead Head Fred is a 1940s-set action-adventure game. Players control Fred, a detective transformed into a brain in a jar, on a quest for revenge. While the game features straightforward combat, its most unique aspect is the innovative ‘head system’ gameplay mechanic.

Throughout the game, players could collect different heads, each with unique abilities to help with puzzles and battles – for example, one head could shoot fire. Fans of the TV show Scrubs might be interested to know that John C. McGinley, who played Dr. Cox, provided the voice for the main character in Dead Head Fred.

Dead Nation

Top-Down Perfection

Before Housemarque became known for games like Returnal, they created Dead Nation, a downloadable title for the PlayStation 3. It’s a top-down shooter where players battle countless waves of zombies in tightly packed, small environments. The sheer number of zombies is impressive – even more than you might find in the Dead Rising series, likely due to the game’s compact map design.

Players have a wide range of tools at their disposal to protect themselves, including weapons, explosives, and helpful power-ups, and the game can even be played with a friend in co-op mode. Originally created for the PlayStation 3, it’s now available on the PS Vita and PS4, so it’s easy to play now.

Stubbs The Zombie In Rebel Without A Pulse

Be The Zombie

Originally released for Xbox in 2005, Stubbs the Zombie in Rebel Without a Pulse wasn’t available on other platforms until a remastered version came out in 2021. The game is set in the 1950s, but it includes some futuristic technology.

In this game, you play as Stubbs, a clumsy zombie with surprising abilities. He’s not just about biting enemies – he can freeze them with farts, control them with his arms, and even throw his own organs as bombs! Plus, there are sections where you get to drive, adding even more variety to the action.

Operation Darkness

Werewolves Vs Zombies

Operation Darkness is a hidden gem of a tactical RPG that was only available on the Xbox 360. It reimagines World War 2 with a dark twist: the Nazis command an army of zombies and other monsters, and you play as a squad of werewolves fighting against them.

In battles, players navigate a grid-based map and attack enemies using guns, bombs, and special abilities. While Operation Darkness isn’t a groundbreaking tactical RPG, its unique and over-the-top story makes it worth checking out, especially considering it’s disappointing that you can’t play it on today’s Xbox consoles.

Zombie Nation

Nothing But Head

The name Zombie Nation might make you think it’s a game about fighting tons of zombies on the NES, but that’s not quite right. You actually play as a flying zombie head and destroy enemy planes and structures.

This game is actually a modified version of a Japanese title called Abarenbou Tengu, which has a similar story but features a flying demon head instead. Both games are incredibly strange, but that was common for NES games in the 1990s, which were known for being unconventional.

D2

Trapped In Snow

Though not strictly a zombie game, D2 shares a similar horror feel with 90s zombie titles. Instead of zombies, it features aliens taking over humans and turning them into mutants, and it’s known for its awkward dialogue. Originally released in Japan for the Dreamcast in 1999, it didn’t arrive in North America until a year later.

The game begins with a crash landing in a snowy mountain range, and the main goal is to escape. While the shooting and movement felt decent, the most interesting part was the leveling-up system – it was one of the first horror games to include that feature.

Deep Fear

A Silly Sega Saturn Gem

Deep Fear was a Sega Saturn game released only in Japan and Europe, which made it a relatively rare find for fans of Resident Evil-style games in the 90s. Although the acting isn’t great, the game was innovative for its time.

Unlike many horror games of its time, players weren’t stuck in place – they could move and shoot freely. The game also offered a wider variety of weapons and ammunition, but to balance this, enemies were more dangerous. The underwater environment was used brilliantly to build tension, and some sections even required players to use scuba gear to explore.

Night Slashers

Brawling With The Undead

Night Slashers is a unique zombie game – it’s designed like a classic beat ‘em up. You choose from a variety of characters, each with special abilities, and battle waves of zombies as you progress through different levels.

The game features impressively designed bosses, such as a large, Frankenstein-inspired creature. It’s a short and sweet experience, and even more enjoyable now with the recent Night Slashers: Remake. If you’re looking for a fun, lighthearted co-op game to play with up to three friends, this is a great choice.

Little Red Riding Hood’s Zombie BBQ

A Zombie Shoot ‘Em Up

Little Red Riding Hood’s Zombie BBQ is a very rare and little-known horror game for the Nintendo DS. It was a low-budget title when it came out, and it’s a shooting game where Red Riding Hood is heavily armed and fights zombies.

In this game, zombies move upwards from the bottom of the screen, and players must defend against them. Despite the zombie theme, the game has a surprisingly adorable style that balances well with the on-screen action and blood effects.

The Last Guy

Save The World

The Last Guy is a PlayStation 3 game developed by Sony’s Japan Studio. Unlike many zombie games where you fight the undead, this one focuses on saving as many people as you can within each level.

The game played a bit like Pikmin: you found people, collected them, and moved them to safe areas while dodging zombies and other mutated creatures. What made The Last Guy stand out, both when it was released on PS3 and even today, was that it was a rare zombie game focused on puzzle-solving rather than action.

2025-12-21 02:37