Best Zombie Games, Ranked – Investment Policy

Zombies and video games are a classic combination, and history shows they work incredibly well together. Whether it’s the massive crowds in Days Gone or the quirky enemies in Lollipop Chainsaw, zombies are surprisingly versatile – they can be scary, threatening, funny, or even lovable. While many great zombie games focus on horror and surviving against the odds, we’ve also seen plenty of exciting, action-packed games that are simply fun to play.

Zombie games have been incredibly popular for many years, and by the early 2010s, there were a lot of them. While not all of these games were great, the best ones remain fun and memorable even today, offering endless replay value.

12. Dead Rising

Zombie Apocalypse Mayhem

Capcom proved with Resident Evil that they excel at creating iconic zombie games. But Dead Rising takes a different approach, focusing on overwhelming players with a huge, almost humorous, number of zombies instead of relying on scary settings or sudden shocks. Though later games added fun new weapons and items, nothing has quite captured the original’s unique appeal.

Playing as photojournalist Frank West, you’ll find plenty of fast-paced, over-the-top action as you try to survive a zombie outbreak in a shopping mall. It’s surprisingly satisfying to explore the stores and fight off hordes of zombies using whatever you can find – everything from weights to axes!

11. Zombies Ate My Neighbors

A Classic Zombie Game That Is Still Charming Today

You don’t need fancy graphics to make a fun and scary zombie game, as titles like Plants vs Zombies and the often-overlooked Zombies Ate My Neighbors demonstrate. This fast-paced action game isn’t just a great zombie title – it’s also considered one of the most exciting cooperative games from the 16-bit era.

As crazy as the name suggests, Zombies Ate My Neighbors is a frantic run-and-gun adventure. You navigate spooky neighborhoods and dungeons, rescuing helpless people with silly weapons like water guns and weed-whackers. Expect a lot of zombie and monster slaying, all set to a fantastic soundtrack and with a wonderfully quirky retro vibe. It’s a delightfully thrilling experience!

10. Telltale’s The Walking Dead

Raised The Bar For Storytelling In Zombie Games

Telltale Games became well-known thanks to The Walking Dead, which felt incredibly new when it launched in 2012. Before that, zombie games usually focused on action and simply surviving, often neglecting compelling stories and characters. The Walking Dead changed things by prioritizing character development and exploring difficult moral choices – a common theme in zombie movies, but unusual for games at the time. While Telltale’s style eventually became predictable, The Walking Dead was the main reason for their success.

Unlike many zombie stories that rely on jump scares, The Walking Dead creates tension through the difficult choices players must make, knowing even small decisions can have huge repercussions. While the game features memorable characters, its most impactful element is the relationship between Lee and Clementine – a connection many consider to be the strongest in zombie gaming, rivaling that of Joel and Ellie.

9. DayZ

Redefined Multiplayer Survival

Though it initially received negative feedback, DayZ has evolved significantly over the past ten years and is now a key game in the multiplayer genre – and not just within zombie-themed titles. The original mod was instrumental in popularizing the survival sandbox games we’ve seen recently, and DayZ continues to offer the most immersive experience by skillfully combining the dangers of zombies, the need to gather resources, and the unpredictable threat of other players.

Beyond perhaps a few games with a top-down perspective, DayZ offers one of the most realistic depictions of a zombie apocalypse, truly capturing what it might feel like when society breaks down. It’s designed for dedicated players, but newcomers can still jump in, and the constant risk of losing your character and progress keeps every moment incredibly stressful.

8. The House Of The Dead 2

An Arcade Staple That Will Always And Forever Be A Blast

Sega’s House of the Dead 2 is a classic rail-shooter, famous for both its zombie theme and use of lightgun controls. Even after many years, few games have matched its quality. Originally popular in arcades, it became a hit on home consoles, offering a fantastic cooperative experience with its special lightgun accessory.

In House of the Dead 2, players fight to survive hordes of zombies and challenging bosses while racing through various environments, all in pursuit of a high score. Despite its straightforward gameplay, the game remains consistently enjoyable and has a lasting appeal.

7. Dying Light

Parkour, Relentless Zombies, And True Horror

Few survival horror games are as immersive as Techland’s surprise hit, Dying Light. The game’s polished look and realistic, harsh atmosphere make you truly feel like you’re trapped in the city of Harran.

The game features a large, detailed open world filled with missions focused on survival, sneaking, and rescuing people. There are lots of zombies, and they can be challenging to defeat, creating a genuinely unsettling atmosphere as you explore the city. Fighting feels great, with realistic animations for taking down the undead, and it also includes a well-developed multiplayer mode.

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6. Project Zomboid

The Most Realistic Zombie Survival Game

For ten years, Project Zomboid has been a hugely popular game on Steam’s early access program, even though it’s still not officially finished. While many zombie games at the time focused on action, Project Zomboid aimed for a realistic take on a zombie apocalypse. You play as an ordinary person trying to survive for as long as possible. You might even manage to build a life, but society has already fallen apart, so your survival is only temporary.

Despite lacking a traditional storyline, Project Zomboid is packed with detailed survival mechanics and life-simulation elements. Instead of following a set campaign, players create their own unique stories as they play, though these often end in a desperate final battle.

5. Resident Evil 4

Maybe The Most Popular Zombie Game Of All Time (And For Good Reason)

Many consider this to be the best game in the Resident Evil series. Capcom really delivered with this thrilling sequel, improving everything from its production quality to its intense action and graphic violence. Instead of fighting slow-moving zombies, players now face crazed villagers infected by a dangerous parasite.

Leon Kennedy faces terrifying new enemies in Resident Evil 4, including the grotesque ‘Los Illuminados’ and ‘Verdugos’, as well as crazed attackers with chainsaws. The game expertly combines intense action, clever puzzles, and a cinematic presentation, making it arguably the greatest action-horror zombie game ever made. It remains hugely influential even now. While the series has had its ups and downs since, nothing diminishes the brilliance of RE4.

4. Dead Space

Space Zombies

While the necromorphs in Dead Space are definitely distinct, at their core they’re essentially reanimated, infected bodies – similar to zombies.

Taking cues from the acclaimed Resident Evil 4, Dead Space doubles down on the feeling of being truly vulnerable and scared. Many consider it the first genuinely outstanding survival horror game of the modern HD generation. The game’s enemies, called necromorphs, are horrifyingly designed and move unpredictably, making them a disturbing step beyond traditional zombies. Dead Space consistently emphasizes just how deadly these creatures are.

The USG Ishimura in Dead Space is arguably one of the most impressive and terrifying locations in zombie game history, rivaled perhaps only by the Spencer Mansion from the original Resident Evil. What really draws you in is the lack of on-screen clutter, and the constant, unsettling sounds of something lurking nearby – it makes you feel constantly vulnerable. Unlike later games in the series which focus more on action, the first Dead Space builds tension slowly, forces you to conserve resources, and creates a truly claustrophobic experience.

3. The Last Of Us

Naughty Dog’s Zombie Horror Masterpiece

Naughty Dog consistently delivers impressive games on Sony consoles, and The Last of Us is a prime example. This game features a captivating story set in a post-apocalyptic America, and its visuals still look fantastic today.

While The Last of Us focuses more on a gripping story and atmosphere than constant action, it still delivers plenty of intense, scary survival gameplay. The shooting feels great, and there’s a lot to explore and discover. The game’s zombies, known as “The Infected,” are particularly frightening because they’re fast, strong, and surprisingly intelligent.

2026-02-19 20:09