While many groan at the mere mention of zombies due to their over-saturation of modern media, by and large they’re still extremely popular. AMC’s The Walking Dead TV series, for example, still attracts millions of viewers with each new episode, and zombie-based games, whether we’re shooting them or running away from them, generally tend to do well. But what are the best zombie games on Xbox? We’ll get to that below.
For some reason, we’ve just never get tired of zombies in video games. It’s perhaps because, as foes, they’re versatile. In some games they’re fast and vicious, making them very dangerous to go up against. In other games they’re slow and weak – the perfect fodder for being taken down with melee weapons and guns. But there’s always one thing that’s consistent: in groups, zombies become more of threat than ever.
On Xbox, there are plenty of games available that feature zombies. If you’ve got limited time, however, you’re only going to want to play the best. And so for that reason we’ve put together a list of the best zombie games on Xbox. All of these games featuring zombies stand out to us for some reason or another. So, if you want to play some games that are full of the undead, read on.
This list was originally published in 2019 and has been periodically updated since.
1. Dead Island 2
We had to wait a long, long time for Dead Island 2 to finally materialise, and when it was – surprise, surprise – it actually turned out to be rather good. Our only real complaint is that, set in a post-apocalyptic LA, it’s not really an island anymore. But when the gameplay is this much fun, and there are this many zombies to electrocute, set fire to and otherwise maim, we can’t really complain.
Approximately 10 years in the making, Dead Island 2 is undoubtedly among the best zombie games available on Xbox. It looks fantastic, and its open world is a joy to explore. Well, if you find joy in never being more than a few metres away from the shambling undead, anyway. Combat is so much fun, and there’s nothing quite like exploring a film set overrun by the dead.
Read our review of Dead Island 2
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2. Resident Evil 2 Remake
There’s a lot more to the 2019 remake of Resident Evil 2 than being a zombie game, but that’s the crux of it. Playing as Leon or Claire, you’ll battle your way through Raccoon City Police Department and a host of other locales, facing grotesque undead foes as you go.
True horror is the recipe of the day in Resident Evil 2. It’s less about battling through hordes of zombies as it is about carefully sneaking past freaky enemies. It’s tense, it’s terrifying, and it’s all the more brilliant because of it. We’re not sure exactly if Mr X counts as a zombie, but we’re not here to argue semantics. He isn’t fully human anyway, put it that way. And if he’s chasing after you, you better just run.
Resident Evil 2 should be applauded for making Resident Evil zombies scary again. They’re not very fast, but if you don’t pop them in the head they’ll just eat up your ammo. And if they grab you, you better hope you’ve got a defensive item available. Resident Evil 2 isn’t just one of the best zombie games on Xbox, it’s quite possibly the best Resident Evil game of all time. Although the others are definitely worth your time, too.
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3. Zombie Army 4: Dead War
Rebellion’s Zombie Army Trilogy was great. But its follow up, Zombie Army 4: Dead War, is even better. It looks a hell of a lot nicer for one, but the gameplay has been dramatically improved, too. You’re still making your way through levels, fighting hordes of zombies as you go, but there’s more variety in the environments and action. It makes for a rollercoaster ride.
Zombie Army 4: Dead War’s campaign, which can be played solo or in online co-op, is quite lengthy. When you’re done, you’re likely to return to it too; there are many ways to spice up the action on your second or even third playthrough. And then there’s horde mode to go at, which is just pure action. It pits you against more zombie soldiers than you could ever imagine. Needless to say, if you’re after the best zombie games on Xbox, Zombie Army 4: Dead War is certainly one of them.
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4. State of Decay 2
In the world of State of Decay 2, zombies are very dangerous indeed. Attract too much attention and you might just find yourself swamped. What makes every action you take fraught with peril, however, is that if your character dies, there’s no bringing them back. They’re gone. You have to carry on your journey with one of the other characters in your group.
When it launched, State of Decay 2 was rather buggy. It’s been patched a lot since though, and more content has been added, now making it one of the best zombie games on Xbox. If you’d like to see how you’d get on in a zombie apocalypse, you’ll absolutely love it. It requires you to build up your camp, find supplies, search for other survivors and manage your group effectively. It’s basically the best unofficial The Walking Dead video game there is.
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5. World War Z
Throwing an unmatched number of the undead at you, World War Z takes a multiplayer approach to the zombie genre. By teaming up with up to three other players, you’ll work your way through a series of levels, killing a lot of zombies as you go.
If you’ve ever played Left 4 Dead, then you know exactly what to expect – World War Z closely follows the formula. It does have better visuals though, as you’d expect, as well as weapon upgrades and perk systems. And perhaps more zombies. There’s nothing as freaky as seeing a horde of the undead start clambering up each other in order to climb over a wall. And unlike the traditional zombie, World War Z’s rendition of them move damn fast. It’s not a game to stand still long in; World War Z is all about moving quickly and firing off a lot of shots.
Don’t let the multiplayer element put you off too much; this is one fun zombie game. In fact, if you prefer to play in multiplayer, it’s possibly the best zombie game on Xbox right now.
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6. Telltale’s The Walking Dead
It may be based on the comic that spawned the successful TV programme, but Telltale’s The Walking Dead series isn’t quite as action-packed as Rick Grimes’ own fight against walkers. Instead, the game is a slower-paced narrative-driven experience, exploring the relationships of survivors, centring around a young girl named Clementine.
There are four series to The Walking Dead (five if you count the Michonne spin-off). So if you like what’s on offer here, there’s a load more to dip into. It might not be all balls-to-the-wall action, but Telltale’s episodic adventure still has plenty of moments where you’re wrangling with zombies.
The series can be bought separately, or you can buy The Walking Dead: The Telltale Definitive Series that contains every season. The Walking Dead may not be the best zombie game on Xbox, in terms of pure thrills anyway, but in terms of storytelling, there’s nothing else like it.
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7. Dying Light 2
A massive open world adventure, Dying Light 2 mixes zombie-bashing combat, freerunning, storytelling and plenty of action to create one of the best zombie games on Xbox.
Dying Light 2 centres around Aiden Caldwell, a pilgrim trying to get by in a dangerous, apocalyptic world. He travels between settlements, delivering messages and goods to people and picking up whatever odd jobs he can. But there’s more to him than meets the eye: he’s also desperate to regain contact with his missing sister. With a haunted past, and many real demons to run away from, Aiden’s got a lot going on. But playing as him, with his expanding suite of parkour and combat skills, is a constant joy.
Read our review of Dying Light 2
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8. Killing Floor 2
A wave-based online shooter, Killing Floor 2 has just one goal: kill everything in sight. It’s high-octane action in this kill-or-be-killed shooter, and it’s a hell of a lot of fun. While Killing Floor 2 is best played with others, you can tackle it by yourself if you want. There are a variety of environments to choose from, each providing a unique battleground in which to down as many zombies as you possibly can. Killing Floor 2’s enemies come in a variety of shapes and sizes, some posing a bigger threat than others. You’ll need to be quick on your feet and fast to react in order to survive, because this ain’t no walk in the park.
If you’re after some fast-paced fun with an undead spin, you really out to give Killing Floor 2 a go. Not only is it one of the best zombie games on Xbox, it’s one of the best wave-based shooters available.
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9. Zombie Driver: Ultimate Edition
Unlike all the other games on this list, Zombie Driver: Ultimate Edition is all about killing hordes of zombies while driving a range of vehicles. And it’s a hell of a lot of fun.
Finding yourself trapped in a city overrun with zombies, in Zombie Driver: Ultimate Edition‘s Story Mode you’re tasked with completing objectives in over 30 missions. Along the way, you’ll unlock new vehicles to use, as well as earn the cash needed to upgrade them and your weapons. Then, when you fancy a break or have completed Story Mode, there’s both Blood Race Mode and Slaughter Mode to tackle.
In Blood Race Mode you’ll primarily be racing against competitors while avoiding zombies and making use of your weapons to get the upper hand. Some events, however, will have you fighting to destroy as many vehicles as possible within a time limit, or racing through checkpoints to prevent a bomb from blowing you up. And Slaughter Mode is all about surviving for as long as you can while massacring hordes of zombies.
It may not look all that great or be particularly complex, but Zombie Driver: Ultimate Edition is definitely one of the best zombie games available on Xbox.
Read our review of Zombie Driver
10. Dead Rising Triple Pack
The initial adventure of Frank West, photojournalist caught up in the middle of a zombie outbreak, Dead Rising originally released back in 2006. More recently it’s been remastered and re-released; along with the sequel Dead Rising 2, and its spin-off, Off the Record, Dead Rising Triple Pack brings it to Xbox.
Taking place in Willamette Parkview Mall, Dead Rising tasks Frank West with investigating just what the hell is going on. In Frank’s case, that means taking some photos and battling his way through zombie shoppers en masse. Dead Rising 2 on the other hand, picks up some years after the zombie outbreak began, and follows protagonist Chuck Green on a mission to find some Zombrex (anti-zombie medication, obviously) in order to protect his young daughter. Off The Record retells the story of Dead Rising 2 but from the perspective of Frank West – because people liked him better, apparently.
All three games are a bit clunky now, and they don’t look all that good either, but the Dead Rising Triple Pack is still worth picking up if you love zombie games. The original Dead Rising in particular is worth playing; it’s not just one of the best zombie games on Xbox, it’s one of the best zombie games of all time.
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