There are two things that are widely accepted in the video game world: killing zombies is satisfying and playing with friends is usually more fun. Therefore, games that combine those two things are very enjoyable. Thankfully, there are a lot of them to choose from.
There are plenty of different types, too. For example, there are RPGs, action-adventure games, survival horror titles, and shooters that contain undead creatures. They aren't all of the same quality, though. Like any type of game, some of them are classics that are remembered forever, while others are best forgotten. The following ones are the best in gaming history.
8 Dead Rising 2
The people within the Dead Rising 2 universe aren't the brightest bunch, as they use zombies as part of their Terror is Reality game show. In the said show, a lot of zombie blood is spilled, so they need to keep a large supply of the undead creatures on hand. Near the beginning of the game, they escape, and the entire area gets overrun with the zombies. Amid it all is Chuck Greene and his young daughter.
You play as Chuck, who must roam the area to find medicine for his daughter and get to the bottom of what started the outbreak. This sounds very serious, but it's actually a really wacky third-person action game filled with wild weapons, silly outfits, and strange people. In co-op, another Chuck Greene joins in for the fun.
7 World War Z
World War Z is very loosely based on the 2006 novel of the same name. You don't need any knowledge of the book or the movie adaptation to enjoy this game. It's a zombie shooter where you take on large hordes of the undead. To call them 'large' is not an overstatement.
There are a ridiculous number of them, as they all clump into a group and climb over one another to get past obstacles and reach you. Admittedly, you don't actually fight every single one of them, but it's still an impressive and eye-catching sight. Plus, you do seem to fight a lot, but thankfully, you can do so in a team. Each one of you has a specific class that offers different perks. Therefore, having the right mix of classes is the recipe for success.
6 Dying Light
Dying Light
Released January 26, 2015 Developer(s) Techland Platform(s) PlayStation 4 , Nintendo Switch , Xbox One , macOS , Linux , Microsoft Windows
If you combine Mirror's Edge with Dead Island, you get Dying Light. It's a first-person, open-world zombie game. That world is the fictional city of Harran, which is dealing with a zombie virus. Where Dying Light stands out among other zombie games is its use of parkour.
You are encouraged to leap around rooftops and generally stay above the streets as much as possible to keep away from the undead, particularly at night when they get more aggressive. These parkour elements are really fun and feel smooth. Yet, you can't jump away from every encounter. Sometimes, you have to stop and fight, and there is a range of melee weapons to use when you do.
5 Dead Island 2
Dead Island 2
Released April 28, 2023 Developer(s) Dambuster Studios Platform(s) PS4 , PS5 , Xbox One , Xbox Series X , Xbox Series S , PC
Dead Island 2 is one of the rare RPG zombie games. It's an open world, too, as you can freely explore beautiful Los Angeles. Or at least it would be beautiful if there weren't zombies everywhere, as the place serves as one big quarantine zone in which your characters are stuck.
So, roaming the place involves wading your way through the hordes of undead creatures on the streets. You can combat them using melee weapons, guns, or your own abilities. It's all in first-person and feels satisfying. When you're not busting rotting heads, though, you are usually talking with various interesting and often comical characters.
4 State Of Decay 2
State of Decay 2
Released May 22, 2018 Developer(s) Undead Labs Platform(s) Xbox One , PC
State of Decay 2 puts plenty of focus on the survival aspect of survival horror, as you control a community of survivors in a zombie-filled open world. Most of them stay at the base, while the player-controlled ones go out into the dangerous world to scavenge for resources, which can help keep the base running and the community in good spirits.
You don't have to just stick to a certain character, as you can switch between your group of survivors to keep them fresh. While out scavenging, you can sneak around to remain undetected. If you alert zombies, though, you may have to face an entire horde, and as your survivors can die permanently, this is concerning.
3 Call Of Duty: Black Ops 3
Call of Duty: Black Ops 3
Released November 6, 2015 Developer(s) Treyarch Platform(s) PS4 , Xbox One , PC
The Zombies mode in the Call of Duty series has continually grown over the years. What started as a simple piece of side content about surviving a zombie horde for as long as possible has become much bigger. It's perhaps at its best in Black Ops 3.
The game contains the Shadows of Evil zombie map, which is very stylish and fun to play. Black Ops 3 also has a full zombie campaign that can be played in co-op. It's just like the regular campaign, except the enemies are replaced with members of the undead horde. So, it's a unique concept that partially works well because of Call of Duty's always slick and satisfying FPS gunplay.
2 Resident Evil 5
Resident Evil 5
Released March 5, 2009 Developer(s) Capcom Platform(s) PS3 , PS4 , Xbox 360 , Xbox One , PC , Switch
Technically, there are no zombies in Resident Evil 5, as the monsters you face are actually infected with a different sort of virus that makes them more intelligent than the undead creatures you see in the early RE games. Still, though, they still share some similarities to zombies. They certainly attack in large hordes, which Chris Redfield and his new partner Sheva Alomar discover as they attempt to track down and stop the evil Wesker, who aims for world domination.
While the game is part of the most famous survival horror series in gaming, it's actually more of a third-person shooter. As Chris and Sheva, you must gun down many beasts with various weapons. In the process, you have to manage your shared resources. The shooting is enjoyable, and the monsters you face are well-designed.
1 Left 4 Dead 2
Left 4 Dead 2
Released November 17, 2009 Developer(s) Valve Platform(s) PC , Xbox 360 , Linux , macOS
Left 4 Dead 2 has long been one of the best zombie games ever, and it's even better in co-op. The basic premise of the game is straightforward. You and your friends play as a group of four survivors, with AI filling in any vacant slots, and head from safe room to safe room until you get a chance to escape the area. That sounds much simpler than it actually is.
This is because the path between safe houses is filled with all sorts of infected beasts. Most of the regular ones charge at you, swinging their arms, while the special ones use their unique abilities to cause you problems. You can use melee weapons, assault rifles, shotguns, and more to eliminate them all. Things rarely quiet down in the game, and it's non-stop fun.
