Summary
Zombies are one of the most commonly seen enemies in video games, but the ways that developers decide to use them have led to plenty of very unique and experimental games over the years. Keeping these undead freaks slow but powerful can make for an intense and horrifying adventure, while speeding them up can result in more of ahorde modewhich is faster-paced and exciting, especially when jumping in with friends. Simply put, there’s a reason why zombies have been around in video games for so long, but it was really from the 2000s to the mid-2010s that they began to oversaturate the market.
As a result, many games at this time that featured the undead ended up going under the radar or fading into obscurity, but there have still been a fair few classics that many zombie fans are still returning to even to this day, thanks to their innovative gameplay, exciting modes, and enemy variety. Here are zombie gamesfrom over 10 years agothat have aged the most gracefully since they were released.
7 Days to Diewasfirst released in early access back in 2013, but since then, the developers have continued to update the game with quality-of-life improvements, enhanced zombie AI, new items, and tons more content for players to enjoy. As a result, the zombie survival game has managed to retain a sizable fanbase which only grows with each passing year, making it one of the most popular zombie games on the market today.
As players build shelters and keep their character’s stats perked up, they will need to venture out of their safe haven every so often to grab supplies. Considering the streets are littered with zombies of all shapes and sizes, actually going about this is much easier said than done, with players being encouraged to craft weapons and tools to make each supply run easier than the last. There’s never a bad time to jump into a new world on7 Days to Die, especially now thatcrossplayis enabled so that players from all platforms can join in on the survival fun.
It’s fair to say that Telltale blew everyone away when they released theirWalking Deadvideo game adaptationin 2012, with the game quickly earning the title of “instant classic” in the eyes of many. What makesThe Walking Deadstand out so much is its unique gameplay, which forces players to make brutally difficult decisions that all hold heavy consequences on the story and characters.
However, this is still a zombie game at the end of the day, so with the undead lurking around every corner, it makes for some very tricky scenarios and choices when people start getting bitten and infected. At the heart of the narrative is the bond between Lee, who recently escaped from prison, and Clementine, a young girl who comes to learn the harsh reality of the world that she is forced to grow up in. There aren’t many games in any genre that pull off the choice and consequence mechanic as effectively asThe Walking Dead, and with the cel-shaded art style and memorable characters, it’s a game that just never gets old.
As mentioned before, zombie games can take all kinds of forms, even if that means dipping into thetower defense strategygenre, as proven withPlants vs Zombies. This arcade-style strategy game is one that anyone can pick up, play, and enjoy, no matter how much prior experience they have had with zombie games before, as it’s easy to learn and get accustomed to.
Players are on the side of the plants, meaning they will be tasked with placing down sunflowers, walnuts, peashooters, and plenty of other units on a large grid to try and fend off the zombies from reaching Crazy Dave’s house. Mixing and matching plants to create the perfect defense results in an addictive gameplay loop that continues to thrive off of its accessibility.
Though Capcom did decide to remake the originalDead Rising, this recent game was primarily just a visual upgrade, with the gameplay being largely untouched, outside of the companion AI. This is a testament to just how absurdly fun and satisfying the core ofDead Rising’sexperimental gameplay loop continues to be after all these years. Even to this day, the whole system of completing objectives within strict time deadlines, all while wiping out a mall full of zombies with a myriad of wacky everyday tools is still an absolute joy to experience.
One specific aspect ofDead Risingthat has helped it age so well is the number of zombies that the game can fit onto the screen at once. By basing most of the story inside one building, Capcom was able to pack in massive hordes of undead creeps into the player’s view, making the game feel incredibly immersive, especially since they can also kill Frank in no more than a few hits. SinceDead Rising’s release in 2006, zombie games have failed to replicate the unique gameplay model and fun factor of this Capcom classic, which is still just as enjoyable today as it was back when it came out.
4The Typing Of The Dead
A Bold And Experimental Twist On The Zombie Rail-Gun Genre Which Hasn’t Been Seen Since
When creating a spin-off to a mainline series, developers are given a bit more leeway to flex their creative muscles, with a prime example of this being The Typing of the Dead. Asa sort of parodyof the on-railsHouse of the Dead, in this game, players must type out a word or sentence to kill a zombie, meaning they always need to be on their A-game to avoid being caught out by a random tongue twister.
These days, it’s rare to see a zombie game be so out-there in its gameplay, but that’s whyTyping of the Deadis such a remarkable game since there isn’t anything else like it. Preparing for a spelling bee while popping off zombie heads might sound bizarre on paper, butTyping of the Deadmanages to make it work, while also being a helpful educational tool at the same time.
Red Dead Redemptionon its own was already a game that people came to adore upon its release, but Rockstar didn’t stop there, as they would also offer players astandalone expansionknown asUndead Nightmare. While there have been several open-world zombie games released sinceUndead Nightmaredropped, the reason people look back so fondly on this game is the charm of the story and characters.
Rockstar dialed their signature quirky humor up to 11 this time around, which essentially turns the game into a dark comedy, given how much gore and bloodshed is still included here.Undead Nightmarealso features some of the most rewarding bonus content of any open-world zombie game, especially the Horses of the Apocalypse, who all look as cool as they sound.
It may be hard to believe, but the sequel to Valve’s immensely popularLeft 4 Deadwas released more than 15 years ago. The reason this feels so shocking is that the game still feels incredibly fresh and unique, and while a handful of games, such asBack 4 Blood, have tried to replicate the intense4 player co-op formulaofLeft 4 Dead 2,none have been able to pull it off better.
After choosing a campaign, players will be dropped into a nightmarish scenario where they, alongside three other teammates, must make it through to the next safe area, all while being hounded by lightning-fast zombies. Mixed in with the regular hordes are zombies known as Special Infected, whose unique powers help to add a lot of diversity to the gameplay and enemy variety. In classic Valve tradition, there has never been a third game, butLeft 4 Dead 2still stands as one of the greats when it comes to intense, spine-chilling, but also fun zombie games.
Though theResident Evilfranchise is still going strong thanks to the impressive remakes and high-quality mainline releases, it’s honestly been hard to beat the 2002 remake of the original. In terms of pure survival horror, no game has been able to pull it off quite likeResident Evilthanks to its haunting environment, eerie music,and, of course, the many scares that are provided by the zombies.
The Spencer Mansion, while extremely large and expansive, is made up of tight corridors, meaning zombies can easily get the jump on players if they don’t have a plan of action in mind when moving from A to B. The puzzles are still satisfying to complete, the tongue-in-cheek story is still fun to follow, and the Crimson Heads still stand as one of, if not the most terrifying enemies in the series. Simply put,Resident Evilis a timeless classic that uses its terrifying zombies to full effect.
