Summary
Zombiesare the type of subject for which video games were made, and some of the very best titles in the genre were made in Japan. Bloodthirsty hordes of the shuffling undead are a staple of video gaming. While the firstzombie game, 1986’sZombie Zombie, was produced outside of Japan, in the decades since, many stunning Japanese titles have popped up from native studios like Capcom.
Tentpole franchises likeResident EvilandThe House Of The Deadhave become synonymous with zombie games, but there are also some lesser-known titles, including a game from theYakuzaseries and titles from smaller developers like FromSoftware. To help gamers navigate the plethora of games out there, here is a ranked list of the best zombie games made in Japan.
TheYakuzagames are a heady concoction of brawler, life sim, gangster drama, and mini-game odyssey that has amassed a devoted fanbase during the many years the franchise has been running. It has also launched its share of spin-offs, including this non-canonical title from 2012, set in the aftermath of a zombie outbreak in the fictional district of Kamurocho. It follows each of the four main characters who must survive the calamity and fight their way to safety.
A radical departure from the series,Yakuza: Dead Soulsplaces its focus firmly on combat and focuses on guns as the main means of dispatching baddies, rather than the usual fists or bicycles. It makes for a game that doesn’t necessarily offer as much depth as other entries but still has plenty of entertaining moments, including some truly epic boss battles. It also keeps the series trademark charm firmly intact.
Kuon
WHERE TO PLAY
An EXPERIENCE LIKE NO OTHER - THIS TIMELESS, JAPANESE HORROR STORY CREEPS INTO YOUR SOULThe tune of Japanese Taiko Drums and the Dark Hymns of children are heard throughout the night. Residents wander like ghosts, and hungry demons creep in the darkness. The Heian Period of Ancient Japan where mysticism and magic will require you to reach deep within your soul to uncover the mysteries of the undead.• A dark 3D adventure that comes to life in stunning detail with atmospheric lighting, shadows, and special effects!• Battle Demons in Real-Time combat using magic, summons, and traditional Heian weaponry!• Uncut & Uncensored - See the Directors Original Vision of Horror!• You are prey to some of the most visually stunning and imaginative monsters ever seen!• Dual-language support - Experience the game in English or with the original Japanese voices• Experience the twisted story through the eyes of multiple playable characters!
Japan’s feudal past is brought to life in this atmospheric game, which also pays homage to seminal J-horror films likeOnibaba.Kuonwas an obscure gem from legendary developerFromSoftware, who would eventually go on to create theSoulslikegames andElden Ring.It makes use of ancient folklore to tell the story of protagonists Utsuki and Sakuya, who explore a haunted mansion teeming with not only zombies but also terrifying spirits and spooky dolls. As the story progresses, the town women unearth a nightmarish world of rituals, curses and dark sorcery.
It was also one of the manyPlayStation 2 games that only got a limited release outside of Japan, and physical copies have since become highly-valued collector’s items. Anyone who gets the chance to play it should do so immediately, as it stands out as one of the most distinctive and memorable survival horror games of its generation, though definitely not one that should be played with the lights off.
6The Typing Of The Dead
Type Or Die
The House Of The Deadfranchise has provided plenty of zombie thrills and chills over the years, but alongside the main series, there have been a few unusual tie-ins, including this, which combines the spectacle of hardcore action horror with typing skills. The set-up is simple enough; the player has a set time limit to type out a word to kill onscreen enemies. As the game progresses, the words and sentences become more demanding.
It may sound like a novelty, butThe Typing Of The Deadis actually a fiendishly addictive game which is every bit as satisfying to play as its more shooty cousin. It also incorporates a crafty sense of humor, as the playable characters are now seen carrying keyboards instead of guns. With plenty of replay value, provided the player has the keyboard peripheral, this is one of the most entertaining takes on the zombie action genre.
The Last Guywas released as a download-only game forPlayStation 3in 2008, but it feels like something so offbeat it could have come straight from the Steam store. The game is based around its eponymous hero, who is on a rescue mission to save as many people as possible following a zombie outbreak at several locations around the world. The action is seen from overhead, and while its tone was light-hearted, it utilized Satellite images from Google Earth for its environments.
Any survivors must follow their savior in a straight line, but the job becomes more and more difficult when the maze-like environment of city streets becomes overrun with pursuing zombies. Civilians must be guided to safety at all costs before the timer runs out, and the end result feels like a cheerful mash-up ofPac-Manand28 Days Later.
Lollipop Chainsawwas, and still is, a rare beast; a collaboration between a niche developer (Grasshopper Manufacture, best known for theNo More Heroesgames) and an acclaimed Hollywood filmmaker, specificallyGuardians of the Galaxydirector James Gunn. The game puts the player in the shoes of Juliet Starling, a cheerleader at San Romero High School who must step in to save the day after a portal to Hell opens and zombies flood the streets.
As expected from any work bearing James Gunn’s name, the game has a razor-sharp wit, quirky charm and a deeply mischievous sense of humor, perfectly complementing Grasshopper Manufacture’s day-glo visuals and over-the-top gameplay. The game, which refuses to take itself seriously, is at the more slapstick end of the spectrum but still offers a unique experience.
Hugely ambitious for its time,Dead Risingwas a flagship title for Xbox 360, which mixed survival horror with roguelite elements, all while paying tribute to one of the greatest and most influential horror movies ever made.Dawn Of The Deadprovided a ton of inspiration for this game, in which zombies infest a shopping mall and the player must make use of everyday shopping items, from pool cues to lawnmowers, in order to eradicate foes.
The game made good on its set-up, with 141 weapons of various size and offensive capability, along with a streak of jet black humor and a steep difficulty curve, meaning that the player had to stay on their toes at all times if they wanted to avoid being overwhelmed by zombies. The game spawned a number of sequels and even got an updated remaster with some quality-of-life improvements in last year’sDead Rising Deluxe Remaster.
This arcade rail shooter dropped in arcades in the late 1990s, but it still feels like a fresh, exciting experience even in the present day, taking the template laid down byThe House of the Deadand adding more zombies, more settings and more mayhem. Players take on the roles of AMS agents James Taylor and Gary Stewart as they investigate an outbreak in Venice, Italy, brought about by their arch-nemesis Goldman.
Fast-paced and unrelenting, the game also introduced branching pathways, ensuring plenty of replayability. The game was brought over to Sega’s Dreamcast console and remains one of thevery best horror light-gun shooters. While Sega has produced other games in the series since then, this game, in particular, remains a high point for the franchise, right down to the dodgy voice acting.
The originalResident Evil 2, released forPlayStation, was hailed as a survival horror masterpiece. Many years later, developer Capcom announced it would be getting a remake, though there was some trepidation among fans as to how good the finished product would be. Their fears were allayed when the remake was released and the gamers discovered a stunning, state-of-the-art game that perfectly updated its source material.
This reverent remake takes everything that made the original so compelling—puzzles, action, and exploration—and adds state-of-the-art graphics and sound. It does justice to the 1998 original while bringing it completely up to date. Leon S. Kennedy and Claire Redfield are both playable characters, and all the set pieces and boss fights that gamers remember are kept intact. Zombie games don’t get much better than this.
