Zombies and video games are a match made in heaven. The hordes of undead trotting towards the player can make for some thrilling scares, adrenaline-pumped action, and many optimal targets to hit. Their soulless, mindless nature also allows makes for ideal enemy AI, with regards to their relative ease of development and creepy nature.
The staggering, spooky characteristics of these brain-eaters in large numbers can set the scene for some intense gameplay. A number of developers have taken advantage of this and have created some truly gripping zombie fright-fests. These range from survival horrors and action-shooters to cinematic, open-world epics—and everything in-between.
Updated on August 9, 2022, by Stephen LaGioia: While some time has passed since the publication of this piece, zombies remain a go-to and a popular staple when it comes to enemy fodder in video games. Dynamic, story-driven games like The Last of Us Part 2 and Dying Light 2 have continued to push boundaries on this front, while indies like Minecraft and Death Road to Canada show that these themes can still be frightening and fun in a simpler form.
And with such a vast range of great zombie thrillers in gaming, we decided to bring this article back from the dead. While the list once intermixed some awesome and awful zombie romps—we've decided to remove those duds and flesh out the piece with more of the best zombie games.
12 Death Road To Canada
Take the structure and rulesets of Oregon Trail and mesh it with a pixelated zombie fright fest, and the result might be this romp from Rocketcat Games. Set in a zombie-plagued America, players take the role of a survivor attempting to flee to Canada. But first, they must evade and stave off absurd waves of pursuing 16-bit zombies.
Up to four players can take part in this amusing survival roguelike, tag-teaming various tasks and aiding each other in the process with their unique skillsets. Even with this help, however, Dead Road to Canada is a grind—in the best possible way. Players not only must avoid the ravenous undead, but also watch their mood levels, seek out supplies, and make do with often less-than-ideal weapons they find. They must also make life-changing decisions and occasionally endure wild zombie 'siege' events.
11 Plants Vs Zombies
While more vibrant and cheery than most zombie-themed games, this romp from PopCap Games is nonetheless intense and a blast to play. Plants Vs. Zombies became an early mobile sensation following its 2009 release, with intuitive touch controls and addictive tower defense gameplay that's accessible and gripping.
The game has players controlling different plant units, which they place on their grid-like lawn to stave off increasingly tough zombie hordes. PvZ is highly replayable with its rewarding gameplay and shifting elements. Conditions and scenarios vary, and the plant fighters range from basic 'Peashooters' to gluttonous 'Chompers'. The series has since spawned a number of sequels and spinoffs, but it's hard to match the charm of this original.
10 Zombies Ate My Neighbors
Zombie games don't need to be decorated with modern graphical glitz to be fun or frightening, as proven by games like Plants Vs Zombies and this hidden gem by Konami, Zombies Ate My Neighbors. This wacky action shooter isn't just a great zombie game, but possibly one of the most thrilling co-op experiences of the 16bit generation.
The game is as bonkers as its title indicates. The mission is to scramble through the various neighborhoods, dungeons, and other spooky settings. The young heroes wield meager weapons like Uzi water guns and weed-wackers in an attempt to save the oblivious neighbors. Of course, players will also be slaying many zombies and other monsters in the process. Cool themes and an even cooler soundtrack help paint the scene for a delightful undead retro thriller.
9 House Of The Dead
Iconic when it comes to both zombie and lightgun games, this rail-shooter from Sega has scarcely been matched in the genre despite being decades old. Originally an arcade favorite, House of the Dead made its way to consoles and, thanks to the help of its lightgun peripheral, proved just as fun as a couch co-op romp. Players will blast their way through closely-pursuing undead as well as tough bosses as they're guided through corridors and outdoor locales, fighting for survival as well as high scores.
Fans were reminded of the game's unique appeal following the release of a flashy, fleshed-out remake in April 2022.
8 Dead Rising
As established by Resident Evil, Capcom knows how to craft an undead classic. But rather than using eerie, desolate environments and jumpscares, Dead Rising leans on an almost comical amount of undead—which bombards the player—for the source of its thrills and chills. And while the sequels brought new features—like adding zany new items to the vast weapon arsenal—this breakthrough has scarcely been matched in appeal.
There's ample arcade-style fun and chaos to be had as players try to escape the zombie-infested mall as photojournalist Frank West. There's something uniquely rewarding about traipsing through various stores while bashing waves of zombies with everything one can get their hands on—from barbells to battleaxes.
7 Resident Evil 2 (Remake)
This esteemed remake of the iconic Resident Evil solidly blends modern flashiness with the gritty, intense gameplay and involved puzzles of the series' roots. Players will be constantly on edge as they search a dark, desolate police station and other chilling locales—often clinging to little ammo and few weapons. One will always seem to need a couple more herbs or several more bullets as they traverse the shrouded corridors, hoping a ravenous zombie won't leap from a dark corner.
The visuals are stunning in this 2019 remake, with dynamic lighting and particle effects that really set the mood and make the campaign all the scarier. This is really Resident Evil at its cinematic best, and, the twisted RE7 notwithstanding, it's also the spookiest.
6 Dead Rising 2
Not to be outdone by Resident Evil, this other Capcom zombie romp has made quite a name for itself as well, particularly with the first two games in the Dead Rising series. This sequel brings all of the same wild fun of undead crowd control and makeshift weapons while adding even more anarchy to the fold.
Rather than Frank West, this time gamers play Chuck Greene, a former motocross rider, who's thrust into the role of zombie-slayer, as he fights his way through a Nevada casino and shopping complex. Balancing out the arcade-style wackiness is some added depth—with several new fun weapons, customizations, and various multiplayer options.
5 Dying Light
There are few survival horror experiences that truly immerse players like this surprise hit from Techland, Dying Light. This game, with its sleek presentation and gritty, realistic feel, really gives the vibe of being stranded in this Middle-Eastern city of Harran.
This vast open world is rife with detail and a slew of survival, stealth, and rescue-based missions. The zombies are both abundant and often tough to take down. This makes the experience all the more creepy as players venture through the city. Combat is highly satisfying and chock-full of detailed zombie-slaying animations. And the game even contains a pretty solid multiplayer feature to boot.
4 The Last Of Us
Naughty Dog rarely disappoints when it comes to flexing their developer chops on Sony's potent hardware, and this undead masterpiece, The Last Of Us, is no exception. The game contains a gripping narrative from start to finish and a neat post-apocalyptic American setting. It dazzles with a tremendous presentation even by today's standards.
The game stresses flashiness and enthralling story elements over straight-up action, but make no mistake; there's plenty of thrilling survival horror gameplay to be had. The shooting mechanics are sharp and satisfying, and there's a wealth of content and depth. The game's form of zombies, "The Infected" are some of the most cunning, and thus most horrifying zombies in gaming—especially given how fast and powerful they are.
3 Resident Evil 4
Perhaps the most universally esteemed game in the franchise, Capcom pushed all the right buttons with this cinematic RE sequel, upping the ante in terms of production, action, and gore. Instead of staggering undead, players must tangle with ravenous villagers infected by a mind parasite.
Added to this lineup of hostile 'Los Illuminados' are monstrous 'Verdugos' and chainsaw-wielding madmen; all of whom Leon Kennedy must deal with at different points. With a perfect blend of action, puzzle-solving, and cinematic flair, this game fast became a hit and remains one to this day.
2 Left 4 Dead 2
Zombies can be eerie as is—but jack up their speed and wild behavior, and the result can be nail-bitingly scary. Developer Valve clearly recognizes this, as they fling hordes of these 'Infected' super zombies at players in Left 4 Dead—and this deeper, refined sequel.
The game stresses co-op multiplayer, which sets the stage for some super fun, chaotic showdowns as up to four players fend off their brain-eating prey in an apocalyptic setting. On the one hand, the vibe is very arcade-like, as players scurry about and fire away at fast-moving enemies together. But there's subtle depth here as well, as players will want to coordinate with each other, upgrade ammo, and gather resources like fuel cans, to help in their escape.
1 Resident Evil (Remake)
While Resident Evil 4 was arguably the series' peak, the original was the breakthrough—it changed the game and established a genre. And the PS2/GameCube remake refined this classic survival-horror formula to perfection. The creepy, isolated feel of being holed up in the zombie-riddled mansion as Chris and Jill is enhanced by glossier prerendered backgrounds and spruced-up visuals.
In addition to zombies and rabid dogs creeping about, this remake also adds the frightening "Crimson Heads." These zombies on roids had many gamers jumping out of their seats whilst sitting alone in the dark. Wrought with clever puzzles and countless thrills and chills, the 2002 Resident Evil remake reigns as the best zombie game ever.