“You hear the howls of a nearby horde.”
The stench of decay blankets the air, and in the distance, you hear the crack of gunfire. Dread prickled your skin as your eyes caught the red hue of a crimson moon. The dead have come. If there’s one trope that’s popular out there, it’s the trope of the Zombie Apocalypse. What is it that we love about Zombie games? The threat of being eaten alive? The thrill of outrunning these undead fiends?
The way their heads pop like zits after a nice headshot? All three. This genre has captured my heart and the hearts of millions for ages now. And how can it not? Humanity is its own worst enemy; it’s pretty fitting we’d be the end too. These games allow us to take up our weapons, survive our new hostile environment, and eventually have a baby.
In any apocalyptic thing I’ve seen, someone is always pregnant. Thankfully, in these Zombie Games, your reproduction isn’t the issue. Hordes after hordes of zombies will find you, shambling around looking for their next meal. These Zombie games let you feed them that bullet they’ve been searching for.
Let me unlatch the gate for you so we can survive the undead in these 25 PC Zombie Games For a Zombie Apocalypse Adventure.
1.Project Zomboid by The Indie Stone (Early Access - 2013)
PC | Mac OS | Linux
We begin by wandering the streets in either the town of Muldraugh or West Point, our friends not yet in sight. The tranquility of a quiet early morning dissipates with the sound of low groaning that reaches your ears. Welcome to the apocalypse.
Your goal with this game, as with any survival game, is to see how long you go before you drop. We go out into this world, looting, breaking, crafting our way to survival in the apocalypse. The only victory you get is the comfort of morning when you survive another night.
Looting is key here, as whatever you scavenge will alter your game and give you that winning edge over the undead. And whatever you do, don’t get bit. Getting bit in this game is punishing as a single bite will kill you, so watch those shadows.
Project Zomboid is so much fun, as there are so many intricate details interwoven in this pixelated apocalypse simulator. The old watch you found can now tell in-game time. Now, you can see when you need to skedaddle. That can opener is your best friend when it comes to food. Have you planned out who you'll take with you in the apocalypse? Me too. Gather them up, and hand them some weapons. We have an apocalypse to survive.
Project Zomboid Game Trailer - "This Is How I Died."
2. 7 Days to Die by The Fun Pimps (Full Release - 2024)
PC | PlayStation 4 | PlayStation 5 | Xbox One | Xbox Series X/S | Mac OS | Linus
Here, you find yourself half-naked and alone in the forest when you wake. Not the best place to start the apocalypse, but you’ll find that’s not the worst Navezgane, Arizona, has to offer you. With a mysterious and threatening note tucked...somewhere...on your person (because that’s never addressed), you set off in the wilderness,
This game is about survival, but there’s a twist: in seven days, you’ll find a horde that rivals your in-game level trying to storm your base. With what little light that blood moon has to offer, you’re entirely at the mercy of your own preparation. See how long you can last as the hordes grow the more days you’re in.
7 Days to Die is an incredibly fun game where the better you do, the harder the game becomes. Since the game's difficulty level is scaled to your ability, that means when you die, it will get a little easier. However, the penalty of death is your experience points, and until that purple bar is gone, you cannot level up. No skill points for you. This game provides a great challenge, where the use of magazines you find around help you grow your skills, and defend your property from those zombie bears too.
These skills are important for your survival, so choose wisely.
7 Days to Die 1.0 Gameplay Trailer
3. Dying Light by Techland (Full Release - 2015)
PC | Mac OS | Linux | PlayStation 4 | Xbox One | Nintendo Switch
Get the files and get out. That's how the mission was supposed to be. As you take your first steps into Harran, you get jumped by some Great Value thugs and unfortunately bitten. Unlike Project Zomboid, being bitten isn't the end though. No, it's only the beginning.
This is a hardcore parkour survival game, and it’s not just humans who can parkour. You play as undercover agent Kyle Crane, as he infiltrates the city of Harran while it's being overrun by an outbreak of the flesh eating kind. You must retrieve missing files from a rogue operator, but getting bitten has changed your priorities a little.
The temporary cure for this infection is antizin, and it's in short supply. You take up arms against humans and the undead in this parkour survival game, where sometimes, it's not just your life on the line. Fly through the sky during the daytime, and bunker down for the night.
Dying Light "Good Night. Good Luck" Gameplay Trailer
4. Call of Duty: Black Ops |||-Zombies Chronicles ( Full Release - 2015)
PC | PlayStation 4 | Xbox One
Here in the Wittenau Sanitorium, at first all you hear is the sound of your parties’ footsteps as you walk through this German asylum. Then, you hear running.
The only goal of this game is to survive the darkened halls of the asylum as hundreds of undead come to feast. Unlock stronger weapons, catch those loot drops, and keep a sharp eye on your ammo.
The Zombie Chronicles is fun in the aspect of being the underdog. Your back against the wall as an unrelenting horde charges forth. Not only are there waves of undead, but there are also 8 remastered zombie maps to explore and survive in from previous Call of Duty games. Zombie Chronicles offers multiplayer, so you can either saddle up with your friends or go at it alone if the horde’s calling your name.
Call of Duty Black Ops ||| - Zombie Chronicles Gameplay Trailer
5. The Walking Dead by Telltale Games (Full Release - 2012)
PC | Mac OS | PlayStation 4 | Xbox One
One second, you're riding in the back of a cop car, and the next, someone undead jerk is trying to eat your face. Here, you play as convicted criminal Lee Everett, on his way to prison when the apocalypse begins. You take up a fatherly role as you accompany and protect a young girl named Clementine in this harsh new environment. The two of you struggle to make sense of this new world you find themselves in. Along the way, you'll meet those whose fates you will hold, and you can choose to be the villain or the hero in their story.
In a fun, new twist of a zombie apocalypse, you get to call the shots. The Walking Dead is a choice-driven game where you can betray your fellow survivors, get them killed, or save them all. These choices don’t give you much time to think either, so you better be quick. No time to hesitate in the apocalypse right? Each choice you choose carries over to the next season of this 5 season series, and you’ll find the ripple effect carries a lot further than you think.
The Walking Dead - A Telltale Game Series Gameplay Trailer
6. Resident Evil 2 by CAPCOM (Remastered - 2019)
PC | PlayStation 4 | Xbox One
Have you ever wanted to be a cop during a zombie outbreak? Well, you certainly have your chance now. Meet Leon S. Kennedy, the newest S.T.A.R.S rookie in this zombie infested city.
And if you want to play as a college student in the apocalypse, this game offers that too. College student Claire Redfield is searching for her brother after the outbreak begins. You follow both of their harrowing tales of escape and delve into the reason behind the sudden zombification.
As you move around the infested Police Station, you find maps to guide you along your way. These maps will show you where you may have missed loot while you were dodging and weaving those zombies. A perfect addition for fellow loot-goblins. This game will test your aim, as ammo is in short supply. And your wit will be tried as you're forced to think on your feet as a scourge of the undead comes rolling in.
“Reach for the S.T.A.R.S!”
Resident Evil 2 Gameplay Trailer
7. Resident Evil 3 by CAPCOM (Remastered - 2020)
PlayStation 4 | Windows | Xbox One | PlayStation 5 | Xbox Series X/S | Nintendo Switch
In this release of the beloved Resident Evil franchise, you find yourself playing as both Jill Valentine and Carlos Oliveira. Here, we make a return to Racoon City and see their point of view from when the outbreak began. Let’s do it again, but more sass.
Here, we follow S.T.A.R.S. agent Jill Valentine as she tries to escape a fallen Racoon City and unearth its secrets in the rubble. And we walk in the steps of Carlos in the middle of his mission, to find who caused the outbreak. You find out in both scenarios, the dead just don’t stay dead.
This game has a variety of different challenge modes that range from assisted to inferno. So you will be able to choose what level you want to build up your confidence in this apocalypse. A fast-paced game from the beginning, this game is designed to keep you on your toes and that adrenaline pumping. With its amazing graphics and beautiful composition, it’s a game to be loved by all zombie lovers.
Resident Evil 3 Gameplay Trailer
8. Resident Evil 4 by CAPCOM (Original - 2005)
Game Cube | PlayStation 2 | PC | Wii | iOS | Android
A game from the scrolls of history, we bring back a staple of Resident Evil’s franchise: Resident Evil 4. Specifically, the one released back in 2005. This game has certainly won my heart with its rudimentary but charming graphics. Resident Evil 4 is a fantastic game for what it was and for what it is now.
Here, we rejoin forces with Leon, but he's on a different mission this time. We must rescue the President’s daughter. A tall order with a lot of risks, but that’s how we find ourselves in rural Spain, chasing down clues and creatures to figure out where Ashley is. Here, we get to see Leon shine. No longer the rookie he was when we met him, now we get to see more of his quick wit and awesome takedowns.
These aren’t your common zombies, as you find yourself face to face with parasites this time around. And they are far from welcoming. Swarming parasitic hosts come to stop you in your mission, and yes, that does include boss battles too. There are multiple boss battles to really try your ammo conservation, so take those little moments of rest when you can. Especially when you find the Trader.
“What’re ya buyin’?”
Resident Evil 4 (2005) Gameplay Trailer
9. Resident Evil 4 by CAPCOM (Remastered - 2023)
Xbox 360 | PlayStation 3 | PlayStation 4 | Xbox One | Nintendo Switch | VR
No. You aren’t having Deja vu. We are back, once again, with Resident Evil 4, but this time, remastered. Leon has made his last appearance on this list with us, but he leaves with a more fleshed-out story and mechanics we didn’t know we needed.
Ashley becomes like Princess Peach as we come back to rescue her again from Los Iluminados. The graphics and story were revamped to give a more refreshing and pleasing to the eye gameplay to capture an already visceral storyline. In this remake, you can parry a chainsaw with your knife. And if that isn't the coolest thing you've seen, then you're wrong. CAPCOM decides to make a pivotal turn as they lean more into the horror aspect, delivering a thrilling experience again, but in 4k graphics.
So, if you love this reimagined way of the apocalypse, with its horror and thrill, you will love this game. Just make sure you have an extra pair of pants.
“What are you, my mother?”
Resident Evil 4 Remake Gameplay Trailer
10. Resident Evil Village by CAPCOM (2021)
PlayStation 4 | PlayStation 5 | Xbox One | Xbox Series X/S | Nintendo Switch | iOS
In this installment of the Resident Evil franchise, we are partnered with Ethan Winters, a man on a mission to rescue his kidnapped daughter. But the kidnapper is Chris Redfield? That’s right, Chris also makes an appearance, back from his mission just in time to avoid the horrors of RE 2. He comes with a different scheme, and it's up to you to figure it out.
Watching in horror as your wife is killed and child forcibly taken, Ethan finds himself wandering into a village with as many secrets as there are corpses. And a Church Bell creature lurks in the shadows, maw red with blood. But will it be yours?
You have to survive these creatures and search the shadows for your missing child. Aside from beautiful graphics, Resident Evil Village knows how to raise the stakes. Wave after wave of creatures hunt you, and the bell isn’t close to ringing. You’ll need to look in every nook and cranny for ammo, because you will need it. Great pacing and nail-biting tension, if you are an adrenaline junkie, this is for you.
Resident Evil Village Gameplay Trailer
11. DayZ by Bohemia Interactive (2018)
PlayStation 4 | Xbox One | PC
You’re dropped in the middle of nowhere, abandoned and left to die. With nothing to protect yourself with and nothing to feast on, you scour through nearby structures. It's to your horror you find you aren’t alone as zombies and other survivors surround you.
Your main goal in this game is-you guessed it-to survive. Your inventory space at first is limited until you obtain a backpack. And you certainly aren’t alone. DayZ has an open server, meaning not only are you fighting the undead, but fellow players too. You can either group up with them or start a civil war as the undead come to settle the score.
The inclusion of an open server makes it feel more like an apocalypse. It's more unpredictable, because you may not know who else has joined you. Are they friend or foe?
What about you?
12. SCUM by Gamepires (Early Access - 2018)
PC | Xbox One | Xbox Series X/S
Bloodlust now rules entertainment, and you find yourself a puppet. You must compete with the other criminals to earn your right to survive, by gaining favor from the audience you can't see. They are watching with bated breath every victory and failure you have. All eyes are on you.
SCUM is a story-driven survival game with open-world exploration. But the best part? It’s an online multiplayer game too. So you can choose to be a participant of a twisted game, or travel the land and meet up with other survivors in the same twisted game. You know what they say, misery loves company.
The problem is, this will test your survival instincts. You’ll be forced to climb the learning curve for your nutrition values, for weapon proficiency, and even for hacking security systems. Surviving won't be easy, especially with a threat on all sides. Different creatures lurk in the dark to hunt you, all hungry for your flesh.
Do you have what it takes to survive?
13. Dead Island 2 by Dambuster Studios (2024)
PlayStation 4 | PlayStation 5 | PC | Xbox One | Xbox Series X/S
Set in the city of Los Angeles, you and your fellow Slayers are forced to evacuate after a strong earthquake shakes police control of the zombie outbreak. You can be one of these 6 slayers, so find one that speaks to your Apocalypse Warrior. Each one has their own strengths and weaknesses, so you'll have to keep that in mind as you traverse through L.A..
An opening cutscene sets the stage for your entry into Dead Island 2, with a relaxing flight cut short and a terrifying face to face with the gravity of your new situation. As you give the smack down to these flesh-eaters, your weapon will deteriorate. You'll have to keep a sharp eye on your durability so you aren't caught with your pants down. Don’t go charging headfirst into the crowd unless you have a backup. Each zombie has a health meter displayed above its head to gauge whether you can weather out this fight or if you'll have to run for now.
Meet up with others, and bash those L.A. brains in as you ensure your own survival.
Dead Island 2 Gameplay Trailer
14. Left 4 Dead 2 by Valve (2009)
PC | Xbox 360 | Mac OS X
As the light of the next checkpoint reached your eyes, you heard rustling in the underbrush that sent a chill down your spine. Your fellow survivors huddled close, and the four of you pressed onward towards your safe haven. Left 4 Dead gives us three AIS to accompany us through our journey, so it won't be just you gunning down Zombies.
You and your party will have to successfully navigate to each checkpoint and complete all 5 campaigns to win. A leadership board will show at the end of the campaign to spark some rivalry between you and your friends as you compete for number 1. While there are snippets of story to enjoy, Left 4 Dead 2 is mostly gameplay with you killing Zombies. A heartwarming tale of how four misfits banded together and survived the apocalypse.
It sounds like a good ending for me.
Left 4 Dead 2 Gameplay Trailer
15. LOLLIPOP CHAINSAW RePop by DRAGAMI GAMES (Remastered - 2024)
PC | PlayStation 4 | PlayStation 5 | Xbox One | Xbox Series X/S
LOLLIPOP CHAINSAW RePop is deceptively fun with its more cartoonish artistic style and humor. We join an unlikely alliance with Juliet Starling, a cheerleader who is more than meets the eye in this apocalypse. Our dear Juliet, is part of an ancient family of Zombie Hunters. So you are more than equipped to handle this infectious virus. Paired with your mighty chainsaw and your experience in Cheerleading, you are ready to face any challenge that comes your way.
You’re a cheerleading, zombie-slaying, chainsaw wielding woman in the apocalypse. You have some serious time-management skills. Your pom-poms prove to be more than just a spirit raiser, as you have a special attack you can dish out with your pom-poms, and your chainsaw is always on standby. This game will give you a good laugh amongst all the Zombie slaying, so you're guaranteed to have a great time playing this.
LOLLIPOP CHAINSAW RePop Gameplay Trailer
16. World War Z by Saber Interactive (2021)
PC | PlayStation 4 | PlayStation 5 | Xbox One | Nintendo Switch
A third-person shooter, World War Z is a zombie-killing action game that follows different stories from different parts of the world. In each of these stories, you will have different missions, but the baseline is still the same: survive. Your objective is to kill the Zekes, escape, and survive the zombie apocalypse. Simple enough, right?
You'll have to combine stealth and whatever killing spree tactics you’ve picked up to navigate around. Be careful though, as zombie swarms are not few. And if you’re caught without enough ammo, it's game over for you and your crew. As you continue throughout the game, you will find the difficulty increases. The zombies get tougher and more aggressive, and you’ll find teamwork really does make the dream work.
Zombies will climb on top of one another like in the movie, and it is terrifying. Work quickly to bring down the base, or you and your team will be overrun. Put aside your pride, and pick up your weapon. We have some zombies to pick off.
17. State of Decay 2 by Undead Labs (2020)
PC | Xbox One | Xbox Series X/S
The aftermath of a zombie outbreak pushes you and other survivors to huddle together for survival. You take the reigns of leadership, and you have to make some hard choices for the survival of your community. Choose who you save, and allocate your resources so you don't run out. The needs of the mass are greater than the one right?
Scavenge for what you can in a fallen world to keep your group alive. Build your base to increase your chance of survival. Kill the corpses banging at your door. Build relationships with other characters, so you can hate yourself when they die. A story-driven game at its core, with you as the leader. Save who you can, but don’t risk your group.
State of Decay 2 gives you a selection of pairs to play as. You can play as the Odd Couple, with the zombies being your wingmen or wingwoman. You could even play as the Surly Siblings, where you fight with your siblings over food. It's like the apocalypse never happened!
Good times, huh? Each duo comes with a ranking of their stats, along with their character traits. This is great for planning ahead when it comes to charisma, but you’re choosing your AI partner for this journey as well. So choose carefully.
State of Decay 2 Gameplay Trailer
18. Terminus: Zombie Survivors by Longplay Studios (Early Access - 2024)
PC | Mac OS
Terminus: Zombie Survivors. One of the most unique renditions of the zombie apocalypse. It is a 2D turn-based survival roguelike. The story in this is how you design. With full customization of your character, you get to shape your journey. The game has an overhead view as you explore, bringing a familiarity of RPGs but with an apocalyptic feel. You are able to choose your character’s job like in Project Zomboid, but you have a little starter pack to have will start with some items.
You get to customize your stats, such as your ability to throw a punch, making it a lot easier to customize your gameplay. Along your journey, you'll meet and earn the trust of other survivors and learn new skills to give you that winning edge over the undead.
Terminus: Zombie Survivors Gameplay Trailer
19. Days Gone by Bend Studio (2021)
PC | PlayStation 4
You and Deacon St. John begin your story in Oregon a measly two years after the apocalypse began. You discover your wife, Sarah, may still be alive after all this time. This prompts you to go on a journey, to continue drifting like you’ve done, until you find her. A tragic and harrowing tale of how love can prevail in the face of adversity. You experience firsthand the pain of losing your loved-ones and the uncertainty of their well-being.
As if those Freakers chasing you down wasn’t bad enough, there are gang wars. Other survivors betraying one another. Your trusty motorcycle and Deke your only companions as you make your way through this strange world. If there’s one thing that’s gotten you through, it’s your ability to track people and creatures alike.
You'll need it.
20. They Are Billions by Numantian Games (2019)
PC | PlayStation 4 | Xbox One
Are you a fan of Steampunk? What about strategy games? Well, They Are Billions offers both of these as it is a Steampunk strategy game set on a post-apocalyptic planet.
Your job is to build and defend your colonies to survive against the billions of infected. The zombies hunger for more than flesh, but the extinction of humanity. Can you lead your groups to victory? Or will the hordes of Zombies be your undoing?
You need to stack your defenses high, and station your best men at their post. The Zombies give no rest until they’re dead. Again. You’ll need to keep upgrading and building more and more defenses as the zombies get stronger, and they will get stronger. Advance your technology. Manage your resources.
Do what it takes to survive.
They Are Billions Gameplay Trailer
21. The Last Stand: Aftermath by Con Artist Games (2021)
PC | PlayStation 4 | PlayStation 5 | Xbox Series X/S
You have found a safe haven, a safe haven in a compound called “The End”. Not the most uplifting name in the apocalypse, but the people inside carry the last bit of hope in Union City. A single rule dictated their lives at the compound: anyone who gets infected is to be exiled. No exceptions.
Everyone agreed to this, and you did too, until you got infected.
Now, your only rule is to survive. Left to fend for yourself outside the compound walls, you hope to make a better future for the family you left behind. You must scavenge from buildings and corpses. Your job is to collect information about the zombie virus. Time is ticking for you. When you die, another will take your gear and your place, and continue where you left off. You and other “Volunteers” go out and do what you can to keep your people going. You, in your dying state, still try to deliver hope. Explore the open-world in your final hours.
22. Zombie Army 4: Dead War by Rebellion (2021)
PC | PlayStation 4 | Xbox One | Xbox Series X/S | Nintendo Switch
Hitler is back. Turns out, that final blow back in Germany wasn’t the final blow. Hitler was instead banished to Hell, and he’s back with a new kind of army. Get rid of him once and for all. Your story begins in Milan, and you are forced straight into fighting the invading hordes. It's with horror you watch as a Zombie picks up a discarded gun, and fear grips you when it points it at you.
Zombies can now use guns. What a terrifying apocalypse. They'll kill you with man-made items, and then feast on your corpse. Zombie Army 4: Dead War is a fun game to play where you can delve into the campaign, or just do an endless zombie horde with your friends. You can select from a variety of different loadouts to find your best Zombie Slaying Set up, and get to hacking away from these devilish fiends.
Zombie Army 4: Dead War Gameplay Trailer
23. Back 4 Blood by Turtle Rock Studios (2021)
PC | PlayStation 4 | PlayStation 5 | Xbox One | Xbox Series X/S
The Ridden prowl about in search of their next meal. These terrifying creatures were once human, but they became hosts to a deadly parasite. Now, they only crave flesh and the eradication of civilization. Your goal is to save the world.
And what better way to do that than with your friends? Back 4 Blood has heavy emphasis on its multiplayer aspects, making it a great game to play with your friends. There are special cards you can get that will alter your gameplay by giving you and your teams benefits or challenges, some with potential rewards. Some of these challenges are where you can't be incapacitated more than 4 times.
There are different challenge modes you can play on, including Nightmare, where the horde is relentless. So, if you want to really experience fighting for your life, try it. It'll be fine, I promise.
24. Dead Rising 2 by CAPCOM (2010)
PC | PlayStation 3 | Xbox 360
Set in a Nevada casino, you play as Chuck Greene, gambling your money in the middle of an apocalypse. Your negligence in the zombie outbreak claims the life of your wife and is set on the path to take your daughter's as well. She became infected during the outbreak, and you'll need to find some medicine to keep her undead. You can take out your rage from lost slot machines on the zombies and psychopaths in your way as you and your daughter struggle to survive.
There are some secrets buried just underneath the surface, and you must unravel the truth before 72 hours is up. Stay diligent on giving your daughter her medicine, rescue other survivors, and figure out what's really going on before your time is up. Search for weapons and supplies to survive and thrive. Mow down anyone who stands in your way.
Dead Rising 2 Gameplay Trailer
25. DYSMANTLE by 10tons (2021)
PC | Mac OS | Linux | PlayStation 4 | PlayStation 5 | Nintendo Switch | Android
You find yourself alone on a terrible island. Well, alone is a loose term. There are other creatures here, but none are pleasant. All are looking to chew your flesh and use your bones as toothpicks. As you explore your surroundings, you find tapes littering the area. Each tape has a recording of someone who knows a little too much about what you're going through.
What is it? You’ll have to find out. Piece together the story, tape by tape. Plan your way of escape. Smash things like the Hulk, and kill the zombies who have shambled onto your campsite. Everything is breakable on this island; terraform to your heart’s content. A bonus is, everything you break gives you exp so you can get quicker levels and upgrades. There is an upgrade system to your damage, and while most things are indeed breakable, some things do require a higher level.
Break whatever else is around you in your rage at this lock, and then open said lock.
