Undead

9 best zombie games ever, ranked

The best games from beyond the grave.

by Robin Bea
Updated: 
Originally Published: 

Zombies are perfect video game fodder: scary, brainless, and plentiful. From shooters to sims, there’s a zombie game out there for everyone, even if horror isn’t your thing.

Here are the 9 best zombie games ever, ranked

9. Zombies Ate My Neighbors

This goofy 16-bit shooter pits teen heroes against a monstrous menagerie, which includes zombies of course. The original might be hard to track down, but a re-release is due out in June 2021.

8. The Last of Us

The Last of Us is technically about infected humans rather than the undead, but let’s be real: It’s still a zombie game. The focus on depicting a post-apocalyptic world full of memorable characters make it a classic.

7. Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War

COD’s campaign may be zombie-free, but it includes a fantastic reinvention of the series staple Zombies mode with a new storyline and a huge arsenal of firepower used to to take on the undead.

6. Dying Light

Dying Light emphasizes melee combat and crafted tools to take on its massive undead hordes. The Following DLC adds a gigantic map you can explore from within a brand-new dune buggy too.

5. Left 4 Dead 2

Left 4 Dead 2 was originally released in 2009, but it remains one of the best co-op shooters around despite more than a decade full of imitators.

4. Project Zomboid

Despite its low-rent looks, Project Zomboid might be the deepest zombie simulation ever made. The goal here isn’t to stop the zombies. It’s to see how long you can survive before you meet your inevitable end.

3. The Walking Dead

The Walking Dead is Telltale’s distinct narrative style at its pinnacle, offering a gripping story full of tough choices, presented through gorgeous comic-inspired graphics.

2. State of Decay 2

What separates State of Decay 2 from other zombie games is its focus on maintaining a community of survivors, all of whom are playable. Killing zombies isn’t enough when you’ll need to build a place to call home as well.

1. Resident Evil 2 Remake

Resident Evil 2 was already a high-point for the survival horror series, and its 2019 remake preserves everything great while updating it for modern audiences.