The 10 Best Zombie Apocalypse Games of All Time

Zombies are already part of our popular culture, like vampires or ghosts. There are thousands of series, and some people even eagerly await a zombie apocalypse to test their survival skills and see if all their time thinking about the subject would actually save them from a life-or-death situation (spoiler: it won't).

Zombies originated in Haitian folklore, linked to voodoo rituals, where the dead were brought back to life to serve as slaves. This idea made its way to the big screen with White Zombie (1932), considered the first film of the genre, starring Bela Lugosi. At this stage, the focus was more on spiritual control than on the dead eating people.

The modern concept of the "cannibal zombie" only emerged in 1968, with George A. Romero's Night of the Living Dead, which transformed the theme into a social critique and apocalyptic horror. From then on, zombies became pop culture icons, inspiring films, series, and games to this day.

So, if you like the undead, let's talk about 10 games that are landmarks in the genre, that changed everything, created new mechanics, or innovated the genre, and deserve to be highlighted. If you have any questions, leave a comment.

Released in 1989 for the NES, Sweet Home was created by Capcom and is considered the true grandfather of survival horror. Inspired by a Japanese film of the same name, the game pits a group of explorers trapped in a mansion full of monsters, traps, and secrets. Each character has unique abilities, and deaths are permanent—a rarity and even seen with criticism in some more modern games. However, it adds a very interesting element to the gameplay.

With its dark atmosphere, puzzles, exploration, and scarcity of resources, Sweet Home already had everything that would later become a hallmark of games like Resident Evil. Even with its simple 8-bit graphics, it managed to create a dark and frightening atmosphere, proving that fear could fit inside a cartridge.

Released in 1993 for the SNES and Sega Genesis, Zombies Ate My Neighbors was developed by LucasArts and published by Konami. The game is a fun mix of horror and comedy, in which two teenagers armed with water guns and household items face hordes of zombies, mummies, and other classic B-movie creatures.

With colorful visuals, cooperative gameplay, and dozens of levels filled with pop culture references, it became one of the greatest cult titles of the 16-bit era. Despite its lighthearted tone, it offered plenty of challenge and moments of pure rush as you try to save your neighbors before they become your problem. Its unique humor and style made it one of the most memorable games in the genre, with loyal fans to this day.

Released in 1996 by Capcom for the first PlayStation, Resident Evil forever changed the way horror games were made. The story follows members of the S.T.A.R.S. team trapped in a mansion infested with zombies and creatures created through biological experiments. With fixed cameras, limited ammunition, and a lot of suspense, the game created the modern concept of survival horror.

Its blend of puzzles, tense atmosphere, and cinematic storytelling was unprecedented at the time. Despite its clunky voice acting and cumbersome controls, Resident Evil became a landmark and launched one of the most important gaming franchises, still released today, always striving to renew the series' horror (sometimes successful, sometimes not), whether in games, TV series, or film.

Released in 1996 by Sega for the arcades, The House of the Dead brought a flood of undead at a frenetic pace that made history. Playing as special agents, players faced hordes of zombies and monsters in corridors filled with blood and destruction, using light guns to shoot at the screen.

Simple and straightforward, the game stood out for its intense action, grotesque bosses, and multiple paths that made you want to play again and again. It was a huge hit in arcades and later released for consoles, helping to popularize the zombie shooter genre. Its over-the-top, B-movie feel made it a cult classic of the '90s, despite the unfair difficulty designed to squeeze as many tokens out of the player as possible.

Released in 2009 by PopCap Games, Plants vs. Zombies became a phenomenon by transforming the zombie apocalypse into an addictive strategic comedy. Playing as a madman with a pan on his head, the player defends his backyard from waves of the undead using plants with special powers ranging from pea-shooters to wall-like nuts and exploding potatoes.

The simple style, lighthearted humor, and striking soundtrack made it a hit on both PCs and mobile devices, reaching an audience that wasn't used to playing games. Behind the fun exterior lies a tactical and well-balanced gameplay that won millions of fans and became one of the most popular brands in casual gaming history.

Developed by Valve and released in 2008, Left 4 Dead brought a new lease of life to zombie games with its total focus on cooperative play. Instead of facing the apocalypse alone, four survivors had to work together to traverse destroyed cities teeming with ravenous hordes.

The standout feature was the "AI Director" system, which changed events with each playthrough, making each campaign unpredictable. The action was intense, the pace frenetic, and the sense of urgency was constant. Left 4 Dead became a benchmark for cooperation and suspense, influencing virtually every zombie game that followed.

Released in 2013 by Naughty Dog for the PlayStation 3, The Last of Us redefined what it meant to tell an apocalyptic story. Instead of generic monsters, the game depicted a world ravaged by a real fungus, with dangerous infected and an even crueler humanity. Several moving stories follow the tragedy of people transforming into monsters with fungus-filled heads.

Joel and Ellie's journey is marked by intense moments, painful choices, and impressive performances. With survival gameplay and emotional focus, it balances action and drama almost perfectly. It was so successful that it spawned a remaster, a sequel, and even a TV series, cementing its reputation as one of the greatest games of all time.

Dying Light 2 Stay Human, released in 2022 by Techland, brought the zombie genre to an open world full of freedom and movement. The game blends brutal combat with parkour, allowing you to scale buildings and traverse entire cities as the sun sets—and night brings much more dangerous creatures.

The story revolves around the struggle for power between human factions as the virus continues to transform what remains of civilization. With modern graphics, choices that change the course of the plot, and an addictive movement system, Dying Light 2 has established itself as one of the genre's greatest recent hits.

Released in 2021 by Capcom, Resident Evil Village is a direct sequel to the events of Resident Evil 7, maintaining the first-person view but expanding the scope and action. The game pits protagonist Ethan Winters against the backdrop of an isolated village teeming with bizarre creatures—from deformed zombies to vampires and werewolves.

Blending horror, mystery, and moments of pure despair, it struck a rare balance between scares and spectacle. The detailed setting and cinematic pacing made audiences feel as if they were in an interactive horror film. It was a critical and commercial success, reinforcing Capcom's dominance in the genre.

In 2020, Naughty Dog returned with The Last of Us Part II, a game more ambitious and intense than the first. Now starring Ellie, the story delves deeper into themes of revenge, trauma, and loss in an even more brutal world overrun by the infected. The gameplay is now more fluid, with dynamic combat and well-constructed stealth moments.

As Ellie, you now seek revenge against those who killed Joel. It's no longer about survival, but about delivering justice. The stunning visuals and gritty narrative divided opinions, but the game won dozens of awards and was considered a technical milestone of the generation. Grim, violent, and realistic, it showed that the zombie apocalypse can also be deeply human.

Released in 1984 for the ZX Spectrum, Zombie Zombie was one of the first games to feature a 3D world with the undead. Created by Sandy White, the game impressed by letting the player freely explore a deserted city, viewed from an isometric perspective, something rare for the time.

The mission was to eliminate zombies using traps and even a helicopter, as there were no conventional weapons. Although simple, the game drew attention for its freedom of movement and its eerie, solitary atmosphere. Without scares or gore, Zombie Zombie embraced a more atmospheric and creative style of horror, which ended up influencing future generations.