Get ready for a zombie massacre in these zombie killing games

Simply put, survival horror just ain’t what it used to be. Today, it’s much better. You have a lot more options in terms of how you want to survive the apocalypse, spanning from the wide variety of indie games to “AAA” blockbusters. Unfortunately, the amount of games you would have to dig through to find the gems might be a little overwhelming. Well, that’s what I’m here for. These are the best of the best of the zombie apocalypse genre. Whether you're looking for a fun way to blow off steam by blowing up zombie brains or you want to test the limits of your own fears, you’re sure to find the right game on this list.

25. Contagion

Contagion Gameplay

Contagion sets you and up to eight of your friends in one of three game modes: hunted, escape, and extraction. Like every survival horror game, you want to last as long as possible. While the names of the game modes are self-explanatory, the game shines the most in its deathmatch mode. Your main challenge is to be the last living survivor. If you fail, you will become one of the horde and must come up with creative ways to stop your former teammates.

No expense spared: this grimly detailed world is as eerie as it is ominous.

Gadgets: you’re going to want to use every tool at your disposal to avoid the horde when necessary.

24. Killing Floor 2

Killing Floor 2 Gameplay

Killing Floor 2 is the sequel to the original indie cult classic. You can pick from dozens of weapons, characters and maps as you and your friends find ways to strategize and shoot your way through waves of mutants and defeat bosses. Like any post-apocalyptic shooter, there are different types of challenging mutants to test your mettle. If you’re looking for a premium apocalypse challenge with a fully customizable killing experience, then Killing Floor 2 is definitely for you.

Fire away: blowing up mutant brain matter has never been so much fun.

Blood spattering madness: with each progressing wave the game becomes increasingly difficult, so make sure that you create proper choke points with your team so you don’t end up surrounded

23. Resident Evil HD Remaster

Resident Evil HD Remaster Gameplay

Resident Evil HD Remaster offers a new and shiny coating on an old classic. The remaster fixes the wonky controls, and of course, offers better graphics. Travel through this zombie apocalypse action game and kill zombies like there’s no tomorrow as you solve puzzles and do your best to best to figure out the mystery of the Ouroboros outbreak.

Restored to perfection: now you can solve the mysteries of Raccoon City in glorious HD.

New angles, same direction: with better controls and an updated camera, you’ll be able to get up close and personal without missing a beat.

22. State of Decay 2

State of Decay 2 Gameplay

State of Decay 2 combines the best of the action-adventure genre with survival horror to make one of the most uniquely terrifying experiences yet. Featuring 150 fully customizable characters and 100 different weapons, the game places you dead center in a post-apocalyptic world with nothing but your skill and wits to survive. Do your best to build bases, scavenge for supplies and recruit characters as you and your friends shoot your way through many different types of enemies, like “ferals” and “juggernauts”.

Shiny red eyes and glimmering death: who knew the apocalypse would be so customizable?

Hyper realism: explore a gritty and dynamic environment in this gritty zombie slayer.

21. Death Road to Canada

Death Road to Canada Gameplay

If you’ve ever wished you could combine Oregon Trail with a post-apocalyptic setting, well you’re in luck, it already exists. Death Road to Canada is an indie action RPG that is both whimsical and challenging. You’re tasked with developing a variety of abilities, making decisions and surviving as best as humanly possible to find safe harbor in Canada. As you customize your character you will find that there are an almost endless array of characters and enemies that feature tropes from different genres, from aliens and the grim reaper to “anime fans” and Tommy Wiseau.

Canada: the final frontier?

Optionable cruelty: with the amount of customizable options in this game, you’ll be able to play any way you see fit.

20. Arizona Sunshine

Arizona Sunshine Gameplay

Arizona Sunshine is a post-apocalyptic virtual reality game that will fully immerse you in a world of pain, horror, and awesome. Players use motion controllers to control their firearms as they explore an environment with gorgeous desert scenery and shoot grim-looking zombies. Do your best to kill the undead and find signs of actual life through messages relayed by radio systems, or die. If that is not really your bag, you can simply play horde mode, and shoot an endless amount of zombies that probably don’t have your best interest in mind when they approach you.

Virtual killing machine: If you’ve been looking for the right virtual reality zombie slayer, now you can kill them in every direction.

Immersive mayhem: with the motion controls designed with pinpoint accuracy in mind, you’ll be able to decimate zombies in a number of ways as you try to make it to your destination.

19. The Walking Dead: A New Frontier

The Walking Dead: A New Frontier Gameplay

The Walking Dead: A New Frontier is season 3 of the episodic video game that features uniquely crafted stories based off of the events of the graphic novel. The Walking Dead: A New Frontier is unique in the sense that it is not your traditional zombie slayer-- it requires players to make ethical decisions that impact the game’s entire world that can carry over from season to season. It is . If you’re looking for a post-apocalyptic experience that offers a level of narrative depth and has decision-making, check out The Walking Dead: A New Frontier.

New stories, same consequences: pick your allies wisely, because there is no “right” or wrong” when you’re trying to survive.

Older, wiser and smarter: season 3 of the series continues to track your decisions, so make sure you’re not going to do something you regret later.

18. Dead Age

Dead Age Gameplay

Dead Age delivers an interesting spin on the horror genre: it offers turn-based combat mixed with survival horror. It is a bit tongue in cheek in the sense that it takes standard concepts from games like Final Fantasy and adds survivors and zombies who all have different types of traits and abilities. There is one main difference, however: once a survivor dies, there is no bringing him or her back. Manage your survivors, craft, and make challenging decisions wisely if you want to survive this one.

Uncanny Valley: now you can play Final Fantasy like you’re a backwoods zombie slayer.

Certainly expendable: your team will face battles it may not be ready for, so try not to get too attached.

17. Infestation: The New Z

Infestation: The New Z Gameplay

Infestation: The New Z takes the battle royale genre to the next level. It offers an enormous open world full of obstacles, zombies and player enemies, so you’re going to want to make sure you have a good group of friends. Like other sandbox games, you have to focus on the essentials of surviving as well like hunger and thirst before you craft weapons to hunt down other groups of roving players. Be warned though, items can will be looted from your corpse, so there will always be a target on your back no matter what you do.

Zombies for miles: Whether it’s zombies or a PC controlled enemy, you should always be watching your 6.

Value in scarcity: weapons and ammo can be hard to find, so make sure you use your bullets wisely.

16. Desolate

Desolate Gameplay

Desolate takes place in an open world much like Infestation: The New Z, but focuses more on a robust storytelling experience, rather than full scale multiplayer combat. You can team up with up to four players to either scavenge supplies from your surroundings or level up one of your three main abilities: crafting, fighting or survival. The game cycles between day and night so it simulates the stress of trying to gather all the appropriate materials to ensure your safety before night falls.

A healthy fear of the dark: at least you won’t have to see them coming.

Bright and dreary: this excellently rendered environment will keep you coming back for more.

15. Metal Dead

Metal Dead Gameplay

Metal Dead is a 2D take on the survival horror genre, offering dark humor while providing gameplay that is fun and addictive. It is a cartoony point and click game in the style of retro games like Leisure Suit Larry and pokes fun at every trope in the post-apocalyptic genre. The game is constantly taking the action, humor and gore to the next level while also providing a unique and interesting story. Safe to say, this game is incredibly “metal”.

Tropes galore: who says saving the world from outbreaks and disease can’t also be entertaining?

Grimly surreal: this animated game is not for the faint of heart.

14. DayZ

DayZ Gameplay

DayZ is the original open world multiplayer survival horror game. It is a known fact within this game that although the zombies are a considerable threat, the real enemies are the other players. After you create a character, you’re launched into a post-nuclear setting in an area similar to Russia’s Chernobyl called Chernarus. Scavenge, loot and kill zombies as you decide whether you must kill or cooperate with other players to survive.

“These are not the supplies you are looking for”: I think I’d rather take my chances with the zombies.

Hello, goodbye: make sure to start every encounter with a friendly greeting, or at least make sure your new acquaintances stay down.

13. Project Zomboid

Project Zomboid Gameplay

Project Zomboid takes the sandbox survival horror concept and adds some interesting tweaks that redefine the gameplay. The gameplay takes place from an aerial perspective, so there is much less emphasis on the element of surprise and more on overall strategy. While players must address their food and thirst levels, they must also address their sanity as they avoid creeping zombies. Players must create a profession, level up perks and pray that they get one that works in their favor rather than against them. The game also features different types of challenge modes that task the player with simply trying to survive as long as possible.

Hold the ketchup: when trying to dish out this much calculated zombie-slaughter at once, it’s best to use fire.

Tactical insanity: as you can see, things can get out of hand pretty quickly if you’re not careful.

12. They Are Billions

They Are Billions Gameplay

They Are Billions offers a remarkably unique take on the post-apocalyptic setting-- it is a steampunk real time strategy game. The environment is randomly generated, so you are guaranteed to have a new and fun experience each time you play. Build your base, manage resources and invade zombie-filled “Villages of Doom” that are sure to retaliate once you wage war with them.

A grand scale, blood spattering adventure: blending hardcore gore with the aesthetic beauty of steampunk architecture, They Are Billions is magnificent to look at.

Not an exaggeration: there really are billions of them in this game.

Bonus Game: Dead Matter

Dead Matter Gameplay

Dead Matter is a sandbox survival horror mod for Crysis 2 that not only has realistic crafting features, but an extensive amount of ways to play the game. Players can either play solo or with friends and choose to build small fortresses, farm or scavenge to survive in post-apocalyptic Alberta.

Please and thank you: with graphics this good, you’ll appreciate every speck of blood that hits your screen.

Aimlessly roaming: there are tons of zombies just waiting for you to blow their brains out.

Bonus Game: Overkill’s The Walking Dead

Overkill's The Walking Dead Gameplay

Overkill’s The Walking Dead is not to be confused with the Telltale Game series-- this game seeks to offer a completely new coop experience made in the style of an action packed shooter. The game features a completely new cast of characters and deeply engrossing stories that fully immerse the player in the dark and gruesome world without bogging them down with too much dialogue and decision making.

Hardcore FPS gameplay, new stories, new characters: what’s not to love?

Combat ready: the characters in this game all have something to aim for, so get ready for a wild ride.

Bonus Game: GTFO

GTFO Gameplay

GTFO is a hardcore post-apocalyptic first person shooter made by the creators of The Payday series and seeks to immerse players in tactically explosive action against tons of bizarre monsters. It offers a tense environment with up to four players and seeks to keep players on their toes. Survival not guaranteed.

Hardcore and unforgiving: an adrenaline fueled adventure that promises to deliver on the challenge.

Ghost Recon meets zombies: in this day and age, if you want to survive, you’re going to have to bring your A game.

Bonus Game: Strange Brigade

Strange Brigade Gameplay

Strange Brigade is a third person shooter set in the 1930’s against ancient, tribalistic zombies, mummies and monsters in a tropical setting. Explore ancient tombs and battle forsaken creatures in this four player adventure. Coming August 28, 2018.

Televised mayhem: blending the aesthetic of the 1930s and ancient mummified civilization, there's a lot of in between in this game for you to explore.

A new take on an old story: this game breaths a fresh of life into the genre with unique characters, enemies and environments.

11. Dead Rising 2

Dead Rising 2 Gameplay

Dead Rising 2 is the sequel to the original award-winning Dead Rising game and sets players in a casino/mall in Nevada. Play as Chuck Greene, a seemingly randomly chosen motocross rider, and discover the source of the zombie outbreak to save your daughter. This game is filled with over the top humor and nonstop grindhouse action. Choose from a hilariously selected array of gruesome weapons like a laser sword, tenderizer, snowball cannon, water gun or tenderizer and come up with new ways to kill zombies in ways you never thought possible.

Thank you, come again: If you hate shopping malls, you will love Dead Rising 2.

No holds barred: you’re going to meet a slew of very, very unlikable enemies, so get your chainsaw ready.

10. How to Survive 2

How to Survive 2 Gameplay

How to Survive 2 is a survival horror game from a top down perspective that tasks you (and one friend, if you wish) with one objective-- making it to the other side. However, it’s not as easy as you might think. You’re going to have to loot, craft and kill your way there. Pick one of three characters with unique abilities-- Kenji, Abbie or Jack. Meet a slew of peculiar characters on your quest who will provide you with help on your way there.

Waiting on a hero: you’re going to want the help of your teammates to make it through this one.

9. 7 Days to Die

7 Days to Die Gameplay

7 Days to Die is a sandbox game set in Nevada in the aftermath of a third world war. The goal is to simply survive, if you are up to the challenge. Gather supplies, find food and shelter and fend off zombies as the game gets progressively more difficult after each day.

The end is not a new beginning: sometimes, staying alive is all you can ask for.

Bring your brown pants: these zombies are as gruesome as they are ugly.

8. Zombie Army Trilogy

Zombie Army Trilogy Gameplay

Zombie Army Trilogy sets players in a World War II setting in the best possible way-- against Adolf Hitler’s zombies. The Nazi’s, knowing they were about to lose the war, have decided to unleash zombies against the world as a last resort to ensure mutual destruction. This game utilizes tactical stealth to take out zombies who greatly outnumber you through using weapons like snipers, traps and explosives.

Blitzkrieg: unlike actual soldiers, these zombies aren’t even capable of surrendering.

World War Z: you’re going to have to think and act like a military strategist if you want to make it to the end of this one.

7. Dead Island

Dead Island Gameplay

Dead Island pits players against hordes of zombies in the tropical island of Banoi. The game requires players to rely on the use of weapons due to the fact that weapons and ammo can be scarce on this island. Play from one of four main characters with a friend to find a cure for the island and save survivors.

The party’s just begun: if you want to make it through the end of Dead Island, you’re going to have to cut through legions of undead hordes.

Maximum carnage: if there’s one thing that’s definitely proven to kill zombies, it’s fire.

6. Dying Light

Dying Light Gameplay

Dying Light is another first person survival horror game, but offers something new to the genre: parkour. Play as Kyle Crane, a member of an elite team of agents who is sent to infiltrate the city of Harran. Enemies get progressively harder as more undead begin to turn, and NPC characters can be quite hostile in this game.

Wall climbing, run and gun mayhem: when all you have left is your feet and you’re surrounded by enemies and flesh eating spawn, you might as well use them.

Rule #1: don’t get caught.

5. Resident Evil 4 / Biohazard 4

Resident Evil 4 Gameplay

Resident Evil 4 is an award-winning third person survival horror game by Capcom. Play as Leon, an elite agent, who is tasked with the daunting mission of rescuing the president’s daughter. Discover the reason behind gruesome mysteries as you plow through hordes of unfriendly zombies, villagers and bosses to uncover the secret of the deadly contagion that is destroying the world.

Still a classic: Resident Evil 4 has aged well even by today’s standards, and it gets more progressively fun as the game goes on.

Post-apocalyptic nightmare fuel: when in doubt, aim for the red barrels.

4. Resident Evil 5 / Biohazard 5

Resident Evil 5 Gameplay

Resident Evil 5 is the long awaited sequel to Resident Evil 4, but it has a much different approach. While it has similar mechanics to Resident Evil 4, ammo and weapons are a-plenty and the game plays more like an action shooter. Play as Chris Redfield, a member of the Bioterrorism Security Assessment Alliance and kill hordes of zombies, freaks and mutants as you hunt down those responsible for unleashing new strands of the zombie contagion upon the world.

No bullets, no problem: co-op gameplay means a friend can cover you if you have to run to get ammo.

Combo-tastic: make sure to keep your combo multiplier as high as possible for maximum carnage.

3. Call of Duty WW2: Zombies

Call of Duty: WW2 Zombies Gameplay

Call of Duty: WW2 features a game mode called Nazi Zombies that takes place in a parallel reality to the events of the main story. In this game, you must battle zombies created by the third reich who, in a last ditch attempt, are trying to turn the tides of a war they are about to lose. You must survive waves upon waves of zombies as they get increasingly larger in number, smarter, are more difficult to kill and unlock new areas in the map for as long as you can last.

Slow, menacing death: many of these zombies may not be fast, but there is a lot of them, and they are everywhere.

Very angry, and very unphased: some of these zombies have definitely seen better days.

2. Left 4 Dead 2

Left 4 Dead 2 Gameplay

Left 4 Dead 2 takes every single trope of the post-apocalyptic genre and fills it inside one hilarious non-stop action filled nightmare. The goal is simple: four players must make it to the other side of the map where they can be evacuated (and win the round). The game really shines when it comes to its multiplayer, allowing teams of players to take turns playing as survivors or different types of special zombies, like hunters, tanks, spitters, jockeys and witches.

Outmatched and outnumbered: when there’s nowhere left to run or hide, you better hope that a friend is there to have your back.

Ambush: stay close to your team, because there could be a zombie creeping at every corner waiting to catch you off guard.

1. Unturned

Unturned Gameplay

Unturned is an open world sandbox game in the style of minecraft but with the dark twist of the survival horror genre. The game is free to play and has an endless amount of possibilities as to how it can be played thanks to its open sourced modding platform. Players are spawned with different gear according to their skills. The game features plenty to do, like an arena mode, quests, a storyline, and a horde mode.

DayZ meets Minecraft: who would have thought a game like this could be so intense AND colorful?

Naked and afraid: this world is not as cuddly and innocent as it initially appears.

You may may also be interested in:

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• 13 Best Zombie Apocalypse Games To Play on PC Right Now
• 11 Best Zombie Survival Games to Play in 2016