Summary
While the zombie genre has been a part of the gaming industry since its earliest days, it really rose to prominence in the late 1990s, with Capcom’sResident Evilbeing a truly groundbreaking title for the genre. The 2000s were flooded with great zombie games, fromDead RisingtoLeft 4 DeadtoCall of Duty: Zombies, and since then, the genre has only continued to gain momentum, withDying Light: The Beastbeing the latest major zombie game announcement.
Announced during Gamescom Opening Night Live,Dying Light: The Beastputs players back in the boots of Kyle Crane 13 years after the events of the first game. But whileDying Light: The Beastwas one of the biggest highlights of Gamescom, it wasn’t the only zombie game to take the spotlight. Torn Banner’s zombie FPSNo More Room in Hell 2also made an appearance at Gamescom, and together withDying Light: The Beast, it proves that the zombie genre is only growing stronger.
The Zombie Gaming Genre Isn’t Going Anywhere
There Are a Horde of Zombie Games on The Horizon
While there are always a handful of zombie games for fans to look forward to, that’s especially true right now, with 11 major zombie-themed titles set for release soon. From smaller-scale Indie projects that promise some revolutionary features, toAAA sequelsthat are promising a return to form, to even a handful of remakes and remasters, zombie fans have plenty to keep their eye on in the coming months, including:
Of course, there are many other zombie games set for release soon that aren’t on the list above, but these 11 are some of the most anticipated. In the case of games likeSTALKER 2andState of Decay 3, fans have waited years to finally get their hands on them, while titles likeDying Light: The Beasthave just been announcedbut have already found themselves at the top of zombie fans' wish lists.
The Zombie Genre Continues to be One of Gaming’s Most Diverse
As mentioned,the zombie genrehas been a staple of the gaming landscape for decades now, and one of the key reasons behind its continued success is the genre’s diversity and variety. Though they all revolve around zombies, no two games listed above offer the same experience. Each of the 11 listed has something that sets it apart from the crowd, such as art style, narrative, tone, and gameplay features.
For instance,Call of Duty: Black Ops 6’s Zombies modeis offering a return to the series' round-based co-op roots, whileSTALKER 2is offering a slower-paced descent into classic survival horror. Both titles are first-person zombie shooters, but both have very different approaches to the genre. Just as long as the zombie genre continues to be this diverse, it should have plenty of life left in it.
