Before I start talking about the best zombie games, can we all agree that zombies are cool? We can? Great. The horror genre is by far one of the most popular out there, and not just in games, but in all forms of media. There’s something about them that pulls people in, whether you’re into slashers, monsters, psychological thrills, supernatural spooks, or some other sub-genre. However, I challenge you to find a sub-category more popular than zombies.
For some reason, we’re all fascinated by them, and have been since, well, forever at this point. But, in terms of games, we have titles such as Resident Evil to thank for the prominent rise in zombie popularity. Not to mention few things are as satisfying as bashing these reanimated corpses in the head with a blunt object. So, with that in mind, we joined the walking dead, searching far and wide for the best zombie games on Switch and mobile.
If zombie-slaying action, or horror of any kind isn’t for you (we’re no longer friends), please make your way to the exit, where you can find lists full of unicorns, rainbows, and sunshine. Okay, maybe that’s an exaggeration, but our picks for the best Mario games, Disney games, and games like Stardew Valley are joyous and magical.
Without further ado, here’s our picks for the best zombie games on Switch and mobile.
The best zombie games are:
Survival Z – Mobile
This Apple Arcade zombie survival game is kind of like a cutesy Walking Dead. In it, you travel around a post-apocalyptic world, one closed-off level at a time. When in each of these locations, you’ll have a bunch of zombies to fight off, and doing so successfully will help you gather the resources you need to press forward and make your way through the ruins of civilization.
While some zombie games provide a really challenging experience, this is a decidedly more casual experience. It features a story mode that lasts about four hours in total, but there’s plenty of replayable in scraping the world clean and doing everything it’s possible to do.
Puzzles & Survival – Mobile
What do you get when you mix zombie games and puzzle games? The answer is Puzzles & Survival, a game that takes the central premise of the game Puzzles & Dragons, but gives it a new zombielicious spin.
For those who haven’t heard of either game, Puzzles & Survival focuses on moving tiles around in order to match up colours – with extra rewards for creating combos as you shift them around. When you do match them up, this allows your character to fight back against zombies as they make their way through the ruins of civilization.
Resident Evil – Switch
Yeah, we’re starting like that. You have this beloved yet grotesque franchise to thank for the popularity of survival horror and zombies. If it wasn’t for the horrifying, dilapidated, yet majestic mansion, you wouldn’t have the likes of The Evil Within, Outlast, Parasite, and Dead Space, the latter of which is essentially Resident Evil in space.
In Resident Evil, you’re a guest of the Spencer Mansion. Well, ‘guest’ might be stretching it, given you’re only here after a pack of zombified dogs chase you through the woods. Still, that alone should tell you what kind of ride you’re in for. There are puzzles to solve, items to find, a story to unravel, and, of course, many zombies to slay. The game has two campaigns, each one featuring Chris or Jill – two of the most famous protagonists in all of horror. I can’t recommend this one enough.
Dying Light – Switch
A virus has swept across Harran, and now you find yourself trapped there. Undead roam the streets by day, and despicable abominations are out at night. It truly is a zombie lover’s playground. The open world is a pleasure to explore, and wrought with dilapidated buildings, despicable creatures (and humans), and other perils, while featuring a story that tests your moral compass. Of course, in a world as harsh as this, we don’t blame you for any action you might take, but beware, there are consequences – some of which are so dire it makes a night outside in this rundown city seem like a trip to Disneyland.
Resident Evil 6 – Switch
Oh Leon, how we miss you. Still, we can always visit the emo badass in Resident Evil 6. Yes, I’d normally suggest Resi 4 over number six any day, but this is a list about zombies, not deranged villagers (and, should I ever venture down that rabbit hole, I promise to put RE4 at the top of the list). Perhaps the best thing about RE6 is its multiple campaigns, all of which feature many zombies – not that this means all of the stories are fantastic. But, while the game isn’t so much survival horror as it is action, you can still enjoy eradicating the undead.
Since I’ve already mentioned two games in this franchise, I promise not to list any more here (though Resident Evil Revelations 1 and 2 are fantastic). However, I will direct you to our list of the best Resident Evil games on Switch – it’s full of survival horror goodness.
Stubbs the Zombie in Rebel Without a Pulse – Switch
Come on now, no list about zombie games would be complete without giving a shoutout to good ‘ol Stubbs. I love this zombie, he’s just a misunderstood dude trying to live his best zombie life, and I’m here for it. In this zombtastic game, you don’t play as a strong-willed survivor that fights against the odds, you actually play as Stubbs the Zombie, and your primary objective is to kill humans and feast on their brains. Not only does this recover your health, but it can also turn your victim into a zombie.
If all that isn’t enough for you, how about the fact that Stubbs can drive vehicles? That’s right, it’s grand theft zombie y’all.
The Walking Dead – Mobile and Switch
Another game you must have known would pop up, Telltale’s The Walking Dead is a harrowing journey, with more than its fair share of heartbreaking moments, thanks to the ravenous zombies that roam the streets. However, given this series is all about choices, consequences, and its story, don’t expect too much zombie-slaying action. It’s more about avoiding the hordes, as you try to live another day.
The character you play as in the first game is Lee Everett, but this changes to your beloved sidekick Clementine in the sequels. For all intents and purposes, this is her story, and the choices you make across all titles in the series determines how the tale of this young girl ends.
Plants vs Zombies – Mobile and Switch
A zombie game doesn’t have to be all doom and gloom. It can be a colourful, fun, and a hilarious ride too, as proven by Plants vs Zombies. I love this series, so much so that I even have the plat on the original PS4 version, a feat I’m forever going to be proud of. The title says it all, you either play as plants or zombies, and set about to duke it out. Honestly, if you’re competitive, and enjoy online play, I can’t recommend this game enough. To the extent that I don’t care what platform you play it on – so long as you dive into the war for the neighbourhood, we’re all good here.
There you have it, the best zombie games on Switch and mobile. Now then, how about we head to the Winchester, grab a pint, and wait for all this to blow over with our lists of the best games like Dark Souls, games like Hades, and games like The Last of Us.