Zombie games are not only something that can be enjoyed during the spooky fall months, but also a genre that has remained popular over the years. There is something addictive about the undead that has interested various players over the years, as many have wondered how they would outlive a zombie apocalypse.
While many zombie games have players attempting to survive against hordes of zombies in an action-based setting, some games have taken a more strategic approach. Be this the player defeating zombies or being the one to release zombies, these games are by far some of the best for players that are looking for a zombie strategy game.
12 Best 2D Zombie Games, Ranked
From Project Zomboid to Plants vs. Zombies, there are plenty of zombie games to check out of the 2D variety.
7 Cepheus Protocol
Metascore: TBD
Cepheus Protocol
- Platform(s)
- PC
- Released
- May 15, 2020
- Developer
- Halcyon Winds
- Genre(s)
- Real-Time Strategy
Real-time strategy is quite the popular genre for zombie apocalypse games and Cepheus Protocol is no different as it tasks players with surviving against the undead masses that have now started to mutate into something worse. Players will need to not only keep their military units alive but also make sure that they avoid getting them infected, as this can lead to even more dangers for the player's army.
Besides killing zombies, players will also be forced to manage the evacuation of civilians that may see them have to deny the exit of many that could possibly be infected.
6 Undead Horde 2: Necropolis
Metascore: TBD
Many zombie-themed games have players defeating zombie hordes. However, a few, like Undead Horde 2: Necropolis, instead have the player controlling the undead hordes in an attempt to take over humanity. In this title, players will find themselves in the role of being an all-powerful Necromancer that has the ability to not only raise the dead but also lead them into battle.
With every victory brought by the player's undead army, they will see their army become more powerful and their city will be upgraded too. With so many different minions to be raised from the dead, players will be looking for the best units available to make the perfect army.
5 Rebuild 3: Gangs Of Deadsville
Metascore: 75
One of the most popular zombie strategy games that players ar likely to enjoy is those that are also colony simulator titles. In games like Rebuild 3: Gangs of Deadsville, players are tasked with building a settlement that will keep those that aren't infected protected against the undead.
With a 4X style strategy at play, players are likely to find surviving against the zombies to be quite a challenge. Thankfully, with a mix of dark humor and narrative storytelling, many players are likely to not find themselves getting too stressed out by it.
4 They Are Billions
Metascore: 77
Some developers tend to mix other themes alongside zombies. One such great example of this is They Are Billions, which combines the undead hordes with a Steampunk society. Players are tasked with building various colonies and the defenses needed to protect them against the hordes of the undead.
5 Best Zombie Roguelike Games, Ranked
Zombies and Roguelikes are a perfect blend of genres that just makes sense.
With over 40 missions to complete, players will be tasked with creating colonies for the few humans that remain alive in the very center of where the undead lurk. Players won't be entirely defenseless as, with the help of the imperial army, many of the zombies will fall.
3 Zombie Night Terror
Metascore: 81
Zombie Night Terror is another zombie strategy game where, instead of having players defeat zombies, they have control of them. Like Lemmings, these brain-dead zombies have no free will and will blindly walk forward until they fall to their death.
Therefore, it's up to the player to help guide their rotten army across these deadly levels in the hope of infecting others with the zombie virus. As players progress through the levels, the puzzles will get harder, while also facing deadlier enemies that will easily shoot down the foes ahead of them.
2 The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners
Metascore: 81
While The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners is predominantly a survival zombie game, players may find themselves strategizing when deciding which factions to support in the game and which missions have a higher importance. Part of the fun in this virtual reality-only title is the player being the one to make all the choices.
7 Best Retro Zombie Games, Ranked
The undead have been part of gaming for decades, and there are plenty of great retro zombie games.
Each of these choices may have a different effect on the story going forward or change the world they are exploring in some way. Players may have limited weaponry and therefore need to decide if going loud with a pistol is a good idea, or instead defend against the undead with an axe instead. So, while this may not be a traditional strategy game, it does require the player to do no small amount of thinking about how to proceed in any given situation.
1 Plants Vs. Zombies
Metascore: 87
Out of all the available zombie strategy games, the game that is by far the best of the bunch and also a classic of the genre and theme has to be Plants vs. Zombies. In the original of this title, players were challenged with protecting their garden and home from the hordes of zombies through using a wide range of tactical plants and flowers.
While the game did progress into other themes, such as Plants vs. Zombies Garden Warfare, a player can find a true strategy experience with the original Plants vs. Zombies. In fact, if players are looking for a good place to start with zombie strategy games, they need not look any further than Plants vs. Zombies.
