Zombie Games Turning 20 In 2025

Summary

• 2005 saw the release of iconic zombie games like Postal 2: Apocalypse Weekend and Land of the Dead: Road to Fiddler’s Green.
• Cold Fear offered a unique zombie gaming experience, focusing more on unease and claustrophobia.
• Stubbs The Zombie In Rebel Without A Pulse provided a fresh perspective, letting players control a zombie protagonist.

Although it might feel like it was recently, 2005 was almost 20 years ago. The first years of the new century saw the popularity of zombie games, as their switch from arcades to consoles was followed by a spearheaded rise in fame. This period brought some unique titles that didn’t see sequels, while others became essential parts of famous franchises that still live on today.

20 years later, the undead remain popular, as numerous movies and video games have been made about them. This list explores the best zombie video game releases from two decades ago, and it is sure to induce nostalgia in some readers and remind them of titles they may have forgotten.

10

Land Of The Dead: Road To Fiddler’s Green

Land of the Dead: Road to Fiddler’s Green was created as an interlude to the 2005 movie Land of the Dead. It aims to capture the undead universe, where the protagonist constantly battles for survival. The main character, Jack, returns to his farm only to find it overrun by zombies.

Using melee and ranged weapons, Jack searches for the ‘Fiddler’s Green,’ an area rumored to be the haven in the zombie-infested world. Although the mechanics and graphics were outdated even for 2005, the game is still enjoyed by some hardcore fans of the zombie genre.

9

Postal 2: Apocalypse Weekend

The highly controversial game series Postal received another addition in Postal 2: Apocalypse Weekend, which featured zombies, cow-headed abominations, and other adversaries. It added several new weapons to its base game, such as sledgehammers, scythe, grenades, and Molotov cocktails. Another added feature was the introduction of bosses, which weren’t present in previous releases.

Although the linear approach differs from the previous sandbox mode, this expansion’s dark humor and satire that marked Postal 2 are even more substantial. Despite a strong dose of repetitiveness and controversial humor, Postal 2: Apocalypse Weekend found its way into the undead genre.

Postal 2 is still banned in New Zealand, Australia, Malaysia, France and Germany.

8

Cold Fear

Taking a slight turn from the norm of the combat-packed zombie genre at the time, Cold Fear’s strongest characteristics are unease and claustrophobia. Set on a Russian whaling ship, which is adrift in the Bering Sea, the game’s already scary atmosphere is enhanced by the stormy sea, movement of waves, and dim lighting.

Central character Tom Hansen, a U.S. Coast Guard officer, is sent to investigate the ship but discovers that the whole crew has turned into zombies because of the botched biological experiment. The strategic approach to scarce ammunition, combined with the puzzle-solving aspect of the game, has set the foundation for a flourishing subgenre: survival zombie games.

7

Evil Dead: Regeneration

The cult classic Evil Dead movie received a video game adaptation, Evil Dead: Regeneration, in 2005. This game combines the hack-and-slash gameplay with the goofy horror-comedy tone portrayed in the film. It is envisioned as a canon and an alternate sequel to Evil Dead 2, in which Ash Williams never gets trapped in medieval times.

The story unfolds across various creepy locations, including forests, cemeteries, and industrial complexes. Ash uses a chainsaw hand and boomstick to dispatch the hordes of Deadites, all while making humorous remarks with his sidekick Sam.

6

Infected

Released exclusively for PlayStation Portable, Infected features fast-paced gameplay set in a Christmas-themed New York City plagued by a viral outbreak. Officer Stevens, a New York cop, becomes infected by the virus; however, due to his unique antibodies, he becomes civilization’s best hope against the zombie plague.

Using dual-wielded weapons, you progress through the fast-paced, Christmas-themed zombie carnage, all while the action-packed gameplay is embellished by a soundtrack that features bands such as Slipknot and Ill Niño.

The metal band Slipknot contributed their likenesses as unlockable characters, which you can access by progressing through the game.

5

The House Of The Dead 4

One of the most recognizable zombie horror arcade games, The House of the Dead, received its fourth installment in 2005. Set between the events of the second and third parts, the game follows James Taylor and Kate Green as they battle a zombie outbreak.

On-rail shooter mechanics, fast-paced, and over-the-top zombie elements are even more highlighted in The House of the Dead 4. At the same time, adding multiple choices and endings offers replayability for the fans of this highly popular arcade game series.

4

Stubbs The Zombie In Rebel Without A Pulse

Stubbs the Zombie in Rebel Without a Pulse completely flips the narrative of zombie video games, placing you in he role of zombie protagonist Edward ‘Stubbs’ Stubblefield. Determined to find his killers, Stubbs eats the brains of the living and amasses his zombie army, intending to wreak havoc on the retro-futuristic city of Punchbowl.

Stubbs’ appearance was partly based on Steve Buscemi, Tom Waits and Don Knotts.

The unique gameplay, which offers innovative combat mechanics even today, combined with 1950s aesthetics, dark humor, and rock and roll hits from the same era, cemented the game’s position in the zombie genre, attested by its remake in 2021.

3

Darkwatch

Darkwatch combines seemingly two strikingly different genres: the Wild West and zombies. After a train robbery goes wrong, the protagonist, Jericho Cross, unleashes the vampire lord Lazarus Malkoth and is turned into a half-vampire. Cross joins the Darkwatch organization to stop Malkoth.

A fast-paced first-person shooter, the game has you use revolvers and shotguns, while their vampiric abilities allow them to regenerate health and jump over vast distances. Cross battles the hordes of undead in canyons, towns, and crypts, with various enemies spanning from undead gunslingers, vampires, banshees, and monster bosses. Adding a choice between good and evil further emphasizes morality in-game, influencing the ending.

2

TimeSplitters: Future Perfect

The third and final entry in the series, TimeSplitters: Future Perfect, follows Cortez’s adventures as he fights the evil race of aliens known as TimeSplitters. Cortez battles aliens across different periods, from prehistoric to distant future. The gameplay is enriched by fast-paced action, over-the-top humor, and classic movie references.

In addition to fighting waves of enemies, you must solve puzzles and complete additional objectives that vary depending on the period. Another widely acclaimed aspect of TimeSplitters: Future Perfect is its multiplayer modes (split-screen multiplayer, co-op mode, and AI bots) that offer hours of fun for up to four players on the console.

1

Resident Evil 4

Regarded as one of the best installments in the popular series, Resident Evil 4 tops the list of zombie releases that will turn 20 in 2025. The introduction of innovative gameplay mechanics and a new camera system while maintaining the dark narrative that characterized the series made it a commercial success that spanned multiple consoles. It recently received its remake in 2023.

The story follows Leon S. Kennedy, a government agent sent to rescue Ashley Graham, the daughter of the U.S. president, from the sect Los Illuminados in rural Spain. The parasitic outbreak supplements the occult and eerie environment, which sends the zombie hordes against Leon. At the same time, the action often reaches moments of high tension, which is not for the faint-hearted.