Summary
- Zombies are a popular addition to various game genres, including survival, RPG, and shooter games.
- Xbox Game Pass subscribers have access to a variety of zombie games.
- These games offer challenging gameplay, unique mechanics, and the opportunity to fight off hordes of zombies, providing hours of entertainment for players.
Though the undead are clearly decrepit and stale, the love gamers have for zombie video games is still alive and kicking. People just can’t get enough of fighting the living dead. Whether they are just an annoying hindrance to deal with on the side or an integral component to a narrative, zombies make for fun additions to games.
Xbox Game Pass: How To Subscribe And What Games Are Available
Xbox Game Pass packs a lot of value into its subscription model — here are all the details you need to know, from price to recently added games.
And luckily for Xbox Game Pass subscribers, there is a healthy handful of zombie games available in the Game Pass library. Fans of all sorts of genres can contend with these shambling nightmares. Read on if you want to see what are the best zombie games you can play on Xbox Game Pass.
Call of Duty Black Ops 6
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6
- Released
- October 25, 2024
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- Mature 17+ // Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Suggestive Themes, Strong Language, Use of Drugs
- Genre(s)
- FPS
As we continue to keep this list updated, it would be remiss of us not to include the best Call of Duty Zombies offering we’ve seen in years. Black Ops 6, in many ways, was a return to form for the series. The inclusion of a campaign and the suite of multiplayer options are all hallmarks of the best CoD traditions. But where Black Ops 6 shines in particular is its Zombies mode.
Long a fan-favorite experience, the mode has seen its ups and downs. But we’re happy to report that it’s most definitely hitting a high point in this latest entry. Unlocking new areas, taking down bosses, progressing through round after round after round after round is an undead delight. If the inevitable next installment in the Call of Duty franchise adheres to these Zombies principles, we won’t be disappointed.
Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare III
Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare III
- Released
- November 10, 2023
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ Due To Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Strong Language, Use of Drugs
- Genre(s)
- First-Person Shooter
Technically speaking, the remade Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III is a serviceable first-person military shooter with an emphasis on its campaign and multiplayer matches. On its own, it’s not a straightforward zombie game. But you know what else the CoD franchise has become known for over the years? That’s right! Its Zombies mode! And Modern Warfare III is no exception. As one of the first Call of Duty games to make it onto Game Pass (and not the last, with Black Ops 6 having arrived), Modern Warfare III leaves a bit to be desired.
But with the updates to it over the months since its launch, the zombie-shootin’ side of things has improved. So if you want more undead-slaying in your zombie games rather than the heart-wrenching choice-driven gameplay of a title like The Walking Dead, it’s not an overall bad time. Plus, who doesn’t like the sort of mindless-popcorn-munching style of zombie-killing that it can provide?
Resident Evil 3
Resident Evil 3
- Released
- April 3, 2020
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Strong Language
- Genre(s)
- Horror
Though it’s a shorter experience than Resident Evil 2, the third entry in this remake tradition Capcom has going on is still an action-packed, zombie-filled adventure. And the inclusion of “Nemesis” makes this brief experience all the more terrifying. You’re playing as the haunted yet capable Jill Valentine, who grapples with her memory of the “Mansion incident” while the fall of Raccoon City is happening around her.
As she runs past and shoots through the zombified citizens, the seemingly unstoppable Nemesis dogs her footsteps. No matter how many bullets you shoot into him, grenades you toss at his feet, or rocket launchers you aim at his face, he just keeps on coming. We mentioned the brevity of this title earlier, and perhaps that’s more of a pro than a con.
There are plenty of lengthy games you need to sink dozens of hours into; Resident Evil 3 remake offers a good time in a short time, and that plays to its strengths. (Also, it’s an added plus to play it while it’s on Game Pass.)
Resident Evil 2
Resident Evil 2
- Released
- January 25, 2019
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Strong Language, Intense Violence
- Genre(s)
- Horror
Zombies fans are eating well on Xbox Game Pass today, thanks to the addition of Resident Evil 2 to its library of available games. This remake of the original RE2 is not only a master class on how to remake a game, it’s just an overall fantastic zombie game. The zombies shamble toward you with sudden lurches, making it terrifyingly easy to miss a shot. And with limited ammo and resources at your disposal, every missed shot is like a knife in your stomach.
And to top the whole experience off, the Raccoon City Police Station is a veritable zombie-shooting playground. The corridors of the massive building are tight, and some of them are just shrouded in dim lighting. If you love zombies, if you love Resident Evil, and if you love games, Resident Evil 2’s remake should be on your to-play list.
Warhammer 40,000: Darktide
Warhammer 40,000: Darktide
- Released
- November 30, 2022
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M For Mature Due To Blood and Gore, Intense Violence
- Genre(s)
- FPS, Action, Science Fiction
We’ll 100% stand by the notion that Darktide is a zombie game. For one thing, one of the dominant enemy types are Poxwalkers, and these are undead beings that have been brought back to life through the Chaos-damned powers of Nurgle. For another thing, come on, seriously, this game is basically Horde Mode Simulator. You are consistently swarmed by shambling, lurching, gross-looking crowds. If that doesn’t scream zombie, we don’t know what will.
Think Left 4 Dead but in Warhammer 40K.
Defining what makes an undead a true zombie aside, Darktide is a fantastic game to dive into if you’re looking for a title to scratch both that zombie-loving and cooperative run itch simultaneously. Up to three other players work alongside your character to complete objectives in various runs in the hive city of Tertium. And if you don’t keep an eye on your compatriots and work together as a unit, you can bet you’ll all be swarmed and torn apart by Chaos scum.
Dead Space
Dead Space
- Released
- January 27, 2023
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- Rated M for Mature for Blood and Gore, Strong Language, and Intense Violence.
- Genre(s)
- Survival Horror
Are the Necromorphs in the Dead Space series really zombies? Well, even though the unfortunate, deceased crew of the USG Ishimura was reanimated thanks to an ancient alien infection brought on by the raising of a Marker, they’re still technically reanimated corpses that have been horribly mutated. Dead Space takes everything we love about zombie games and throws it in space. And the 2023 remake ensures the experience is shiny and new.
As a major fan of the original game, I hope I can assure you that the remake is chef's kiss.
The creeping horror of undead things lurching at you, unique mechanics for bringing them down, and blood and gore painting the walls are just a few of these things found in this amazing survival horror title. If you love zombies, you have to love space zombies.
Minecraft
Minecraft
- Released
- November 18, 2011
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- E10+ For Everyone 10+ Due To Fantasy Violence
- Genre(s)
- Sandbox, Survival
Minecraft certainly wouldn’t strike one as the typical “zombie game” at first blush, lacking the bombast and visceral horror visuals typical of the niche. However, the essential driving mechanic of survival mode is building and fortifying a base before hordes of mostly undead creatures shamble out of their hiding spots and attempt to murder players after nightfall.
Best Local Co-Op & Split-Screen Games On Xbox Game Pass
For those looking for couch co-op fun while exploring the Xbox Game Pass library, here are some of the best split-screen games available.
Even before the sun sets, players can band together to plumb the depths of deep, dark caves and abandoned mineshafts for treasure and valuable ores as they dodge or defeat skeletons and literal zombies. All things considered, Minecraft certainly can scratch the itch for fans of zombie survival scenarios.
Minecraft Legends
Minecraft Legends
- Released
- April 18, 2023
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- E10+ For Everyone 10+ Due To Fantasy Violence
- Genre(s)
- Action, Strategy
Unlike in standard Minecraft, zombies in Minecraft Legends are your allies. They’re here to help players fight the threat that is the Piglin invasion. As with Golems and Creepers, you eventually gain the ability to spawn zombies as a friendly mob. They have a decent chunk of health, so they’re one of the sturdiest spawns you can throw at a Piglin fort.
Minecraft Dungeons
Minecraft Dungeons
- Released
- May 26, 2020
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- E for Everyone: Fantasy Violence
- Genre(s)
- Dungeon Crawler
A sight we’re more used to seeing, zombies in Minecraft Dungeons are enemies you’ll have to eliminate as you make your way through the various caverns and castles of the game. They’re your average sort of enemy, with some wearing armor so they’re a bit on the tough side. As long as you and your friends are on top of things, zombies here won’t pose a major threat.
DayZ
DayZ
- Released
- December 13, 2018
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood, Strong Language, Violence
- Genre(s)
- Survival
The goal of DayZ is simple: survive. However, the means of reaching that goal can get infinitely complex. Essentially a standalone iteration of the immensely popular Arma 2 mod of the same name, DayZ is a survival sandbox that drops you into the middle of the zombie apocalypse’s aftermath — you’re motivated and compelled to brave zombie-infested ruins in search of food, medical supplies, and weapons to improve your odds of surviving and thriving. However, zombies are arguably not the most pressing adversaries you’re confronted with. DayZ’s servers are inhabited by up to sixty other players wandering its vast open-world environment, and a great many of them are more than happy to either rob, kill, or capture you to their own ends.
Plants Vs. Zombies: Battle For Neighborville
Plants Vs. Zombies: Battle for Neighborville
- Released
- October 18, 2019
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- E10+ For Everyone 10+ Due To Comic Mischief, Fantasy Violence
- Genre(s)
- Third-Person Shooter
Looking for a more lighthearted take for your zombie needs? Head on down to Neighborville. Offering the latest spin on the ever-popular Plants vs. Zombies formula, Neighborville is a third-person multiplayer shooter that pits… well, plants versus zombies. Both sides of the battle feature a whimsical bevy of beautifully-designed classes, ranging from the zombified 80s Action Hero (complete with a radical Rambo-style bow-and-arrow) to the pun-heavy Snapdragon, a literal fire-breathing plant-dragon. Plants vs. Zombie’s cartoonish aesthetic and low-violence approach render it kid-friendly, so even youngsters can get their fill of zombie carnage.
State Of Decay
State of Decay
- Released
- June 5, 2013
WHERE TO PLAY
It can be rare indeed for a zombie video game experience to focus on other gameplay mechanics rather than just shooting zombies, but State of Decay handles this aspect of the apocalypse in style. Rather than just mowing down hordes of undead, State of Decay tasks players with ensuring the survival of a small community.
Best FPS Games On Xbox Game Pass
The Xbox Game Pass library is full of celebrated first-person shooter titles, and here is a look at the best FPS games available to play.
You have to build a base, make tough resource management decisions, and maintain a positive attitude if you want your group of survivors to thrive. And what makes all these survival considerations even more entertaining is the fact that they are also accompanied by robust open-world action gameplay. A variety of weapons and vehicles are at your disposal to help ensure your community makes it to the end.