Zombie Games will celebrate 20 years 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, focused more on unease and claustrophobia.

• Stubbs The Zombie In Rebel Without A Pulse provided a new perspective and allowed players to control the zombie protagonist.

Although it may seem like a long time ago, 2005 was almost 20 years ago. The first years of the new century saw the popularity of zombie games, as their transition from arcades to consoles was followed by a rapid rise in fame. This period produced some unique titles that were not followed up, while others became essential parts of famous franchises that live on to this day.

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

10

Land of the Dead: The Road to Fiddler's Green

Land of the Dead: Road to Fiddler's Green was created as an interlude to the 2005 film Land of the Dead. Its goal is to capture the universe of the undead, where the main character is constantly fighting for survival. The main character, Jack, returns to his farm to find it overrun by zombies.

Using melee and ranged weapons, Jack searches for “Fiddler's Green”, an area said to be a haven in a zombie-infested world. Although the mechanics and graphics were outdated even for 2005, the game still appeals to some hardcore fans of the zombie genre.

9

Postal 2: Weekend of the Apocalypse

The highly controversial Postal game series got another addition in Postal 2: Apocalypse Weekend, featuring zombies, cow-headed abominations, and other adversaries. It added several new weapons to its base game, such as sledgehammers, scythes, grenades, and Molotov cocktails. Another added feature was the introduction of bosses that were not present in previous versions.

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

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

8

Cold fear

A slight departure from the norm of the combat-filled zombie genre at the time, Cold Fear's strongest features are unease and claustrophobia. The game takes place on a Russian whaling ship that is adrift in the Bering Sea, and the already terrifying atmosphere of the game is enhanced by rough seas, moving waves and low lighting.

The central character, Tom Hansen, a US Coast Guard officer, is sent to investigate the ship, only to discover that the entire crew has been turned into zombies due to a botched biological experiment. The strategic approach to rare ammo combined with the puzzle-solving aspect of the game created the foundation for a thriving subgenre: survival zombie games.

7

Evil Dead: Regeneration

In 2005, the cult classic movie Evil Dead was adapted into the video game Evil Dead: Regeneration. The game combines hack-and-slash gameplay with the goofy horror-comedy tone portrayed in the film. It presents itself as a canon and alternate sequel to Evil Dead 2 in which Ash Williams is never stuck in the Middle Ages.

The story takes place in various haunted locations, including forests, cemeteries and industrial complexes. Ash uses a chainsaw arm and a boomstick to dispatch hordes of Deadites while making witty remarks with his sidekick Sam.

6

Infected

Released exclusively for the PlayStation Portable, Infected features fast-paced gameplay set in a Christmas New York plagued by a viral outbreak. Officer Stevens, a New York police officer, contracts a virus; however, thanks to his unique antibodies, he becomes civilization's best hope against the zombie plague.

Using dual-wielder weapons, you progress through a fast-paced, Christmas-themed zombie carnage, with the action-packed gameplay punctuated by a soundtrack that features bands like Slipknot and Ill Niño.

The metal band Slipknot contributed their likenesses as unlockable characters that you get as you progress through the game.

5

House of the Dead 4

One of the most famous zombie horror arcade games, The House of the Dead saw a fourth installment in 2005. The game takes place between the events of the second and third installments and follows James Taylor and Kate Green as they battle a zombie outbreak.

The on-rails shooter mechanics, fast pace, and over-the-top zombie elements are further accentuated in The House of the Dead 4. At the same time, the addition of more options and endings offers re-playability for fans of this much-loved arcade game. game series.

4

Stubbs Zombie V Rebel without Pulse

Stubbs the Zombie in Rebel Without a Pulse completely upends the story of zombie video games and puts you in the role of zombie protagonist Edward 'Stubbs' Stubblefield. Determined to find their killers, Stubbs eats the brains of the living and gathers his army of zombies intent on wreaking 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 the aesthetics of the 50s, dark humor and rock and roll hits of the same era, cemented the game's position in the zombie genre, as evidenced 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, protagonist Jericho Cross frees the vampire lord Lazarus Malkoth and transforms into a half-vampire. Cross joins the Darkwatch organization to stop Malkoth.

A fast-paced first-person shooter where you'll use revolvers and shotguns while their vampiric powers allow them to regenerate health and jump huge distances. Cross battles hordes of the undead in canyons, cities and crypts, with a variety of enemies from undead gunslingers, vampires, banshees and monster bosses. Adding a choice between good and evil further emphasizes the morality of the game and affects the ending.

2

TimeSplitters: Future Perfect

The third and final entry in the series, TimeSplitters: Future Perfect, follows Cortez's adventures as he battles an evil race of aliens known as the TimeSplitters. Cortez fights aliens in different eras, from prehistoric times to the distant future. The gameplay is enriched with fast-paced action, exaggerated humor and classic movie references.

In addition to fighting waves of enemies, you have to solve puzzles and complete other tasks that vary depending on the season. Another widely recognized aspect of TimeSplitters: Future Perfect is the multiplayer modes (split-screen multiplayer, co-op and AI bots) that offer hours of fun for up to four players on console.

1

Resident Evil 4

Considered one of the best installments in the popular series, Resident Evil 4 tops the list of zombie releases that will have 20 in 2025. Introducing innovative game mechanics and a new camera system while maintaining the dark story that characterized the series. a commercial success that expanded to multiple consoles. It recently got a remake in 2023.

The story follows Leon S. Kennedy, a government agent sent to rescue Ashley Graham, the daughter of the US president, from the Los Illuminados sect in rural Spain. A parasitic epidemic adds to the occult and terrifying environment that sends hordes of zombies against Leon. At the same time, the action often reaches moments of high tension, which is not for the faint of heart.