5 Best Zombie Roguelike Games, Ranked

Highlights

• Roguelike games have risen in popularity, especially those set in the zombie apocalypse, due to the enticing gameplay loop that keeps players invested for hours, days, weeks, and even years.
• Rogue Survivor is an underrated gem that can be downloaded for free, offering an immersive experience where players can choose to be survivors or the undead in a constantly evolving world.
• Deadly Days is a fast-paced and charming zombie roguelike game with a colorful art style that keeps players entertained, although maintaining hunger can be a minor inconvenience.

Roguelike games have become all the rage with the rise of the indie scene. Titles like Spelunky introduced people to the wonders of this genre, letting players enjoy brief moments of success before killing them off once again and making them learn from their deaths. This gameplay loop has been combined with many other settings and genres to great effect, and it’s easy to see why a roguelike game set in the zombie apocalypse would be such a blast to play.

Most people would be surprised at the breadth of games encompassing both genres, but perhaps that’s for the best. After all, many mediocre roguelike games don’t really capture the essence of what makes this genre so riveting, and fans are glad to see that only the most reputed and beloved games in this genre utilize a zombie setting to full effect, keeping players invested in multiple runs for hours, days, weeks, months, and even years in some cases.

5 Rogue Survivor

Steam Rating: None

It’s genuinely incredible that one of the greatest zombie roguelike titles fans can get their hands on isn’t available on Steam. Instead, players will have to download this title from the parent website for a grand total of…nothing. This is precisely what makes Rogue Survivor such a gem of a title, being highly underrated because of its lack of presence on most modern gaming clients and platforms.

Still, PC gamers are more than delighted by the fact that they have this special title all to themselves. Players can either play as a survivor or the undead in an evolving world where death awaits them at every corner. While the learning curve for this game is immense, players who get wholly immersed in this one-of-a-kind experience will find it hard to tear themselves away from the screen after a point.

4 Deadly Days

Steam Rating: 88%

Not all zombie games need to be dark, gory, and depressing, as seen in the colorful art style and boundless charm of Deadly Days. The fast-paced nature of the title’s gameplay means that players won’t get bored in the slightest as they amass a wealth of survivors and shoot down waves of zombies while directing their squad across numerous stages.

Maintaining hunger can prove to be a massive pain, especially if players don’t get the opportunity to resupply their stock given how missions work in this game. Still, it’s a small complaint in what is otherwise a great game that will keep players entertained and then some.

3 Death Road To Canada

Steam Rating: 93%

The Oregon Trail is one of the most legendary edutainment games ever made, and players who want to enjoy the gameplay loop of this title with a heaping helping of roguelike mechanics and zombies will find Death Road to Canada is right up their alley. This title takes no prisoners, and players will be slowly beaten down after multiple failed runs where their band of misfits is devoured by zombies over and over again.

It takes a while to learn the game mechanics of this title, but players who decide to give this game a shot will be more than pleased by what’s on offer here. Death Road to Canada‘s RNG can be a source of great amusement or annoyance, but one thing this game excels at is making players come back for more punishment before finally succeeding in a run.

2 Cataclysm: Dark Days Ahead

Steam Rating: 93%

A legendary roguelike game that pushes the boundaries of what this genre can achieve, Cataclysm: Dark Days Ahead is a game loaded with so much content that most players will still be figuring out new quirks no matter how many hours they spend in this game. The sense of achievement players enjoy in this game in the later stages is something that most other roguelike titles can only dream of achieving.

Early on, a single zombie mob will prove to be the end for the player unless they either run for their life or unleash everything in their limited arsenal, and even that often won’t be enough. However, as players become more adept at the game, building a vehicle that liquefies zombies in no time flat will become such a common practice that most players won’t even think twice before raiding a zombie-infested settlement for supplies.

1 Project Zomboid

Steam Rating: 94%

Given how oversaturated the video game market is when it comes to zombies, it’s easy to see why some people may write off Project Zomboid for its uninspired setting. However, despite its status as an Early Access game, this title features more content than most other full releases out there that deal with zombies.

Even after losing a chunk of progress because of theft, Project Zomboid‘s development is still moving along as strong as ever. The sheer depth of the gameplay coupled with the many unique ways players can tackle each run in the game is a testament to just how broad and well-thought-out the gameplay of this title really is.

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