Best Xbox Zombie Games: Our Picks For Xbox One, Series X & Series S

State of Decay 2 (Xbox One)

Taking the underlying mechanics of its predecessor and running with them, State of Decay 2 is a huge and involving open world survival experience that's just as much about avoiding zombies, about what you do when you're not fighting the undead, as it is blowing holes in hordes of them.

This is a game that's come on leaps and bounds since it originally released and, in its Juggernaut Edition, is now a fantastic example of the genre that sucks you in, stresses you out and keeps you hooked for the long term. Taking control of your expanding community of survivors you need to ensure supply demands are met, that fuel, food and medicine is provided as you struggle to survive, one day at a time, in a world overrun by Zs. If you've yet to experience what State of Decay 2 has got to offer, there's never been a better time to jump in!

• Xbox Game Pass? Yes

Stubbs the Zombie in Rebel Without a Pulse (Xbox Series X|S)

This 2021 remake of the original Xbox adventure gives Stubbs and the town of Punchbowl a careful lick of paint and finally makes this humorous, off-kilter adventure available for modern audiences to experience.

It may not be the greatest zombie game of all time but we can't help view this one with affection, even if most of that affection is based on nothing more than pure rose-tinted memories. The level design here and the town hub do hold up surprisingly well though, and Stubbs' unlockable skills are still fun to muck around with. In all honesty it's just nice to have this once incredibly hard to find game now available at the push of a button. Perhaps one that's more for fans of the original game, Stubbs the Zombie in Rebel Without a Pulse is still an adventure worth taking in our opinion.

• Xbox Game Pass? No

The Evil Within 2 (Xbox One)

Tango Gameworks' survival horror sequel sees battle-hardened cop Sebastian Castellanos thrown into an all new adventure that takes place in a much more open sandbox than the claustrophobic bizarro world of its excellent predecessor, giving players the opportunity to stealth around environments or take the fight directly to their enemies with a wide range of brutal weapons and takedowns at their disposal.

Although this one might not strictly be a zombie game, we reckon its hordes of shambling inhabitants - as well as strong links to the Resi series - more than warrant its inclusion here. It may not have quite as strong a story as its predecessor but The Evil Within 2 nails its gameplay, with super satisfying survival horror action and a clever setting that's jam-packed full of secrets and interesting side-missions to discover for players who are willing to invest some time and explore their surroundings. It also switches things up delightfully in its second half, keeping players on their toes and guessing as to what on earth is going to happen come it ridiculous dénouement.

• Xbox Game Pass? Yes

The Walking Dead: The Complete First Season (Xbox One)

Telltale's The Walking Dead is a genuine phenomenon that gave the graphic adventure genre a much needed boost in popularity. Based off the best-selling comic books it infuses its narrative with so much gut-wrenching emotion, so many important decisions to be made and amazing characters to meet that it sucks you into its world entirely.

The gameplay here may be mostly QTEs and dialogue choices but don't be fooled, we were waiting with baited breath for each and every new episode to drop, such is the quality of the writing and characterisations on display. Every choice made affects the story, friends live and die by your decisions and Telltale never shy away from shocking you, it's nail-biting stuff.

Telltale have proven themselves to be masters of this genre and The Walking Dead may well be their finest hour. Try it out on Game Pass, and we guarantee you'll be aboard for the duration of a ride that just gets better and better as it goes along.

• Xbox Game Pass? Yes

World War Z (Xbox One)

Very much in the Left 4 Dead mould of co-operative zombie shooters, Saber Interactive's World War Z is a slick and addictive experience for teams of up to four players.

It may lack a little bit of the finesse of Valve's zombie-slaying series, replacing the clever AI director of the Left 4 Dead franchise with absolutely tons more zombies onscreen, but get a bunch of friends together and jump in here and you're guaranteed to have a great time regardless. This is properly nail-biting stuff, with a satisfying focus on teamwork and communication and, with the great big World War Z Aftermath expansion having just recently been released, there's never been a better time to grab this one off Game Pass and see what it's all about.

• Xbox Game Pass? Yes

Zombie Army 4: Dead War (Xbox One)

We're big fans of Rebellion's Zombie Army Trilogy but Zombie Army 4: Dead War eclipses all of those earlier efforts and stands tall as the developer's greatest achievement to date.

Just as much fun solo as it is in co-op with your pals, this is a blood-soaked rampage across the globe that sees you slaughter hordes of Nazi zombies (the very best kind of zombie) with the series' signature slow motion X-ray cam zooming in to ensure you get a good view of every skull-cracking, testicle-pooping shot. Levels here may well be linear but they're also stuffed full of ridiculously OTT violence and the care taken to ensure each and every location here is different from the last is plain to see.

There's tons of content in the meaty campaign, a ferocious horde mode to tuck into and the whole bloody massacre is now available to play via Game Pass. What are you waiting for?

• Xbox Game Pass? Yes