State of Decay 2 does the trick when it comes to looking for a zombie apocalypse sim.
The base building, combat, and resource management help it stand out from the pack.
Unfortunately, the fun will eventually end and you’ll be on the hunt for more!
We’ve got you covered with 10 games that build upon the elements that made SoD2 so much fun!
10. Metal Gear Survive
METAL GEAR SURVIVE Gameplay
Imagine taking Metal Gear V Phantom Pain (in all of its third person goodness) and dropping a wormhole full of zombies into it and you have the basic skeleton of this odd Metal Gear offering.
Metal Gear Survive controls like MGV but is truthfully more of a survival base management game.
A portal has pulled some of Snake’s legendary Diamond Dog crew into a zombie infested toxic dust, and as the ‘Captain’ you have to survive and figure out the mystery of why you’re there.
You’ll craft, harvest, manage thirst, manage hunger, build your base, look for rare items, and much more all under the banner of the Diamond Dogs (minus Snake of course).
With lots of recipes to craft and structures to build, you’ll level up your survival skills and manage survivors all while defending your base from zombies named ‘wanderers’.
We're gonna need more arrows!!
HEADSHOT!!! I think?!
9. How To Survive
HOW TO SURVIVE GAMEPLAY
Have you ever played Diablo and wondered, “Man, I’d love it if State of Decay played more like this”?
Whelp, toss zombies, Diablo’s hack n’ slash gameplay, and sprinkle in a bit arcade-y crafting and you’ve got HOW TO SURVIVE!
While the storyline probably won’t wow you, the hilarious tutorial guides that explain the features of the game are actually something to see.
You’ll be twin stick (if you’ve got a gamepad that is) slashing and shooting your way to XP greatness in no time flat!
Time to nut up or shut up!
Now where did I put my cell phone?!
8. Dead Frontier 2
DEAD FRONTIER 2 GAMEPLAY
Currently in Early Access, Dead Frontier 2 is a much more graphically intense third person experience that will have you scavenging, running, trading, and experience grinding to acquire skills and survive.
Even the zombies you encounter vary in speed, aggression and size as you advance levels.
Thankfully, there is no play to win structure as real money will only change cosmetics and the like.
One of the big things people noticed about SoD2 is that it plays like it should be an MMO. Dead Frontier 2 is just that.
While you can’t play with more than about 8 people per server, this Free to Play MMO is a true dark and gritty way to experience a zombie apocalypse.
Still, this game's lack of polish shows a bit due to it being in early access so if you want to help craft this game with the developer, get into it and get active!
Batter up! Let’s dance big boy!
Too close, too close, TOO CLOSE!!!
7. 7 Days To Die
7 DAYS TO DIE GAMEPLAY
Much like other popular survival sandbox games on the market, 7 Days To Die provides a massive amount of locales, skills, and things to build and craft.
With over 50 kinds of zombies, over 500 items, more than 1200 building block types, you can build the ultimate zombie apocalypse fortress with or without friends.
Farm your lands as you defend them from zombies and other players alike! Fans of games structured like Ark Survival Evolved and Conan Exiles will recognize the size and scope of this sandbox FPS shooter.
While still in Early Access, each massive build alters the features and content more and more as the developer keeps building on the success it began almost 5 years ago!
Those unsatisfied with the base building restraints in SoD2 will love the almost unlimited base building capabilities featured here.
Dude! I said make a chimney first!
Killer abs bro!
6. Mist Survival
MIST SURVIVAL GAMEPLAY
As another early access FPS sandbox survival game, Mist Survival looks to concentrate on the single player experience.
Powered by the beauty of the Unreal Engine, the motive is to gather materials for weapons, for auto repair, and for base building and defense.
In the midst of surviving, the ‘mist’ rolls in providing the threat of the infected! Thankfully, zombies aren’t the only threat. Mist Survival also sends wildlife and bandits after you.
With the existence of the bandits comes the possibility of saving survivor NPCs that can help you defend your base though.
It’s clear that the dev hopes to weave a story around the origin and purpose of the mist. While the mist does bring the guarantee of zombies to your doorstep, it is clear that the dev wants it to bring more!
Hop into this evolving frightfest to help carve out a unique experience!
And they’re off! The zombie marathon begins!
Somebody have an Ace bandage or some Robitussin?
5. Green Hell
GREEN HELL GAMEPLAY
Those who know of Dying Light will appreciate the polish in Green Hell.
As former employees of Techland, the devs have crafted an early access ‘psychological survival game’.
Green Hell seeks to place you in the open world of the Amazon filled with its lush and beautiful flora, creatures, and resources for you to build and survive with.
Of course, with the title ‘Green Hell’, you can imagine that the Amazon will throw a ton of dangers at you.
Setting itself apart as a game that considers your character’s mind state as well as their physical state, you are meant to inspect your body for wounds, diseases, sickness, parasites, and more as you manage and cure them along with the typical survival game building, crafting, and combat.
Also woven it there is the intent to utilize a story that fleshes out why your character is there through contact with a ‘loved one’ on the other end of a walkie talkie.
Some have likened it to Firewatch with a touch of The Forest. Certainly, your State of Decay 2 desires of surviving will be tested in this realistic game.
Yup. I’m pretty sure that’s infected now.
Journal Entry: DON’T GET BIT BY WILDLIFE!
4. The Long Dark
THE LONG DARK GAMEPLAY
One of the taglines for this Hinterland Studios gem is “Survive the Quiet Apocalypse”! Here your basically battle Mother Nature by surviving the northern reaches of Canada.
You’ll be forced to manage thirst, fatigue, calories, body temperature, and wounds as you search for resources to survive and craft with.
First released in early access back in 2014, this FPS open world wilderness survival game officially released in 2017.
While the immense difficulty of the Survival mode complete with bears, wolves, and frigid fatalities of the Great White North exists, Hinterland Studios also has an episodic Story mode that brilliantly meshes the survival mode tasks with difficult quests and quality voice acting.
The Long Dark’s unique art style and trademark focus on the types of clothing you wear to survive the cold will give you a much needed break from the bloody gore and moaning of zombie survival.
Where the Dark lasts longer than you do!
??How can you just leave me standing...alone in a world that’s so cold??
3. Resident Evil 5
RESIDENT EVIL 5 GAMEPLAY
Considered one of the best in the series, Resident Evil 5 shines as a coop zombie fragfest.
Built as third person shooter with the ability to upgrade handguns, shotguns, sniper rifles, machine guns and more, you’ll never be alone as your companion, Sheva, will come along for the ride even in single player.
Since the control scheme was intentionally made to not allow you to move when you aim to shoot, the game mechanics rachet up the tension as the action lumbers and lunges your way.
Sheva does well to help but Capcom did a decent job making Resident Evil 5 have an element of survival to tag along with its trademark zombie action.
Following the misdeeds of the Umbrella Corporation at least once is a must for zombie genre fans and RE5 is a great choice to try.
You’ll be glad Sheva’s along for the bloody ride.
CAN THIS THING GO ANY FASTER??!!
2. Miscreated
MISCREATED GAMEPLAY
Built within the beauty of the Cryengine, Miscreated is a standout open world zombie apocalypse FPS survival game.
With massive 8km x 8km maps, aggressive rival players, zombies, wild animals, and other dangers to navigate, you’ll have to stay on your toes at all times.
With over 200 different craftable items, freeform base building, 10 different vehicle types, and 70 different weapon types, you’ll spend tons of hours with your friends gathering, building, defending, and raiding all that you see.
Survival game fans will recognize the need to find and join a clan in order to excel here as death holds a high price.
Let’s get it on, Fugly!
Dream Homes for termites! Next on HGTV!
1. Unturned
UNTURNED GAMEPLAY
For a large and beefy Roblox styled DayZ, Unturned sure does have a lot for you to do! While its blocky art style makes it seem like a kid’s version of a zombie survival game, its difficulty rivals many of the others on this list.
With basebuilding, crafting, XP leveling, driving vehicles, and fighting Minecraft-y looking Creeper zombies as this game’s core, there are just as many ways to die as there are things to do!
Unturned looks to pull the survival aspects of XP leveling and regular combat alongside the tried and true Roblox features like a healthy mod community and tons of depth.
Let the bodies hit the floor!
“You gotta license for that hammer, boy?!”
