Summary
Of all the classic monsters, zombies have endured as one of the most popular. Since first coming to the screen,these mindless creatures have steadily become more popular, now being an iconic figure, especially in video games. Zombies have long since distanced themselves from their stereotypical mindless shuffling, and there is no doubt that they have the potential to be absolutely terrifying.
Both survival games and shooters in the horror genre are particularly notorious for implementing horrific zombie types that can sprint, shriek, and find inventive ways to kill their victims. They also work well as vessels for body horror with their decaying and disfigured nature. These are some of thescariest zombie designs in horror games, based on both their physical appearance and abilities.
There are few zombie shooters as iconic asLeft 4 Dead 2.With its roster of zombie types, ranged and melee weapons, and game modes, there is no shortage of action. While there is a big emphasis on smashing Infected, there are still plenty of scary moments.
TheClown Infectedis an uncommon zombie type that appears during the “Dark Carnival” campaign. While they don’t compare in size to others like the Tank, their sharp teeth and claws and freaky face paint make up for it. There’s nothing like seeing a zombieclown emerge from the darkcorner of a room.
Honking a Clown Infected’s nose ten times by melee attacking gives players the “CL0WND” achievement.
State of Decay 2is an interesting survival game; players do not justhave to manage resourcesto keep themselves alive, but build a community of other survivors while maintaining their base. To make matters more challenging, the world is ravaged by a zombie outbreak.
The “Ferals” inState of Decay 2are much trickier than they were in the first game, especially when encountered in groups. Superfast, Ferals move on all fours, dodging bullets and pouncing on the player. They are difficult to spot, hard to avoid, and have an all-around terrifying movement design.
InSiren: Blood Curse, “Shibito” are the reanimated corpses of Hanuda’s villagers who serve their alien-slash-insect God, Kaiko. What makes them scary is their uncanny human appearance, maintaining their intelligence but being unpredictable, not to mention their creepy laughter.
“Shibito Brains” are a type of Shibito that control their respective Shibito class, characterized by their insect heads. The Wheelchair Brain is one of the most disturbing designs, a mass of writing leeches, though all of them prove especially difficult to face for the squeamish and insect-phobes.
World War Zembraces the action horror genre as a zombie horde shooter. Up to four players can choose to complete objectives in the campaign, or compete in the various multiplayer modes. Either way, for all the bullet pumping, the zombie hordes can be entirely overwhelming and tense.
The “Lurker” is one zombie-type that is both fearsome and a nuisance. With charred and decaying skin and hollow eyes, they are deceptively stealthy, bar the raspy breathing. The real danger is its attack, pouncing on unsuspecting victims and pinning them down, which makes for someunexpected jumpscares.
After years of changing and scrapped development, the 2014-announcedDead Island 2was finally released in 2023. Fortunately, many felt the game was worth the wait, the title offering playersplenty of gory zombie bashingand interesting mechanics in a graphically stunning LA.
One of the most terrifying apex zombie types in the game is the “Butcher”. The razor-sharp bones protruding from their arms both deal significant damage and block attacks. They can also regenerate health if not fully killed. The Butchers' tendency to run on all fours doesn’t make them any less freaky either.
Days Goneis an open-world game set in the post-apocalyptic Pacific Northwest, following the outlaw biker, Deacon, on the search for his missing wife. While the exploration and story elements take precedence,Days Gonestill takes advantage of the zombie horror tropes to make for some hairy moments.
“Swarmers” are a type of zombie infected by the “Freaker Virus”, which turns its victims into strong, speedy, and relentlessly violent monsters. While they don’t have buckets of health, a horde of cannibal zombies sprinting towards the player is definitely a hair-raising experience.
What if there was a way to dive into the psyche to relive memories? This is a concept thatThe Evil Withinexplores, in the shape of apsychological survival horror game. The game follows detective Sebastian Castellos as he’s thrown into a mind-bending world of nightmares.
In the game,the “Haunted” are former test subjects who died while connected to STEM. Although relatively slow, some variations are super creepy. The Masked Haunted wear masks with uncanny smiles and big dark eyes that protect them from headshots. Their cult-like appearance and murderous tendencies are truly chilling.
There is no shortage ofdisturbing monsters in theResident Evilfranchise, which has evolved from the zombie-centric survival horror to embrace vampires, werewolves, and giant insects alike. That said, in terms of traditional zombies, the “Crimson Heads” from the original game still stand out.
While the “Lickers” are a close second, that initial fear of turning a corner and coming face to face with a reanimated Crimson Head which proceeds to chase the player down is a classic experience that is difficult to forget. Their design is especially effective with the trademark fixed camera.
There are lots of horrific creatures in the franchise, such as the parasitic Drain Deimos and molded Bakers, though many aren’t considered “zombies” in the traditional sense, so they have not been included.
The Last of Us Part 2is the sequel to theThe Last of Usremake, focusing on Ellie’s journey after the events ofPart 1. Like its predecessor, the game excels in storytelling, exploring very real themes. The gameplay is also polished, with some changes being implemented, namely the more prevalent inclusion of “Stalkers”.
Stalkers, along with “Clickers”, are two of the more memorable enemies in the game, though the former has the edge as they are just as aggressive but have vision on their side. What makes them even more freaky is their tendency to hide and (as their name suggests) stalk the player before attacking, and work together in groups. Their sound design is also very unnerving.
Dying Lightis one of the leading titles when it comes toopen-world parkour games, up there withAssassin’s CreedandMarvel’s Spider-Man.In a survival horror context, these mechanics make for some interesting and fast-paced gameplay, especially when paired with a backdrop of an aggressive zombie-infested city.
“Volatiles” are arguably the most notorious zombies when it comes to horror games, known for making nighttime roaming leagues more dangerous. While more armored inDying Light 2,their mechanics in the first game were significantly more terrifying, roaming the ground and rooftops alike and chasing the player on sight. With their superhuman speed and formidable strength, the Volatile’s screech is something new and experienced players should dread.
