18 Best Cooperative Zombie Games

Zombie games are always a popular genre for players to pick up and enjoy. There’s a ton of great games out there and even more slated to release shortly. However, if you’re after something to play right now with a friend then we have a few games we could recommend. With that said, there are certainly a whole lot more video games to pick from and again there’s even more inbound so if you need something to tie you over then check out some of these games listed below.

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#18 Plants vs. Zombies Garden Warfare 2: Deluxe Edition

Release Date: 16 May 2022 | Platform: PC, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One
Camera: Third Person
Multiplayer: Yes
Co-op: (Local: No | Online: 4)
Genre: Hero Shooter, Zombies, Funny, Action, Casual

Steam | Playstation | Xbox

It’s one of the greatest rivalries in video game history! Plants on one side, zombies on the other! For years they have clashed, but with Plants vs. Zombies Garden Warfare 2: Deluxe Edition, the ultimate battle shall take place!

When Suburbia is conquered, and plants are removed from the area, it’s up to you to build your plant army and strike back! There are 14 classes of plants for you to use against the zombies, and you’ll need every one of them to beat back the hordes and their defenses!

Plus, you can try multiple modes of battle, including an “Herbal Assault” mode featuring 24 players at once!

#17 Project Zomboid

Release Date: 8 Nov 2013 | Platform: PC
Camera: Third Person
Multiplayer: Yes
Co-op: (Local: 4 | Online: 4)
Genre: Survival, Zombies, Open World, 2D, Sandbox

Steam

Project Zomboid has been around for quite a few years now. Since 2013 Project Zomboid has been available to pick up an early access title. Likewise, the gameplay is pretty straightforward. In the game, players take the role of a survivor during the zombie apocalypse. It’s here that you are simply looking to survive for as long as possible. Players can do this solo or connect together online and work together. Essentially, you’ll explore an open world, seek out resources, explore buildings, loot items, craft gear, fight off the undead, and farm. It’s a game to see just how long you can last before the undead inevitably overcomes you. 

#16 Evil Dead: The Game

Release Date: 12 May 2022 | Platform: PC, PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One
Camera:Third Person
Multiplayer: YES
Co-op: (Local: No | Online: 4)
Genre: Action, Horror, Psychological Horror

Steam | Playstation | Xbox

Are you ready to get groovy? Evil Dead: The Game is a love letter to the fans who have helped the series endure for so long. Plus, a new movie in the franchise is coming soon, so why not get in on it now?

In the title, you’ll pick from one of several characters from the series’ history and team up with three friends or players online to complete a series of tasks. But be warned! You’re not alone on this map. A fifth player controls a dark power that’ll get stronger as it moves around the map!

Fight off the minions it sends, and complete your tasks to get the Necromonicon and make it out alive!

#15 Unturned

Release Date: 7 Jul 2017 | Platform: PC, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One
Camera: First Person
Multiplayer: Yes
Co-op: (Local: ?? | Online: ??)
Genre: Free to Play, Survival, Zombies, Sandbox, FPS

Steam | Playstation | Xbox

There are many zombie survival games out there. But how many of them can say they’re low-poly? Unturned is a game you can play on your own or with friends; the goal is the same: survival.

You’ll be in a world where everyone except you has been turned into a zombie. With groups of zombies everywhere, you’ll want to avoid them entirely or fight them off. The choice is yours.

Explore the world and see what it has to offer. But be wary of each new area because they could have more zombies ready to strike!

Do you think you can last? Or will you be turned?

#14 7 Days To Die

Release Date: 14 Dec 2013 | Platform: PC, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One
Camera: First Person
Multiplayer: Yes
Co-op: (Local: 8 | Online: 8)
Genre: Survival, Zombies, Open World, Post Apocalyptic, Exploration

Steam | Playstation | Xbox

7 Days To Die is a game that’s been around since 2013 but has remained in early access. It’s a survival sandbox game where players are survivors in a zombie apocalypse. Throughout the game, players are scavenging for items and building up a base that can protect them from a slew of zombie creatures that will make their way into the area. As the name suggests, this game is based around a week where in the first six days the player won’t have much of a problem going around the open in search of new supplies, gear, and upgrades to make for their base. Meanwhile, on the seventh day, a horde of zombies will flood into the area which means that your base will be put to the test. If you manage to survive the night, players can once again go out and scavenge for more items, make upgrades to their base and once again attempt to make it through the next powerful horde of zombies. This does support cross-platform multiplayer so players can work together whether they are on the same platform or not.

#13 Dead Island

Release Date: 31 May 2016 | Platform: PC, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One
Camera: First Person
Multiplayer: No
Co-op: (Local: No | Online: 4)
Genre: Zombies, Open World, Gore, Horror, Crafting

Steam | Playstation | Xbox

Dead Island was developed by development studio Techland which had players taking a role of a random character trapped on a resort island when the zombie apocalypse hits. In this game, players are trying to find a means to escape the island which is a bit easier for you as it’s discovered that your protagonist is immune. Regardless, the different infected zombies are still very dangerous and as a result, players will need to use different weapons or objects nearby to melee the different hostile enemies at bay. It was a pretty thrilling game and it featured cooperative gameplay support.

Players can even join a game online and go through the different campaign missions together. Fans really took up with the IP and the game ended on a bit of a cliffhanger. Unfortunately, Dead Island 2 has quite the rocky development process with the IP being swapped around to different studios. It’s been several years now and so far there’s been no real signs of life for Dead Island 2, but fans are holding out hope that a new game will release, continue on a fun storyline, and provide some more great co-op fun.

#12 Resident Evil 5

Release Date: 15 Sep 2009 | Platform: PC, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Switch
Camera: Third Person
Multiplayer: No
Co-op: (Local: No | Online: No )
Genre: Action, Zombies, Third Person Shooter, Horror, Adventure

Steam | Playstation | Xbox | Nintendo

Originally, Resident Evil 5 wasn’t the most highly respected title from the iconic survival horror franchise. This title threw players into the role of Chris Redfield as he partnered up with a local BSAA agent in Africa, Sheva Alomar. The duo is tasked with tracking down the latest virus outbreak that has popped up resulting in a nearby town becoming infected and incredibly hostile. Much like every Resident Evil game, the title is centered around a conspiracy full of twists and turns along the way. As mentioned, at the time this was a bit of a black sheep for the Resident Evil community as it was more action-oriented rather than being a survival horror experience that the IP was mainly known for. However, now players have changed a bit of their opinion and have found the game to be just a solid action-horror co-op experience. There’s plenty of firefights, melee combat, boss battles, and puzzles to solve along the way.

#11 Zombie Army 4: Dead War

Release Date: 2020 | Platform: PC, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Switch
Camera: Third Person
Multiplayer: No
Co-op: (Local: No | Online: 4)
Genre: Action, Zombies, Shooter, Violent, World War II

Steam | Playstation | Xbox | Nintendo

2020 we finally got a new installment to the Zombie Army franchise. After the 2015 Zombie Army Trilogy launched, this game puts players right back into 1946. This title is set after the event of the past game trilogy where Adolf Hitler was defeated by the resistance and sent to the depths of hell. However, it looks like the Nazi undead has invaded with overwhelming numbers. Now the Allies were forced out of Germany as they began another war. The Dead War has just begun, and you’ll have to save the world from this undead army and a cultist group looking to claim the world. This is a thrilling game to play with friends and can be a fun co-op shooter, especially if you’re after something new.

#10 Left 4 Dead 2

https://www.nintendo.com/store/products/zombie-army-4-dead-war-switch/

Release Date: 17 Nov 2009 | Platform: PC
Camera: First Person
Multiplayer: No
Co-op: (Local: No | Online: 4)
Genre: Zombies, FPS, Shooter, Action, Horror

Steam

Left 4 Dead 2 was a massive hit when it launched. The game had players taking the role of a survivor attempting to escape from a dangerous infested area. This is an action-packed experience where players will get an assortment of guns to random objects they can use as a melee weapon. With up to four players being able to join into a group and go through the different levels and objectives, it’s surprising that as much positive reception this franchise got that we didn’t see a third mainline installment already. However, if you’re on PC then you’ll find that there is a ton of mod support here with new levels, designs, and gear being put into the market for players to enjoy. One update brought so much content that Valve pushed the update out officially on the PC platform years after the last previous final update to the game. Fans are still hanging onto Left 4 Dead 2 but it might not be the case for too much longer as there are more eyes on a spiritual successor IP coming out within 2021 called Back 4 Blood.

#9 State of Decay 2

Release Date: 13 Mar 2020 | Platform: PC, Xbox Series X|S. Xbox One
Camera: Third Person
Multiplayer: No
Co-op: (Local: 0 | Online: 4)
Genre: Survival, Open World, Zombies, Base Building, Post Apocalyptic

Steam | Xbox

State of Decay 2 is a Microsoft exclusive that has players working together during a zombie apocalypse. This title has players building up a community, scavenging items, gathering survivors, and fighting off infected that roam into the area. Everything is a bit of a management simulation as you’re having to make upgrades to your community, seek out more people in need of help, and ensure you have enough resources to make the next journey out into the open. Players can swap around different community members with all their different attributes which may make them useful in certain areas but a burden in others. For instance, you might find a person that is great when it comes to shooting and endurance while another character is skilled in grounds keeping. Players can join into a game together online for a co-op session as well but the host will be the player that’s rewarded with the different resources and supplies. Currently, this is the latest installment to the State of Decay franchise, but we do know that the development studio is working on State of Decay 3. We just don’t have the details right now about what we can expect with the upcoming installment.

#8 Killing Floor 2

Release Date: 18 Nov 2016 | Platform: PC, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One
Camera: First Person
Multiplayer: Yes
Co-op: (Local: No | Online: 6)
Genre:  Zombies, Gore, FPS, Survival, Horror

Steam | Playstation | Xbox

Killing Floor 2 is a game that is often recommended for players looking for a new multiplayer zombie game to play. While zombies are a bit of a loose term here since there are a lot of mutated creatures to battle against called Zeds, this is still a thrilling game to play. Overall, this is a wave-based game where players are working as a group defeating the different aggressive monsters that flood into the level. With different classes available, each member of the group can provide a useful attribute to help in the various battles. Meanwhile, the game round will end allowing players to use the in-game currency earned to purchase even more useful upgrades and weapons.

#7 World War Z: Aftermath

Release Date: 21 Sep 2021 | Platform: PC, PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Switch
Camera: First Person, Third Person
Multiplayer: Yes
Co-op: (Local: No | Online: 4)
Genre: Zombies, Action, Shooter, Violent, Combat

Steam | Playstation | Xbox | Nintendo

If you want something new to play that acts quite a bit like Back 4 Blood and Left 4 Dead, then you might want to take a look at World War Z. This is a game that acts like a novel and cinematic franchise of the same name. Essentially, players are battling against hordes of undead in different locations worldwide. However, you might find it surprising to see that this game can support a thousand enemies simultaneously, allowing them to swarm up and climb up on each other to reach players if they are on another floor or platform. You’ll have different objectives to complete, but overall, you have to find weapons, ammunition, and battle against swarms of enemies. With that said, there is an upgraded version of the game that came out called Aftermath. This brings in even more locations, characters, the ability to enter first-person, and a melee system.

#6 Resident Evil Revelations

Release Date: 20 May 2013 | Platform: PC, PS4, Xbox One, Switch
Camera: Third Person
Multiplayer: No
Co-op: (Local: No | Online: 2)
Genre: Horror, Action, Zombies, Survival Horror, Female Protagonist

Steam | Playstation | Xbox | Nintendo

Resident Evil fans have started to feel that the game series was getting a bit too action-horror focus rather than being survival horror much like how the IP started. With Resident Evil Revelations, Capcom took a step back and provided the survival horror aspect of tight corridor locations and plenty of puzzles to solve but also keeping the refined gun mechanics to deliver more precise aiming. Meanwhile, this game is centered around a large conspiracy as organizations have raised to deal with the different BOWs and bioterrorism that still is very much a major threat long after Umbrella had been dealt with. In this game, we’re transported to two different groups as they attempt to figure out what is behind the latest BOW attack so the game does split the narrative up leaving players in slight cliffhangers as they bounce between BSAA agents Jill Valentine along Parker or Chris Redfield and Jessica. It’s a thrilling storyline that mainly takes place on a secluded luxury ship within the middle of an ocean. With backup far away, players are mainly left to fend for themselves during their investigations.

#5 Resident Evil Revelations 2

Release Date: 25 Feb 2015 | Platform: PC, PS4, Xbox 
Camera: Third Person

Multiplayer: No
Co-op: (Local: 2 | Online: 2)
Genre: Zombies, Horror, Survival Horror, Action, Adventure

Steam | Playstation | Xbox | Nintendo

If you enjoyed the Resident Evil Revelations installment then the sequel may be just as appealing. It keeps up with the same mechanics and style as the first title. Here players are following another two sets of characters but to avoid spoilers we’ll be sticking with just the first main set. This game brought back Claire Redfield to the franchise where she had joined an anti-bioterrorism organization called Terra Save. During the welcome party, Barry Burton’s daughter Moira Burton attended to celebrate but the celebration was cut short. A mysterious group breaks in and knocks the duo out where they wake up in a mysterious remote island facility. Now the two are working together to figure out what is going on. This is an episodic journey but with all the episodes available, players can go through the game fully.

#4 Call of Duty Zombies

Release Date: 9 Nov 2010 | Platform: PC
Camera: First Person
Multiplayer: Yes
Co-op: (Local: No | Online: 4)
Genre: Action, FPS, Zombies, Shooter, Military

Steam

I know this is a broad point but it’s one worth mentioning and that’s the various Call of Duty games that feature the iconic zombie’s mode. This is a fan-favorite game mode that is constantly popping up. Here the game is a bit like Killing Floor 2 where you’re dealing with waves of zombies as you attempt to earn money for better weapons along with opening up more sections of the level. Usually, there’s a wide range of different objectives you can complete as well rather than being a strictly wave-based shooter. Since there are so many installments out there it’s a game mode worth looking into if you happen to have some of the latest Call of Duty video game installments.

#3 Dying Light

Release Date: 26 Jan 2015 | Platform: PC, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Switch
Camera: First Person
Multiplayer: Yes
Co-op: (Local: No | Online: 4)
Genre: Zombies, Survival Horror, Horror, Open World, Survival

Steam | Playstation | Xbox | Nintendo

Speaking of Techland from our earlier point, Dead Island, the game they went on to develop after Dead Island was Dying Light. This video game is quite a bit like Dead Island in the fact that you have an open-world environment, melee combat with some gunplay along undead zombies to battle against. However, the game made a big change-up in that it was more focused on parkour. Players were running, vaulting over objects, and climbing up buildings to escape the monsters. This was a crucial mechanic as at night the zombies were far more aggressive and could chase players around. Just like with Dead Island, there is an online multiplayer component here as well. When players join online they can roam around the world freely or complete the various missions available. There’s even another mode where a group of players are having to battle against an opposing player that takes the role of an undead zombie creature. Here the opposing player is attempting to defeat the survivors while also making different upgrades to their character so that their attacks are even more deadly.

#2 Back 4 Blood

Release Date: 12 Oct 2021 | Platform: PC, PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One
Camera: First Person
Multiplayer: Yes
Co-op: (Local: No | Online: 4)
Genre: Zombies, Shooter, Action, FPS, Gore

Steam | Playstation | Xbox

Left 4 Dead was such a massively popular cooperative zombie FPS. While only two installments were released, there is still a strong fanbase that continues to enjoy these games today. Thanks to plenty of user-generated content, there’s something new to pick out and play regularly. However, the original developers that brought out Left 4 Dead, Turtle Rock Studios, developed a successor. This game plays out just like Left 4 Dead as you’re playing with a group of survivors trying to make their way through hostile undead monsters. What makes this game a bit unique compared to Left 4 Dead is that this game comes packed with a card mechanic system. Essentially this gives players a deck to add buff cards to their protagonist. These could be buffs for a variety of areas to help them out, but you’ll find that the enemy AI will also have a card mechanic system, which means you’ll also deal with buffed enemies.

#1 Dying Light 2 Stay Human

Release Date: 4 Feb 2022 | Platform: PC, PS5, PS4, Xbox
Camera:First Person
Multiplayer: No
Co-op: (Local: No | Online: 4)
Genre: Zombies, Open World, Combat, Parkour, Exploration

Steam | Playstation | Xbox

One of the more anticipated game releases for 2022 was Techland’s sequel to Dying Light. With Dying Light 2, we’re getting a narrative set a few years after the first game’s events. Here, players are taking the role of Aiden, seeking information about where his missing sister might be. Of course, this is set in another haven city as humanity strives to avoid the undead horde. A big part of the game is still very much parkour traversal. Aiden is skilled at quickly moving around the town and using melee combat, which is pretty crucial in quickly getting around the city from both thugs and the undead. Best of all, if you want to play with friends, Dying Light 2 Stay Human offers up to four-player cooperative support.

There is a slight catch here since you can’t actually start the game right off the bat with co-op. Instead, you’ll need to go through the first hour or so of the game. It’s essentially a section to catch you up on the narrative you’re embarking on and some of the mechanics. Afterward, you’ll be able to enable co-op support where you can join or invite friends to a game. Essentially, you’re able to go through the rest of the game with friends. Fortunately, the gear and XP progression you make during the game will carry over as well, so you’re still able to gain some progress for your character back into the single-player component. Likewise, because this game offers a focus on choices throughout the campaign, only the host will be able to make those choices.