The zombie genre seems to resurge back into prominence regardless of how many movies, TV shows, or games are released with the same tropes. People seem to love zombie games allowing you to kill hordes of the undead.
Admittedly, I’ve been a fan of the genre ever since I was introduced to it with AMC’s The Walking Dead over a decade ago. Since you’re reading this, I’m guessing that you love zombie games as much as I do. Keeping this in mind, I’ve curated a list of the best zombie games for iPhone and iPad. Let’s have a look!
- Into the Dead 2
- DEAD TRIGGER 2
- Death Road to Canada
- Plants vs. Zombies Heroes
- AI Dungeon
- Unkilled
- Mini DAYZ 2
- Kill Shot Virus
- The Walking Dead No Man’s Land
- Zombies, Run!
1. Into the Dead 2 – Editor’s choice
When it comes to a zombie apocalypse, what goes through your mind? You have to kill as many zombies as possible and run fast to survive, right?
This is the same premise that powers Into the Dead 2. The first game was a huge hit amongst the users, and PikPok has brought forth the sequel with tonnes of new features.
This is one of the few free zombie apps for iPhone that utilize the idea of multiple endings based on the players’ actions throughout the game. The game’s objective is simple – kill as many zombies as possible in a bid to save yourself and your family.
The game offers plenty of options in weapons. How you kill zombies is up to you. Fancy hitting the buggers at close range with a shotgun? Or would you like to rain down bullet-hell on the zombies with your trusty machine gun? The choice is yours.
There are numerous environments in the game, each offering multiple ways to tackle the growing zombie threat. Also, the game can be played offline!
Unfortunately, users online have reported that the game’s energy mechanics are broken. Hopefully, the developers can patch this soon.
Price: Free (In-app purchases start at $0.99)
2. DEAD TRIGGER 2 – Action-packed zombie FPS
Zombie games often lose their way when catering to an audience with both action and a worthwhile plot. Fortunately, with Dead Trigger 2, you get non-stop action with surprisingly intricate gameplay.
Dead Trigger 2 is a shooting game that allows you to kill zombies in style. Every week, new tournaments online offer great rewards for killing zombies in the most imaginative ways possible.
On the gameplay front, you get an action game presenting you with numerous weapon choices – melee weapons, pistols, guns, and gadgets. You’re also tasked with building a personal hideout with the help of characters such as the Gunsmith and the Medic. As you improve your hideout, you get access to more characters and weapons.
There are 10 regions to unlock, and these regions provide the player with over 600 missions and storytelling campaigns. How you fare in the regions is based completely on your tactics and strategies.
Since this is a freemium game, you will have to deal with plenty of ads.
Price: Free (In-app purchases start at $2.99)
3. Death Road to Canada – For casual players
Death Road to Canada could be the most random game you’ll ever play. I’m not stating this figuratively – I mean it literally!
The game’s biggest draw is that its levels are randomly generated – locations, events, skills, and survivors’ personalities.
In the game, you manage a group of survivors traveling from Florida to Canada, the last surviving nation on the planet after a massive zombie outbreak. On your travels, you’ll come across different survivors, events, and locales. Moreover, since every element is randomized, you can replay the game multiple times.
Additionally, you can create your character, thanks to the in-game Character Maker. How your character fares will be based on the decisions, you take in your game’s playthrough.
While the game is extremely fun, it tends to crash frequently. This lack of stability can hinder the player’s experience.
Price: $14.99
4. Plants vs. Zombies Heroes – Collectible card game
When you think of zombie games, you don’t usually think of them as collectible cards or board games. However, the geniuses behind the superhit Plants vs. Zombies series have managed to bring something worth your time.
Plants vs. Zombies Heroes is an online game. In this game, you choose from 20 unique heroes who are either plant-based or zombie-based. Each hero comes with unique powers and characterizations.
Moreover, you can build a hero crew by collecting cards from classic Plants vs. Zombies characters. Your hero’s gameplay will be tailored according to the cards you choose. Thankfully, the game gives you ample room to experiment with characters and combos.
Both the botanical and zombie heroes have their unique journeys and maps to follow. This adds a certain amount of replayability to the game.
As a freemium game, microtransactions are encouraged here. This may be an issue with new players who don’t wish to pay for in-game items.
Price: Free (In-app purchases start at $0.99)
5. AI Dungeon – Text-based zombie adventure
The first computer games were text-based adventures that required you to input lines of text based on the situation. There were no visuals or sounds added to the game. Nevertheless, the games were huge hits amongst the fans.
AI Dungeon is a text-based, retro adventure game that offers plenty of possibilities. While it isn’t based completely on zombie adventures, the game allows you to play various scenarios involving hordes of the undead.
There are almost infinite possibilities as to how the game could play out. Each in-game action will determine the story’s outcome. With this game, not only do you get a good narrative-driven adventure but also a fair idea of what video games were like in the early days.
Unfortunately, the game’s scale often works against its favor as the AI can glitch at random moments.
Price: Free (In-app purchases start at $0.99)
6. Unkilled – Multiplayer zombie shooter
Unkilled is one of the top zombie games for iPhones and iPads. It takes inspiration from the phenomenal zombie series Left 4 Dead and uses similar elements to craft a great online experience.
Although the game is best played online with friends, there’s a solo campaign as well. You take control of a character from an elite team called the Wolfpack, the midst of a zombie apocalypse in New York City. There are over 150 missions to play – adding elements of world-building to the game.
Additionally, you can also play the game against other players in PvP mode. Rise the rankings by winning matches and gaining “intel” to level up your character’s skill tree. At the end of the ranked duels and leagues, you can win attractive rewards as well.
The game suffers from microtransaction fever, though. If you’re looking for a completely free gaming experience, this may not be for you.
Price: Free (In-app purchases start at $2.99)
7. Mini DAYZ 2 – Old-school zombie game
Some of us prefer underrated games. While action-packed zombie games are great, there are a few hidden gems that can gift you with an amazing experience. Mini DAYZ 2 is one of those games.
The game’s aesthetic is similar to older GTA games, with a top-down view. This implies that you’re not playing the game from a side-scroller, third-person, or first-person perspective. You play the game with an overhead view.
As a zombie outbreak plagues the world, you have to save as many people as you can. On the road to survival, you will encounter multiple survivors and become their leader. Choose tasks for your crew to keep the camp running. On a personal level, you will have to monitor your character’s vitals too.
The game has a retro feel, and this doesn’t apply to just its aesthetics. The gameplay is also rather challenging. However, it never seems to overwhelm you with difficulty spikes.
The major caveat, however, is that the game is buggy. Its experience would be far better if developers ironed out these issues.
Price: Free (In-app purchases start at $1.99)
8. Kill Shot Virus – Zombie sniper shooter
There are plenty of sniper games out there. However, only a handful have tried to do something different with the genre. Kill Shot Virus is one of those games.
It’s essentially a sniper game similar to Hitman Sniper. However, instead of eliminating mob bosses and high-profile targets, you tackle zombies in over 100 missions.
You have to protect survivors and eliminate hundreds of zombies while you’re at it. Some sections of the game also provide you with close-ranged combat and unique zombies to bring some variety to the gameplay.
You can also play the game with friends and create a survival faction. With this faction, you can play online modes and climb the leaderboards.
Unfortunately, the game’s microtransactions are absurdly expensive, even for seasoned players.
Price: Free (In-app purchases start at $4.99)
9. The Walking Dead No Man’s Land – Survival RPG
Would this even be a list for zombie game apps for iPhone if I didn’t include a game from the epic The Walking Dead franchise? There have been numerous games based on the series (not all of them good). Regardless, with The Walking Dead No Man’s Land, you get a great survival RPG.
The game follows the events of the show’s 11th Season. New episodes result in new missions, released every week. You can play multiple characters such as Shane, Beth, and Yumiko.
Essentially, the game relives key moments from the series. Besides, you have to collect survivors and train them to be an active part of the group. As the saying goes – a chain is only as strong as its weakest link. Your crew’s survival will depend on basic resources, training, and strategic planning.
The game’s load times are extensive, though. While this isn’t a dealbreaker, it can get highly annoying.
Price: Free (In-app purchases start at $1.99)
10. ZRX : Zombies Run – Running game
We’ve all seen trailers of movies and shows based on the zombie apocalypse, where the people are running for their lives as hundreds of zombies come after them. What if you were that person running from zombies?
This game is a mix of a fitness app and a running game. It combines elements of both, as well as a story written by the magnificent Naomi Alderman. The game becomes an audio adventure where you become the hero of this post-apocalyptic zombie story and run around to collect supplies for your home base.
The concept is intriguing, and I believe that developers have executed it relatively well. You can combine the audio drama with songs from your playlist as you continue to evade the undead army. Thankfully, you’re also burning calories on your “supply runs”. As a great addition, the app syncs with Apple Health!
I wish that developers worked more on the in-built calorie counter, however. The counter seems highly inaccurate in calculating the calories burnt during runs.
Price: Free (In-app purchases start at $1.99)
It’s an ‘infectious’ genre, isn’t it?
Although the zombie genre often seems saturated at the moment, I’m sure that game developers will look for more ways to diversify the genre. For the moment, though, this is my list of good zombie games for iPhone and iPad.
What do you think of the trope, though? If given a chance, what kind of changes would you implement to make it more interesting? Share your opinions in the comment section below!
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