Games about zombies usually go from a purely head-bashing experience to a gut-wrenchingly painful experience, both figuratively and literally. Zombie game aficionados and lovers alike usually have a lot of good choices in PCand PlayStation consoles, but the Xbox Series X|S owners also have a fair share of options in their midst.
If you have an Xbox Series X|S and don’t have other consoles, you’ve come to the right place to satisfy your zombie game fix. Whether you’re here for a fun and good time or a purely horrifying experience, the range of the undead games here is wide.
Updated Jul 16, 2025, By Dominic Allen:Xbox Series X|S is a great place for zombie games. This is largely due to backward compatibility, since zombie games exploded during the 360 era. Most zombie games ever created were made during that period, and a lot are playable on the new consoles. To boot, certain zombie games are exclusive to it on consoles like Dead Rising 3 and Left 4 Dead 2. In fact, the Xbox Series X|S is the only place that can play the entire Dead Rising series with all the DLC.
Abig technological showcase of the Xbox 360,Dead Risingstill holds in both graphics and gameplay. The character models have definitely aged, but the gore and blood effects are still satisfying as all hell. Graphics can age, but the animation quality is timeless. There’s a reason why even Capcom states that Dead Rising feels fresh even today.
72 Hour mode is essentially a light immersive sim dropping you into a zombie-infested mall, and you’re able to do whatever you want. You can literally wait for six hours at the start of the game and get an ending, which was mind-blowing at the time. Dead Rising’s story is also pretty good, with an intriguing plot that’ll keep you hooked until the very end. It’s an absolute must-play for anyone.
One thing that really didn’t happen this gen was some premier launch games that showed what the new consoles were capable of. Xbox One actually had some solid launch games; one of them was Dead Rising 3. It took the combo weapon formula of DR2 and expanded it immensely. You had a whole city to explore, over double theamount of combo weapons seen in DR2and combo vehicles.
It’s a great zombie-killing good time, even though it does get really easy by the end when so leveled up. Xbox Series X|S is the best place to play DR3 because there’s an exclusive DLC pack that never came to PC. That’s Super Ultra Dead Rising 3' Arcade Remix Hyper Edition EX + a. A bonus game mode with a retro feel, it’s pure Capcom fan service at its best.
Nearly all Call Of Duty Zombies fans will tell you that Black Ops 3 is the best Zombies mode in the series, and that’s true. However, there’s something special about returning to these older titles, and Black Ops 1 is still a blast to play. It feels more grounded and hardcore, as opposed to the advanced movement and Gobblegum system in Blops 3.
Most maps were remade in Blops 3, but they’re still missing some bangers, like Five and the star-studded Call of the Dead. Plus, the difficulty is much harder in Blops 1 due to lacking Gobblegums, which completely changes how you play. It just sucks that the DLC is still so expensive, but if you bought them back in the day, Black Ops 1 is well worth giving another spin.
The original Resident Evil 2 was one of the games that really helped popularise zombies in gaming. The 2019 version is a full remake of that title with updated gameplay, controls, and graphics. It feels like a whole new game. However, the interesting premise is the same; you play as either Leon or Claire, who both enter the zombie-filled Raccoon City.
Soon after arriving, your goal becomes finding out how the outbreak happened and how to escape. These objectives force you to make your through many zombies and other creatures with limited resources. Managing your supplies while exploring each location and trying to survive is a thrilling experience.
It’s fair to say that Back 4 Blood is at least somewhat inspired by the Left 4 Dead games. After all, the core concept is the same: you’re part of a group of survivors who fight through hordes of zombies and special infected to get to the next safe room.
Yet, there are a few unique mechanics that you won’t see in the L4D titles, such as equipable cards and upgrades. These help Back 4 Blood feel like its own game. And it happens to be an enjoyable one, mainly because the shooting feels very satisfying and fun.
Who would’ve thought playing in a setting full of zombies could feel so emotional? Probably everybody who’s played The Last of Us series, but also those who’ve invested many hours playing throughThe Walking Dead: The Telltale Definitive Series.
This game is less about zombies and all about the well-written characters forced to make hard and painful decisions to survive a zombie-infested, apocalyptic world. It’s not the newest zombie game in the Xbox Series X|S, but it’s an acclaimed classic that every zombie franchise lover needs to play at least once.
Good news for anyone that didn’t get enough of the movie. Saber Interactive produced its own take on the film’s setting with its own game in 2019. It’s a must-play, especially if you’re playing games mainly from the first-person shooter genre. World War Z doesn’t disappoint in difficulty and pure zombie shooting fun.
Part of this game’s strength is its variation in its settings and how a global zombie pandemic would look in different parts of the world. Not that it’d be great to see that happen in reality, but it makes for interesting gameplay at the confines of your Xbox.
Left 4 Dead 2 is a classic zombie-chases-you game that most likely gave you nightmares as a child. You no longer think about monsters existing just under your bed. Witches could be in a subway, on the streets, and even in broad daylight. Nothing but a bullet could stop these undead flesh-eaters, but even then, the hordes just feel endless.
The only positive to this experience is that you usually don’t have to play alone, but that’s until most of your teammates have been torn to shreds, leaving you to be the sole survivor of zombie suburbia.
Everybody had a Call of Duty zombies phase, and you might’ve even memorized the maps of the Call of Duty zombie games by heart. But you would objectively have to agree that Call of Duty: Black Ops 3 had the best zombie gameplay and lore.
Shadows of Evil featured interesting characters with glamorous lives laced with secretly scandalous pasts. Nobody could resist the noir ’40s nightlife setting, even if it involves shooting up the undead to no end. The gameplay is also top-tier and is significantly better than the other zombie maps featured in previous Black Ops games.
Dying Lightwill really make you feel like you’re at the world’s end, especially when free roam is feasible for this game. Harran is mostly empty, save for a few armed people and many other zombies who could come charging at you with objects that could break your bones in real life.
You’ll have fun ripping zombie heads off with the sheer force of your stomp or have the time of your life parkouring your way out of fights and through obstacles, all the while being a secret agent.
