Summary
Roguelike gameshave become all the ragewith the rise of the indie scene. Titles likeSpelunkyintroduced people to the wonders of this genre, letting players enjoy brief moments of success before killing them off once again and making them learn from their deaths. This gameplay loop has beencombined with many other settings and genresto great effect, and it’s easy to see why a roguelike game set in the zombie apocalypse would be such a blast to play.
Most people would be surprised atthe breadth of games encompassing both genres,but perhaps that’s for the best. After all, many mediocre roguelike games don’t really capture the essence of what makes this genre so riveting, and fans are glad to see that only the most reputed and beloved games in this genre utilize a zombie setting to full effect, keeping players invested in multiple runs for hours, days, weeks, months, and even years in some cases.
It’s genuinely incredible that one of the greatest zombieroguelike titles fans can get their hands onisn’t available on Steam. Instead, players will have to download this title from the parent website for a grand total of…nothing. This is precisely what makesRogue Survivorsuch a gem of a title, being highly underrated because of its lack of presence on most modern gaming clients and platforms.
Still, PC gamers are more than delighted by the fact that they have this special title all to themselves. Players can either play as a survivor or the undead in an evolving world where death awaits them at every corner. While the learning curve for this game is immense, players who get wholly immersed in this one-of-a-kind experience will find it hard to tear themselves away from the screen after a point.
Not all zombie games need to be dark, gory, and depressing, as seen in the colorful art style and boundless charm ofDeadly Days. The fast-paced nature of the title’s gameplay means that players won’t get bored in the slightest as they amass a wealth of survivors andshoot down waves of zombieswhile directing their squad across numerous stages.
Maintaining hunger can prove to be a massive pain, especially if players don’t get the opportunity to resupply their stock given how missions work in this game. Still, it’s a small complaint in what is otherwise a great game that will keep players entertained and then some.
The Oregon Trailis one of the most legendary edutainment games ever made, and players who want to enjoy the gameplay loop of this title with a heaping helping of roguelike mechanics and zombies will findDeath Road to Canadaisright up their alley. This title takes no prisoners, and players will be slowly beaten down after multiple failed runs where their band of misfits is devoured by zombies over and over again.
It takes a while to learn the game mechanics of this title, but players who decide to give this game a shot will be more than pleased by what’s on offer here.Death Road to Canada’s RNG can be a source of great amusement or annoyance, but one thing this game excels at is making players come back for more punishment before finally succeeding in a run.
A legendary roguelike game that pushes the boundaries of what this genre can achieve,Cataclysm: Dark Days Aheadis a game loaded with so much content thatmost players will still be figuring out new quirksno matter how many hours they spend in this game. The sense of achievement players enjoy in this game in the later stages is something that most other roguelike titles can only dream of achieving.
Early on, a single zombie mob will prove to be the end for the player unless they either run for their life or unleash everything in their limited arsenal, and even that often won’t be enough. However, as players become more adept at the game, building a vehicle that liquefies zombies in no time flat will become such a common practice that most players won’t even think twice before raiding a zombie-infested settlement for supplies.
Given how oversaturated the video game market is when it comes to zombies, it’s easy to see whysome people may write offProject Zomboidfor its uninspired setting. However, despite its status as an Early Access game, this title features more content than most other full releases out there that deal with zombies.
Even after losing a chunk of progress because of theft,Project Zomboid’s development is still moving along as strong as ever. The sheer depth of the gameplay coupled with the many unique ways players can tackle each run in the game is a testament to just how broad and well-thought-out the gameplay of this title really is.
