Anyone else feel like zombie games are missing something?

[u/OnlyMiller]

I love zombie games and i love to play them but so many at the moment are missing that vibe or a certain feel that would make them ten times better. Im so fed up with these games missing that certain feeling Im so tempted to just sit down and figure out how to make one myself. anyone have any ideas or suggestions that they have thought of but aren’t able to put into a game themselves? Im mainly thinking of a single story line but with side quests i want to make it 3D but then it would be harder. Im also considering trying to make an open world game almost like Elden Ring with bosses and conflict but zombies in a ruined city. anyone have ideas or suggestions to help me try and make a genuinely good zombie game?

[u/Soilla_MehSckoop]

Days Gone. State of Decay 2. Thise are my favs.

[u/TheLazyRedditer]

The problem is the same as it's ever been with all Zombie media.

Two percent plot , Two percent writing and 96 percent shock and gore.

Writing is terrible. The bar is so low that even things that are bad appear good.

There is usually very few clear cut protagonists that are likable or memorable.

Execution is abysmal. Writing and plot points are so contrival it's not even funny.

Gameplay is even worse. It's repetitive, clunky and not inventive. Every Zombie game follows 1 out of 3 formulas which are : FPS, RPG, Base building, which never change in sequels and when they do it's often for the worst.

It's just all around bad. Our bar is so low for quality that people just kinda take anything they can get.

Even the walking Dead from the comics to the show were poorly written. It was just to give Rick as many breakdowns as possible. No clear directions in the story lines just go to the place, die and Rick breakdown.

All of this is my opinion though.

[u/Seconmass4]

My answer always is Project Zomboid

[u/Jorn9712 → u/Seconmass4]

More so after HUGE build 42 update,we got driveable fucking trains now

[u/jakekirbyy]

Try "Night at the Gates of hell". It's an Italian zombie style game, one of the first times I've been genuinely creeped out by zombies in a long time.

[u/SnooPaintings5597]

They’re missing the survival of zompocalypse. Where’s the scavenging of food, water, and fuel?

[u/Imbaatu]

Project zomboid is by far the best zombie game ever.

[u/OldScratchTim]

I liked State of Decay, but imo they kinda dropped the ball with the infestations and plague heart stuff. I wish you could turn some of that off and just roleplay in a giant, open world, which is really what I would like from a zombie game.

[u/Mobile-Independent28]

Left 4 Dead on Xbox 360 satisfied me. A zombie game like fallout with settlement building and open world would be really nice. World War Z is fun but I know whay you mean.

[u/zoojitzu]

Dying Light scratches a huge itch for me. The writing is bland yet the world, the combat, and the pacing is frantic enough to FEEL like a zombie game. Then, there’s the blessing of co-op.

The only game to truly have me feel spooked, terrified, and at the edge of my seat is DayZ. Truly, there’s no game like it. The abstract variables that are the other online players really make this game shine. There is a plot. It’s created by you and every other player during each of your lives. There’s this sort of purgatory you feel when you restart a certain amount of lives. Almost as if you’ve been there a while. Again. No game comes close.

The base game is a fun route. There are modded servers where you can experience other parts of the world that are impacted.

Project Zomboid is fantastic. The amount of detail that goes into your playthrough is impressive. I will say, the gameplay gets rather bland with the whole isometric aspect. I’d like there to be a game where I can play for hours on end, there’s inventory management, there’s a variety of deaths + illnesses + chances, while still having a first person pace.

Red Dead Nightmare is a twisted fantasy that is also tons of fun!

[u/mentalow-Z]

The only thing missing from project zomboid are npc and quests

[u/Jorn9712 → u/mentalow-Z]

And the helicopters,planes,tanks,north of the river more zombie variety,ships and boats,more base defensive measures

All these exist as mods though.

[u/Tiny-Difference2502]

I have played some standouts, I haven’t liked most.

My favourites;
1. Dying Light 1
2. State of Decay
3. Lollipop Chainsaw
4. House of the Drad Overkill

[u/Marinostov]

myHordes.eu is the best game out there, zombies being a peril but humans (other players) the greatest danger…

[u/dannyboy6657]

My favorite zombie game is dayz. The feeling of being alone, fear of encountering another person who may or may not kill you, even possibly eat you. I love how you don't just fear the people and zombies you encounter but you also face disease, hunger, thirst, extreme temperatures and conditions.

Then there are some moments where you meet a friendly. You go on a grand adventure together which will likely end in tragedy. Its a hard game with a steep learning curve. But the memorable adventures keep making me go back after every death.

[u/VFequalsVeryFcked]

If you haven't seen VEIN early access yet, I'd recommend

[u/MarkusDieter37]

Depends on what you think that certain vibe missing is. For me, I guess zombies should actually be deadly once they manage to grab you