Summary
Zombies are nothing new in video games, having beenan iconic enemy typefor many years and are always guaranteed to put the player on the edge of their seat during a playthrough. While they’re very popular, they don’t really fit into one specific genre. For example, while many survival horror games will decide to include zombies to ramp up the fear factor, some hack-and-slash games include them too, and even a few strategy games.
The one genre that zombies have often been separated from was RPGs, since the genre was synonymous with its larger-than-life enemies, so zombies were often seen as too slow to pose a real threat. However, over the last decade, there have been many developers who have managed to create some outstanding RPG games that feature everyone’s favorite undead monsters as their main enemy. It should be noted that while some of these games might not be considered RPG games first and foremost, so long as they have enough core aspects from that genre built into the gameplay, then they will be considered.
5Fort Zombie
Metascore: No Score
Fort Zombieisa hidden gem of a gamethat is unfortunately bogged down by clunky controls and a rather uninteresting visual style. It does still excel in certain areas though, especially the zombie encounters, which are extremely intense and challenging due to how fast and aggressive the undead can be while lurking in the streets at night. Ben Riley is the main protagonist of the game, but before spawning, the player can adjust plenty of Ben’s skills and attributes to mold him into a certain kind of survivor.
For example,newcomers who might be a little worried about taking damagecan easily spend some points on Medicine and First Aid skills to have better healing, but anyone looking to try out a run-and-gun playthrough should instead prioritize Power and Toughness. There are many different ways to play, and if players can look past the game’s many shortcomings, they’ll have a very neat and enjoyable zombie RPG on their hands.
While the firstState of Decaydid have some very light RPG elements, the sequel allows for a much greater degree of player freedom, not just in terms of building their own characterbut their party members too. The protagonist will have multiple personal Skills that can help aid their survival in the apocalypse, but to level up each one, they will need to use them. For example, if a player is constantly grabbing resources and running away from the hordes, they will level up Cardio pretty quickly, which will grant them a set of extra Specializations to make use of.
As for the survivors, they can be found randomly throughout the world and will have their own set of Traits which make them useful for specific scenarios, butbecause they are randomly generated, and there are over 1000 Traits in the game, there really is no predicting who could show up. Finding and making use of the Survivors' specific talents is a key part of the core gameplay loop, and their random nature ensures that every playthrough is completely different from the last. The graphics of the game do feel a bit dated, and there are plenty of bugs that can dampen the experience, but it’s still a great RPG zombie game that is a massive step up from its predecessor.
There have been many games that have based their open world onthe sunny city of L.A, and while it certainly looks gorgeous inDead Island 2, it’s also packed full of mindless zombies who roam the streets day and night, looking for their latest snack. While players will choose from six colorful and quirky characters upon booting up the game, they will then be free to create their own unique build thanks to the expansive Skill Card System, which has added some much-needed role-playing elements to the game.
Whether the player wants to be a high-flying ninja wielding a sword,a powerhouse armed with a gatling-gunwho mows down zombies from afar, or even an engineer who loves nothing more than knocking them over with a truck, there’s an endless number of ways to play. The game, unfortunately, still has several bugs, and the main story isn’t anything to write home about, butDead Island 2is very much worth jumping into for any RPG fans out there thanks to its new additions and mechanics.
Despite being released over a decade ago,Project Zomboidis still an extremely popular game with a dedicated fanbase, and that’s because it is constantly receiving updates that are gradually turning the game into the ultimate zombie survival RPG. The objective is simple; survive as long as possible inthe zombie-infested area of Knox County, but before players actually jump into the action, they will be able to customize their character’s appearance and choose their Traits, which can drastically change the way the character plays.
Players will even be able to decide their character’s occupation, which will determine what clothes they start with, along with granting certain skills that can help in harvesting resources and taking down any zombies who get a little too close. Despite starting off a bit rough at launch,Project Zomboidhas become a shining example of what a zombie RPG survival game can really look like.
1The Last Spell
Metascore: 82
Many zombie games feature a few core elements of the RPG genre that don’t go quite as far as they maybe could have, butThe Last Spellis an exception. The game featuresclassic tactical RPG turn-based gameplaywhere the player must strategize their every move to have any hope of surviving through the night. During the day, survivors must use their skills and resources to bolster their defenses for when the undead horde arrives after the sun goes down, but since there are multiple different zombie variations, it makes it extremely hard to predict how they are going to behave once they reach the walls.
What really makesThe Last Spellstand out though, aside from its extremely intense turn-based combat and the endlessly charming pixel art style, is just how layered and intricate its progression system is. Players will be able to upgrade their health, mana, AP, and MP, while also acquiring brand-new Perks to give them a leg-up in specific areas, allowing them to create a survivor exactly to their liking.The Last Spellis by far the best attempt at creating a zombie survival RPG in recent years, and there’s no doubt that thecontinuous updates from the developerswill only make it even more enjoyable as time goes on.
