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If you’re anything like me, then you’re always on the lookout for new and unique board games. One of the more recent trends that has come to light is games focused around Zombies – And there is a whole heap of zombie games on the market!
From quickplay point and shoot mini-games to full on story-based campaigns – we are spoiled for choice when it comes to this unique genre. So… what are the best zombie board games?
In this article I will rank and review the top 10 zombie games I think are best and why. So, sit back, relax and grab a bowl of your favorite brains and let’s get stuck in!
Top 10 Best Zombie Board Games
1. Zombicide
Players: 1 – 6
Duration: 60mins
Zombicide is a brilliant hack and slash co-op zombie game where players take on the role of survivors during the zombie apocalypse. The game is super simple, but don’t let that fool you – it can be incredibly challenging for a hack and slash!
Each of the survivors in the game has unique abilities and in order to make it out alive, players will have to work together and create combos with their abilities and skills.
The zombies in the game are controlled by different cards and they spawn in waves that increase as players get further through the game.
With so many zombies, it’s going to be a battle to stay alive! Like most things set in the zombie universe, players need to fight the zombie horde in order to find weapons. However, the more zombies you kill, the higher level you become and the more skills you get. As the players skill and damage increase, so do the number of zombies that come after you.
There are over 71 different pieces included in the box, including 6 survivors, walkers and other types of zombies. All of the figures have a high level of detail and are very high quality.
There are 10 pre-determined scenarios included, as well as location tiles that move and create a unique playing board every game. This means you can create your own adventure and play the game many times without getting bored.
With the included skill counters, you can easily keep track of each player’s levels and skill using the skill tree.
The skill tree also allows character customization, which is another aspect that makes for a unique game every time.
Pros:
- There are 6 different survivors to choose, each with unique skills.
- Includes 10 different pre-determined scenarios.
- You can create your own map if you choose.
Cons:
- It’s not a short game for a hack and slash and if players are unexperienced it can last up to several hours.
- Some randomness with dice rolling during combat.
2. Dead of Winter
Players: 2 – 5
Duration: 60mins – 120mins
Dead of Winter is one of my absolute favorite zombie games. It pits a group of weakened survivors against the rest of the human race who are either already zombies, or diseased and on their way to becoming a zombie.
While this game is all about strategy, it takes you through a thrilling story that keeps you on the edge of your seat. You and the other players need to survive through a cruel winter in a post-apocalyptic world (pretty much every zombie story right?!).
Players need to find a way to work together, while also dealing with their own objectives (including a personal secret objective).
The game is semi co-operative, meaning players need to work together to solve problems, find enough food and fight off threats from the outside. However, during many situations, Dead of Winter will have the team make choices that force them to decide between what’s best for the group and what’s best for themselves.
While this might seem like a simple game at first, under the surface it is actually very deep.
With over 165 item cards, there is a ton of replay value and variation every time you play a campaign. The game has some randomness with players drawing cards that are extremely helpful or cards that can’t be used at all.
The great part about this game is that you never know how it will end. There may be times when everyone wins, while other times everyone loses or only certain people win. The replay value of this game is very high and I love the fact that it is a unique experience every time you play.
Click here to read our in depth review of Dead of Winter!
Pros:
- Traitor mechanic.
- Brilliant story.
- Amazing artwork.
- It has many different objectives, which keeps the game interesting.
Cons:
- It needs at least an hour to play – however depending on discussion it can take significantly longer than this.
- Betraying the team is a quick way to lose friends!
3. City of Horror
Players: 3 – 6
Duration: 90mins
Looking for a zombie game that requires you to work as a team, but also has backstabbing, lies and betrayal?
If so, then City of Horror is the game for you!
In the game players take on the role of survivors in a city that has become overrun with zombies. They need to fight together in order to survive until daylight where backup will arrive in the form of an evacuation helicopter.
It’s extremely important to set up alliances and work as a team, but your survival is paramount – and trumps the survival of your friends. This means betrayal is inevitable and in fact its needed. The exact extent of the betrayal will depend on game play, but there’s a chance you’ll end up sabotaging the connections you’ve made and leave someone feeling very sour!
The game has 4 turns. Each turn equals 1 hour of in game time before reinforcements are set to arrive. For the most part, every turn is played in a similar manner. Zombies will come, players will move their piece and locations are cleared one at a time. At the end of the game, the player with the most victory tokens will be crowned the winner.
In order for a player to survive and actually get on the helicopter, they need to hold the antidote to the zombie virus. No antidote means no entry! This adds another twist to the game – if you do not make it onto the helicopter, you score 0 points!
Components that come with the game are: 40 different zombie tokens, 36 movement cards, 12 food markers, 16 antidotes and 21 character cards. The components are 3D which I like in games and are great quality.
City of Horror really is a super fun zombie game where voting and negotiation make up the heart of the play. I love games where there is a lot of player interaction – to me that is what board games are all about and City of Horror accomplishes that well.
Pros:
- There are 21 different character choices.
- It’s easy to get the hang of.
- Focuses on player interaction.
Cons:
- There isn’t as much strategy as some other games have.
- Betrayals can be brutal!
4. Tiny Epic Zombies
Players: 1 – 5
Duration: 30mins – 45mins
With the play time of Tiny Epic Zombies being between 30 and 45 minutes, you can bust out a quick game pretty much anytime you want. Unlike many other games, this one is more on the brutal side and isn’t suitable for those under 14 or those that aren’t into those types of games.
It has 5 different game modes, which are: Team vs. One Co-op, Team vs. Game Co-op, Free for All vs. One Co-op, Free for All vs. Game Competitive and Solo play. I love the fact you can play solo or with a group of people (either competitively or coop) – There aren’t too many games out there that offer this.
The game takes place in a mall that has been completely overrun by zombies. In the middle of the mall is a courtyard that the zombies are trying to infiltrate – this is where the players are holed up.
Around the courtyard is a barricade that can slowly be upgraded during the course of the game and is made up of 8 tiles which get randomly placed (meaning each time you play the board will be unique).
While playing as survivors, players need to acquire weapons, kill zombies and work together in order to complete the three scenario-based objectives to win the game.
Alternatively, zombies need to either kill all the humans OR take over the courtyard in order to emerge victoriously.
Whichever side you decide to play for – the rules are super easy to learn and quick to pick up even for new players.
In the box you will find: 14 player cards, 1 wooden motorcycle, 1 wooden police car, 33 objective tokens, 32 search cards and 12 different items that can be equipped. The component quality is awesome and the game utilises the unique style of ‘itemeeples’ which add a unique character to the game.
Pros:
- Very short play time.
- 5 different modes of play.
- Quick and easy to set up and learn.
- Unique miniatures.
Cons:
- Playing as zombies is a bit lackluster.
5. Zpocalypse 2: Defend the Burbs
Players: 2 – 5
Duration: 90mins – 720mins
Zombies have invaded your quiet suburban town. It’s time to defend your home and fight back! With Zpocalypse 2 Defend the Burbs, your team has to defend themselves against the incoming zombie horde.
All cities have been overcome and ash from nuclear warfare fills the air. What was once a beautiful and quiet area, has now become the central hub for the zombie apocalypse.
In addition to what one would consider ‘normal zombies’, some are changing and mutating into monsters that are out for blood and incredibly hard to kill – Boss zombies if you will.
You can either try and defend with normal household items, or you can create your own weapons to really bring the hurt.
Welcome to Zpocalypse 2: Defend the Burbs. A truly epic tower defense style zombie board game.
Each player in the game controls their own squad that is equipped with food, weapons and other useful items. The aim of the game is to collect resources and spend them wisely on certain items which benefit yourself and the group. These perks are tracked on a tracking board.
Each player has their own abilities and personal goals / objectives. In addition to gathering supplies, players will also need to craft different elements to build up bases (towers) on the board.
All of the building and collecting happens during the day, while at night survivors need to fight off zombies that come in waves from every direction. As players progress, as with all tower defense games, the waves get harder and harder – including the odd mutated boss zombie here and there.
Pros:
- Great character development.
- Huge replay value.
- Different types of zombies that players need to take down.
- Cool day / night cycle.
Cons:
- Tower defense games can get repetitive.
- Has a long play time.
6. After the Virus
Players: 1 – 3
Duration: 30mins – 90mins
Ever wonder what would happen after a virus kills 90% of the Earths population, leaving behind only a few survivors to fight off ravenous zombies? If so, this is the game for you!
After the Virus is an awesome deck building game that will put your strategic planning skills to the test.
In the game, you and your team need to stand and fight together in order to survive. Not only do you have to make some pretty hard decisions, but you also have to complete 15 missions which all tie together to provide a narrative experience.
One thing to keep in mind is that no matter how well you do in the earlier missions or how easy you think it is at the start of the game, as the game progresses the difficulty and amout of zombies that attack grows exponentially. This means it is imperative to build as strong a deck as possible during the earlier rounds.
Each mission needs to be completed before you or the area is completely taken over by zombies. To do this, you need to constantly improve your deck and make team decisions as to how to use each characters special abilities. Your characters can only take 2 wounds before they die, which is not a lot, especially in the second part of the game.
Every time your deck is reshuffled, more and more zombies are spawned. This means it’s essential to search the area and the decks around you to ensure you’re finding items you can use to ensure your survival. Some things will have to stay in the play area, but there are some items and cards that can be added to your deck. There are also other things that can only be used once throughout the entire game. With this being the case, you want to make sure that every player on your squad has items that can help everyone work as a team and defeat the zombies that just keep coming!
Pros:
- Very easy to learn.
- Lots of quick action right from the start.
- It can be played relatively quickly.
Cons:
- While it’s easy to learn, it can be a bit difficult to actually win.
- The art really isn’t that great.
- Start of the game is super important.
7. Zombie 15
Players: 2 – 4
Duration: 15mins
Zombie 15′ is a game that gives you and your team members just 15 minutes to survive. In this game, everyone over the age of 18 has turned into a flesh-eating monster.
They feasted upon the young ones first, but a group of 15-year old’s (you and your team members) were able to survive and continue to fight for your lives.
It might seem pretty simple, but no matter how many zombies you kill, you have thousands more that are after you. This means you’re always on the run and you have no time to take a rest or let your guard down.
You have to work together to forage around town to find weapons, a safe place and food.
You need to make a stand and you’ll run into other survivors who are doing the same thing.
By playing through the story, you’ll be able to find out where the virus came from and how the outbreak happened. While it says you have 15 minutes to survive, it can last up to an hour depending on outside conversation and the time it takes to figure things out with your team. Remember, it’s all about real-time decisions that need to be made as quickly as possible. The quicker your team decides, the better chance they have of surviving.
Some of the things included in the game are: a CD that gives each 15 minute game its own soundtrack, 8 different hero figures, 99 normal zombie figures, 1 Alpha zombie figure, 25 ammo tokens, 59 search cards, 18 special item cards and 33 scenario cards. With so many elements, you’re sure to have an exciting game every time you play. You never know how things will go or how the game will actually play out. You might play one way for one game, but need to completely change your strategy for another.
Pros:
- Comes with a CD to give scenarios a soundtrack.
- There’s many different scenarios and stories to play.
- It can be played quickly.
Cons:
- It’s not played well on a smaller table.
- It takes a lot of set up before you can play.
8. Dawn of the Zeds 3rd Edition
Players: 1 – 5
Duration: 90mins – 120mins
In Dawn of the Zeds, you have to defend your current city of Farmingdale and the 5 cities surrounding it. The players, aka heroes, have a lot of support from the citizens of these cities. Some of these civilians are armed, while others make up groups like mad scientists, biker gangs and even citizens fighting for the zombies to have rights!
The whole idea of the game is to fight off the zombies (Zeds) and keep them from getting into the center of and of the 6 cities. You also need to make sure they don’t cause so much chaos that the government decides to abandon you and the city.
Some of the missions you’ll need to do are: find a cure for the virus, save as much of the area as you can and save as many people as possible. It might seem easy, but with the Zeds that just keep coming, you’re sure to find that it’s a little bit harder than you expected.
The box of the game includes: a 2 sided game board, 200 different cards, 4 player aids and 6 six-sided dice. It also comes with a few different books, including: the rulebook, the A to Zed Book and The Farmingdale Dossier Book. After playing through the story and reading all of the included books, you’ll really feel like you’re in Farmingdale.
It has great replay value and is quite hard so you never know whether or not you’re going to win or lose.
Pros:
- Supplies are easily tracked.
- Great multiplayer function.
- Really good story.
Cons:
- Game can be very difficult with a steep learning curve.
9. World War Z: The Game
Players: 1 – 3
Duration: 30mins – 90mins
If you loved the World War Z book or the movie, then you’ll love the game.
In the game players play as either an elite military soldier or agent in the CIA. As the illness spreads, players need to travel around the world and fight against the clock to survive and try to stop a zombie apocalypse from happening. The game is intense and when playing you will experience a lot of close calls and intense moments.
The game starts right in the middle of the chaos. Players begin with a small amount of basic gear and training in weapons tactics. With this, and the items you find while playing, you’ll need to protect yourself and those in your group.
Not only do you need to fight and escape the hordes of zombies, but you’ll also need to figure out a plan to ensure your survival. Keep in mind, every new location you come across has even more zombies and it’s much more dangerous than the ones you’ve been to previously. If you happen to get overwhelmed, the game doesn’t end for you. You’ll just have to continue the game as a Z!
A few of the things that are included in the box are: 4 game pawns, 1 extinction counter token, 53 horde tokens, 47 combat cards and 57 threat escalation cards. Since you never know when and if you’ll get overwhelmed, you can play this game over and over again. You also never know what cards will come up, so the game will be different and unique every time you play through. This is enough to keep you on your seat and keep you coming back for more.
Pros:
- Easy to learn, but can be challenging.
- Unique and different styles of combat.
Cons:
- Those who didn’t like the movie probably won’t like the game.
- While it’s easy to play, it’s super hard to actually win.
10. Dark Darker Darkest
Players: 1 – 3
Duration: 30mins – 90mins
Dark Darker Darkest is a horror game that’s extremely intense and keeps you on edge of your seat the whole game. While not technically a pure zombie game – it has enough of the features of a zombie game that I thought it was worth including in this list!
Players need to play together as a team to fight the darkness and survive. The game takes place at the house of Doctor Mortimer (a mad scientist) where the players are holed up as they attempt to fight the dark waves of creatures that just keep coming.
Not only will you and your team need to collect tools to help you do things like open doors, but you’ll also need to control fires that are out of hand and destroying different areas of the house but also sneak past the lurking monsters and the security cameras that are everywhere around the house.
The game utilizes some great mechanics to help build teams, improve exploration and stealth and give an amazing experience by having players participate in combat that’s driven entirely by icons. Right when you think you’ve made it to a safe area, more monsters and surprises pop out to keep you on the move. Everything is controlled by the A.I of the game, which makes things extremely unpredictable and exciting.
With so many surprises and exciting turns, every time you play will be a new and unique experience. You never know when you’ll make it out or if you’ll meet your demise in the darkness of the house.
Pros:
- Exciting and unpredictable.
- Lots of awesome monster characters.
Cons:
- It doesn’t have a solo mode.
- Not a ‘pure’ zombie game.
Final Note
While all of these games have their own pros and cons, you’re sure to find at least one that you absolutely love. Zombie games are a great genre to bring out the cooperative nature of board games as players fight for their survival.
I’ve included a number of games that include deck building, RPG and tower defense mechanics to try and include games that different board gamers will find appealing.
At the end of the day, the zombie genre is not going anywhere and continues to grow – bringing with it some of the best board game experiences available.
