Terrific Games Where You Play As The Zombie, Featuring The Classic Stubbs

It’s not like zombie games in the industry are few and far between, but those that actually let you play as a zombie are, yes, scarce. I mean, think about it. What fun can you get out of something that’s got no brains to think, no power in the body to move and act quickly? Well, that’s not what some games out there have in mind as far as portraying a playable zombie character is concerned. 

I’ve put together a hand-picked list of the most noteworthy titles in the business if playing as an in-game zombie comes to mind. It bears noticing though that while some of the following titles have the zombie as the central protagonist, others feature a specific mode where you can essentially be the zombie. Nevertheless, they’re worth getting into all the same. 

These Zombie-Focused Games Are Not To Be Taken Lightly

Just make sure to post a comment down below if you have a contribution to make to the list. 

1. Stubbs The Zombie In Rebel Without A Pulse

You’re a dead man on a mission in Stubbs the Zombie, plain and simple. This is a classic beat-’em-up with a ton of nostalgia tied to its name, considering how its initial release traces back to 2005. You really never know what’s coming in Stubbs—the game’s exceptionally hilarious that way. It’s super fun to just unwind and dish out total chaos, and we do need a remaster in the same vein as Destroy All Humans! that would see Stubbs bringing back hell in a modern fashion.

2. Left 4 Dead 

While technically not focusing on having a zombie protagonist, Left 4 Dead does feature a Versus feature that works wonders for anyone wanting to play as a zombie, and not just any zombie, but a powerful, ability-focused monster that can put the human survivors through their paces.

I have tons of happy memories from my teen years playing the Versus mode with my friends, and although it isn’t the early 2010s anymore, you can still fire the shooter up and expect a mighty good time. The title’s sequel — Left 4 Dead 2 — also sports a similar feature. Feel free to try that out too if you have the game. 

3. Dying Light 

A personal favorite to date, there’s a reason why I consider the first Dying Light better than the sequel, and much of that has to do with the inclusion of the Be the Zombie mode. Despite the main campaign being an absolute joyride, loaded with refreshing gameplay that feels relevant even in 2024, I feel like the free Be the Zombie DLC is a real treat for players looking for more content and subsequent replayability. 

In Be the Zombie, you’re the Night Hunter—a mutated zombie form like no other, boasting the ability to kill off Kyle Crane with a single pounce. It’s super mobile, has an array of menacing abilities under its belt, and can level up sequentially as you win more and more PvP sessions. It’s single-handedly the best way of playing as a zombie across all types of games out there, I’ll tell you that. 

Oh, and it’s triple the fun when more than two Kyle Cranes (human players) team up against the Night Hunter. At that point, you truly have to up your game and get better on the fly to be able to win the bout, not to mention playing as Crane against the Night Hunter is equally fun, if not more.   

4. Planescape: Torment

While not factually as a zombie, Planescape: Torment, being a high-class RPG, offers gamers the ability to play as the undead, and while doing so, makes exceptional use of that narrative. It first came out in 1999 for PC, but has since been re-released in the form of an “enhanced” edition across multiple platforms, including Steam.  

It remains a top-rated title and is well-recognized by those familiar with the genre. However, in a more general sense, not a lot of players are aware of the genius of Planescape: Torment. 

Planescape is not a story about you. It is a story about an immortal amnesiac with no name. It is less a game and more a choose your own adventure novel, where your choices influence where the Nameless One goes next, but cannot change his past,” remarks one Steam reviewer.