The dead shall inherit the earth, but they will also apparently dominate the gaming landscape for years and years. It’s been hard to escape PS4 zombie games over the past decade or so with them popping up in new entries in beloved franchises, in game modes dedicated entirely to pushing them back, and even in iterations where you could argue that they aren’t even undead.

So why are zombie games still so popular, despite being so overexposed? Well, it’s because they are oddly versatile. You can drop zombies into most situations and it will provide a different kind of experience, as well as the fact that they, despite being a part of pop culture for the better part of six decades, can still be terrifying. 2019’s Resident Evil 2 proved just that.

With years of PS4 zombie games to look back on, it’s time to see what Sony’s big black rectangle offers those who love nothing more than to take on hordes of shufflers. Below you will find games that offer an almost impossible challenge against an endless sea of dead faces, a third-person action title that many believe to be the best of the 2010s, and also, erm, the grand conflict between sunflowers and zombies.

Think we missed any of the best PS4 zombies out on our list? Be sure to let us know down below.

The Best PS4 Zombie Games

15. Dead Rising 4

Developer: Capcom Vancouver

Publisher: Capcom

Quite comfortably the worst entry in the cult franchise, Dead Rising 4 is not the first Dead Rising you should play if you’re yet to experience the madness for the first time. The challenge is non-existent, its most famous mechanics are gone (but reintroduced in DLC), and there’s a general lack of attention to detail and care with the whole game feeling rushed. Its failure has meant we may never see another Dead Rising game again.

However, if you just want to lay the smackdown on an absolutely wild amount of zombies at once all while wearing a silly hat (and nothing else), Dead Rising 4 is probably the purest bit of undead mayhem on this list. It’s more ridiculous than ever; a good antidote for the more solemn nature of Dead Rising 3. When you can summon lightning with an axe, you might not be playing the Tree of Life of zombie games.

14. How To Survive

Developer: Eko Software

Publisher: 505 Games

Released back in 2013, How To Survive almost always flies under the radar for zombie and horror fans, perhaps because of how little of an impact its ho-hum sequel made. Available for a relative pittance, you shouldn’t overlook the original game, it casting you onto a desert island with only the undead and a strangely specific survival book for company.

Boasting an irreverent charm and more than a handful of ways of getting by, How To Survive is a surprisingly deep game despite first appearances. You will go from a simple bow and a bit of wood all the way up to flamethrowers over time, crafting yourself some safe spaces and trying to repel the ever more dangerous hordes. It’s a little rough around the edges these days, though How To Survive is still tremendous fun.

13. Dead Island: Definitive Edition

Developer: Techland

Publisher: Deep Silver

It was always going to be impossible for Dead Island the game to live up to Dead Island the trailer. While the latter has gone down as one of the best in gaming history, the game itself represents a decent attempt without enough polish or variety to bring it to the upper echelons of zombie games. Still, there’s a lot of zombie-bashing fun to be had.

When an outbreak turns a tropical dream into a nightmare, you must choose from one of several characters with different abilities as you look for an escape. Featuring a vibrant open world and a whole load of melee combat, Dead Island doesn’t unfortunately offer much revolution and is also brought down by some ugly technical issues, though its low price means that you can’t go wrong if you want to bloody a baseball bat for a few hours.

There’s also apparently a sequel, but don’t hold your breath.

12. Dead Nation

Developer: Housemarque

Publisher: SIE

It was a great shame when Housemarque, probably the biggest name who supported the subgenre for many years, announced that they would be leaving the twin stick shooter market behind to focus on more popular genres. The loss was a big one for arcade fans, Dead Nation being one of the best examples of a well-worn premise can still be so enthralling.

Dead Nation doesn’t do much that other twin stick shooters haven’t already, but it does them very well indeed. Featuring an absolute screen full of zombies at any time, who can also come out of nowhere, and a steep difficulty curve, Dead Nation can be played by yourself or with friends. You will find and upgrade plenty of weapons as you look to escape an overrun city, and compete with your friends to see who the best zombie slayer is.

Pure, intense shooting fun awaits in this often overlooked gem.

11. Plants vs. Zombies: Battle for Neighborville

Developer: PopCap Games

Publisher: EA

Battle for Neighborville’s weird, staggered launch from a peculiarly short early access period meant that it felt like it didn’t get as many headlines as it should have. That’s a great pity, as Battle for Neighborville is the Plants vs. Zombies franchise’s best and most expansive entry to date that’s overflowing with content and an absolutely irresistible cutesy aesthetic to boot.

You once again take control of either of the eponymous warring factions, this time with the twist of an open world and an impressive twenty different characters to play as. Yes, it may not have the same open world depth as its peers, but once you consider how easy it is to pick up and play, this might be the perfect introduction for youngsters — and even those of us who want the video game equivalent of a Saturday morning cartoon to put a smile on our faces.