The Best Co-op Zombie Games for PC

Cooperative (co-op) zombie games have taken the world by storm, establishing a unique niche in the gaming industry. These games blend together teamwork, resource management, and strategic thinking with adrenaline-pumping action against relentless hordes of eternally hungry undead. Whether it's a fast-paced shooter or a slow, suspenseful adventure, there's no better feeling than surviving the apocalypse with your friends by your side. To help you find the perfect game for your next undead adventure, we've compiled an ultimate list of the top 25 co-op zombie games on PC.

Table of Contents

1. Left 4 Dead 2

Release Date: November 17, 2009
Camera: First-person
Genre: Shooter

Left 4 Dead 2 is a classic, fast-paced first-person shooter that has set the benchmark for co-op zombie games. Developed by Valve, players band together in groups of four to navigate through various maps and survive waves of terrifying undead. The game features five unique campaigns, each with its unique setting and challenges. With an emphasis on teamwork, players must share resources, coordinate strategies, and keep each other alive to make it through each level.

2. Dying Light

Release Date: January 27, 2015
Camera: First-person
Genre: Action, Adventure

As a mix between an open-world adventure game and an intense survival horror experience, Dying Light offers a unique blend of parkour-based exploration and thrilling combat against the infected. Developed by Techland, players join forces as they traverse through a sprawling city overcome by a terrifying contagion. By day, players must scavenge for resources, craft weapons, and prepare for the horrors that come out at night. With dynamic weather and time cycles, Dying Light keeps you on your toes and encourages teamwork to overcome ever-changing obstacles.

3. Killing Floor 2

Release Date: November 18, 2016
Camera: First-person
Genre: Shooter

Killing Floor 2, developed by Tripwire Interactive, is a fast-paced first-person shooter that combines close-quarter combat with powerful firearms against hordes of grotesque enemies known as Zeds. The game's co-op mode allows players to team up in groups of six to take on waves of increasingly difficult enemies. Players can choose from a variety of classes or perks, with each one offering unique skills and bonuses. Teamwork and communication are crucial, as players must coordinate their efforts to survive the onslaught and reach the final boss battle.

4. World War Z

Release Date: April 16, 2019
Camera: Third-person
Genre: Shooter

Inspired by the hit movie and novel of the same name, World War Z is a thrilling third-person shooter that uses the power of cooperative gameplay to elevate the genre. Developed by Saber Interactive, players join up in teams of four to combat massive swarms of zombies that exhibit an intense level of AI-based behavior. The game features various scenarios set in locations such as New York, Jerusalem, and Moscow. With unique character classes and skill trees, players can customize their playstyle to complement their team's overall strategy.

5. Dead Island

Release Date: September 6, 2011
Camera: First-person
Genre: Action, Adventure

Dead Island is an open-world action role-playing game developed by Techland that seamlessly blends survival elements with gripping storytelling. Stranded on an island paradise ultimately turned into a nightmare, players must explore the vast open world to find resources and complete quests while battling different types of zombies along the way. Work together with friends to craft weapons, drive vehicles, and upgrade your survival skills while unraveling the mystery behind the island's horrific outbreak.

6. 7 Days to Die

Release Date: December 13, 2013
Camera: First-person
Genre: Survival, Crafting

7 Days to Die, developed by The Fun Pimps, combines elements from first-person shooters, tower defense games, role-playing games, and survival horror titles. It adds a heavy focus on crafting, resource gathering, and base-building mechanics to create a unique co-op experience for players. Set in a vast open-world environment filled with danger and opportunity, surviving in 7 Days to Die requires teamwork and strategy. Players need to work together to gather resources, build defenses, explore the world, and prepare themselves for waves of zombie attacks.

7. State of Decay 2

Release Date: May 22, 2018
Camera: Third-person
Genre: Survival, Base-building

Building upon its predecessor, State of Decay 2 is an open-world survival game that focuses on base management and community-building aspects to create a truly immersive cooperative experience. Developed by Undead Labs, players must work together to establish and maintain a community of survivors while scavenging resources, completing quests, and battling hordes of zombies. With permadeath as a core mechanic, players must make difficult decisions regarding which characters to recruit and how to allocate resources effectively.

8. Zombies Monsters Robots (ZMR)

Release Date: May 2014
Camera: Third-person
Genre: Shooter

Zombies Monsters Robots (ZMR), developed by Yingpei Games, is a free-to-play third-person shooter that offers an exciting co-op experience for players who enjoy fast-paced combat and engaging objectives. With numerous game modes available, players can team up against various AI-controlled enemies, including zombies, monsters, and mechs. The game features unique customization options for weapons and appearance, allowing players to tailor their characters to their preferred playstyle.

9. Call of Duty®: Black Ops - Zombies Mode

Release Date: November 9, 2010
Camera: First-person
Genre: Shooter

A fan-favorite subseries within the Call of Duty® franchise, Zombies Mode has been synonymous with fun-filled co-op gameplay since its introduction in Call of Duty: World at War. In Call of Duty®: Black Ops, developed by Treyarch, players can join up with friends to combat waves of increasingly tough undead foes. With an emphasis on strategic gameplay and map navigation, Zombies Mode offers an exhilarating gaming experience filled with unlockable weapons, power-ups, and easter eggs.

10. Resident Evil Resistance

Release Date: April 3, 2020
Camera: Third-person
Genre: Survival

As an asymmetric multiplayer survival game within the iconic Resident Evil universe, Resident Evil Resistance pits a team of four survivors against a single mastermind, who has control over the zombie horde. Developed by Capcom, in co-op mode, players must team up to solve puzzles, find resources, and fight their way through various maps to escape before time runs out. Meanwhile, the mastermind attempts to undermine their efforts by deploying traps, summoning zombies, and manipulating the environment.

11. Dead Nation

Release Date: November 30, 2010
Camera: Top-down
Genre: Shooter

Dead Nation is a highly atmospheric top-down shooter developed by Housemarque that features an engaging co-op mode. Players assume the role of one of two survivors in a post-apocalyptic city overrun with zombies. Utilizing a variety of weapons and power-ups, players must navigate through treacherous streets filled with deadly enemies and challenges that test their strategic thinking and reflexes. Cooperation is key as players' choices directly impact their chance of survival.

12. Contagion

Release Date: April 11, 2014
Camera: First-person
Genre: Survival Horror

Contagion, developed by Monochrome, Inc., is a first-person co-op survival horror game that emphasizes teamwork, strategy, and tension. With its unique "dual-risk" mechanic, teammates can become infected themselves and turn into zombies if they are not careful. Players must work together to complete objectives while battling against hordes of undead and contending with the ever-present risk that comes with their own teammates falling victim to the infection.

13. Zombie Army Trilogy

Release Date: March 6, 2015
Camera: Third-person
Genre: Shooter

As a spin-off from the Sniper Elite series, Zombie Army Trilogy is a co-op third-person shooter set in an alternate version of World War II where zombies have risen. Developed by Rebellion Developments, players team up to face relentless hordes of the undead and various bosses throughout 15 action-packed missions. With a focus on sniping, teamwork, and strategy, players must coordinate their efforts and pick off zombies with precision from a distance, using stealth tactics to survive the nightmare.

14. Cry of Fear

Release Date: April 24, 2013
Camera: First-person
Genre: Survival Horror

Cry of Fear, developed by Team Psykskallar, is a first-person survival horror game with deep psychological undertones. The game originally began as a modification for Half-Life but ultimately transformed into an independent release with challenging co-op gameplay that relies on puzzle-solving and exploration within dark environments. Players must work together to conserve scarce resources and unravel the twisted story behind the horrors they encounter in the game.

15. How to Survive 2

Release Date: September 8, 2016
Camera: Top-down
Genre: Action, Adventure

Bolstered by the success of its predecessor, How to Survive 2 by Eko Software expands upon the original's mechanics to create a more challenging and fulfilling survivor experience. Set in a post-apocalyptic world, the game emphasizes resource gathering, crafting, and base-building with a top-down camera perspective. Players team up to scavenge materials, craft weapons, fend off hordes of zombies, and complete missions while gradually upgrading their base and character abilities.

16. Project Zomboid

Release Date: November 8, 2013
Camera: Isometric
Genre: Survival, Crafting

With a focus on sandbox gameplay and isometric graphics, Project Zomboid, developed by The Indie Stone, is a unique survival experience that emphasizes realism and grim choices. In co-op mode, players must strategize together to gather resources, fortify their buildings, grow food, and face the ever-present threat of zombies. The game features a vast procedurally generated world with unique mechanics such as hunger, fatigue, illness, and mood management for each character.

17. Sniper Elite: Nazi Zombie Army

Release Date: February 28, 2013
Camera: Third-person
Genre: Shooter

A precursor to the Zombie Army Trilogy, Sniper Elite: Nazi Zombie Army, developed by Rebellion Developments, brings the renowned sniping mechanics of the Sniper Elite series into a dark and twisted World War II alternative scenario. Players team up for a cooperative experience to fend off hordes of undead Nazis with skillful sniping, tactical planning, and well-timed teamwork. The game features numerous weapons, traps, and memorable set-pieces to keep players on the edge of their seats.

18. Dead Space 3

Release Date: February 5, 2013
Camera: Third-person
Genre: Survival Horror

Taking a more action-oriented approach compared to its predecessors while maintaining survival horror elements, Dead Space 3, developed by Visceral Games, introduces an online co-op mode for players seeking a joint adventure in the sci-fi horror environment. The co-op mode follows a drop-in/drop-out system, allowing players to join each other's games seamlessly. Players take on the role of Isaac Clarke or Sergeant John Carver as they explore a frozen planet in search of answers and face terrifying Necromorphs and environmental hazards.

19. Gears of War 4: Horde Mode

Release Date: October 11, 2016
Camera: Third-person
Genre: Shooter

As a staple game mode within the Gears of War franchise, Horde Mode in Gears of War 4, developed by The Coalition, offers exhilarating co-op gameplay with refined mechanics and intense action. Up to five players must team up and battle through fifty waves of increasingly formidable enemies while building and maintaining defenses between rounds. With a variety of classes and unique abilities, players can customize their experience and work together efficiently to survive the endless onslaught.

20. Plants vs. Zombies: Battle for Neighborville

Release Date: October 18, 2019
Camera: Third-person
Genre: Shooter

In the latest installment of the popular Plants vs. Zombies franchise, Plants vs. Zombies: Battle for Neighborville, developed by PopCap Games, adds a fresh spin on the beloved characters with new co-op game modes that emphasize teamwork and strategy in highly entertaining environments. Players can choose from different plant or zombie characters, each with unique abilities and play styles, as they battle across a collection of diverse maps and participate in various cooperative missions.

21. No More Room in Hell

Release Date: October 31, 2011
Camera: First-person
Genre: Survival Horror

No More Room in Hell, developed by No More Room in Hell Team, is a first-person co-op survival horror game with an unwavering focus on realism and teamwork. This Source engine mod turned standalone game has players working together to survive realistic scenarios inspired by George A. Romero's classic zombie films. The game emphasizes resource scarcity and careful decision-making while battling a relentless horde of both slow and fast-moving zombies.

22. Unturned

Release Date: July 7, 2017
Camera: First-person & Third-person
Genre: Survival, Crafting

Combining blocky visuals with deep survival mechanics, Unturned, developed by Smartly Dressed Games, offers a unique experience for players who enjoy cooperative gameplay within an open world filled with danger and opportunity. Players must team up to survive against hordes of zombies while gathering resources, crafting items, building bases, and exploring the environment to further their chances of survival. The game features various vehicles, weapons, and character customization options to tailor the experience.

23. Mindustry

Release Date: September 27, 2019
Camera: Top-down
Genre: Strategy, Tower Defense

Mindustry, developed by AnukenDev, is a resource-management strategy game that combines elements of tower defense and factory building genres. While not a traditional zombie game, it features an unending wave of mechanical enemies that players must defend their core against. In co-op mode, players must work together to gather resources, build an efficient factory, and design powerful defenses to hold off relentless waves of mechanical foes.

24. Risk of Rain 2

Release Date: August 11, 2020
Camera: Third-person
Genre: Roguelike

As a follow-up to the original title, Risk of Rain 2, developed by Hopoo Games, brings the unique roguelike gameplay into a fully realized 3D environment that emphasizes cooperation and exploration. Players team up to battle their way through diverse procedurally generated environments filled with powerful enemies, assembling unique loadouts along the way as they race against time to unlock new areas and reach the ultimate boss battle.

25. GTFO

Release Date: December 9, 2019
Camera: First-person
Genre: Survival Horror

Developed by 10 Chambers Collective, GTFO is a first-person survival horror game that puts a heavy emphasis on teamwork and coordination. With its dark and atmospheric setting, players must come together as a squad of four with specialized character classes in order to accomplish assigned missions while facing horrifying creatures lurking within a vast underground facility. The game challenges players' combat skills, stealth tactics, and cooperation as they strategize on the fly to overcome unpredictable scenarios and obstacles.

In conclusion, the world of co-op zombie games offers a vast array of options for players seeking unique experiences and gripping teamwork challenges. From fast-paced shooters to strategic survival adventures, these games are sure to keep you and your friends engaged for hours on end. Choosing the right game for your group depends on your preferred playstyle and the level of intensity you desire. Regardless of your choice, remember that strategy, coordination, and communication are key to surviving the undead hordes that await.