Contagion might be something worthwhile, haven't tried it though. Project Zomboid is quite interesting when NPCs and multiplayer gets introduced (co-op). Resident Evil has some nice mechanics for jumping kicks. Zombies shouldn't know how to operate a gun and all those weird mutations. L4D really gives a sense of co-op enforced by special infected (doesn't fit a real zombie apocalypse). Siren is pretty creepy, but sight jacking really? Walking Dead Survival Instinct isn't that bad, maps amd amount of zombies are quite good (gameplay not so much) Dead Rising is so cheesy and not what I'm looking for. Part 3 is actually on my radar (zombie density rules). Dayz does alot of good things, Permadeath in a PvP context makes it too harsh. It seems to be the best zombie game of all time. Dead Island has a great trailer lots of melee really makes sense. Other than that is misses some meaningful impact. Dying Light build on top of this with a welcoming Mirrors Edge effect. COD Zombies great FPS its not the best zombie game for sure. Human Element looks interesting, L4D3 yes please, dead nation was quite good. Dead State looks interesting.


What most games get wrong is that they imply zombie killing is fun. It actually isn't about zombie killing its more about surviving (escaping and avoiding seem under used).Almost every game does a few things good. Mix it all together in an MMO + VR... Done

Best explorable, though not open world, game with zombies in it but not zombie game in my opinion? Nightmare Creatures.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WnJ83RFN_0s

The last of us isn't really a zombie game. Clickers are more mutants than anything but still a brilliant game, can't wait for the single player dlc.

And as someone said RDR undead nightmare is certainly worth a try. Some of the moments in that game are just priceless.

Perhaps because the zombie theme is both shit and overdone?

Perhaps the gaming industry is infected.

There has been plenty of good Zombie games. The issue is when your specifications are as narrow as "open-world zombie survival RPG." Historically, this particular type of game simply hasn't been very popular, so the chances of a great installment being created is low.

This thread is lacking in Project Zomboid.
http://www.projectzomboid.com/

You can thank me now.

No love for Pet Zombies on the DS, I see.

(I actually bought that game last Christmas!)

Historically, Dayz Mod is massive (2m unique players for a mod), and State of Decay broke sales records on XBLA. Dead Island sold 5 million and that was considered a disappointment by players. Zombies are a massive theme, and open world RPGs can be very popular, just look at elder scrolls or fallout 3/NV.

And my criteria isn't narrow lol. There's a ton of similar games and games attempting exactly that, it's usually just the "survival" part that goes wrong, or the game is... well just read op again.

By "this particular type of game", I meant "open-world zombie survival RPG". And by "hasn't been very popular", I meant in terms of the frequency that they have been attempted by a developer with at least a modest budget. I can think of two or three games that fit this criteria. When you limit it even further to games that fit those criteria and don't have a light-hearted tone, it gets even worse.

Open-world, zombie, survivial, non-lighthearted RPG may or may not be inherently narrow; but it's narrow enough - in terms of attempts - that you cannot find a good game that fits the category, which was my point.