Highlights:
* Zombies in gaming have maintained their appeal and relevance for a variety of reasons.
* One of the oldest franchises, Resident Evil has all the traditional qualities of a zombie game.
Zombies in gaming have a rich history that spans decades. The undying genre derives its popularity from films that date back to the 1970s. Although the conventional image of flesh-eating reanimated humans was popularized by Night of the Living Dead, it was Dawn of the Dead that looked beyond the usual scope for enemies in a zombie film.
The 1978 film featured an apocalyptic world where humans were ready to turn against fellow humans for survival. The Biker gang in DotD gave the first image of selfish bloodthirsty looters. It heavily influenced the perception of upcoming horror movies and even games, the best example being the raiders in The Last of Us series.
- Also Read: The Best Zombie Games and Why They Stand Out
The first installment in the Resident Evil franchise and SEGA’s House of Dead is credited for mainstreaming the shooting-based zombie genre. They blended horror, survival, and the good old fast-paced shooter action to reinvigorate the interest in zombies. By the next few years, zombies became a trend in media along with festivities such as Halloween.
Why Zombies In Gaming Resonate With Players?
The zombie genre in gaming is timeless because it taps into the primal instincts of humans such as anger, grief, fear, social, and most importantly, survival. During a zombie apocalypse, the protagonists in video games often lose their loved ones or are separated from them. The narrative vividly captures the main character’s pain as well as their struggles to mentally cope with the situation. An enduring example is The Last Of Us in which Joel uses his guitar to reminisce about the old days. The guitar, a symbol for memories, is later gifted to a young girl named Ellie.
Companionship is a key aspect of games that feature zombies. While the game evokes psychological responses from the players by exploring fears such as epidemics and societal collapse, the main character searches for other humans. Strength in unity is an underlying theme of such games. The non-infected humans eventually collaborate to rebuild society. However, despite being in the safety of four walls, there are no end to the problems, which creates intrigue in the player.
In the Walking Dead Telltale series, players have to make decisions that are usually a double-edged sword. It affects the community to the extent that NPCs develop resentment or a negative opinion of the protagonist. The Rebuild series is another example of how ‘survivor happiness’ can affect one’s gameplay. The choices-matter feature in zombie games adds an element of surprise to the gameplay.
The surprise element can integrate in the survival experience. Zombie hordes may attack the protagonist when they least expect it. Even though players have the means to defend themselves, such as guns or knives, the unpredictability of the encounter may throw them off. Modern zombie games have more responsive and powerful AI, for instance, the Bloater in The Last of Us.
Over the years, the zombie trope in video games has evolved to not just explore survival and fear but also provide a commentary on morality and human nature. The Last of Us delves into complex character relationships after exploring their tragic pasts. Ellie and Abby’s character dynamics are depicted magnificently as they embody the two sides of the same coin. Some characters find newfound power and a sense of purpose in the plague-ridden world, like Albert Wesker in Resident Evil and David in The Last of Us. Their motives and reasonings challenge the moral compass of the players.
Zombies in gaming offer diverse gameplay experiences. Game developers are encouraged to test the market which results in indie companies getting recognition. Modern-day games, due to technological advancements and the need for more immersive experiences, have a heavy focus on atmospheric horror. The S.T.A.L.K.E.R series is the prime example of how eerie silences can be broken by frightening jumpscares. Dying Light is another indie experience that is praised for its atmospheric storytelling.
- Also Read: 7 Best Games Where You Are A Vampire
As the gaming industry grows, zombie games will remain a staple of the medium, providing players with a captivating form of entertainment. The genre can revive itself with not only more immersive experiences but also remasters that redefine the classic experience for modern devices.
