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The best zombie games for Xbox One

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Our cultural obsession with the undead is astounding. From classic George A. Romero films to the 100th season of AMC’s The Walking Dead, zombies have infected almost every facet of our lives — and video games are no exception. We’ve been looking for any excuse to kill, dismember, and humiliate the undead since the first Resident Evil blew the genre wide open. Below, we’ve compiled a list of the seven best zombie games currently available for Xbox One. Thankfully, most of these titles are compatible with the Xbox Series X/S and are available on PlayStation and PC.

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Back 4 Blood

Back 4 Blood
84%
4/5
M
Platforms
PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S
Genre
Shooter
Developer
Turtle Rock Studios
Publisher
Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment
Release
October 12, 2021
Before they were left for dead, now, they’re back for blood. Back 4 Blood, the spiritual successor to the iconic Left 4 Dead franchise, puts fans right back in the thick of co-op zombie-slaying action. With a roster full of unique characters with special abilities, Back 4 Blood keeps things fresh on every run. The card system allows players to build the zombie-killing loadout of their dreams while inspiring them to progress further to unlock new cards. Back 4 Blood’s most satisfying upgrade is, perhaps, the wide variety of weapons available to each player. Of course, those trusty pain pills still make a regular appearance. 
Back 4 Blood - Reveal Trailer
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Dying Light

Dying Light
81%
3/5
M
Platforms
Linux, PC (Microsoft Windows), Mac, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
Genre
Shooter, Role-playing (RPG), Adventure
Developer
Techland
Publisher
WB Games
Release
January 26, 2015
Play as Kyle Crane, an undercover operative sent to the Turkish city of Harran, amid a viral pandemic. Its inhabitants have been overrun with undead hordes and deadly human factions. Venture out after dark at your own risk, as the zombies grow far more lethal and are led by swift apex zombies that will chase Kyle across Harran’s rooftops. Dying Light‘s unique blend of parkour and zombie survival will have players running across roofs, sliding under obstacles, and gliding on ziplines to traverse the vast open world. Dying Light also features an online co-op, where friends can help each other progress through the game or challenge other players in a human versus zombies competitive multiplayer. Dying Light 2 releases on February 4th, 2022. 

State of Decay 2

State of Decay 2
73%
5/5
M
Platforms
PC (Microsoft Windows), Xbox One
Genre
Role-playing (RPG), Simulator
Developer
Undead Labs
Publisher
Microsoft Studios
Release
May 22, 2018
State of Decay 2 is an open-world zombie survival game focused more on scavenging and crafting than pure zombie slaying. Recently optimized in December 2020 for Xbox Series X/S, State of Decay 2 will have players building communities, producing resources, and fending off hordes of zombies. As custom to most zombie media, other humans will prove the biggest threat to your survival. Make friends or enemies; it’s up to you. Co-op with up to three other players as you scavenge and survive in third-person. State of Decay 2 has received mixed reviews, as critics praise its combat engine but find the survival mechanics monotonous at times. Those looking for casual zombie survival will enjoy State of Decay 2. However, those looking for something high-octane may prefer some other titles on this list. Be sure to purchase the Juggernaut edition of the game, which improves many quality-of-life issues as far as pugs, patches, and gameplay are concerned.

World War Z

World War Z
70%
3/5
M
Platforms
PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
Genre
Shooter
Developer
Saber Interactive
Publisher
Paramount Pictures, Focus Home Interactive
Release
April 16, 2019
Speaking of high-octane zombie survival, World War Z is nothing but. Loosely based on the 2006 book of the same title and set in the same universe as the 2013 film starring Brad Pitt, World War Z plays in third-person as you and a team of friends co-op through major infested cities with one objective in mind: Survival. New York, Moscow, Jerusalem, Tokyo, and Marseille feature their own unique plot and characters as the outbreak has affected every corner of the earth. Players will fend off waves of undead as dozens, if not hundreds, of them charge at you full sprint.

The Walking Dead: The Telltale Definitive Series

The Walking Dead: The Telltale Definitive Series
83%
M
Platforms
PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 4, Xbox One
Genre
Point-and-click, Adventure
Developer
Skybound Games
Publisher
Skybound Games
Release
September 10, 2019
The Walking Dead franchise has staked its claim as a leader in zombie entertainment. From AMC’s long-running series to multiple spin-off shows, The Walking Dead has even made its way into the world of video games. This narrative-driven, choice-based game will have players moving through chapters of engaging stories comparable to that of the AMC flagship show. The game itself is more in line with the comic book series that put The Walking Dead on the map in the first place. Developed by Telltale Games back in 2012, The Walking Dead has since released four full seasons, each containing between four and six episodes and one minor season focused on Michonne.
Announcing The Walking Dead: The Telltale Definitive Series!

The Evil Within 2

The Evil Within 2
82%
M
Platforms
PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 4, Xbox One
Genre
Shooter, Role-playing (RPG), Adventure
Developer
Tango Gameworks
Publisher
Bethesda Softworks
Release
October 13, 2017
The follow-up to 2014’s title of the same name, The Evil Within 2 is at the pinnacle of horror games. While fans can argue that it isn’t a strict zombie game, there are certainly elements present that players would expect out of any undead action-adventure. Players control Sebastian Castellanos, a former police sergeant and detective now faced with exterminating the horrific creatures he’ll encounter on his expedition. The Evil Within 2 is more in line with Resident Evil’s play style, as players control a third-person protagonist and engage in over-the-shoulder combat. It makes sense that The Evil Within follows the Resident Evil formula, as Resident Evil series creator Shinji Mikami designed the game.
The Evil Within 2 - E3 2017: Announcement Trailer (Official)

Resident Evil 4 HD

Resident Evil 4 HD
89%
M
Platforms
PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
Genre
Shooter, Adventure
Developer
Capcom Production Studio 4
Publisher
Capcom
Release
September 08, 2011
Those who haven’t experienced Resident Evil 4 certainly missed out. Control Leon Kennedy, Racoon City’s most dedicated police officer turned special operative, as he embarks on a search-and-rescue mission for Ashley Graham, the president’s daughter. Leon heads to a remote part of Spain and engages with Los Illuminados, the cult that kidnapped Ashley. Leon will face some of the most elaborate creatures ever presented in a Resident Evil game and tell a story that rivals The Last of Us. Outside the main campaign, you can also test your skills in Mercenary mode, a wave-based, timed survival mini-game that will reward players with equipment to replay the campaign.

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Mike Colucci
Mike Colucci
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Michael Colucci is a lifelong video game fan based out of the greater Boston area. He's the one insistent on searching every…
The best Perk-A-Colas in Call of Duty: Black Ops 6
A screenshot from Call of Duty: Black Ops 6's zombies mode.

There's nothing more refreshing than taking a nice big swig of a Perk-A-Cola during an intense Zombies match with your pals in Call of Duty: Black Ops 6. Besides tasting great (we assume), these colas empower you with buffs that will keep you alive until the later rounds. These bonuses are just as important as the Pack-A-Punch, but come in a wider range of flavors. It is possible to stack them all, but that gets expensive very fast so you need to be thrifty about choosing which ones are most valuable early on. These colas come in eight different types that may or may not be worth your Essence to chug. If you want to know which ones are the best in Black Ops 6, check out our ranking.
Best Perk-A-Colas in Black Ops 6

We're ranking these Perk-A-Colas based on their base bonuses, not any additional effects you can get if you Augment them, from best to worst.
Jugger-Nog
You can never go wrong with the classic Jugger-Nog. Increasing your health by 100 is useful for the entire duration of a Zombies mode, but especially in the early rounds. Going down is at best a major setback and at worst a cascade into defeat. This extra health allows you to get out of a bad situation that would otherwise end your run.
Quick Revive
This Perk has two components, with the less useful one being the ability to revive teammates 50% faster. Ideally, that shouldn't be needed but is nice. However, what makes it rank so high is the 50% shorter delay on health regen. Your health will come back over time in Zombies but at a dreadful pace. Starting to heal faster means less time running and kiting zombies around and more time in the action helping the team.
Speed Cola
The best early guns for Zombies mode have a large magazine, fast reload, or both. Running out of ammo at the wrong time and not being able to get more rounds in the chamber fast enough has ended many a run, but Speed Cola is the solution. It will speed up your reloads and armor plating by 30%. That's not a massive number, but fast enough to make the difference.
Stamin-Up
These zombies aren't the shambling types. They will chase you down like sprinters, and some of the monstrous ones can outpace you even at full tilt. Stamin-Up sounds like it would let you run for longer, but actually just lets you run faster since you have no limit on sprint in Black Ops 6. Positioning is everything in Zombies so being able to get where you need to be faster is never a bad thing, especially if it's a downed teammate bleeding out.
Deadshot Daiquiri
Every zombie has a weak spot, which is most often the head. Deadshot Daiquiri makes a critical hit hurt even more than normal, plus increases your auto-aim on those weak points when you aim down sights (ADS). That second part shouldn't factor much if you've got good aim, which is why this is only a decent Perk-A-Cola.
PhD Flopper
Not being able to hurt yourself is situationally useful, and the ability to cause an explosion by diving is a risky move. Yes, it's cool, but you don't want to be lying prone surrounded by zombies. This is a cool gimmick, but save yourself the Essence and skip it.
Elemental Pop
When Elemental Pop works, it's great. The problem with it is that you can't rely on it. It gives a small chance on every shot you take to add a random ammo mod effect, which is cool but impractical. If you have spare Essence on you, sure, it won't hurt you to have, but it isn't something that will turn the tide for you or your team.
Melee Macchiato
Finally, Melee Macchiato bottoms out the list. It is fine in the early game when the hordes are small and you're better off meleeing enemies since it will smack enemies away with each hit, but quickly drops off in usefulness. When the zombies get too strong and too numerous, you will need a lot more than a strong punch to deal with them and end up forgetting you even have it.

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Black Ops 6 isn’t the only Activision Blizzard game coming to Xbox Game Pass this month
A soldier stands outside in Call of Duty: Black Ops 6.

It's October, which means it's Call of Duty season for Xbox and Activision. So expectedly, Xbox Game Pass' offerings for the second half of the month into November are all about Activision Blizzard.

October 25 is the big day for Call of Duty fans. The next entry in the shooter series, Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, is hitting cloud, console, and PC for Ultimate and PC Game Pass subscribers. Modern Warfare 3, which was the first Call of Duty game added to the service in July, is also specifically coming to Xbox Cloud Gaming on October 25, along with Call of Duty Warzone.

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Best Xbox Game Pass deals: Upgrade to Game Pass Ultimate for cheap
Xbox Game Pass Ultimate logo.

If you own an Xbox Series X or Series S console then you'll almost certainly need an Xbox Game Pass membership to play multiplayer games online. Unfortunately, much like the PS5, a subscription is needed to access online and multiplayer gaming, so if you do a lot of that, it's absolutely mandatory. Luckily, there are some perks, which include access to a pretty sizeable game library. Granted, you aren't always going to get the latest games, but if you don't buy games often, having this option is great for a little bit of extra each month. Sony's PS Plus service works in the same vein, but the difference is that there is also an Xbox Game Pass subscription service for PCs as well, so PC gamers can access the library.

Also, you may want to check out these great Xbox Series S and X deals while you're here.
Xbox Game Pass Core

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