What Games Feel Like 28 Years Later?

With the buzz around 28 Years Later, the new movie of the iconic apocalyptic franchise, it's the perfect time to explore video games that evoke a similar vibe. Think survival, isolation, and a world reshaped by chaos.

From George Romero’s meticulous decision to craft the modern zombie in Night of the Living Dead (1968) a film that didn’t just launch a genre, but redefined pop culture itself, to his perfectionist masterpiece Dawn of the Dead (1978), widely hailed as the greatest zombie movie of all time for its eerie blend of horror, biting social satire, and unforgettable scenes.

Zombies aren’t just movie monsters, they’re cultural icons. They’ve infected books, TV shows, and of course... video games.

Here are 5 zombie video games that capture the spirit of 28 Years Later:

ZOMBI

It’s impossible not to include this one, not because it’s the best zombie game ever (far from it), but simply because it shares so much DNA with the 28 Years Later saga. Most notably? It takes place in the UK, right in the heart of London, drenched in dread and decay. Originally released as ZombiU for the Wii U in 2012, it later dropped the “U” and went multiplatform in 2015 with versions for PS4, Xbox One, and PC

Set in a post-apocalyptic London, Zombi throws you into the remnants of a city devastated by a mysterious zombie outbreak tied to a centuries old prophecy. As one of many survivors guided by a voice known only as "The Prepper," your mission is simple: stay alive, scavenge supplies, and uncover the chilling truth behind the infection. But there’s a twist. When you die, you don’t respawn. You become the undead, and must start over as a new survivor…

Zombi is raw, claustrophobic, and unforgiving. The permadeath mechanic adds real stakes, forcing you to play smart, not aggressive. While the combat can feel stiff and visuals are dated, the oppressive London setting and constant tension make it a hidden gem for survival horror fans. If you loved the gritty dread of 28 Days Later, this game hits eerily close to home.

ZOMBI Related Products

consoles

Sony Playstation PS4 1TB Black Console

BUY

consoles

Zombi (PS4)

BUY

consoles

ZombiU - Nintendo Wii U

BUY

THE LAST OF US

What can possibly be said about The Last of Us that hasn’t already been written, streamed, or sobbed over? While it doesn’t share the exact same chaotic energy as 28 Years Later, it does feature a similarly terrifying world where infected humans sprint, scream, and swarm. The difference? The Last of Us doesn’t just aim for your adrenaline, it aims straight for your heart. It’s not just survival horror. It’s emotional horror.

Set twenty years after a global fungal pandemic collapses society, the story follows Joel, a hardened smuggler, and Ellie, a teenage girl who might hold the key to humanity’s survival. Their journey across a ruined America is filled with danger, not just from the grotesque “clickers” and “runners,” but from other people, broken and brutalized by the world they now inhabit. What unfolds is one of gaming’s most unforgettable narratives: raw, painful, and deeply human.

Originally released in 2013 for the PlayStation 3, The Last of Us later received a remastered version for PS4 in 2014. In 2022, it returned again as The Last of Us Part I, a full remake with rebuilt visuals and gameplay upgrades for PS5 and PC. Each edition enhanced the experience, but the soul of the game its bleak beauty and emotional core remained intact.

From a gameplay perspective, The Last of Us blends stealth, resource management, and tense action sequences with a cinematic, character, driven story. While it’s slower and more intimate than the frantic pace of 28 Years Later, it’s hard not to see the parallels in atmosphere: the loneliness, the quiet tension, and the bursts of chaos. It's not just a zombie game, it's a study in grief, connection, and what it means to keep going when everything else is gone.

The Last Of Us Related Products

consoles

PlayStation 4 Pro 1TB Limited Edition The Last of Us Part 2 Console Bu...

BUY

consoles

The Last of Us Part 1 - For PlayStation 5

BUY

consoles

Playstation Gold Wireless Headset - The Last of Us Part II Limited Edi...

BUY

DYING LIGHT 2

This is the first truly next-gen entry on our list. Dying Light 2 pushes the genre forward in scope, scale, and sheer verticality.

Set 20 years after the original, the game takes place in a massive open-world city known as Villedor, one of the last remaining human settlements. You play as Aiden Caldwell, a skilled runner infected with the virus, on a personal quest to find his missing sister. But as you unravel the truth, you’re forced to choose between warring factions, navigate moral gray areas, and survive the ever-present threat of both the infected and desperate survivors.

Dying Light 2 shines with its dynamic parkour system, day-night gameplay loop, and player-driven story choices. By day, the city feels tense and alive; by night, it becomes a deadly playground of fear. It doesn’t quite match the psychological weight of 28 Years Later, but the atmosphere of collapse, combined with fast, brutal infected, makes it a must-play for fans of adrenaline-fueled survival horror.

The Dying Light Related Products

consoles

Dying Light 2 Stay Human (PlayStation 5)

BUY

consoles

Dying Light Platinum Edition - Nintendo Switch

BUY

consoles

TECHLAND DYING LIGHT 2: STAY HUMAN STANDARD MULTILINGUE XBOX SERIES X

BUY

RESIDENT EVIL 2 REMAKE

The Resident Evil saga is a true titan of survival horror. Over the years, it's evolved in every direction: third-person controls, first-person nightmares, cinematic action thrillers, and back again. Yet through all its mutations, one thing remains constant: zombies. Whether shambling, sprinting, mutating or melting, they’re always there lurking (Like us!). And while Resident Evil doesn't share the exact viral chaos of 28 Years Later, the parallels are clear: broken cities, bioengineered infections, and the terror of being truly outnumbered.

The remake of Resident Evil 2 brings us back to one of the most iconic outbreaks in gaming history. You step into the ruined streets of Raccoon City as either rookie cop Leon S. Kennedy or college student Claire Redfield, both trying to survive a viral outbreak unleashed by the corrupt Umbrella Corporation. The story weaves through labs, sewers, and a nightmarish police station.

Gameplay-wise, RE2 Remake masterfully blends classic tension with modern mechanics. Over-the-shoulder aiming, limited ammo, grotesque enemy designs, and smart environmental puzzles make every step feel earned. The sound design alone is enough to keep you on edge. It’s a slower burn than 28 Years Later, but with that same creeping dread—and moments of full-blown panic when a Licker is nearby.

Available on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. If you’re into atmospheric survival horror with deep roots and high production value, this is non-negotiable. It’s not just nostalgia, it’s a masterclass in how to bring the undead back to life.

RE2 Remake Related Products

consoles

Resident Evil 2 - PlayStation 5

BUY

Lamp

Numskull - Resident Evil 3D Lamp Umbrella Corp

BUY

Limited

Resident Evil 2 Limited Edition R.P.D Welcome Pack

BUY

PROJECT ZOMBOID

No jump scares, no scripted sequences. Just you, a quiet town, and the inevitable truth: this is how you die. Project Zomboid might not share the cinematic scale of 28 Years Later, but it nails something even more haunting: realism. It’s not about escaping the apocalypse... it’s about accepting it.

Set in a quarantined Kentucky sandbox, Zomboid throws you into a fully simulated survival scenario. You build, scavenge, craft, farm, and fight off the infected until you make one mistake and it’s all over. The zombies here aren’t sprinting rage monsters, but they’re relentless, grow in numbers, and punish every bit of noise or hubris. Like 28 Years Later, the world feels eerily abandoned and yet constantly threatening. You're not a hero, you’re just meat with a backpack.

From a gameplay perspective, Project Zomboid is as deep as it gets: hunger, fatigue, infection, line of sight, barricading, power outages, even depression and boredom. Everything matters. The isometric view may feel old-school, but the systems under the hood are next-level. And with mod support and multiplayer, it evolves constantly thanks to its hardcore fanbase.

Currently available on PC (via Steam). It’s one of the most immersive, punishing, and oddly philosophical zombie experiences out there. If you’ve ever wondered what surviving really feels like (without the Hollywood filter) this is it.

Project Zomboid Related Products

Laptop

Acer acer Aspire 7 Laptop, 15.6 FHD Display, AMD Ryzen 5 5500U(Beats i...

BUY

Cups

Project Zomboid Custom Beer Mug, Personalized Stein, Wooden Tankard, G...

BUY

Cups

Project Zomboid Custom Drinking Horn Beer Mug, Personalized Stein, Tan...

BUY

What to Pack When Society Crashes at 2AM 🧟‍♂️

At Tech Lurker, we think about our audience, and what if the zombie end-of-the-world actually happened? We’ve watched the movies, played the games, studied survival guides written by people who’ve clearly never left their basement… so yeah, maybe we’d stand a chance. Maybe we wouldn’t be like the NPCs we used to laugh at.

That’s why we put together a survival kit that might not save humanity, but could save you. It’s practical and let’s be honest, you’d rather have this stuff and never need it, than need it and have to Google "how to filter water with socks."

Survival

FosPower Emergency Weather Radio (Model A1) NOAA/AM/FM with 7400mWh Po...

BUY

Survival

Survival Kit 35 in 1, First Aid Kit, Survival Gear, Survival Tool Gift...

BUY

Mask

KYEDAY Punk Mask for Men,LED Mask for Women,Futuristic Punk Techwear, ...

BUY

Time to be off. Remember to follow us on X and Instagram!

And hey! If you’re wondering which headsets survive both the battlefield and your budget, check out our latest article on the Best Mid-Year Gaming Headsets. It slaps.

Tech Lurker out. * Walkie talkie stactic *