4 Zombie Games That Became the Best Left 4 Dead Replacements

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Left 4 Dead was a groundbreaking co-op shooter, but Valve, the game’s creator, hasn’t released new content for it since the Cold Stream DLC in 2012. While a fan-made expansion, The Last Stand, was officially added in 2020, a full sequel, Left 4 Dead 3, doesn’t appear to be in development. Luckily, other game studios, including the original Left 4 Dead team at Turtle Rock Studios, have created similar zombie-shooting games with cooperative gameplay to satisfy fans.

Here are four games that’ll scratch your Left 4 Dead itch.

4) Back 4 Blood

Turtle Rock Studios, the creators of Left 4 Dead, recently released Back 4 Blood, which is designed as a follow-up to their original zombie shooter. Like Left 4 Dead, it’s a cooperative game where four players fight off waves of zombies. Back 4 Blood adds a new layer of gameplay with collectible cards that modify player stats, giving the game a bit of a roguelite feel.

While it doesn’t quite live up to expectations or reach the popularity of Left 4 Dead, this new game from the original developers is still enjoyable, especially if you have friends to play with. It’s a decent option if you’re looking for a similar experience and want to see what they’ve been working on.

Sources say Turtle Rock Studios is developing a follow-up to Back 4 Blood. The developers seem to be learning from the experience of the first game – and similar zombie shooters like Left 4 Dead – with the goal of creating a sequel that improves on the original in creative ways. While the card system doesn’t need a complete overhaul, it could benefit from some refinement.

3) Warhammer: Vermintide Series

You’ll be battling rat-like creatures, not zombies, but the gameplay feels very similar. Both Vermintide games are fantastic co-op experiences where you and up to four friends play as one of five unique heroes. Similar to Left 4 Dead, each hero has special abilities, and in Vermintide 2, you can customize those abilities even further with different career paths.

I’m really enjoying Vermintide! It’s similar to games like Left 4 Dead, but it leans more into melee combat, which is awesome. Seriously, the feeling of cutting through waves of enemies is so satisfying – you can actually see limbs flying off as you and your friends hack and slash through the ratmen! It just feels really good.

In addition to the two Vermintide games, Fatshark released Warhammer 40,000: Darktide in 2022. It’s a shooting-focused game similar to Vermintide, though its rewards and crafting aren’t as strong. However, if you enjoy Vermintide, it’s still worth playing.

2) Killing Floor Series

While technically not zombies, Killing Floor features waves of enemies that are the result of failed cloning – they function very similarly. The first two Killing Floor games aren’t as refined as Left 4 Dead, but they’re still fun, action-packed games to play with friends.

Honestly, I think Killing Floor 2 is the better game. They really upped their game with the perk system – there’s so much more to customize. Plus, the weapons are just over-the-top awesome, and the new Zeds keep things interesting. And the best part? You can play with up to six friends, which makes for some seriously fun co-op action.

The third game, released in July 2025, hasn’t quite lived up to expectations. While the team at Tripwire has been actively addressing problems – most recently with the Rearmament Update – it’s still not fully satisfying for dedicated fans. However, it’s improving, and many players may change their opinion of KF3 in the near future.

1) World War Z

World War Z feels like a spiritual successor to the game Left 4 Dead. While it’s not exactly the same, it takes the core idea of cooperative zombie shooting and ramps it up with incredibly large hordes. The game can display up to 1,000 zombies on screen at once, meaning any zombie swarm you’ve faced before will pale in comparison to what World War Z throws at you.

While the massive zombie crowds are the most impressive part of World War Z, the game also excels in other areas. Each character class offers a distinct playstyle, and you’ll gain access to strong weapon improvements as you progress through the story campaign. The competitive multiplayer isn’t quite as engaging as the cooperative story mode, but it’s a commendable effort to innovate.

The already great game World War Z became even better in 2021 with the release of the Aftermath upgrade. This added three new locations to play in, new characters, a first-person perspective option, and improvements to the close-combat system. If you’re looking for a similar experience to Left 4 Dead, this is a fantastic place to start.

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2025-11-17 01:11