Braaaaains! Yummy! Sorry about that; we’re just super eager to discuss Zombie games on PS3. We can’t explain our enthusiasm for these flesh-eating and terrifying creatures, but we have an obsession with them. It might have something to do with the satisfying brutality of slaughtering them all, but hey, they’re after our brains, so it’s fair game.
Related Article: The 6 Best Zombie Games Like Dying Light 2.
We love zombie games, and a certain appeal makes us crave them. Whatever the reason, we’re determined to finalize the best zombie games from the PS3 generation. Why, specifically, the PS3? Well, we’re retro gamers, and we have fond memories of the console.
Which Zombie Games On PS3 Are The Best?
Before diving into the list, we’ll go over the essential criteria a game must pass to qualify for our list. So, without further adieu, let’s look at the metrics we’re using for our list of best zombie games on PS3.
- The game must be on the PS3. ☑
- The game must have zombies. ☑
- The game must be fun. ☑
- The game must have over-the-topness. ☑
Well, that last part might not be necessary, but it’s our list, so we have to draw the line somewhere to make it unique! Anyway, now that we’ve set things up, let’s begin our list of the best zombie games on PS3.
We’ve done the hard part of narrowing down our list to 5 titles. They’re the cream of the crop, the best of the best, and the unmatched! Curious to know about them? Well, then, read on!
5. Dead Island
Dead Island was a game that got hype when its first trailer dropped, but the series of delays hampered player expectations. Yet, when the game launched, the player base unanimously loved it. Players are thrust into an open-world, immersive first-person survival game that focuses purely on surviving. The great thing about Dead Island zombies is that the vicious flesh-consuming monsters aren’t one-dimensional or generic.
Players will flee for safety whenever the zombies appear in waves, and the primary means of defense against them is melee weapons. The blunt and sharp categories of the tools as makeshift weapons like the wrench, hammer, or knife make for gory yet satisfying kills. The guns and bullets aren’t a safety net for players, as the firearms require constant scrap and parts for repairs after continuous use. However, that opens the door to weapon modification, a brilliant feature.
The story of Dead Island is exceptionally engaging, and players will audibly gasp as the surprising plot twists unravel. The players can play as one of the four lead characters, each unique with a different specialization. The game’s stamina system makes the characters slow down and not rush indefinitely. With the upgrade paths in the skill tree, characters can improve their chances of survival by leveling up.
The gorgeous visuals and first-person perspective make Dead Island a very immersive experience.
How Is Dead Island One Of The Best Zombie Games On PS3?
Dead Island’s action is frantic and requires careful strategy; if players rush into danger, there’s a good chance of the player’s character dying. There are incredibly tense moments where stealth is essential to pass through an area where players will be sweating buckets. The game’s movement systems and open-world setting serve as a blueprint for future zombie games by game developer Techland. They’re now famous for their Dying Light series, and Dead Island’s influence is clearly visible.
Related Article: The Max Level In Dying Light 2, How Far Can You Go?
Weapon modification is another brilliant feature of Dead Island, and it’s where the most fun is gameplay-wise. Adding electrified blades and watching the zombies shudder as we tear them to shreds is utterly fulfilling. Considering you spend the majority of the game running away from them, it’s only fitting to have fun dismembering them.
The voice-acting and story beats are top-tier. The emotional impact of the betrayals in the game by NPCs and the source of the zombie plague make for riveting storytelling. The character designs and the diverse cast delivers incredible performances that make us root for the protagonists, who are immune to the plague somehow. Their story is far from over, and with Dead Island 2 coming soon, we can’t wait to see how the plot continues.
The zombies are menacing and varied; not every zombie is the same; some are trackers who will chase you until you kill them. The boss fights against massive zombies that result from further virus mutation are intense, and players must strategically take them out. All the amazing features we’ve laid bare highlight why Dead Island is one the best zombie games on PS3.
4. Yakuza: Dead Souls
On paper, it’s a ridiculous idea to condense the absurdity of the Yakuza series from its silly humor and exaggerated dialogue delivery with poses and mashing it with zombie games. Yet, the developers have created something unique, which is rare nowadays. Players get a game that’s as fun to play as it’s silly in its premise; Yakuza: Dead Souls is our personal favorite Yakyuza title.
Yakuza: Dead Souls offers a much-needed refreshing take on the series, which helps revitalize the franchise. Adding zombies to the story lets players cut loose and enjoy mindless fun. For the first time in the Yakuza games, players see how a third-person shooter would play out. Admittedly, there are problems with the gameplay, but as an overall experience, Yakuza: Dead Souls is fantastic.
Yakuza: Dead Souls is a spin-off from the mainline games. The game’s timeline is set after the events of Yakuza 4, though no pre-knowledge of prior entries is necessary. The game stars 4 protagonists with individual chapters, each highlighting the characters’ priorities. The story involves a mysterious zombie outbreak that’s running rampant in Kamurocho. There’s trouble brewing when all 4 protagonists get involved in the city-spanning adventure.
The gun-play introduces a new dynamic for players to engage enemies with aside from the brawling combat. The story is still cheesy, like a typical Yakuza game.
How Is Yakuza: Dead Souls One Of The Best Zombie Games On PS3?
Players can chain melee and ranged attacks in Yakuza: Dead Souls. Players can shoot multiple zombies with a single shot in an epic combo at the end of a physical beatdown. The 4 characters play out very differently, each possessing a unique weapon that also sets them apart. Aside from their quirky personalities, each hero also feels genuinely good, making them likable protagonists.
Kazuma Kiryu uses a sniper rifle that might as well be a shotgun at close range. Kiryu’s sniper can blow away a group of zombies. Shun Akiyama has a dual-wield build of fast-shooting pistols, and it feels great and flashy for destroying zombies. Goro Majima has an actual shotgun, which functions more like a canon and is a blast (pun intended). Lastly, Ryuji Goda’s arm is the freaking weapon, but don’t worry; it’s not the Devil Bringer. Ryuji’s mechanical arm has incredible firepower to destroy zombies left and right.
The narrative sees the 4 leads come into contact with one another to lend assistance and show character depth. Each character is genuinely motivated to be in the thick of things. Of course, that signature absurd humor is there to balance things out nicely. There is a partner mechanic in Yakuza: Dead Souls; players receive help from a select partner. The partners range from various characters with sassy personalities, but they can help out in a pinch.
Given how much we’ve enjoyed the game, Yakuza: Dead Souls is one of the best zombie games on PS3. The game is well worth experiencing if you haven’t played it. You won’t be left disappointed, and the gameplay is wonderfully satisfying.
3. Resident Evil 6
Resident Evil 6 starts with 3 campaigns, each with distinguishable features and offering excellent variety. Chris Redfield returns in one of the campaigns; he’s going through a crisis of self-doubt and trauma as a result of the prologue part of his story. Chris teams with one of the most loyal side characters of all time, Pierce Nivans. They attempt to punish the criminal responsible for the loss of Chris’s former squadmates. It’s an action-heavy campaign that fans of Resident Evil 5 will love.
The second campaign is with Leon Kennedy, as he’s paired with a secret service Agent, Helena Harper. The two uncover a sinister plot: Umbrella Corporation is still in power, creating a deadlier version of the virus that’s turning people into zombies. The two face adversity and numerous challenges to get the word out, but things get dire at every turn.
The third campaign involves a surprising twist regarding Jake Muller, our personal favorite new Resident Evil character. Jake’s the son of the series’ main villain, Albert Wesker, and he teams up with another classic character, Sherry Berken. She escorts him to synthesize a cure for the zombie virus. The two get involved in an elaborate conspiracy and are pursued by a powerful villain Ustank.
If that wasn’t enough, Capcom over-delivered and made a secret campaign for series fan-favorite Ada Wong. No spoilers.
How Is Resident Evil 6 One Of The Best Zombie Games On PS3?
After Resident Evil 5, the scare and fear element of the Resident Evil games took a significant dive. Honestly, we weren’t expecting to enjoy Resident Evil 6 as much as we did when we got our hands on the game. The gameplay of Resident Evil 6 is perhaps the most polished game in the series until the Remakes and later entries.
We were pleasantly surprised at how the action orientation of Resident Evil 6 balanced with the slow-burn horror. Remarkably, Leon S. Kennedy’s campaign had the classic atmospheric horror elements of the retro Resident Evil games. Ada’s secret campaign has puzzles reminiscent of Resident Evil 2, and Chris’s action-heavy cinematic was similar to Resident Evil 5 and 4. The co-op and pairing within each campaign as the stories crossover from one character’s arc to another is a brilliant storytelling tool.
Resident Evil 6 has different playstyles for each character. Chris is more oriented toward heavy ammunition arms and is combat-focused. Leon carries light weapons and maintains his distance from the enemies, going to finesse and precision. In our opinion, Jake was the wild card and the MVP with his hand-to-hand fighting that knocks zombies away with palm strikes. The partners for each main character are capable and supportive, which adds fun to the gameplay.
Ada Wong’s gameplay is super exciting; she is more agile, fast, and deceptively powerful than she looks and has a grappling hook. Plus, she’s rocking her signature outfit in a zombie-infested scenario and looking super hot while dispatching fools. No wonder people like her. With our fanboyism, hopefully, it’s clear that we consider Resident Evil 6 as one of the best zombie games on PS3.
2. The Last Of Us
Surprised that everybody’s beloved Sony franchise is number 2 on our list of the best zombie games on PS3? Well, good, because there’s one more title that eclipses it. Anyway, The Last Of Us is a fantastic and engaging game where the story is king, and you can’t ask for a better atmospheric cinematic game. The intimate storytelling of The Last Of Us, focusing on a personal level for its lead protagonists, is captivating.
What makes The Last Of US such a beloved game is its attention to detail for its character work and graphical fidelity. Even on the PS3, the game looks gorgeous; a chunk of the fanbase is adamant that the Remake wasn’t even necessary. The emotional trauma of Joel’s past in the game’s prologue will devastate players. Plus, the wholesome feeling of seeing Ellie under Joel’s protection is heartwarmingly wholesome.
The political intrigue in the drastically changed landscape of the game world of The Last Of Us is fascinating. The various groups, all trying to gain influence and territory over the others, with sadistic and heinous acts, is the new normal in The Last Of Us. Despite humanity being under threat of extinction from the plague that’s turning ordinary people into infected, human greed is at the center.
The game encourages stealth for players to avoid contact with the infected and hostile humans.
How Is The Last Of US The Runner Up On Our List Of The Best Zombie Games On PS3?
Problems arise when Joel and Ellie pass through sections where zombies are in high numbers. Sure, players can take their chances and go full commando, taking out as many enemies as they can, but their numbers will catch up. A dangerous subspecies of the infected are the Clickers; players must use caution whenever they see one. They’re horrifying creatures and can sense movements.
The runners aren’t that much of a threat, they’re just fast, but if you time your attacks, you can dispatch them quickly. The slightly more problematic are the stalkers in the dark corridors of a build; they can surprise players and get the drop on them. The main hulking type infected are the bloaters, and they require special heavy weaponry to eliminate them.
What’s super interesting about The Last Of Us is the morally grey area where our leads are on the karmic spectrum. They’re trying to do good in a world full of evil, terrible people, and a plague that’s turning people into abominations. The means that Joel and Ellie adapt to get across from one place to another often include defending themselves.
Ellie, a young girl, loses her innocence by taking lives and is emotionally broken about it. Joel comforts her and justifies their actions in a comforting manner. Joel acts like a father to her, which is heartfelt and inspiring. The basic gameplay is compelling because of the strong narrative of The Last Of Us. Undoubtedly, The Last Of Us is a modern-day masterpiece and definitely one of the best zombie games on PS3.
1. Lollipop Chainsaw
Okay! We’re officially at the top spot on our list of best zombie games on PS3, and we’re ecstatic! The zombie game that trumps all other PS3 zombie titles is none other than Lollipop Chainsaw. Starring the zombie-slaying cheerleader who’s looking to score with her boyfriend, who, unfortunately, is a severed head. Are you interested to hear more? Brace yourself as the game gets weirder.
Players control a young girl named Juliette; she hails from a lineage of zombie hunters who are sworn protectors of the human race. Also, she’s a badass cheerleader who isn’t afraid to speak her mind. Anyway, on her 18th birthday, the lady is excited to meet her boyfriend at the park when zombies invade the earth. Unfortunately, Juliette’s boyfriend falls victim to the zombies as he gets bitten.
Juliette, not ready to give up, performs a ritual to save him and cuts off his head to stave off the infection. The ritual saves her boyfriend’s life, and thus the banter of the two love birds is set for the rest of the game. Players learn that the source of the zombie invasion is someone’s broken-down barriers that separate the human world from the undead one.
How Is Lollipop Chainsaw The Number 1 Game On Our List Of Best Zombie Game On PS3?
Juliette learns through her mentor that the person responsible for destroying the barriers is Swan. He is a goth-punk edge-lord brat who has summoned 5 powerful dark purveyors. The dark purveyors are basically 5 boss fights for Juliette; she must defeat them to restore the barriers. Interestingly, the dark purveyors are thematically based on the subgenres of rock and roll music.
The gameplay is ridiculous and over-the-top; the combat feels refreshing and visceral as Juliette shreds down undead effortlessly. The enemies are varied and can create a challenging situation for Juliette. However, she can heal as long as she’s got her signature lollipops. There’s also a roulette Juliette can spin whenever she dies to take a chance to return to life.
The gameplay comprises melee and firearm combat, where Juliette quickly kills zombies. If players combine combos, the score multiplies, and they earn points. Points unlock new moves, outfits, accessories, and power-ups. The special moves allow Juliette to attack enemies in new patterns and dispose of them in fanciful ways. There’s also a blaster that players get later in the game. It intensifies the zombie-slaying action, making the game an adrenaline rush that players will enjoy.
Players will quickly feel drawn to Juliette’s personality, looks, and outfit (we admit it, okay?!). Plus, the other facet of the game’s appeal is the combat and over-the-top cheesy dialogue. The cringe romance between Juliette and Nick, her boyfriend, is chuckle-worthy and yet wholesome as well. Everything we’ve mentioned factors into our enjoyment of the game. Therefore, we confidently say that Lollipop Chainsaw is the best zombie game on PS3 that we’ve played.
Final Thoughts
Alright, it’s finally over! Compiling shortlists is a lot more challenging than big ones, but we’re always up to the task. We hope you enjoyed our list of the best zombie games on the PS3. How do you feel about our picks; let us know In the comments below.
Tell us about your favorite zombie games from the PS3 era. We’re always happy when we get reminded of other games that went under our radar. If you’d like to see other ranked lists of games, preferably one which isn’t zombie related, then check out Every Pokemon Game For Switch Ranked, From Worst To Best.
