The modern zombie was codified in George Romero’s 1968 classic Night of the Living Dead. Originally referred to as ghouls, these mindless flesh eaters soon replaced the original folklore. Video games served as the catalyst for the second golden age of zombies, giving us a gory streak from the late ’90s to the early 2010s
Over the course of their mass media dominance, zombies have evolved, especially in gaming. Given that games are immersive by nature, it’s no wondertheir zombies are the most threatening: getting cannibalized is scarier when you’re in control. These iconic zombie characters, instantly recognizable in their design, are the ones we learned to fear most.
Dead Space plunged intonew depths of sci-fi horrorwith the necromorph, entities reborn from corpses infected by the Marker. Unlike most video game zombies, necromorphs take little offense to you shooting them in the head. Cutting off their limbs is the way to go, so all that headshot training goes out the window.
The problem with their limbs is that they’re so long and spindly. Necromorphs are also skilled at playing possum, and you’ll quickly wise up: it’s best to cut their limbs off before you walk past, even if they’re motionless. You never know when they’re just pretending.
Somewhere along the line, these zombies got both their arms amputated. They managed: when life gives you lemons, sharpen your forearm bones to make blades. The butcher is both faster and stronger than the regular enemies in Dead Island and may well be the most troublesome enemy in the game.
Because of their agility, it’s unlikely you can outrun butchers on foot. It’s best to get into a car and try to run them down. Dead Island has big zombies, and Dead Island has fast zombies, but your front bumper makes them equal.
The licker’s introductory scene was considered so shocking in the original Resident Evil 2 that it was censored: initially, he greeted you by dropping a severed head at your feet. From the moment you looked up and saw this creature crawling on the ceiling, the licker was one of Resident Evil’s most memorable zombies.
These BOWs are actually regular zombies in advanced stages of mutation. Unable to keep up withthe T-virus’s physical toll, their skin flakes off, and their brains expand outside their cranium. The trade-off: long tongues, claws and dense muscles without having to work out. The lickers have excellent hearing but lack eyesight: if you don’t want to be dragged to your doom, tread lightly.
The scariest sound in Left 4 Dead isn’t the rasp of a horde or the growl of a Tank. It’s the mournful wail of this pitiable creature. The Witch wants to be left alone so she can enjoy her favorite pastime: shedding tears. Maybe, unlike the other zombies, she can remember something of her past life.
If you manage to sneak past without bothering her, the Witch has no qualms about leaving you alone. If you startle her or refuse to back off, she’ll charge you withincredible speed and strength. At that point, your only hope is that one of your teammates squeezes off a lucky shot.
Oh, it’s hard to imagine a fate worse than this one. Introduced shortly after the shocking events in Half-Life’s first act, these zombies are humans - usually the unfortunate scientists - who had the misfortune of a headcrablatching onto their head. From that point on, they’re completely possessed and under alien control.
To make it even more horrifying, the sequels gave these zombies voice lines that were cries for help played in reverse. Whether that was the semi-conscious host making a sincere plea or the headcrab itself mimicking their voice to lure new prey remains a question to keep you up at night.
Picture this: you go through a doorway in the PS1 version of Resident Evil 3, and you hear a second doorknob click. No matter how much you wish it was just an audio stutter, you know it isn’t. It’s Nemesis, looking to continue his relentless pursuit of Jill.
Created to hunt down Raccoon Police Department’s cream of the crop, Nemesis represented a constant threat that kept you on your toes. Hearing him growl, “S.T.A.R.S,” in the original is cause for unholy terror. Unfortunately, that’s notthe case in RE3 Remake: every appearance is scripted and predictable. Still, it’s hard not to love this big green hunk of Frankensteinian stitchery.
Strictly speaking, bubble head nurses aren’t zombies. But given that the monsters of Silent Hill are influenced by your psyche, they’re close enough: zombie folkloredidstart with mind control, remember. The nurses' unnatural, halting gait and lack of a proper face make them scary - your mind registers that something’s off.
These nurses are also weirdly hot, andthat’s the point: James was lusting after the hospital staff while his wife was sick. Unfortunately, just like Pyramid Head, the bubble head nurses were cheapened by their pointless inclusion in future Silent Hill titles. Maybe everyone who goes to that town is just incurably horny.
House of the Dead is underappreciated for its contribution to the rise of video game zombies. Set in a mansion eerily similar to Resident Evil’s, the rail shooter was grisly enough for its time to be part of the debate on banning violent games. Thankfully, it won out.
The Magician serves as the game’s final boss, adorned with pulsating muscles and worm-like appendages. He was the ultimate challenge, with the game refusing to tell you his weak point (his glowing arms and legs gave it away). After being defeated, he reappeared as a mid-boss in later games. House of the Dead fans love the Magician, not least for his excellent fight music.
Where Resident Evil 3’s remake failed in having a constant threat, RE2 delivered. This sharp-dressed Tyrant is arguably more iconic in his remake rendition than in the original, and fans made that known with a buffet of memes.
Mr. X can hear you from across rooms and show up when you least expect it, ruining your best-laid plans. You’d best improvise quickly, because one punch from this guy sends Leon and Claire flying. He’s so single-minded in his objective that he pushes regular zombies aside to get to you: if anyone’s gonna give it to ya, it’s X.
The moment you hear that chainsaw revving, that cold trickle of fear comes in. Resident Evil 4, both the classic and the remake, hit the jackpot with Dr. Salvador: a powerful Ganado who could slice Leon’s head off with one sure hit. Every time he gets close enough to take a swing is a moment you hold your breath.
Design-wise, Dr. Salvador isn’t much different from the other Ganados, except that he wears a burlap sack on his head. The fact you can’t see his face, alongside his greater capacity for absorbing lead, makes him the one Ganado youreallywant to stay down.
