Games Like Dread Dawn

The dead have risen and civilization has fallen. Now it's up to you to gather survivors, scavenge for resources and build a community in a post-apocalyptic world – a world where you define what it means to survive in this ultimate zombie survival simulation.

Why similar: Zombies 32.8%, Survival 20.5%, Base Building 18.2%, Open World 15.9%, Sandbox 5.7%

Why You'll Like It: This is the definitive community-focused zombie survival game that mirrors the base-building and survivor management found in Dread Dawn.

'Night of the Dead' is an open-world game that combines elements of exploration, tower defense, survival, and crafting. Traverse a world dominated by zombies while collecting various resources and powerful equipment. Build a fortress to survive the hordes of zombies that swarm every night!

Why similar: Zombies 23.7%, Tower Defense 15.8%, Base Building 12.7%, Survival 11.6%, Sandbox 11.2%

Why You'll Like It: It emphasizes the construction of complex traps and fortifications to defend against massive waves of zombies in an open world.

SurrounDead is an open world survival game. Taking place in a world ravaged by an apocalyptic catastrophe. The dead reign free and will stop at nothing to kill you.

Why similar: Zombies 38.1%, Survival 19.7%, Open World 15.7%, Base Building 9.4%, Third-Person Shooter 4.7%

Why You'll Like It: A solid open-world survival experience that focuses on looting, exploration, and managing resources in a post-apocalyptic setting.

7 Days to Die is an open-world game that is a unique combination of first-person shooter, survival horror, tower defense, and role-playing games. Play the definitive zombie survival sandbox RPG that came first. Navezgane awaits!

Why similar: Zombies 24.4%, Survival 17.6%, Base Building 12.1%, Tower Defense 11.3%, Open World 10.5%

Why You'll Like It: The game perfectly captures the tower-defense and base-building loop required to survive periodic zombie hordes.

Project Zomboid is the ultimate in zombie survival. Alone or in MP: you loot, build, craft, fight, farm and fish in a struggle to survive. A hardcore RPG skillset, a vast map, massively customisable sandbox and a cute tutorial raccoon await the unwary. So how will you die? All it takes is a bite..

Why similar: Zombies 36.6%, Survival 24.3%, Open World 14.4%, Sandbox 12%, Isometric 4.8%

Why You'll Like It: It offers the deepest simulation of urban survival, scavenging, and base fortification currently available in the genre.

Choose any real region from the world. Choose your base of operations, then rebuild and readapt the buildings around you to create a self-sustaining settlement. Take charge of a group of survivors from your city. And when the night falls - Defend the zone from the infected!

Why similar: Zombies 33.1%, Base Building 22.4%, Outbreak Sim 19.2% ★, Survival 12.4%, Sandbox 10.7%

Why You'll Like It: This title focuses on the strategic city-builder aspect of survival, allowing you to turn real-world locations into fortified bases.

A great catastrophe has come, and you, who are on duty, crash and trapped in a Zed Zone. There are zombies and monsters everywhere, In order to escape, by collecting materials, upgrading skills, building shelters, defeating zombie waves and mysterious mechs, chasing a glimmer of hope.

Why similar: Zombies 26.8%, Survival 14.9%, Outbreak Sim 14.3% ★, Sandbox 12.7%, Open World 12.1%

Why You'll Like It: A hardcore survival game that emphasizes realistic mechanics, vehicle maintenance, and base building in a dangerous open world.

HumanitZ is an isometric, open-world sandbox survival game set in a world ended by a zombie outbreak. Survive alone or with friends by scavenging, crafting, building, and fighting to last as long as ‘humanly’ possible. You can’t change the past, but you can fight for the future of humanity.

Why similar: Zombies 27.8%, Survival 15.5%, Base Building 14.3%, Open World 12.1%, Sandbox 11.4%

Why You'll Like It: A top-down open-world survival game that focuses on the classic tropes of looting, crafting, and defending against the undead.

Make your stand against the collapse of society in the ultimate zombie survival-fantasy game. Explore an open world full of dangers and opportunities that respond to your every decision. Recruit a community of playable survivors, each with their own unique skills and talents.

Why similar: Zombies 38%, Survival 19.8%, Open World 14.9%, Base Building 14.6%, Sandbox 4.8%

Why You'll Like It: The original classic provides a tight, narrative-driven experience centered on managing a group of survivors in a quarantined zone.

MIST SURVIVAL is a Single-player, survival stealth sandbox game Players will experience the Apocalypse stimulation in the form of virus pandemic, the players have to deal with it to survive through the difficulties such as finding shelter and food, threats from the environment and climate: wild animals, bandits, infected, and dense mist t

Why similar: Zombies 33.7%, Survival 25.3%, Open World 15.6%, Base Building 13.6%, Sandbox 8.3%

Why You'll Like It: It combines intense survival mechanics with base building and exploration, forcing players to adapt to changing weather and threats.

Ascend from your shelter. Ruin everything. Escape the wretched island. ⚔️🔨🎣🌱🌵🍰 Explore. Fight. Level up. Survive. Gather. Craft. Harvest. Hunt. Build. Farm. Solve puzzles. Fish. Cook. Live. Enjoy the bittersweet post-apocalypse.

Why similar: Zombies 26.7%, Survival 17.9%, Open World 14.8%, Base Building 14.5%, Sandbox 9.6%

Why You'll Like It: This game excels at the exploration and scavenging loop, rewarding players for systematically clearing out zombie-infested areas.

This is a multiplayer cooperative open world construction survival sandbox game, where you and your friends must find supplies and build shelters in this world. You have to keep an eye on your character's needs state at all times, a bad state is likely to lead to death.

Why similar: Zombies 31.8%, Survival 23.1%, Open World 16.8%, Sandbox 7.5%, Building 6.5%

Why You'll Like It: This game offers deep crafting and base-building systems that are essential for long-term survival in a zombie-filled world.

It's ten years since the infection started. Long-established settlements are collapsing, one by one, for unknown reasons. Survivors are running to the hills to escape, hoping for safety in remote places. As another refugee, you're here to carve out a new life for yourself - by any means necessary.

Why similar: Base Building 27.5%, Open World 20.3%, Survival 19%, Exploration 11.3%, Third Person 10.9%

Why You'll Like It: It features complex AI and community management mechanics that make building and defending a settlement feel personal and impactful.

Terminus: Zombie Survivors is a 2D turn-based survival roguelike set during a zombie apocalypse. Each journey is unique, and every decision can mean the difference between life and death. Can you brave hunger, cold, and the undead in order to reach the Terminus and find salvation?

Why similar: Zombies 35%, Survival 19.9%, Sandbox 14.2%, Open World 13.1%, Exploration 6.4%

Why You'll Like It: A turn-based survival game that captures the tension of scavenging for supplies and managing health in a city under lockdown.

A deadly virus plagues the city and the residents now roam the streets as flesh-eating zombies. Loot the apocalyptic open world and build a self-sustaining zombie-killing fortress. Will you survive the apocalypse or become one of the undead?

Why similar: Zombies 34.4%, Base Building 19.7%, Survival 15.8%, Open World 15.3%, Action-Adventure 6.2%

Why You'll Like It: A 3D survival game that leans heavily into base building and managing the constant threat of zombie incursions.

Decision: Red Daze is an action RPG with a unique mix of survival and tower defense mechanics. Explore an apocalyptic wasteland, build a safe haven, and lead your team of specialists in a hopeless world, searching for a cure for the infectious disease that turns people into monsters.

Why similar: Zombies 27%, Survival 15%, Tower Defense 14.6%, Base Building 12.7%, Open World 11.8%

Why You'll Like It: This game blends action-RPG elements with base defense, requiring you to clear territory and build settlements.

Survive on a remote Island, where a mysterious Outbreak awakens bloodthirsty monsters at night. Craft, build and defend your base in the brutal world of Outbreak Island, an open-world sandbox survival horror game.

Why similar: Zombies 17.6%, Survival 16%, Sandbox 15.1%, Base Building 11.7%, Open World 9.1%

Why You'll Like It: A survival game that focuses on investigation and exploration, tasking you with uncovering the cause of a zombie outbreak.

Texas, 1980. Walton City has fallen to a zombie outbreak. Lead a band of desperate survivors from refuge to refuge by scavenging, crafting, and fighting in a relentless struggle for survival. Plan wisely, stick together, and — above all — keep moving if you want to make it out alive.

Why similar: Zombies 49.9%, 2.5D 24.2%, Horror 9%, Atmospheric 7.9%, Story Rich 6.5%

Why You'll Like It: A side-scrolling survival game that emphasizes the atmospheric dread of trying to escape a city overrun by zombies.

From the creators of The Last Stand: Union City and Dead Zone comes an all-new singleplayer rogue-lite action adventure. After you become infected by the zombie virus, you set out to explore the post-apocalypse and find hope for your fellow survivors. You can still make a difference. Don't give up.

Why similar: Zombies 59.9%, Survival 29.7%, Atmospheric 5.1%, Adventure 3.7%, Action 1.6%

Why You'll Like It: A roguelite survival game that focuses on the desperate exploration of a quarantined city to find resources and rescue.

DESOLATE is a first person horror survival experience. Form a research team with up to 4 players and explore an open world filled with mysteries and unsolved questions, or do it all on your own.

Why similar: Zombies 31.6%, Survival 28.6%, Open World 22.4%, Horror 8.4%, Adventure 3%

Why You'll Like It: An atmospheric open-world survival game that focuses on exploration and uncovering the mysteries of a post-apocalyptic island.

Take control of the train which will become your haven on the rails. Collect resources, craft equipment, construct a cozy house on railway cars, and travel through the carefully handcrafted locations to explore the story of a zombie apocalypse world.

Why similar: Zombies 30%, Base Building 16.8%, Sandbox 16%, Survival 13.8%, Open World 12.3%

Why You'll Like It: A unique FPS survival game where you upgrade a train as your mobile base while exploring a zombie-infested world.

Dead State is a narrative-driven survival RPG set at the dawn of the undead apocalypse. Drawing inspiration from classic RPGs like Fallout, X-Com, and Suikoden, Dead State combines strategic, turn-based combat with base building mechanics, character creation, and social management.

Why similar: Zombies 54%, Survival 23.8%, RPG 7%, Open World 4.4%, Sandbox 4%

Why You'll Like It: A strategy-focused RPG that forces you to manage a shelter of survivors and make difficult moral choices during the apocalypse.

Dead or Alive? Make up your mind, stranger. We don’t like that undead business here in Louisiana…Survive solo or with friends as you look to fulfill your basic needs of food, water and shelter, crafting your own tools and weapons while you secure your camp and face flesh hungry zombies.

Why similar: Zombies 42.9%, Survival 25.9%, Open World 11.8%, Base Building 10.7%, RPG 3.4%

Why You'll Like It: It features a strong emphasis on camp building and crafting, allowing players to fortify their position against waves of zombies.

The open-world survival role-playing game "Bad 2 Bad: Apocalypse" tells the story of Delta Team and his comrades as they work to rebuild a world devastated by humans and their race turned into zombies.

Why similar: Zombies 36.7%, Survival 18.9%, Third-Person Shooter 16.9%, Open World 16.7%, RPG 6.8%

Why You'll Like It: An action-RPG that features squad-based combat and survival elements in a post-apocalyptic open world.

You'll play as a survivor in a world overrun by zombies. Explore and interact with other survivors, making tough choices about whether to help or exploit them. Defend against zombies, collect resources, craft, and fortify your shelter. Use strategy to escape this world and return to safety.

Why similar: Zombies 38.9%, Survival 22.4%, Open World 14%, Building 8.6%, RPG 6.1%

Why You'll Like It: A narrative-heavy survival game that focuses on resource management and interacting with other survivors.

Junk Survivor is a zombie post-apocalypse game where you loot, craft, build and farm in a struggle to survive. With a vast map to explore, a robust skillset to unlock this customizable sandbox awaits the adventurer. How long before you die!

Why similar: Zombies 28.7%, Survival 16.1%, Open World 12.7%, Sandbox 11.9%, Base Building 10.2%

Why You'll Like It: A survival game that emphasizes scavenging and crafting to overcome the challenges of a zombie-infested wasteland.

You are Frank West. A hard-edged photojournalist hellbent on investigating the mystery at Willamette Mall. It's swarming with zombies. You have 72 hours. Chop 'till you drop!

Why similar: Zombies 49.3%, Survival 12.7%, Open World 12.7%, Sandbox 10.8%, Third Person 6%

Why You'll Like It: While more action-oriented, it perfectly captures the 'trapped in a city' vibe and the need to rescue survivors from a mall setting.

Fallen Region is a third-person survival sandbox game in an open, post-apocalyptic world.

Why similar: Zombies 27.5%, Survival 17.1%, Open World 10.8%, Base Building 10%, Sandbox 7.7%

Why You'll Like It: An indie survival simulation that focuses on the basics of crafting, building, and staying alive in a hostile environment.

Dreadzone is a survival game set in a deadly quarantine zone. Scavenge for resources, craft tools, build shelter, and survive against dangerous animals, zombies, mutants, and other survivors. Explore the zone where desperation drives everyone to do whatever it takes to survive.

Why similar: Zombies 25.1%, Survival 17.6%, Base Building 17.5%, Open World 14.6%, Building 8%

In the game, day and night alternate. Zombies will not be active during the day, so you can build your home with confidence. But at night you have to resist hordes of zombies and guard your camp!

Why similar: Zombies 31.4%, Outbreak Sim 26% ★, Base Building 13.8%, Sandbox 13.2%, Exploration 7.2%

DARKEST DAYS is a zombie shooting RPG set in a post-apocalyptic world devastated by a sudden zombie outbreak. Explore a dark yet captivating open world, build a sanctuary with fellow survivors, grow stronger, and fight for survival.

Why similar: Zombies 34%, Survival 17.9%, Open World 16.9%, Base Building 12.4%, Third-Person Shooter 6%

The end is here. Life as you knew it has gone to hell after the mother of all zombie outbreaks. Now you and the few scattered survivors must band together to survive and rebuild in a 3rd-person action game set in a dynamic open world.

Why similar: Zombies 38.3%, Survival 18.4%, Open World 13.6%, Base Building 7.7%, Sandbox 6.2%

In Fear the Night, you are a survivor in a world plagued with zombies. Team up with other survivors and work together to rebuild society from its ashes or choose to trust no one and go your own way in a lawless world.

Why similar: Zombies 33.8%, Survival 16.9%, Open World 15.2%, Sandbox 11.1%, Third-Person Shooter 6%

Why You'll Like It: A multiplayer-focused survival game that requires teamwork to build defenses and survive the night against zombies.

Survive a zombie apocalypse: scavenge supplies, craft weapons, build a camp, repair your vehicle, and uncover its secrets amid unknown dangers. Switch between 1st and 3rd person views. Solo-developed. Multiplayer coming after testing. Hope you enjoy!

Why similar: Zombies 42.1%, Open World 18.2%, Survival 10.3%, RPG 8.5%, Adventure 7.6%

Blending horror survival/ Building and tower defence elements Damned Nation gives the player more ways to experience the post apocalypse the ever before.

Why similar: Zombies 30.4%, Base Building 15.8%, Survival 15.4%, Tower Defense 14.6%, Open World 11.6%

Why You'll Like It: An action-adventure title that provides a gritty look at surviving in a world where society has collapsed.

It's one year after the collapse of civilization and self-centered hedge fund manager Joe Wheeler emerges from his specially constructed bunker in search of food. This is a huge open-world RPG where you have the freedom to play how you want - but your choices have consequences.

Why similar: Zombies 32.7%, Survival 21.1%, Base Building 12.2%, Open World 11.5%, Sandbox 10%

Open-world survival sandbox with base-building, crafting, farming and multiplayer. Explore a dangerous island, fight, build and stay alive.

Why similar: Zombies 20.2%, Survival 17.1%, Third-Person Shooter 15%, Base Building 14%, Sandbox 13.3%

Soviet Survival is an isometric, open-world survival game where you must find your place in the ruined Soviet Union.

Why similar: Zombies 29.2%, Survival 16.1%, Base Building 15.2%, Open World 13.2%, Sandbox 13%

Thirdperson Open World Zombie Survival.

Why similar: Zombies 22.6%, Third-Person Shooter 18.3%, Sandbox 18.2%, Open World 12.1%, Exploration 9.5%

All the horrors of zombie apocalypse in adorable pixelated form! Craft, explore and rescue people in a city overrun by the zombie horde. Good luck, survivors!

Why similar: Zombies 37.9%, Survival 20.1%, Open World 13.4%, Building 9.1%, Sandbox 8.8%

VEIN is a post-apocalyptic survival multiplayer sandbox game. Gather supplies to survive, explore abandoned buildings, defend your home, and rebuild society, whether alone or with friends.

Why similar: Zombies 29.2%, Survival 18.4%, Base Building 16.2%, Open World 15.3%, Sandbox 10.2%

iZolated - This is a post-apocalyptic 2D action game with elements of survival and RPG, which throws you into a harsh open world where the slightest mistake costs you your life. Find equipment, engage in fights, and prove that you are the top of the food chain in this chaos!

Why similar: Zombies 22.8%, Sandbox 15.8%, Base Building 14.8%, Open World 12.6%, Survival 11.6%

You are on an island where everyone wants to kill you, ranging from weather conditions to dangerous enemies, your goal is to survive. Survive alone or together. Build, craft, grow, explore, fight!

Why similar: Zombies 29.9%, Survival 15.1%, Sandbox 12.8%, Open World 12.7%, Third-Person Shooter 9.2%

Human Host is an open-world zombie survival crafting game. In this endless procedurally generated world, terrain, buildings, trees, rocks—everything is destructible! Build massive mobile bases, dig deep underground, construct trap-filled fortresses, scavenge supplies, and survive as long as you can!

Why similar: Zombies 26.5%, Tower Defense 16.7%, Survival 13.9%, Sandbox 12.7%, Open World 10.2%

Gone Survival is a first-person survival game for one player. Where you have many opportunities and a completely open world

Why similar: Zombies 24.4%, Survival 15.4%, Base Building 14.5%, Sandbox 12.3%, Open World 11.1%

LifeZ - Survival is a third-person sandbox-survival game. Build your hideout, search for water and food, mine resources and fight against zombies and finally find ways to contact the outside world and leave Catastrophie Area.

Why similar: Zombies 34%, Survival 19.6%, Base Building 14.1%, Sandbox 10.5%, Open World 7.2%

ZIC: Survival is a survival shooter where you feel The Zombie Apocalypse & become The Undead Hunter!

Why similar: Zombies 23.9%, Sandbox 16%, Base Building 13.9%, Survival 12.8%, Isometric 10.4%

Into the Haze is a single-player survival game set at the beginning of the apocalypse. You wake up on the rooftop on the 40th floor of the abandoned tower. The whole city is cover with poisonous gas. Gather resources, craft, build, and fight zombies. Survive until help arrives.

Why similar: Zombies 30.5%, Survival 17.8%, Base Building 16.1%, Third-Person Shooter 12.9%, Third Person 7.1%

Cepheus Protocol is an Open World RTS Military Survival Game. Play as the CERC hunting Patient 0, maintain Quarantine camps, fight dangerous mutations & Rogue Civilian Combatants . There’s nobody else coming, it’s up to you now.

Why similar: Zombies 34.2%, Sandbox 18.4%, Survival 17.5%, Open World 12.2%, Building 9.3%

Top-down open world single player / survival / RPG game with zombies and wildlife.

Why similar: Zombies 40.8%, Survival 30.4%, Third-Person Shooter 11.1%, RPG 10.5%, Adventure 7.2%

After Long Night is a sandbox survival RTS. Build and fortify your base, scavenge every corner for vital resources, craft deadly weapons, and raise a militia to fight off relentless zombie hordes that strike every night. In this world, scavenging isn't just survival—it's strategy, power and war.

Why similar: Zombies 29.9%, Base Building 17.5%, Survival 14.1%, Sandbox 14%, Tower Defense 13.1%

Deadburg is a co-op survival game set in a procedurally generated city with thousands of buildings to explore and zombies to kill. Every building you see can be explored, exploited and destroyed one block at a time. Play alone or with friends and discover the secrets of the city.

Why similar: Zombies 33.4%, Base Building 22%, Survival 21.8%, Sandbox 15.5%, Building 3.2%

“Shadows of Kurgansk” is an adventure game, where you need to survive in an area full of danger and mystery. Your goal is to stay alive and find the way out, fighting monsters and completing story driven missions. Fight zombies, build asylums, find your way back home!

Why similar: Zombies 34.3%, Survival 24.1%, Sandbox 14.5%, RPG 6.8%, Open World 6.6%

"Herd is Coming" is a survival RPG set in a post apocalyptic world filled with zombies. It's the story of Mike who's survived for 10 years since the outbreak.

Why similar: Zombies 32%, Survival 16.5%, Open World 15.5%, Sandbox 13.4%, Exploration 6.2%

Night Raider is a thrilling adventure exploration shooter game. Players need to carry weapons into the city occupied by zombies, as far as possible in various buildings to collect necessary supplies, evacuate alive to bring supplies back to the camp. But you have to face are not just zombies...

Why similar: Zombies 63.9%, Exploration 15.2%, Adventure 8%, Horror 7%, Atmospheric 5.9%

The Infected is a sandbox, first-person, open-world survival game. Build bases, craft, farm, hunt, and survive changing seasons. Choose whether to face the hybrid “Vambies” or turn them off for a pure survival experience.

Why similar: Zombies 19.1%, Base Building 16.6%, Survival 14.4%, Open World 12.9%, Sandbox 12.6%

Z Dawn is a survival RPG that takes place in a post-apocalyptic world in which you get to manage a group of survivors to fight for their life, level up their skills, help fight off different breeds of zombies, build and upgrade camp, face hundreds of thrilling events and much more!

Why similar: Zombies 33.4%, Survival 31.8%, Building 15.2%, RPG 11.5%, Atmospheric 6.5%

(Multiplayer | COOP) THE FOREST IS DEAD. YOU ARE NOT. Survive. Build. Kill everyone. A world where zombies are smarter than they look. Inventory, crafting, and building are your tools in the war for tomorrow.

Why similar: Zombies 36.5%, Survival 18.8%, Base Building 14.1%, Open World 12%, Building 10.7%

The world after a nuclear war. Manage the settlement, learn technology, make decisions, produce weapons, ammunition, organize defense, raid for supplies on other areas, do not let residents die, survive the nuclear winter.

Why similar: Base Building 36.6%, Survival 22.4%, Zombies 15.9%, Open World 11.2%, Building 8.5%