Games Like Project Zomboid

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: Open World Survival Craft 24.1% ★, Survival 19.9%, Zombies 19.5%, Open World 9.7%, Post-apocalyptic 7.7%

Why You'll Like It: It is the closest mainstream match to Project Zomboid’s loop of scavenging, crafting, fortifying a base, leveling skills, and surviving relentless zombies in a huge sandbox world.

How long can you survive a post-apocalyptic world? A land overrun with an infected "zombie" population, where you compete with other survivors for limited resources. Will you team up with strangers and stay strong together? Or play as a lone wolf to avoid betrayal? This is DayZ – this is your story.

Why similar: Survival 24.6%, Zombies 21.1%, Open World 11.5%, Post-apocalyptic 10.2%, Sandbox 9%

Why You'll Like It: It delivers the same harsh "every supply run matters" survival anxiety, with open-world scavenging, lethal mistakes, and constant pressure from both the undead and other survivors.

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 19.8%, Open World Survival Craft 17.2% ★, Survival 15.5%, Open World 10%, Post-apocalyptic 7.3%

Why You'll Like It: Its top-down perspective, zombie apocalypse setting, crafting, looting, and cooperative sandbox survival make it one of the most directly Zomboid-like newer games on Steam.

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 29.1%, Survival 25.9%, Open World 16.4%, Multiplayer 8.5%, Post-apocalyptic 6.6%

Why You'll Like It: If your favorite part of Zomboid is balancing scavenging runs with base upkeep and survivor management, this is one of the strongest alternatives.

You're a survivor in the zombie infested ruins of society, and must work with your friends and forge alliances to remain among the living.

Why similar: Zombies 22.7%, Survival 18.8%, Open World 12%, Post-apocalyptic 10.8%, Sandbox 9.8%

Why You'll Like It: Despite its blocky style, it nails the same open-world zombie survival mix of looting, crafting, vehicles, base building, and multiplayer improvisation.

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: Open World Survival Craft 41.7% ★, Survival 16.5%, Open World 14.4%, Post-apocalyptic 14.1%, Crafting 7.1%

Why You'll Like It: This top-down zombie survival sandbox mirrors Zomboid’s emergent storytelling with scavenging, base building, NPC recruitment, faction politics, and infection-driven tension.

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 30.3%, Survival 21.9%, Open World Survival Craft 16.6% ★, Open World 14.1%, Post-apocalyptic 10.5%

Why You'll Like It: This is a strong pick for players who love Zomboid’s lonely scavenging, survival meters, and open-ended post-apocalyptic exploration in a zombie-filled world.

'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: Open World Survival Craft 24.9% ★, Zombies 18.2%, Survival 12.6%, Open World 9.1%, Sandbox 7.3%

Why You'll Like It: It captures the same rhythm of daytime looting and construction followed by desperate nighttime defense against overwhelming zombie threats.

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: Survival 22.6%, Zombies 22%, Open World 13.4%, Post-apocalyptic 7.7%, Multiplayer 7.7%

Why You'll Like It: It leans hard into practical survival needs, scavenging, crafting, and base building in a hostile zombie sandbox, much like Zomboid’s everyday survival focus.

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 33.8%, Survival 24.9%, Open World 15.2%, Post-apocalyptic 7.6%, Multiplayer 4.7%

Why You'll Like It: This earlier State of Decay still offers the same satisfying blend of scavenging, survivor management, base development, and zombie-apocalypse decision making.

DeadPoly is a polygon arcade zombie survival looter shooter with base building, crafting, scavenging, leveling, questing, and more, but your only goal is survival, everything else is optional.

Why similar: Open World Survival Craft 26.9% ★, Zombies 20.3%, Survival 15.7%, Post-apocalyptic 9.8%, Sandbox 8%

Why You'll Like It: Its co-op zombie survival loop of looting towns, crafting gear, and building shelters makes it a good fit for Zomboid players who want a more direct action angle.

Traverse punishing environments, looting, crafting and evading the constant threats to your life. The unprecedented levels of character customization and progression are your ultimate tools for survival.

Why similar: Open World Survival Craft 31.1% ★, Zombies 18.5%, Survival 17.7%, Open World 12.4%, Sandbox 7.9%

Why You'll Like It: Although more PvP-driven, it shares Zomboid’s obsession with deep survival systems, long-term persistence, and the danger of losing everything after one bad situation.

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 25.9%, Open World Survival Craft 24.9% ★, Survival 22.2%, Open World 8.2%, Multiplayer 6.8%

Why You'll Like It: It mixes crafting, survival needs, co-op, and base building in a zombie setting that feels like a lighter but still relevant take on Zomboid’s core loop.

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: Open World Survival Craft 26.7% ★, Zombies 22.5%, Survival 18%, Open World 9.7%, Sandbox 7.8%

Why You'll Like It: This hardcore zombie survival roguelike recreates Zomboid’s tension around infection, resources, planning, and desperate last stands in a more turn-based format.

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 25.4%, Survival 20%, Open World 13.2%, Post-apocalyptic 11.9%, Sandbox 10.3%

Why You'll Like It: Its isometric presentation, scavenging-heavy survival, and grim zombie-sandbox atmosphere make it especially easy to recommend to Project Zomboid fans.

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 47.4%, Survival 29.8%, Post-apocalyptic 7%, Open World 4.5%, RPG 4.2%

Why You'll Like It: It focuses on shelter management, scavenging runs, survivor morale, and the human side of a zombie apocalypse in a way that strongly overlaps with Zomboid’s slower strategic appeal.

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: Open World Survival Craft 29.6% ★, Survival 23.5%, Zombies 22.1%, Open World 11.8%, Sandbox 4.6%

Why You'll Like It: This one emphasizes cautious looting, inventory management, shelter building, and avoiding disaster in a world packed with infected threats.

“A real Gem” – Destructoid at E3 “Offers a different experience for zombie game veterans” – Co-Optimus“Has a lot more going for it than smashing brains and gory, red goo ... With a surprisingly deep crafting system” – GamesRadarYou're shipwrecked on an isolated island, a desperate castaway in a total freakshow world. How will you survive?

Why similar: Zombies 26.6%, Open World Survival Craft 23.5% ★, Survival 22.1%, Crafting 6.2%, Co-op 5.5%

Why You'll Like It: It is a more action-oriented zombie survival game, but the crafting and survival focus still make it relevant for Zomboid players.

The chances of you surviving this all out war of society and the undead are slim to none. Already, there are millions of the walking dead shambling about, searching for food to eat. There's no known cure. One bite can possibly end it all for you. However, you aren't alone in this nightmare.

Why similar: Zombies 43%, Survival 21.8%, Multiplayer 11.1%, Co-op 7.6%, Post-apocalyptic 5.8%

Why You'll Like It: It lacks the sandbox depth, but its grounded zombie danger and emphasis on survival over power fantasy match Zomboid’s more desperate tone.

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 40.9%, Survival 22.1%, Post-apocalyptic 21.6%, Sandbox 11.5%, Simulation 3.4%

Why You'll Like It: While more base-focused, it scratches the same fantasy of reclaiming territory, scavenging supplies, and organizing defenses against swarming infected.

Build, quest, and conquer across an infinite procedurally generated world. Play alone or with friends as you establish a settlement and explore deep dungeons, fight monsters and bosses, mine rare ores, craft magical equipment, recruit specialists for your colony, and more!

Why similar: Open World Survival Craft 40.2% ★, Survival 13.9%, Open World 10.5%, Sandbox 8.6%, Multiplayer 7.3%

Why You'll Like It: Even without zombies, its top-down sandbox structure, base building, crafting, exploration, and multiplayer progression line up well with Zomboid’s systemic appeal.

Fight, Farm, Build and Explore Together in the standalone multiplayer expansion to the uncompromising wilderness survival game, Don't Starve.

Why similar: Open World Survival Craft 54.4% ★, Survival 31.4%, Multiplayer 3.8%, Open World 3.2%, Co-op 2.9%

Why You'll Like It: This is a great pick if what you really love in Zomboid is unforgiving survival systems, co-op problem-solving, and emergent disaster stories.

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 22.9%, Survival 21%, Open World Survival Craft 15.6% ★, Open World 9.3%, Post-apocalyptic 7%

Why You'll Like It: This older top-down survival RPG shares Zomboid’s post-apocalyptic scavenging and survivor-management DNA, even if it is rougher around the edges.

THE LONG DARK is a thoughtful, exploration-survival experience that challenges solo players to think for themselves as they explore an expansive frozen wilderness in the aftermath of a geomagnetic disaster. There are no zombies -- only you, the cold, and all the threats Mother Nature can muster.

Why similar: Open World Survival Craft 43.5% ★, Survival 26.2%, Open World 12.1%, Sandbox 4.5%, Post-apocalyptic 4.1%

Why You'll Like It: It drops the zombies, but few games match Project Zomboid’s slow-burn tension, resource scarcity, and constant sense that nature itself is trying to kill you.

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 28.5%, Survival 27.2%, Open World 18.2%, Crafting 10.3%, Sandbox 8.7%

Why You'll Like It: Though less punishing, it offers a compelling zombie-infested world full of exploration, material gathering, crafting, and long-term progression.

As the lone survivor of a passenger jet crash, you find yourself in a mysterious forest battling to stay alive against a society of cannibalistic mutants. Build, explore, survive in this terrifying first person survival horror simulator.

Why similar: Open World Survival Craft 41.1% ★, Survival 22.8%, Open World 11.6%, Crafting 5.5%, Zombies 4.3%

Why You'll Like It: Its blend of exploration, crafting, fortifying, and surviving a hostile world makes it a strong adjacent recommendation for Zomboid fans.

Sent to find a missing billionaire on a remote island, you find yourself in a cannibal-infested hellscape. Craft, build, and struggle to survive, alone or with friends, in this terrifying new open-world survival horror simulator.

Why similar: Survival 29.8%, Open World 18%, Multiplayer 11.6%, Co-op 10.8%, Survival Horror 8.5%

Why You'll Like It: It trades zombies for mutants, but its tense scavenging, co-op survival, and meaningful base construction hit many of the same survival-craft pleasures.

Once Human is a multiplayer open-world survival game set in a strange, post-apocalyptic future. Unite with friends to fight monstrous enemies, uncover secret plots, compete for resources, and build your own territory. Once, you were merely human. Now, you have the power to remake the world.

Why similar: Open World Survival Craft 32.9% ★, Survival 19.5%, Open World 12.8%, Post-apocalyptic 11.7%, Multiplayer 8.9%

Why You'll Like It: Its open-world survival crafting, base construction, and cooperative play in a ruined infected world make it a good modern systems-heavy alternative.

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: Open World Survival Craft 28.1% ★, Survival 15.2%, Zombies 14.2%, Open World 11%, Sandbox 7.9%

Why You'll Like It: It captures the long-form rhythm of gathering, building, defending, and gradually turning a dangerous world into a sustainable home base.

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 43.5%, Survival 30.6%, Post-apocalyptic 17.7%, Crafting 6.5%, Adventure 0.9%

Why You'll Like It: Its constant tension around scavenging, crafting, infection, and scraping together one more successful run will resonate with Zomboid’s bleak survival vibe.

The only aim in Rust is to survive. Everything wants you to die - the island’s wildlife, other inhabitants, the environment, and other survivors. Do whatever it takes to last another night.

Why similar: Survival 28.6%, Open World Survival Craft 23.9% ★, Open World 12.1%, Multiplayer 8.5%, Crafting 8.2%

Miscreated is a multiplayer online hardcore survival game set in a post-apocalyptic future. You will need to survive against mutants, players, and even mother nature herself.

Why similar: Open World Survival Craft 33.7% ★, Survival 18.9%, Zombies 16.1%, Open World 10.2%, Multiplayer 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 36.4%, Survival 24.8%, Open World 14.9%, Post-apocalyptic 8.2%, Sandbox 5%

Raft™ throws you and your friends into an epic oceanic adventure! Alone or together, players battle to survive a perilous voyage across a vast sea! Gather debris, scavenge reefs and build your own floating home, but be wary of the man-eating sharks!

Why similar: Open World Survival Craft 34.6% ★, Survival 23.8%, Multiplayer 9.7%, Open World 8.2%, Co-op 7.9%

Want to survive? - Arm yourself and survive. Crafting, shooting, transport and much more awaits you in the Survival game. What happened to the world around and why he died - you may find out. But is this the main question now?

Why similar: Open World Survival Craft 37.2% ★, Survival 20.5%, Open World 9.7%, Zombies 7.8%, Post-apocalyptic 7.3%

Don’t Starve is an uncompromising wilderness survival game full of science and magic. Enter a strange and unexplored world full of strange creatures, dangers, and surprises. Gather resources to craft items and structures that match your survival style.

Why similar: Open World Survival Craft 34.5% ★, Survival 33.4%, Sandbox 8.6%, Crafting 7.7%, Open World 6.5%

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: Open World Survival Craft 30.8% ★, Zombies 23.1%, Survival 18.8%, Sandbox 6.1%, Open World 5.6%

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 25.2%, Survival 20.1%, Open World 12.8%, Post-apocalyptic 12.5%, Sandbox 8.9%

Try and survive in the world of Nomad. Build a base and protect it from raiding players. Scavenge food, weapons and medical supplies across the island. Team up with others and make a base. Make your mark on the world of Nomad.

Why similar: Open World Survival Craft 32.9% ★, Survival 19.1%, Zombies 18.7%, Open World 9.8%, Multiplayer 8.8%

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 20.4%, Survival 20.3%, Open World 13.8%, Post-apocalyptic 9.8%, Multiplayer 9.1%

First-person action survival game set in a post-apocalyptic open world overrun by flesh-hungry zombies. Roam a city devastated by a mysterious virus epidemic. Scavenge for supplies, craft weapons, and face hordes of the infected.

Why similar: Zombies 26.6%, Open World Survival Craft 25% ★, Survival 14.5%, Open World 11.5%, Post-apocalyptic 8.5%

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 22.5%, Survival 20.5%, Open World 13.6%, Post-apocalyptic 9.4%, Sandbox 6.9%

CastleMiner Z is an infinite world filled with deep places to explore, and horrifying monsters to slay. Build structures out of blocks, craft weapons and tools from raw materials, and explore the vast and frightening world around you.

Why similar: Open World Survival Craft 31.3% ★, Zombies 18.9%, Survival 16.8%, Open World 7.4%, Sandbox 7.1%

Crushed — is an Singleplayer and Multiplayer First-Person Survival Sandbox in an Open World! Challenge the wild and be ready to survive in harsh conditions. Explore the world, get resources, cook food, build a house, farm, hunt, and enjoy nature.

Why similar: Open World Survival Craft 28.5% ★, Survival 15.5%, Zombies 12%, Open World 10.4%, Sandbox 7.2%

Dead Maze is a 2D MMO game set in a destroyed contemporary world, filled with zombies. Explore the world, scavenge and craft as many items as possible, to survive the hostile environment and upgrade your gear and camp as you go.

Why similar: Zombies 33.4%, Survival 28.1%, Open World 10.8%, Multiplayer 9.2%, Post-apocalyptic 5.9%

Zombie Survival Game Online is an open-world, post-apocalyptic, looter shooter. Craft, quest, explore, build, and fight for survival. Parkour up a mountainside, ramp a truck over a horde, and grab a gasmask to explore the sewers. Can you survive? Doubtful.

Why similar: Open World Survival Craft 27% ★, Zombies 20.7%, Survival 15.7%, Post-apocalyptic 9%, Open World 8.7%

Zombie singleplayer shooter in modern polygon graphics with rich RPG elements.

Why similar: Open World Survival Craft 26.2% ★, Zombies 20.3%, Survival 14.4%, Open World 10%, Post-apocalyptic 8.3%

The New Z is a FREE TO PLAY multi-game mode experience. SURVIVE with friends and gather loot, stash and trade. Go into wars against other groups in a massive OPEN WORLD or face them 5 v 5 in COMPETITIVE.

Why similar: Zombies 40.5%, Survival 25.5%, Open World 15.6%, Multiplayer 10.6%, Co-op 3.8%

Hardcore open-world survival where preparation is everything. Scavenge, craft, fortify during the day. When night falls, the infected hunt in numbers. Play solo or with friends in a brutal post-apocalyptic sandbox where survival is earned through smart decisions. How many Nights will you survive?

Why similar: Open World Survival Craft 23.5% ★, Zombies 21.5%, Survival 16.3%, Post-apocalyptic 10.5%, Sandbox 9.5%

A solar flare has struck and every living soul is turning into a rotting and aggressive ghoul.

Why similar: Open World Survival Craft 29.3% ★, Survival 17.6%, Zombies 16.6%, Open World 10%, Sandbox 9.4%

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

Why similar: Zombies 23.6%, Survival 18.4%, Open World 12.3%, Post-apocalyptic 9.4%, Sandbox 9%

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 23.2%, Survival 16.6%, Open World 11.4%, Post-apocalyptic 11.2%, Sandbox 8.4%

You ever played a Sandbox Survival Zombie RPG? You heard it right. In "Stay Alive: Apocalypse" we will offer you an indie zombie survival game which is in a sandbox, random generated world and presents RPG elements.

Why similar: Zombies 30.6%, Survival 24.4%, Open World 12.3%, Post-apocalyptic 11.3%, Crafting 5.7%

"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: Open World Survival Craft 21.1% ★, Zombies 20.5%, Survival 15%, Open World 11.4%, Post-apocalyptic 10.3%

A brutal exploration and survival game for 1-10 players, set in a procedurally-generated purgatory inspired by viking culture. Battle, build, and conquer your way to a saga worthy of Odin’s patronage!

Why similar: Open World Survival Craft 35.4% ★, Survival 19.1%, Open World 12.2%, Multiplayer 8%, Crafting 6.4%

"30 days to survive" - the game is going day, in a world where there is a zombie Apocalypse! The protagonist has to survive 30 days on a randomly generated map full of dead.

Why similar: Open World Survival Craft 27.5% ★, Zombies 21.2%, Survival 16.5%, Post-apocalyptic 10.4%, Open World 10.3%

Driven by community suggestion, 505 Games and EKO Software introduce you to a new single player 3rd person view experience that allows you to re-play the zombie crafting adventure "How to Survive" from a deeply immersive point of view.

Why similar: Open World Survival Craft 25.9% ★, Zombies 24.9%, Survival 21.4%, Open World 8.5%, Multiplayer 6.3%

Build your base on a moving Machine, travel through biomes with different resources, and prepare for the night when a zombie threat is much higher than during the day. Would you go solo or explore this new world with your best friends?

Why similar: Open World Survival Craft 26.7% ★, Zombies 15.8%, Survival 14.8%, Open World 9.4%, Sandbox 7.5%