Why are zombie games so popular today? This is a multi-faceted question that is not easily answered. Chances are good that most who enjoy these forms of entertainment have never considered exactly why they find them so enjoyable. Although everyone’s personal opinion on the topic will differ, there are a few very interesting aspects worth considering.
There are certainly no shortage of manifestations concerning our love for zombies. Of course, many movies, books, and other forms of entertainment have explored this topic. A more recent and influential exploration of this concept is video games. They come in many forms and address many different aspects of this subject.
There are certainly no shortages of games that have taken on the challenge of engaging and thrilling gamers. Silent Hill, for instance, is a unique take on the horror survival genre. With many installations that have garnered both critical and commercial acclaim, it is one of many popular approaches. Like many others, this series has also spawned a movie based on the source material.
Silent Hill is certainly not the only member of the genre. One of the earliest, the Resident Evil series, has seen multiple titles and movies that have spanned over a decade. Dead Rising, on the other hand, takes a more creative approach through giving gamers the option of crafting special or unique items with everyday objects. Other titles, such as Left 4 Dead, are more focused on survival, teamwork, cooperation, and communication with teammates.
It’s tough to say exactly why these things have found such a home in entertainment and our imaginations. A large part of their appeal is the simple fact that these things present a scenario that truly engages the player. For example, the premise of trying to survive a zombie apocalypse is not only interesting and exciting, but it is also flexible. Everyone has personal ideas concerning what they themselves would do in a situation such as this, and exploring these ideas is engaging.
Many experts who have studied this form of entertainment have cited several underlying psychological needs that gamers may be fulfilling. For instance, many fictional zombie outbreaks stem from some unknown viral outbreak that sweeps the population. Most have at least some fear of being sick, and fighting for our survival through a fictional viral outbreak may provide a feeling of control over something that we actually have little control over.
Other deeply rooted psychological concerns may also be confronted through the safe, controlled environment that zombie video games present. We all have fears of death to some degree, and fighting the undead may offer some type of comfort by literally battling death. Also consider that zombies are people minus the emotions and personality. Some players may be able to vent frustrations with other people by battling undead hordes that are human, but who lack real attributes that make us human.
Exactly why are zombie games so popular? Though it is a matter of personal preference, there are often obvious reasons as well as other, deeply rooted reasons which are not so easily noticed. Whatever a specific individual’s reasoning may be, zombies are an aspect of popular culture that is here to stay. It seem that no aspect of entertainment is safe from their influence.
If you like to play zombie games you should be aware that there are many free zombie games available to play online.