Project Zomboid Meets Resident Evil In This Open-World Horror RPG

Published Oct 17, 2026, 12:45 AM EDT

Tom Wilson is a Gaming Features Writer at Screen Rant. Over the past five years, Tom has worked as the Editor-in-Chief at The Game Crater, as a Staff Writer for GamingIntel, a List Writer at TheGamer, and, of course, as a Senior Writer at ScreenRant. Tom has experience writing reviews, guides, news, and features, and has been responsible for teams of writers, training them and editing their work.

Tom graduated with a Masters in Multimedia Journalism, and has since gone on to build up his portfolio of games journalism work.

Project Zomboid and Resident Evil are some of the greatest horror video games ever made. Indeed, the former is so good that, despite being a standalone entry that's largely focused on single-player runs, it has managed to sustain a storied legacy through a burgeoning community that seemingly never quits. Resident Evil, on the other hand, has amassed quite the following through a consistent stream of impressive releases, and that even includes the unfairly maligned action-packed extravaganza that was RE 6.

So, when it comes to those that attempt to ape either game's success, one must be a tad skeptical. However, the latest game like Project Zomboid and Resident Evil aims to eschew prospective purchasers' fears by promising an open-world RPG experience that liberally borrows from both games. For those looking for a massive, horror-soaked experience with a terrifying atmosphere and even spookier enemies, this new RPG may just be for you.

This Open-World MMO Is As Scary As Resident Evil

Project Zomboid's massive overhauls and fan support have ostensibly ensured that it remains a forever game, a live service title (more or less) without all the negativity associated with the genre. However, if one should eventually find themselves a little bored or looking for something a little different, perhaps even in the vein of a Resident Evil game, then one should look no further than the horror open-world MMO, Dead Frontier 2.

This sequel is a zombie-infested nightmare, a truly terrifying open-world game oozing with atmosphere that plops the player and their prospective buddies into a giant world and asks them to survive. You'll need to loot, fight off hordes of the infected, trade with others, and unlock new skills while increasing your level should you want a chance at staying in one piece.

While lacking the polish of a recent Resident Evil game, Dead Frontier 2 still feels as scary as those earlier entries did on account of its unrelentingly dark tone, aforementioned terrifying enemies, and generally creepy ambience. That's a plus in the game's favor, of course, but also perhaps a sign that those easily afraid should stay away. Fortunately, there are plenty of other games like Resident Evil that veer away from the horror conventions, and even occasionally into the cozy.

Dead Frontier 2 Is Best Played With Friends

Of course, being an MMO, Dead Frontier 2 is often best experienced with friends. This is also true of Project Zomboid, a game that, while undoubtedly fun alone, offers an entirely different vibe when played alongside a group of others. It helps, too, that Dead Frontier 2 features a fully player-driven economy and PvP encounters, which further incentivize playing with friends or even against them.

Skulking through the winding corridors of dimly lit buildings as you desperately attempt to find more ammo, conscious that your few bullets remaining won't be enough, only to find a horde of enemies around the corner, eager to rip your head off, is when Dead Frontier 2 shines the brightest. It's also when the game feels closest to Resident Evil, with its focus on survival horror and third-person perspective evoking feelings of playing the original RE all those years ago.

Dead Frontier 2 is completely free-to-play, although it features microtransactions. These should be expected, considering it is an MMO, but they're worth mentioning. The game is exclusively available on PC via Steam and has been frequently updated since it launched back in 2019. While its Mixed reviews may understandably put some players off (as well as the likely AI-generated images used to promote new updates), this Project Zomboid meets Resident Evil-esque MMO is still worth giving a go, especially if you have a group of friends who love being spooked.

Systems