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.
One will find a wide variety of installations for these types of entertainment. An early precursor to our modern games is Silent Hill. This series has a large fan base and many very popular sequels to the original. A successful movie was launched based on the series as well. Of course, there are many other widely known games that have had a huge impact.
One of the earliest goes by the name Resident Evil. With over a decade of successful installations, it is a true pioneer of the genre. It focus on surviving a horrible zombie outbreak has been widely copied by many other studios, however, few have managed to rival its success. Other interesting series with multiple installments include the Left 4 Dead and Dead Rising franchises.
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, more significant fears, may also be explored and conquered on some level through this type of activity. The fear of death is an obvious aspect, and battling the undead may lend itself to some type of psychological comfort. Our inability to control our morality is disheartening, and defending ourselves against the walking dead may provide some level of comfort.
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.