I list novels, graphic novels, movies and TV series, featuring zombie apocalypse stories.
The zombies depicted can be either mindless infected, or mindless undead.
The stories can be set:
Zombie stories set during the apocalypse
Zombie stories set after the apocalypse
Zombie stories set long after the apocalypse
Zombie stories set during the zombie apocalypse
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Hate epidemic infected
The zombies are living people, infected by an epidemic which causes them to act aggressively and cruelly towards people.
The Crazies (1973) movie: Set in a contemporary fantasy Earth. The protagonist is trying to survive a hate infection outbreak. There are intense action scenes. The infection is given a scientific explanation.
The Crazies (2010) movie: Set in a contemporary fantasy Earth. The protagonist is trying to survive a hate infection outbreak. There are intense action scenes. The infection is given a scientific explanation.
The Sadness (2021) movie: Set in a contemporary fantasy Earth. The protagonist is trying to survive a hate infection outbreak. There are intense action scenes. The infection is given a scientific explanation.
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Rage epidemic infected
The zombies are living people, infected by an epidemic which causes them to attack people.
28 Weeks Later (2007) movie: Set in a contemporary alternate Earth. The protagonist is trying to survive in a world overrun by raging infected. The movie is set after the first outbreak, while they try to rebuild a collapsed civilisation.
Dead Air (2009) movie
Happiness (2021) TV series: Set in a contemporary alternate Earth. The protagonist is trying to survive a rage infection outbreak..
Mads (2024) movie: Set in a contemporary alternate Earth. The protagonist is trying to survive a rage infection outbreak..
Quarantine (2008) movie: Set in a contemporary fantasy Earth. A group of people get stuck in a house (due to quarantine enforced by the police) during a epidemic (zombies due to a stolen virus). A remake of REC (2007).
Rammbock / Berlin Undead (2010) movie: Set in a contemporary fantasy Earth. A group of people get stuck in a house (due to the horde of zombies) during an epidemic (rage zombies).
Train to Busan (2016) movie: Set in a contemporary fantasy Earth. The protagonist is trying to survive a rage virus outbreak. There are intense action scenes. People become infected quickly after exposure.
World War Z (2013) movie: Set in a contemporary fantasy Earth. The protagonist is trying to find a cure for a rage virus outbreak. There are intense action scenes. People become infected quickly after exposure.
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Slow moving undead
The zombies are dead people, resurrected as undead. They are moving slowly.
Night of the Living Dead (1968) movie: Set in a contemporary fantasy Earth. The protagonists are trying to survive a slow zombie outbreak.
World War Z (2006) novel: Set in a contemporary fantasy Earth. The protagonists are trying to survive a slow zombie outbreak.
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Fast moving undead
The zombies are dead people, resurrected as undead. They are moving fast.
All of Us Are Dead (2021-) TV series: Set in a contemporary fantasy Earth. The protagonists are trying to survive a fast zombie outbreak.
Dawn of the Dead (2004) movie: Set in a contemporary fantasy Earth. The protagonist is trying to survive a fast zombie outbreak.
Nightmare City (1980) movie: Set in a contemporary fantasy Earth. The protagonist is trying to survive a fast zombie outbreak. The infection is given a scientific explanation.
REC (2007) movie: Set in a contemporary fantasy Earth. A group of people get stuck in a house (due to quarantine enforced by the police) during an epidemic (zombies due to supernatural reasons). Probably worse than The Night Eats the World, as far as I remember.
Zombie stories set after the zombie apocalypse
The zombie outbreak caused the collapse of civilisation. The characters find themselves in an unfamiliar world, overrun by zombies.
They try to protect their safe place
They are trying to find a safe place
They are trying to find a cure
They are trying to rebuild civilisation
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They try to protect their safe place
#Saraitda / #Alive (2020) movie: Set in a contemporary fantasy Earth. People are trapped in their homes (due to the horde of zombies) during an epidemic (rage zombies).
Alone (2020) movie: Set in a contemporary fantasy Earth. People are trapped in their homes (due to the horde of zombies) during an epidemic (rage zombies).
La nuit a dévoré le monde (The Night Eats the World) (2012) novel: Set in a contemporary fantasy Earth, after a fast zombie outbreak. The protagonist is trying to protect their safe place.
La nuit a dévoré le monde / The Night Eats the World, movie (2018) movie: Set in a contemporary fantasy Earth, after a fast zombie outbreak. The protagonist is trying to protect their safe place.
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They are trying to find a safe place
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They are trying to find a cure
I Am Legend (2007) movie: Set in a contemporary alternate Earth, some time after a pandemic destroyed civilisation. The protagonist is trying to survive in a world overrun by raging infected. The protagonist is trying to find a cure. A slow movie, with nice visuals, and intense action scenes. Based on the I Am Legend (1954) novel.
I Am Legend (1954) novel: Set in a contemporary alternate Earth, some time after a pandemic destroyed civilisation. The protagonist is trying to survive in a world overrun by raging infected.
Richard Matheson's I Am Legend (1991) graphic novel: Set in a contemporary alternate Earth. The protagonist is trying to survive in a world overrun by raging infected. The protagonist is trying to find a cure. Based on the I Am Legend (1954) novel.
The Girl with All the Gifts (2016) movie: Set in a contemporary alternate Earth, some time after a pandemic destroyed civilisation. The protagonist is trying to survive in a world overrun by raging infected. There are isolated communities of survivors. The protagonist is travelling in England, trying to find a cure.
The Girl with All the Gifts (2014) novel: Set in a contemporary alternate Earth, some time after a pandemic destroyed civilisation. The protagonist is trying to survive in a world overrun by raging infected. There are isolated communities of survivors. The protagonist is travelling in England, trying to find a cure.
The Omega Man (1971) movie: Set in a contemporary alternate Earth, some time after a pandemic destroyed civilisation. The protagonist is trying to survive in a world overrun by raging infected. The protagonist is trying to find a cure. Based on the I Am Legend (1954) novel.
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They are trying to rebuild civilisation
28 Weeks Later (2007) movie: Set in a contemporary alternate Earth. The protagonist is trying to survive in a world overrun by raging infected. The movie is set after the first outbreak, while they try to rebuild a collapsed civilisation.
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The Walking Dead (2010-) TV series: Set in a contemporary fantasy Earth, some time after a zombie apocalypse destroyed civilisation. The protagonist wakes from a coma, and finds an empty world.
Zombie stories set long after the apocalypse
The zombie outbreak caused the collapse of civilisation, but a new society emerged. The characters were brought up in a world overrun by zombies.
They try to protect their safe place
They are trying to find a safe place
They are trying to find a cure
Other stories
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Other stories
28 Years Later (2025) movie: Set in a contemporary alternate Earth. The protagonist is trying to survive in a world overrun by raging infected.
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What are your favourite zombie apocalypse stories? What are your opinions about these stories? What further thoughts do you have about the topic? Tell us in the comments!
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Howard Phillips Lovecraft
The literary works of Howard Phillips Lovecraft were reviewed by Gregor Ottó.
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"The oldest and strongest emotion of mankind is fear, and the oldest and strongest kind of fear is fear of the unknown"
H. P. Lovecraft
Perhaps the most famous quote from Lovecraft. But who was he and why am I talking about it on a games website? Those who know the answer will probably smile in front of the screens (stupid question!), But those who don't, I'll open their eyes now because something is going on! Something that's not of this world!
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Read more: Howard Phillips Lovecraft - Literary works review by Ottó
