In the world of entertainment, few rules could truly be described as truisms. However, the closest thing we might have to an iron law of success is that zombies have always and continue to be a guarantee of success. Some of the best-selling film, TV, and video games franchises of all time are zombie-themed and this has been the case since the 1960s.
From George A. Romero’s Night of the Living Dead, we have since gone on to spawn billion-dollar zombie empires. Think The Walking Dead, World War Z, Left4Dead, and CoD: Zombies, to name just a few. It seems that the simple horror trope of undead humans with a relentless hunger for brains continues to have cultural staying power almost 60 years after the first zombie flick graced the silver screen. But why are they so popular, and will this ever change? Let’s dive in and find out.
A long historical pedigree
Some would argue that the enduring popularity of the zombie genre stems from its prominent place in popular culture – the result of a long historical and artistic pedigree. Even before Night of the Living Dead, we had the first zombie novels in the form of Frankenstein and I Am Legend. Zombies have been around for a long time and their novelty is only growing stronger, rather than wearing off.
Endless entertainment
This might sound like an obvious one, but zombies are simply a very entertaining concept. Apocalyptic survival games such as 28 Days Later or Dead Island forces us to think on our feet and use our resourcefulness. Both multi-player shoot-em-ups such as Left4Dead allow us to work together to fight a relentless foe. In other games, players are isolated and have to survive the frightening circumstances they are unfortunately subject to, like in Resident Evil 2.
Even online casinos have started to capitalize on the endless entertainment value of the zombie genre. International online gambling platforms such as Mount Gold Casino now offer zombie-themed slots such as Zombies Gone Wild and Zombie Circus, where players can make the most of popular zombie tropes while playing for real cash prizes. Every corner of the entertainment industry appreciates the pulling power of zombies.
The ideal foe
In the real world, the perfect enemy is hard to create. All of us have our flaws and creating a truly compelling enemy that is a universal bad can be a mammoth creative task. This is why zombies are perfect.
They are an ideal enemy that is easy to hate and even easier to kill. In video games, developers do not need to work overtime on complex AI or mechanics to create this enemy. Zombie NPCs can easily be generated and used to create an unforgettable gameplay experience.
A reflection of the world we live in
Finally, it is worth reflecting on the ways in which the zombie genre is grounded in the real world that we all live in. In many respects, the most popular zombie films and games are trying to make a statement about our current society. 28 Days Later, it is the brutality of humans that is the real threat.
In Resident Evil, corporate greed is the root of all evil. In Dawn of the Dead, much of the action is a social critique of consumerism and the pointless rituals we all hold onto to feel sane. Zombies hold up a mirror to humanity and show us how fragile society can be, which is exactly why they are so entertaining.
The zombie genre continues to draw crowds and there is no sign that it is going anywhere just yet. Stay tuned for more updates on the best zombie games and films in 2021 and beyond.