Dead Nation
2010
- shooter
- hack and slash/beat 'em up
- action
- science fiction
- horror
- survival
- single player
- co-operative
The story
Dead Nation is a top-down shoot 'em up video game for PlayStation 3 developed by Finnish video game developer Housemarque. It was released on November 30, 2010 in North America, and December 1 in Europe. Players are awarded score multipliers and money when zombies are killed. Money is used to purchase and upgrade weapons on checkpoints, and multipliers to grant better scores. Each time players are hit, they lose multipliers and health
What it’s like
Frenetic top-down chaos in a grey, washed-out apocalypse: sickly green-brown suburbs, dusty asphalt, rain-slick streets and flickering emergency lights, all rendered in crisp, slightly stylised 2D-leaning visuals where the screen fills with shambling undead, muzzle flashes and bursts of gore. The soundtrack is a driving, synth-tinged pulse under gunfire, sirens and groans, with the rhythm of a score-chasing run that tightens into tense bursts and brief quiet between waves. Its vibe is grimy, adrenaline-fuelled and arcade-punchy, best for an hour of focused play on a restless evening or a co-op session with a friend. The pacing is relentless: each run is a loop of clearing hordes, spending cash at checkpoints and chasing multipliers, with a heroine who stays steady under pressure rather than undergoing any real emotional change. Violence is constant and bloody, with plenty of gore, explosions and cheap-looking jump scares rather than deep dread; it is not gentle or low-stakes. It suits players who love score-attack shooters, bullet-hell tension and zombie carnage, and who want a fast, messy escape from everyday calm.
More games like Dead Nation
Closest in mood, pacing and theme. Tell us why you loved Dead Nationand we’ll explain which ones fit you.
