5 Best Games Like The Day Before

It’s easy to imagine that if a wild infection turns people into flesh-eating monsters, they'll be the ones to fear the most. However, as chaos breaks out, survival of the fittest is likely to kick in, and the survivors will likely begin to pose a threat to themselves. So, rather than group up, you may find people going against human nature to kill for survival and basic needs like food, shelter, or essentials like weapons.

But of course, this is a completely fictional scenario portrayed in the soon-to-launch open-world MMO survival game The Day Before, set in post-apocalyptic America. The closer the December 7, 2023, launch day draws near, the longer the wait seems to take. So, to take your mind off things, preferably indulging in similar and some of the best zombie infestation survival games around, we’ve compiled the best games like The Day Before that you won’t want to miss.

5. The Long Dark

Dreadful night creeps in just when pilot Will Mackenzie crash lands into the frigid Canadian wilderness – no thanks whatsoever to a geomagnetic storm. Your job is to survive, come what may, solo and with lots of time on your hands. The Long Dark doesn’t hesitate to poke the brain, often instigating the wildest scenarios in the frozen wilderness. Mother Nature won’t seem so kind trying to survive the aftermath of the geomagnetic disaster.

It’s a thought-provoking trip down the wildest threats winter land has to offer. And while you won’t run into any zombies in your playthrough, the game will dish out moments when you wish it had. At least then, you’ll string out your guns and shoot mindlessly into the abyss. But The Long Dark, instead, likes to ponder over the unknown – to switch between relaxing and heart-pounding at the flick of a button – all in good fun, though.

Platforms: PS4, Switch, Xbox One, macOS, Linux, & PC

4. Dysmantle

Most survival games tend to use gloomy backdrops and depressing color palettes to convey hopelessness, I suppose. But Dysmantle dares to tread unchartered ground and incorporate a colorful world instead. Don’t let the vibrance fool you, though, as the good old nasty, vile zombies roam about like they own the place, and it’s up to you to “dismantle” them into pieces.

It’s a fresh breath of air, both in the visuals and from a third-person top-down perspective. If you’re having a long, winding week, you can take this chance to break down nearly every object you can find. It doesn’t restrict you from following a linear path. But rather, the freedom to choose whatever skill or mission you’d like. With its addictive and fun gameplay loop and the wholesome content featured, you’re likely to pour hours into it and pay no mind.

Platforms: PS5, PS4, Android, Switch, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, macOS, Linux, & PC

3. Rust

Since 2013, the Rust developing team has constantly updated multiplayer survival mode with compelling, heart-pounding adventures that captivate unlike any other. So, even though it’s been a few wee years since launch day, Rust continues to uphold a growing fanbase devoted to the sole goal in the game: to survive. 

Plenty of hazards and dangers lurk in the corners, from wildlife, other survivors, and even the environment itself. Everything is out for blood, but fortunately, you have the tools and resources to stay alive. Rust compels you to do whatever it takes to last for just one more night. It doesn’t take it easy on you, which, oddly, is also its most compelling factor. 

Like The Day Before, Rust pits players against one another. Meanwhile, a hostile environment throws everything it can at you, whether hunger, thirst, or cold. To survive, you need to craft and build. You can build a fire, shelter, or kill animals for food. A game that upholds malice, cruelty, and greed – sounds fun, doesn’t it?

Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, macOS, Linux, & PC

2. DayZ

Picking up from Rust, DayZ is another multiplayer survival game that emphasizes player interaction above all else. The goal remains the same – to survive by any means necessary. With up to 60 players per server, your job is to survive for as long as you can. Threats can come from other players. They can lurk around every corner, so you’re always on high alert.

As far as nightmarish experiences go, DayZ sits among the top ones. You can’t predict what the other players might do. Meanwhile, you have to stay ready for battle by finding the best loot. The game features an atmospheric vibe and nature sounds that marry well with the time of day. 

However, some complaints suggest a buggy experience on PS4. Also, wasteland surroundings may stretch across miles with low motivation to trek the distance. Still, DayZ epitomizes dreadful experiences, whether through the long lineage of war and character-driven stories that drag thousands down its rabbit hole or quick-fire gunplay that gets your heart racing at every encounter.

Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, Xbox Cloud Gaming, & PC

1. Gears 5

The Gears of War series has held its own for a while now, thanks to rich, compelling stories, non-stop action, and epic, varied environments. For an up-to-date version, though, consider taking Gears 5 out for a spin. As the fifth installment, it has stuck to the series’ guns, delivering an all-out war campaign and refreshed multiplayer to keep you busy for years to come. 

With the next-gen console port, graphics and gameplay are optimized, too, for the better. Its visuals are top-notch, and the action takes center stage. Among all Gears series, none of which have ever had a misfire, Gears 5 manages to encapsulate all we’ve come to love, including a bigger-than-ever campaign and five thrilling modes to keep your eyes peeled through to the end.

Platforms: Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, & PC

So, what’s your take? Do you agree with our best games like The Day Before? Are there more games we should know about? Let us know over on our socials here.