The bar for zombie shooters has been set remarkably high ever since Left 4 Dead, and only a handful of games have managed to truly stand out in the genre since. For fans of cooperative zombie action, World War Z has long been one of the strongest modern alternatives, and for many players, it is already a familiar name. Originally released in 2019, the game has continued to receive steady support, and even in 2026, its developers show no signs of slowing down. World War Z x The Walking Dead is the latest DLC, and it does more than simply add new content; it fundamentally reshapes the zombie experience to reflect the slower, tenser tone of The Walking Dead universe. This is our review of the PC Steam release of World War Z x The Walking Dead, in which we use a tank to kill zombies and escape in a Humvee.
The Walking Dead brings new content across all aspects of World War Z over its three-part campaign. You will explore three locations from The Walking Dead series, including The Prison, Grady Memorial Hospital, and the Alexandria Safe House. For someone who has watched all seasons of the show, these locations will have a lot of similarities.
The locations are designed very well, and they do a good job of representing their original counterparts in the game. Each chapter follows the typical World War Z level design, where you explore through the entire level with basic weapons, complete some tasks, find better loot, and then conclude the level with a huge zombie horde fight.
All three levels provide their own challenges to complete, especially their final horde moments. While these get tough on greater difficulties, there are some fun moments in the mix, like the moment where you control a tank to kill the zombies. To explore these locations, you also get four brand-new characters from the franchise, including Rick Grimes, Daryl Dixon, Michonne, and Negan.
These bring their iconic charm to World War Z, as evident from the little dialogue lines they say at random points during the gameplay. All characters support all in-game classes, so you can pick whatever character you want and then select your favourite class to match your gameplay style. Certain characters really sit well in the role with certain classes, like Rick Grimes as a Vanguard, who comes with an M400 Shotgun, and he looks exactly like his character in The Walking Dead, wielding it. You also get Michonne’s Sword and Negan’s custom bat, Lucile, in the game, which allows you to equip them with their characters and get the same energy in the game.
These weapons are available for all characters in the game. Lucile feels meaty during attacks, and I think it is the best melee weapon addition to World War Z in a long time. Michonne’s sword is good if you love to decapitate zombies. You can further add some authenticity with Daryl’s custom crossbow skin and Rick’s Revolver skin if you prefer customizing your weapons to match them with the show.
The campaign is pretty much consistent with previous chapters already in the game, but the level of tasks and difficulty varies between them a lot. The first two chapters are much smaller, and the number of tasks that you need to do in them is much less when compared to the final location. The final episode changes the pace and introduces a much longer and tougher challenge with many added challenges, like using a fire extinguisher to extinguish fires while holding off zombies. Difficulty aside, it does sit a little bit on the odd side because the first two episodes are much smaller, and then the third episode takes a longer time to complete. I would have preferred it if the first two episodes were a bit longer as well.
Probably the most notable feature of the new DLC is an entirely new zombie horde in the game. Unlike the Zekes from World War Z, The Walking Dead brings its Walkers to the game. These are slower but much tougher to kill, and they appear in massive numbers, thanks to World War Z’s horde engine. If you have been playing World War Z, you will instantly notice that zombies are now much slower, but they can really take a beating. This brings an interesting new twist to the entire World War Z gameplay. The new Spiked Zombie is also a challenge on its own and sits really well with the other Special Infected present in the game.
Naturally, you can pick any of the new characters and play any of the older episodes without any hiccups. The newer slow zombies are exclusive to The Walking Dead episodes, but everything else is usable across the entire game. Apart from the inconsistent episode lengths and the poor dialogue quality, World War Z x The Walking Dead is one of the best DLCs to arrive in the game. I am a big fan of The Walking Dead, and it is great to see franchises crossing over like this. Even players unfamiliar with the show will find plenty to enjoy in this unique crossover.
Final Verdict:
World War Z x The Walking Dead stands as one of the strongest DLC releases since the game’s launch, showcasing the developer’s willingness to meaningfully evolve its core mechanics. The addition of iconic new characters feels well judged, even if the audio dialogue occasionally falls short. Brutal new weapons and thoughtfully crafted levels successfully capture The Walking Dead’s bleak, tension-driven atmosphere. The slower, more methodical zombie encounters introduce a welcome challenge that fits naturally within the game’s systems. For longtime World War Z players, this DLC is an easy recommendation, and for newcomers, it offers a compelling way to experience a fresh and engaging twist on the familiar formula.
Final Score: 8.5/10
Disclaimer: A PC Steam code for World War Z x The Walking Dead was provided by Sandbox Strategies on behalf of Saber Interactive for this review. Read our Review Policy.
