7 Best Zombie Shooting Games With No Download

Manual aim, third-person hordes, arcade guns, and movement-led auto-fire.

Zombie Defence — close view. Split-shot fire in the extraction yard, with zombies approaching from several directions.
Split-shot fire in the extraction yard, with zombies approaching from several directions. · Zombie Defence · Alpha

The best no-download zombie shooters take different routes into the action. Zombie Outbreak Arena and Horde Killer let you aim with a mouse, Dead Zed makes each aimed shot part of a defense, and Zombie Horde and Zombie Rush have guns fire while you steer. Cat Gunner gives you a shoot button in a lighter arcade run. The key choice is whether you want to place each shot yourself or steer while a gun fires automatically.

Six picks are live browser games. Zombie Defence is in development, with browser and mobile releases planned. Its manual shooting, Scrap extraction, and lasting shelter upgrades give players a longer campaign to build around the action.

The quick comparison

7 games, different reasons to give the next run a chance.

  1. 018.8/10
    Zombie Outbreak Arena
    manual top-down aim and night-survival runs
    • Manual aim
    • Roguelite
    • Short runs
    • Fast-paced
    Platforms
    Browser on desktop, phone, and tablet through Poki.
  2. 028.4/10
    Zombie Defence
    manual shooting that feeds a persistent shelter
    • Manual aim (desktop)
    • Extraction
    • Shelter building
    • Crafting
    • Permanent progress
    Platforms
    Browser Alpha (development build); native mobile stores are planned.
  3. 038.0/10
    Horde Killer: You vs 100
    third-person aiming, explosives, and evasive movement
    • Manual aim
    • Fast-paced
    • Short runs
    Platforms
    Desktop browser only on CrazyGames.
  4. 048.0/10
    Dead Zed
    mouse-aimed defense with a survivor group to manage
    • Manual aim
    • Tactical combat
    • Base defense
    • Squad builds
    Platforms
    Browser on desktop, mobile, and tablet through CrazyGames.
  5. 058.4/10
    Zombie Horde: Build & Survive
    auto-fire defense with barricades and traps
    • Base defense
    • Shelter building
    • Permanent progress
    • Roguelite
    Platforms
    Browser on desktop, mobile, and tablet through CrazyGames.
  6. 068.5/10
    Cat Gunner: Super Zombie Shoot
    bright arcade shooting and gear unlocks
    • Fast-paced
    • Permanent progress
    Platforms
    Browser on desktop, phone, and tablet through Poki.
  7. 078.4/10
    Zombie Rush
    automatic fire, hero abilities, and quick wave builds
    • Roguelite
    • Short runs
    • Permanent progress
    • Fast-paced
    Platforms
    Browser on desktop, phone, and tablet through Poki.

Choose a game to jump to its overview. Platform lists are summaries; check the linked official edition.

The games

01

Zombie Outbreak Arena

A dark top-down arena shooter where day and night change how safely you can hunt for weapons and upgrades.

8.8 /10

Editorial rating

  • Manual aim
  • Roguelite
  • Short runs
  • Fast-paced
Platforms
Browser on desktop, phone, and tablet through Poki.
Price model
Free browser play on Poki.

WASD moves, the cursor and left mouse button aim and fire, Shift dashes, Q or E changes weapons, and Space opens upgrades. Five maps and day/night runs give repeat attempts different sightlines. Night adds a flashlight and 25% more XP, so it speeds skill growth while making threats harder to spot; dropped weapons and power-ups reward scanning the arena as you move.

The 40-skill tree gives repeat runs something to build toward. Choosing a night run means balancing faster growth against the risk of overlooking a threat, while a daytime attempt keeps the arena easier to read. Dash through a gap as the crowd closes, then use your next weapon pickup to change how you approach it: close pressure with a shotgun or longer sightlines with a sniper.

A top-down survivor fires amid surrounding enemies and bright explosions on a dark arena floor.
Top-down gunfire and explosions in Free Game Planet’s Zombie Outbreak Arena gameplay capture. · Free Game Planet

What works

  • Cursor aiming, a dash, and weapon switching keep each encounter hands-on.
  • Five maps, day/night modes, and 40 listed skill unlocks give runs variety.
  • The flashlight, weapons, and power-ups make arena awareness useful.

Worth knowing

  • Night’s XP bonus comes with poorer visibility, making approaching threats harder to spot.

Zombie Outbreak Arena: Our rating

8.8 / 10 · Five equally weighted criteria.
Combat
8.9
Progression
8.5
Usability
8.3
Value
8.8
Fit
9.3

A dash and weapon swaps make combat active; five maps and 40 skills keep repeat runs purposeful. Free browser access lowers the entry barrier, while night’s experience bonus trades visibility for faster growth. The game stays arena-focused, so players seeking a persistent campaign will find less carryover.

The verdict

Start here if your idea of a no-download zombie shooter is aiming, dodging, and building a survivor through repeat arena runs.

02

Zombie Defence

A top-down shooter that connects combat and Scrap extraction to a shelter with production, crafting, and research.

8.4 /10

Editorial rating

  • Manual aim (desktop)
  • Extraction
  • Shelter building
  • Crafting
  • Permanent progress
Platforms
Browser Alpha (development build); native mobile stores are planned.
Price model
Freemium planned; launch pricing and monetization terms are unconfirmed.

On desktop, movement is separate from cursor aiming and held mouse fire, so you steer and place shots yourself while tracking ammunition and reloads. On touch, movement uses a joystick and the fire control targets the nearest living enemy; you still choose where to move, while the control picks the target. Three-wave sector battles, endless scavenging, and Scrap expeditions give the shooting different goals.

Scrap picked up on an expedition persists after extraction or defeat, subject to storage limits, and shelter upgrades survive defeat. That softer loss rule lets a run support production, weapon crafting, research, and crops without full-inventory extraction stakes. Its current demo has one playable survivor, Mara, and shelter growth uses rooms and stations rather than unrestricted placement. Scrap runs swap waves for city pickups and extraction.

Zombie Defence — close view. Split-shot fire in the extraction yard, with zombies approaching from several directions.
Split-shot fire in the extraction yard, with zombies approaching from several directions. · Zombie Defence · Alpha

What works

  • Desktop cursor aim and reloads make shooting a direct input rather than an idle defense loop.
  • Sector fights, endless scavenging, and extraction vary the combat objective.
  • Persistent Scrap and shelter upgrades connect expeditions to production, crafting, research, and crops.

Worth knowing

  • The current demo roster is limited to Mara.
  • Scrap retention softens the high-stakes loss that extraction fans may want.
  • Shelter growth uses stations and room upgrades, not freeform building.

Zombie Defence: Our rating

8.4 / 10 · Five equally weighted criteria.
Combat
8.4
Progression
8.8
Usability
8.1
Value
8.1
Fit
8.8

Manual aim, reloads, and three distinct outings give fights variety; Scrap carryover feeds production, crafting, research, and crops, giving each run lasting purpose. Desktop controls are direct, and nearest-enemy touch fire keeps play active. One playable hero, station-based rooms, and lighter extraction stakes narrow its match for fans of high-risk shooters.

The verdict

For players who want a shooter to grow into a campaign, Zombie Defence has the strongest link between manual combat, extraction, and shelter investment in this group.

03

Horde Killer: You vs 100

A third-person arena shooter built around aiming, weapon changes, grenades, and rolling away from a crowd.

8.0 /10

Editorial rating

  • Manual aim
  • Fast-paced
  • Short runs
Platforms
Desktop browser only on CrazyGames.
Price model
Free browser play on CrazyGames; optional ad-reward bonuses appear in the loadout menu.

WASD moves; right-click aims, left-click fires, R reloads, G throws a grenade, and Space rolls, jumps, or climbs. The mouse wheel or number keys change weapons. CrazyGames describes a horde of 100, a shop with guns and explosives, and character outfits, so the loop is more immediate arcade shooting than a long survival campaign.

The loadout menu also offers temporary WATCH AD bonuses such as an RPG, minigun, invulnerability, or endless ammunition. That bonus is optional, but accepting it adds an ad step. Separate movement, aim, fire, reload, and grenade inputs make each fight busier than an auto-shooter, with more control over every encounter. Use obstacles to open a reload window; a grenade can clear space when several zombies bunch together.

Horde Killer: You vs 100's level-one playfield shows the survivor, a 100-enemy counter, weapon slots, and enemies ahead.
The browser capture shows the fight's opening with the weapon bar and health display in view. · Gameplay capture: CrazyGames / GoGoMan

What works

  • Manual aim, grenades, reloads, weapon swaps, and rolling provide distinct combat inputs.
  • The described 100-zombie horde gives the arena a simple action hook.
  • A weapon shop and outfit choices add goals beyond a single fight.

Worth knowing

  • CrazyGames lists the browser version for desktop only.
  • Optional temporary weapon bonuses use WATCH AD prompts.
  • The progression described is centered on gear and customization rather than persistent shelter growth.

Horde Killer: You vs 100: Our rating

8.0 / 10 · Five equally weighted criteria.
Combat
8.8
Progression
7.2
Usability
7.4
Value
8.1
Fit
8.5

Distinct aim, movement, reload, and grenade inputs make fights hands-on; the weapon shop and outfits add goals, and free browser access lowers the barrier to trying it. Desktop-only controls narrow access, while progression centers on gear and optional temporary ad bonuses can interrupt the flow.

The verdict

Choose Horde Killer for a more hands-on third-person firefight, especially if rolling and grenade timing sound more appealing than top-down arena kiting.

04

Dead Zed

A defense-minded zombie shooter that pairs target shooting with decisions about a survivor group.

8.0 /10

Editorial rating

  • Manual aim
  • Tactical combat
  • Base defense
  • Squad builds
Platforms
Browser on desktop, mobile, and tablet through CrazyGames.
Price model
Free browser play on CrazyGames.

Mouse aiming and firing stay at the center, with R to reload, 1 and 2 to change weapons, and F to switch fire mode. Those controls give you more say over each volley than an automatic shooter. The browser listing also describes managing survivors, so the appeal is protecting a group while handling the shooting rather than simply lasting as long as possible in an open arena.

Pick Dead Zed when you want mouse shooting and survivor management to share your attention. The weapon and fire-mode switches add more to manage than in an automatic shooter; the payoff is deciding how to aim and fire each volley. It is a defense-first choice, while Zombie Outbreak Arena and Horde Killer put more emphasis on moving under pressure.

Dead Zed promotional art showing a scoped rifle aimed across a rural field toward zombies
CrazyGames promotional art of a scoped rifle, a rural field, and approaching zombies. · 3kggames / CrazyGames

What works

  • Mouse aim and fire-mode changes give direct control over shots.
  • Reloads and weapon switching add useful decisions during defense.
  • Survivor management gives the shooting a second objective.

Worth knowing

  • Reload, weapon, and fire-mode keys make its control scheme busier than auto-fire options.
  • Its defense-and-survivor focus is less about moving through a large arena.

Dead Zed: Our rating

8.0 / 10 · Five equally weighted criteria.
Combat
8.1
Progression
7.8
Usability
7.8
Value
8.3
Fit
8.2

Mouse aim, reloads, weapon modes, and survivor management give defense several connected decisions, while a free browser page is easy to try. Managing the group adds another objective, but the extra keys and defense-first focus are less convenient for players looking to move through an open arena.

The verdict

Pick Dead Zed if you want aimed shooting with a group to protect, rather than a run built mostly around dodging through crowds.

05

Zombie Horde: Build & Survive

An automatic shooter where movement sets your firing direction and defenses buy time between waves.

8.4 /10

Editorial rating

  • Base defense
  • Shelter building
  • Permanent progress
  • Roguelite
Platforms
Browser on desktop, mobile, and tablet through CrazyGames.
Price model
Free browser play on CrazyGames.

Each round starts with some distance between you and the horde. You move with WASD or arrow keys on desktop, or a virtual joystick on mobile; shooting happens automatically and your movement direction determines aim. Between waves, rewards can go to weapons, turrets, barricades, or spiked floors, so movement is the aiming skill and purchases decide how much space you have to work with.

Barricades slow zombies but do not kill them, and spiked floors are not enough on their own. You need weapon damage as well as delay tools, then keep moving when a wall breaks. This is the most defense-building pick among the live shooters here, though its auto-fire makes it a different answer from a mouse-reticle game. Lure zombies past spikes while turrets cover your retreat.

A pixel-art survivor stands inside a wooden perimeter beside build stations; the tutorial points to a barricade station.
Zombie Horde: Build & Survive: the opening tutorial shows where to buy a barricade. · CrazyGames · Zombie Horde: Build & Survive

What works

  • Barricades, turrets, weapons, and spikes each change how you hold a wave.
  • Automatic fire keeps input simple while movement and spacing stay important.
  • The listed mobile joystick supports a touch-friendly movement scheme.

Worth knowing

  • Movement direction sets aim, so you cannot place shots independently of steering.
  • Barricades delay the horde but do not replace weapon upgrades.

Zombie Horde: Build & Survive: Our rating

8.4 / 10 · Five equally weighted criteria.
Combat
8.2
Progression
8.3
Usability
8.8
Value
8.4
Fit
8.2

Movement-directed fire makes steering and spacing the combat decisions; barricades, turrets, and spikes add distinct ways to manage a wave. The joystick and browser access make it approachable, but you cannot aim independently of movement, and walls only delay enemies unless weapons finish them.

The verdict

Choose Zombie Horde when you want to steer and build a defense while guns fire automatically; pick a manual-aim option if placing every shot is the point.

06

Cat Gunner: Super Zombie Shoot

A pixel-art action shooter about rescuing kittens, unlocking weapons and mounts, and fighting boss zombies.

8.5 /10

Editorial rating

  • Fast-paced
  • Permanent progress
Platforms
Browser on desktop, phone, and tablet through Poki.
Price model
Free browser play on Poki.

Move with WASD or the arrow keys, shoot with Space, dash with F, switch weapons with R, and throw grenades with G. Coins and fish unlock cat teammates, weapons such as flamethrowers and ice beams, and mounts including a hoverboard, motorbike, and T-Rex. Boss zombies give each stretch a bigger target than the regular infected.

It favors active run-and-fire movement instead of mouse-reticle aiming. The feline cast and rescue premise keep the tone playful, while coins and fish give each outing a clear reason to gather. Dashes and grenades help you break away when crowds close in; weapon swaps give you options for tougher threats. Choose it for direct-shooting arcade action and gear unlocks if that style appeals to you.

A pixel-art cat gunner faces green infected creatures in a sci-fi street; health and weapon indicators are visible.
Cat Gunner: Super Zombie Shoot: an armed cat faces infected creatures in a Poki gameplay capture. · Poki · Day137 Global

What works

  • Direct shoot, dash, weapon-swap, and grenade controls vary the action.
  • Coins and fish unlock teammates, weapons, and several kinds of mounts.
  • Boss zombies punctuate the run-and-rescue loop.

Worth knowing

  • The pixel-cat cast and rescue humor skew light if you prefer grim horror.
  • Run-and-fire controls offer less precise shot placement than a cursor-aim shooter.

Cat Gunner: Super Zombie Shoot: Our rating

8.5 / 10 · Five equally weighted criteria.
Combat
8.0
Progression
8.7
Usability
8.4
Value
8.8
Fit
8.5

Spacebar fire, dashes, weapon swaps, and grenades keep the run active, while cats, weapons, and mounts give pickups a purpose. Direct action and free browser access fit the query well; movement-led firing is less precise than cursor aim, while the playful tone is a matter of taste.

The verdict

Try Cat Gunner for a colorful, gear-heavy browser shooter where moving through the level matters more than lining up a reticle.

07

Zombie Rush

A wave-survival shooter where guns fire automatically and movement decides how well you avoid the horde.

8.4 /10

Editorial rating

  • Roguelite
  • Short runs
  • Permanent progress
  • Fast-paced
Platforms
Browser on desktop, phone, and tablet through Poki.
Price model
Free browser play on Poki.

WASD or the arrow keys steer your hero through rising zombie waves, while guns fire automatically. Staying alive is about leaving escape room around you rather than tracking a reticle. Each hero brings an ability; defeated zombies drop gems that strengthen it, and new perks add more build choices.

Switching heroes changes which power shapes a run, so weigh gem spending toward the ability you rely on instead of chasing each drop. As waves intensify, keep a safe lane open and dodge to avoid being cornered. It suits players who enjoy action builds without aiming every bullet; manual-aim fans should look to Zombie Outbreak Arena or Horde Killer.

A small survivor stands among green zombies and blue pickups in a top-down street scene; the HUD shows wave 1 of 10.
Zombie Rush: the survivor fights among early-wave zombies in a live Poki gameplay capture. · Poki · Zombie Rush

What works

  • Automatic guns let you focus on dodging and choosing a route through crowds.
  • Different heroes and gem-funded ability upgrades shape a run.
  • Poki lists support for desktop, phones, and tablets.

Worth knowing

  • Automatic weapons leave no way to place an individual shot, so precision aiming is not the appeal.

Zombie Rush: Our rating

8.4 / 10 · Five equally weighted criteria.
Combat
8.2
Progression
8.3
Usability
8.6
Value
8.7
Fit
8.2

Movement, hero abilities, and gem-funded perks give each run a build goal; automatic guns keep the controls light, and free browser access matches the query. The tradeoff is that positioning replaces per-shot aim, and rising waves demand regular dodging to avoid being cornered.

The verdict

Pick Zombie Rush for accessible, movement-first zombie shooting with heroes and perks to build around, not for a manual-aim challenge.

How we compare

A good recommendation explains who a game suits and where it falls short. Our editorial scores use the same five criteria, each rated out of ten.

  1. 01

    Combat

    Controls, aiming, enemy readability, and the decisions you make under pressure.

  2. 02

    Progression

    Build choices during a run and meaningful progress between attempts.

  3. 03

    Usability

    Control demands, platform access, interface options, and documented device requirements.

  4. 04

    Value

    What the asking price includes, optional purchases, and the scope of the free version.

  5. 05

    Fit

    How well the game answers the specific question in this article.

Read our editorial standards

Which one should you try?

For direct mouse aim, start with Zombie Outbreak Arena. Horde Killer is the third-person choice; Dead Zed adds survivor defense, while Zombie Horde and Zombie Rush trade individual shots for movement and automatic fire. Cat Gunner is the colorful arcade option. Zombie Horde also has an explicit mobile joystick scheme. Zombie Defence gives shooting a longer purpose: extract Scrap, improve the shelter, and invest in production, crafting, research, and crops before the next outing.

Your questions, answered.

Zombie Outbreak Arena uses cursor aiming from a top-down view. Horde Killer: You vs 100 adds third-person aiming, grenades, and a roll, while Dead Zed focuses on mouse-led defense with weapon and fire-mode changes.

The detailed aim-and-fire controls for Zombie Outbreak Arena, Horde Killer, and Dead Zed use a keyboard and mouse. CrazyGames lists a mobile joystick for Zombie Horde; Zombie Defence’s development build uses a movement joystick and nearest-enemy fire control on touch. Zombie Defence is currently in browser Alpha; join the homepage waitlist.

These recommendations are browser games that load through online portals; no download does not promise offline play.

Choose Zombie Outbreak Arena, Horde Killer, or Dead Zed when placing individual shots matters. Zombie Horde and Zombie Rush fire automatically, so their challenge shifts toward movement, spacing, and upgrades. Cat Gunner has a direct shoot button but favors running and timing over cursor aim.

Want to see what we’re building?

Zombie Defence is in Alpha. Join the waitlist.

Join the waitlist

More games to explore