World War Z x The Walking Dead was something I wasn’t expecting on my 2026 bingo card for the co-op title. Players in the game’s community have received a fair share of content. Several episodes have been added that span the globe during the zombie conflict. From New York to Moscow, and much more. With the addition of the latest DLC, the game receives its first licensed crossover for World War Z players to dive into. You would think it would be a clash of zombie properties in the worst way. Instead, the DLC brings new life to a game that still has plenty of gas in its tank. In turn, bringing a new type of zombie, separate walker gameplay, and unique maps to enjoy.
A new, great World War Z chapter to survive through
The World War Z x Walking Dead DLC comes with a new narrative for players to enjoy. Stepping into the roles of Rick, Daryl, Michonne, and Negan, players traverse iconic locations. From saving Survivors to gathering medical supplies while slaying the hordes of the undead. Visiting locations such as the iconic Prison or Alexandria, the team must work to save humans in the ever-growing zombie war.
The story is simple but serves itself well. Showing another perspective on survivors trying to make it through the apocalypse plaguing the globe. It hits home well with Walking Dead fans. As Rick and the group work to use their skills to help out people, as the early seasons showed of the iconic sheriff. The way it fits into the overall narrative of the game is perfect. Showing another chapter in humanity’s anthology to fight back against the undead.
New zombies to slay, weapons to use in iconic places
World War Z is about completing missions while slaying zombies. So with the combat against the undead being a big focus, The Walking Dead DLC does it fantastically. It changes things up by having slow-walker hordes just like in the show. Rather than the fast sprinters from the base game. While that may sound easy, when the hordes come out and surround you, they can take you to the ground. Not just the special zombies but regular rank-and-file foes. It makes for a breath of fresh air in all honesty. Headshots deal instant kills while body shots take more, and it makes it more akin to the show while giving the gameplay of World War Z. Not just that, but the famed Spiked Zombie also makes its way into the game, and it is a tank to take down.
If you are itching to take down Zekes with no tools, the DLC provides. Michonne’s iconic katana and Lucille, Negan’s iconic blunt teaching tool of death, can be equipped by players. The addition of these is a blast to use in the already big pool of melee weapons. Players using melee-focused classes are in luck with these additions, especially the sheer damage that Lucille can pull off. The only trade-off of this is that there could have possibly been a chance for new guns to be added to the game instead of just melee options.
On the location side of things, the DLC has great choices. Fans of the show will recognize all three right away. The Prison from seasons three and four, Grady Memorial Hospital, which is the infamous location where Beth was taken, and Alexandria. Each of the maps is designed well and features great pathways for players to travel through. Additionally, the last stand spots for each map are open enough to help show the grand scan of hordes as you mow them down. Each of the maps is one chapter and doesn’t overstay its welcome. In a game where you grind the maps out, it’s nice that you don’t feel like you spend entire sessions in them.
I knew some of them looked and sounded familiar!
The characters and even the locations are well-detailed within World War Z. When it comes to our heroes, they look one-to-one with their TV show counterparts. Giving a better feeling of getting to step into their shoes. With the locales, Saber Interactive did great with showing the grit of The Walking Dead world. From Zekes stuck in jail cells to the safe zone of Alexandria, burning. They thrust players into a dark world already plagued by Zekes, with the projection that things are not looking up.
When I was playing through the DLC, something was familiar I noticed right away. The voices of the dynamic duo of Daryl and Rick are voiced by Norman Reedus and Andrew Lincoln, respectively. While Michonne and Negan are not their original performers, the entire squad sounds great. It still gives an immersive vibe like you are in episodes of The Walking Dead. However, while it is great to hear these characters being voiced, I will say that Negan tends to get annoying with how frequently he blurts out lines.
Zeke slaying goodness
The World War Z x Walking Dead DLC is a fantastic time. Saber Interactive outdid itself with this entry by giving a great lineup of characters and unique weapons to enjoy. The new melee choices and the locations to use them on are great. The DLC fits perfectly into the game’s narrative as it details a new story for a group of survivors in the zombie war. Plus, with the gang looking and mostly sounding like those that played them, it makes it feel like new episodes of the show.
While the repetitive voice lines and missing guns slightly take away from the DLC, it’s not any major harm. The newest episode of World War Z only furthers the zombie-slaying fun in a way that both fans and newcomers will love. The developers have been supporting the game for a long time, and it seems each new DLC is only getting better. With such an interesting world to explore in this universe, doing a crossover like The Walking Dead feels like a home run. Not only that, but I confidently say it feels like one of the best ways to enjoy the iconic IP yet.
So if you are looking to slay some zombies with friends or others, World War Z was already a top choice. However, the addition of The Walking Dead as a DLC makes it a top choice for me and something I highly recommend. Now make sure to dive into the game and help push back against the zombies in this globe-spanning conflict for humanity.
