REVIEW: ‘World War Z’ Is a Basic But Enjoyable Port (Switch)

The genre of zombie-killing video games hasn’t seen much innovation in recent memory, but for a good reason. Since the release of Left 4 Dead in 2008, zombie games have sought to replicate the same successful formula, and World War Z is no different. Initially released in 2019 by Saber Interactive for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC, World War Z is now available on the Nintendo Switch as well.

World War Z is a horde mode zombie shooter that can support up to four players working together to kill massive hordes of zombies. While there is absolutely nothing groundbreaking in the game, the execution is very well done, and the missions themselves are fun to play. The missions take you to locations such as Tokyo and Jerusalem, and each has its own distinct look and feel to them. I think the variety of mission locations is what I appreciated most about the game itself, even though nothing really stood out as “best in class” compared to other similar games like the recently released.

The actual mechanics themselves are as straightforward as it gets as well, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. I specifically loved the strategic aspect of setting up defensive positions to help combat the massive hordes. I never found myself struggling to decide what to do, but it was nice to have more options than just simply “grab more ammo.” While the lack of creative gameplay changes may be a common criticism, I find it hard to think of things that could have been done to make the game stand out truly. The gameplay of zombie horde games is definitely a case of “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,” and so I can’t exactly blame developers for lack of anything earth-shattering.

While much of World War Z feels like a reskin of other similar games, the biggest standout is the pure amount of zombies that come rushing at you in each mission. I never really felt the same awe of being swarmed by a massive horde on my screen in other games like it, so I was quite impressed by the amount in World War Z. The lack of variety in zombies is a little disappointing, but again I feel like it is hard to create anything “new” here when so many other options have been explored already in the genre, and the ones that work really work well.

Most of my time with World War Z was spent comparing it to other similar games, whether unintentionally or not, but the real thing that makes it stick out is the fact that it runs quite well on the Nintendo Switch. There are countless Left 4 Dead clones available on PC and even on other consoles, but being able to kill massive hordes while riding the subway or killing time at work is hard to overlook. The port functions quite well, and I didn’t notice any major issues that made my time anything less than enjoyable.

The other thing that makes World War Z on the Switch worth checking out is the sheer amount of fun that can be had with others. I do not think I have ever loaded into a zombie game by myself; for me, it is always about teaming up with others instead of playing with computer characters. Playing World War Z with friends, especially friends who do not own a PC or other console, can be an absolute blast. There is a severe lack of good zombie horde games on the platform, so in that regard, World War Z is a welcomed addition.

World War Z may not do anything to really stand out in the genre, but that doesn’t mean it is not a fun time. The core of the game is very basic, and at times can feel like a simple reskin of other similar games, but that should not turn anyone away from checking it out. I would especially recommend it if you are looking for a zombie game on the Switch, as it is probably the best option out there for you.

World War Z for Nintendo Switch is out now.