15 Criminally Underrated PS4 & Xbox One Games You Must Play

9. State Of Decay: Year One Survival Edition

state of decay
Undead Labs

An enjoyable zombie survival sim, Undead Labs' adventure game is unlike anything on the market. Although zombie survival games are a dime a dozen, no other title focuses as much on the more unassuming parts of the zombie apocalypse as State of Decay. 

With an approach that favours tactical thinking, scavenging and world-building more than it does mindlessly whacking zombies over and over again, the amount of investment players can indulge in creating their own community and fortress in this Microsoft exclusive is almost unparalleled. 

Focusing on exploration and finding resources, nothing you do in State of Decay feels unimportant; whether you're stealthy scavenging a nearby location or fending off an oncoming horde, every single piece of the game feels essential. Granted, some of its collecting and up-keeping tasks can feel a little repetitive at first, but these acts are presented as a necessary evil and a more unassuming and human challenge of surviving in the zombie apocalypse. 

With the constant threat of all your progress being taking away from you because of a single slip up, Undead Labs' survival sim imbues even the most minuscule acts with a sense of tension worthy of its post-apocalyptic setting.

Contributor

Josh has over 11 years of experience as a published writer, having worked nine of those years as a full-time content producer at WhatCulture. In that period he has created hundreds of articles, videos and podcast episodes for multiple WhatCulture channels, specialising in gaming, horror and film & TV. He now primarily works as a senior content producer and presenter on WhatCulture Gaming where he co-hosts the WhatCulture Gaming Podcast, a top 3 UK most listened to gaming podcast that he co-created in 2018. Over the years he has reviewed several high-profile gaming releases, covered industry events with on-site reporting, opined on breaking news, and even kicked off his interviewing career by chatting to childhood hero, Tommy Wiseau.