For a fast-paced co-operative experience, Killing Floor 2 is one of the best zombie-murdering games on the market. It may not seem like a typical holiday game, but there’s no better way to get out all the pent up frustration that arises from being in a house that’s too small and filled with too many people. When the family is taking its anger out on zombies, it stops them turning on each other. The game also does winter updates every year, making the maps more festive so you can really get into the holiday spirit.
This first-person shooter allows up to six people to play together online taking on hordes of zombies, known as Zeds. They aren’t just the slow, shuffling kind either. Some are fast, some are brutishly strong, and many come enhanced with deadly weapons like hand-mounted grinders and devastatingly long blades. This one can be a bit scary, so it’s probably best for teenagers and older.
There are several classes for each player to choose from such as medics that can heal teammates, firebugs that use flamethrowers, support which gives ammo to allies, and more. Co-operating to create a synergized team is essential, especially on the game’s higher difficulty levels. Each player can earn experience points to level up their classes and in-game money to buy additional gear during rounds of play, too, giving it a nice sense of progression.
Unlike Call of Duty’s Zombies mode, Killing Floor 2 offers shorter games that last a set number of rounds, making it perfect if people just want to play quickly before the holidays dinner or in the morning before everyone has woken up to open presents. If everyone is napping after filling their bellies, those who can fight off the drowsiness can try out the endless mode and see how far they can get.
Killing Floor 2 is not cross-platform, so everyone needs to be on the same system to play.