Walkers vs. Zeke: How the New DLC Changes World War Z Gameplay

Worlds Collide

In the taxonomy of zombie media, there are two distinct phyla: the Sprinters and the Shamblers. World War Z (both the movie and the game) built its reputation on the former—massive, liquid-like pyramids of hyper-aggressive undead that scale walls like ants. The Walking Dead, conversely, championed the latter—the slow, creeping dread of rotting corpses that overwhelm you through sheer persistence rather than speed.

So, when Saber Interactive announced World War Z x The Walking Dead, a crossover DLC released on January 29, 2026, the question wasn’t just “is it cool?” but “how does it work?”

The answer is a mechanical pivot that refreshes a game that has been quietly dominating the co-op shooter space for years. By importing Rick Grimes, Daryl Dixon, and the AMC show’s physics into the Swarm Engine, Saber has created a hybrid experience that feels distinct from the base game. It’s gritty, it’s nostalgic, and for $9.99, it might be the best Walking Dead action game ever made.

The Boys Are Back

The biggest selling point of this expansion is the survivors. We aren’t getting generic lookalikes; we are getting the icons.

Rick Grimes and Daryl Dixon are the headliners, and in a massive win for immersion, Andrew Lincoln and Norman Reedus have reprised their roles. Hearing Lincoln’s signature grit (“Coral!”) and Reedus’s gruff whispers amidst the chaos of a horde brings a level of authenticity that elevates the entire experience. It’s akin to playing a lost season of the show.

Rounding out the squad are Michonne and Negan. While Danai Gurira and Jeffrey Dean Morgan did not return to voice them, the replacements are top-tier. Negan is voiced by Roger Craig Smith (best known as Chris Redfield in Resident Evil and Kyle Crane in Dying Light), who captures the character’s manic, swaggering cadence perfectly.

Crucially, these characters aren’t locked to the DLC chapters. As one enthusiastic Steam reviewer noted, “The best part about this whole DLC is… You can take the cast of Walking Dead and carry them over into all the base game episodes.” Want to see Rick Grimes fighting Zeke in Tokyo? Now you can.

The “Walker” Physics

The most radical change in this DLC is the undead’s behavior. World War Z is famous for the “Zeke”—fast, screeching, climbing nightmares. However, this expansion introduces “Walkers.”

These new enemies are faithful to The Walking Dead lore. They are slower-moving, shambling toward the player rather than sprinting. On paper, this sounds easier. In practice, it introduces a different kind of stress. In the base game, the threat is speed; you have to twitch-aim to survive. In The Walking Dead, the threats are durability and volume.

These Walkers are spongier. They require precise headshots to put down efficiently. They don’t rush you all at once; they surround you. It changes the rhythm of the game from a frantic sprint to a claustrophobic last stand. You get pushed into corners, forcing you to utilize the melee mechanics more than ever before.

To spice things up, Saber has added a new special zombie: The Spiked Walker (reminiscent of Winslow from the show). This armored, prickly threat forces players to rethink their melee approach, as striking it incorrectly deals damage.

A Tour of Trauma

The DLC features three new story chapters set in iconic locations from the AMC series. Saber’s environmental artists have done an incredible job translating the show’s sets into playable levels.

1. The Prison: Tight corridors, cell blocks, and a courtyard defense. This map is a masterclass in close-quarters anxiety. The lighting is dim, forcing players to rely on flashlights and muzzle flashes.
2. Alexandria Safe Zone: A shift to suburban warfare. Defending the walls of Alexandria feels distinct, offering longer sightlines but requiring players to manage multiple entry points.
3. Grady Memorial Hospital: A labyrinth of sterile hallways and darkened rooms. This map leans heavily into the horror elements, reminiscent of the Beth Greene arc from the show.

While the map design is stellar, some players have pointed out a missed opportunity regarding the enemies populating them. A Steam user noted, “It still lacks some variants for mob zombie, where prisoner, doctor, and nurse skin zombie?” Seeing generic zombies in the prison rather than undead inmates is a minor immersion break, but a valid critique.

Lucille is Thirsty

You can’t have The Walking Dead without the signature weapons. The DLC introduces two new melee weapons that fundamentally change the close-quarters meta:

• Lucille: Negan’s barbed-wire baseball bat. It has a heavy swing arc and massive knockdown power, perfect for crowd control when the Walkers get too close.
• Michonne’s Katana: A swift, slicing weapon that excels at decapitation.

Additionally, there are cosmetic skins for the ranged weapons, specifically Rick’s Python Revolver and Daryl’s Crossbow. While the crossbow in WWZ has always been a niche weapon (explosive bolts represent!), using it as Daryl feels “correct.”

Visuals and Performance

The game runs on the Swarm Engine, which handles hundreds of on-screen enemies with surprising stability. Even with the new “Walker” AI logic, performance remains smooth on PC.

The gore system in World War Z has always been impressive, but it shines even brighter here. Because the Walkers are slower, you have more time to appreciate the gruesome details—limbs flying off, heads exploding, and bodies piling up in choke points. The art direction leans into the desaturated, gritty look of the show’s later seasons, distinguishing these maps from the vibrant chaos of the Marseilles or Tokyo campaigns.

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Breakdown: The Good, The Bad, & The Undead

The Good	The Bad	The Ugly
Voice Acting: Andrew Lincoln and Norman Reedus reprising their roles is a massive win for immersion.	Enemy Variety: The lack of location-specific skins (prisoner zombies, doctors) is a missed opportunity for visual storytelling.	Michonne/Negan Voices: While the replacements are great, the absence of Danai Gurira and JDM is noticeable to hardcore fans.
Gameplay Shift: The “Walker” mechanics offer a fresh, slower, and spongier challenge compared to the standard “Zeke.”	Price: $10 is a fantastic value for the quality of the content provided.
Cross-Progression: Playing as Rick Grimes in the base game’s Tokyo or New York maps is incredibly fun.
Price: $10 is fantastic value for the quality of content provided.

Should You Play It?

Yes, if you are a fan of The Walking Dead TV show or enjoy World War Z, but want a gameplay loop that emphasizes precision and positioning over twitch reflexes.

No, if you exclusively play WWZ for the fast-paced, sprinting zombies and find slower enemies boring.

Recommended for fans of: State of Decay, Left 4 Dead, Dying Light, The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners.