Fast, slow, fungal, bioengineered. There are a lot of different types of zombies in fiction these days, and they continue to evolve. Just when you think the genre has no surprises left, and the undead are finally and truly dead, we get a breakout hit like HBO’s The Last of Us.
(Yeah, I know. Fungal zombies have been around for a while. M.R. Carey wrote about them back in 2014, with his novel The Girl with All the Gifts.)
But the point is, the zombie genre still gives writers plenty of room to innovate. And one way to innovate is by creating a new type of zombie we haven’t seen before — something that pays tribute to the past while marching boldly into the future.
Types of Zombies, And Ideas for New Ones
Below, you’ll find an alphabetical list of the different types of zombies we’ve seen from books and movies, along with some fresh ideas we haven’t seen before.
Below, you’ll find an alphabetical list of the different types of zombies we’ve seen from books and movies, along with some fresh ideas we haven’t seen before.
1. Bioengineered Zombies
This is the “science experiment gone wrong” type of zombie, created through genetic manipulation or bioengineering. These zombies possess unique traits and abilities designed by scientists seeking ways to enhance human capabilities. Instead, they unleash a monstrous new threat, a creature unlike anything we’ve ever seen. This type of zombie would raise ethical questions about the limits of science and the consequences of playing god.
2. Classic Romero Zombie
Say the word “zombie,” and many people think of the slow-moving, rotting, reanimated corpses driven by an insatiable hunger for human flesh. This is the quintessential image of a zombie, one popularized by George A. Romero in Night of the Living Dead and all of its successors.
Classic zombies offer a contrast between their lethargic pace and their sheer numbers, the latter of which makes them a relentless and overwhelming force. Sure, they move slow. But they’ll get to you eventually. It’s only a matter of time.
The classic type of zombie evokes themes of societal breakdown, mindlessness, mob mentality, and fear of the masses. They’re the O.G. of zombie fiction, having paved the way for all of the other versions and variants we’ve seen over the years.
3. Cosmic Zombies
Infected by cosmic or extraterrestrial forces, cosmic zombies possess mutations or abilities that transcend the earthly realm. They upend the notion that a zombie apocalypse has to be confined to our planet, while introducing an element of cosmic horror into the mix.
This type of “space zombie” might originate from a celestial pathogen, solar radiation mutation, quantum entanglement, interdimensional crossover, or (my personal favorite) an extraterrestrial experiment gone wrong.
Cosmic zombies conjure themes of existential dread and human insignificance in the grand scope of the universe.
4. Cursed Object Zombies
These zombies could originate from the interaction with cursed objects (inanimate objects that carry malevolent power). A haunted artifact or talisman could raise the dead, forcing the characters to unravel the object’s history and undo its curse. Cursed object zombies channel themes of forbidden knowledge and the dangers of tampering with the unknown.
5. Fast Zombies
The first time I encountered fast zombies in a movie, it was like having the rug pulled out from under me. For years, the genre had portrayed these creatures as a slow, shuffling menace. And suddenly they could sprint?
These types of zombies crank the fear factor up a notch, with their frenetic and aggressive nature. Inspired by movies like 28 Days Later and World War Z, fast zombies add an element of urgency and panic to an already harrowing situation. You can’t just walk away from this threat. You have to run your ass off.
As always, propagation becomes a numbers game. One zombie bites several people, each of whom bite several more people, and so on. This basic exponential math applies to all types of zombies.
But with the fast variety, the process accelerates and intensifies to a frightening degree. Watch the initial outbreak scene in World War Z, when the Lane family are stuck in traffic, and you’ll see what I mean.
Fast zombies also give humans a compelling reason to stay in shape. Like Columbus says in the movie Zombieland: “Rule #1 for surviving Zombieland … is cardio.”
6. Hate-Based Zombies
Hate-based zombies (also known as “Malice Revenants”) originate from the intense negative energy and emotions left behind by hateful individuals, following their death. This malevolent energy lingers in the environment where it can infect others. When a person who is predisposed to such emotions comes into contact with this energy, they become infected by it.
Once infected, the victim begins to exhibit signs of malice and resentment, which gradually consume their psyche. Their appearance becomes more ghastly and distorted over time, reflecting the inner corruption caused by the malevolent energy.
7. Haunting Spirit Zombies
As the name suggests, these zombies are possessed by malevolent spirits or ghosts. The nature of their affliction brings a supernatural twist to the genre and allows authors to break new ground.
Haunting spirit zombies are driven by a desire for flesh but also the need to spread the curse to others, perpetuating a cycle of terror. This concept blurs the boundary between the living and the dead, exploring themes of possession and exorcism.
8. Invisible Zombies
Infected by an obscure phenomenon that renders them invisible to the naked eye, these zombies create a whole new set of challenges and dangers. Humans would have to use infrared goggles, thermal detectors, and similar tools to detect their presence. But once visible, this type of zombie could be taken out with conventional weapons.
9. Mimicry Zombies
This type of zombie can flawlessly imitate the appearance and behavior of living humans, making them nearly impossible to identify. They walk among us, completely undetected and thus all the more dangerous.
They use their resemblance to the living to gain trust and access to secure locations. Unlike traditional zombies that mindlessly chase after prey, mimicry zombies exhibit a more calculated and strategic approach to feeding.
When the time is right and the victim is isolated, the mimicry zombie feeds on its prey, disposes of the evidence, and rejoins the populace gain. This concept creates an element of paranoia and trust issues among survivors, as they struggle to distinguish between friend and foe.
10. Nanobot Zombies
Infected by microscopic nanobots, these zombies exhibit enhanced physical abilities and can assimilate technology into their bodies. They form a techno-organic horde that blurs the line between humanity and the machine world.
The method of contagion for a nanobot zombie might involve the deliberate or accidental release of microscopic self-replicating nanobots into a population. These nanobots could be designed for beneficial medical purposes, advanced technological applications, or even as a weapon. But a malfunction, unintended consequence, or sabotage could turn the nanobots into a contagious and destructive force.
11. Parasite Zombies
Drawing inspiration from real-life parasitic relationships in the natural world, these zombies emerge when a parasitic organism takes control of a person’s body. A prime example is the Cordyceps fungus depicted in the hit TV show The Last of Us.
(They’re also known as fungal zombies, when the invading pathogen is fungal in nature.)
These types of zombies illustrate the horror of losing control of your body and mind to an external entity. And they’re based on real-word scientific concepts. Parasites can indeed manipulate their host’s behavior, at least in the insect world. This gives parasitic zombies a kind of plausibility the other variants lack, making them all the more disturbing.
12. Plant-Based Zombies
Similar to the fungal variant mentioned earlier, this type of zombie originates from of a freakish fusion between the botanical and the undead. Infected by mutant plants or spores, they exhibit both plant-like traits and traditional undead characteristics.
Plant-based zombies emphasize the fragile balance of the natural world and the potential consequences of ecological disruption. They give rise to thought-provoking themes of symbiosis, adaptation, and the interconnectedness of all living things.
13. Psychic Zombies
Infected by psychic phenomena, or controlled by powerful psychic entities, psychic zombies would introduce a supernatural element to the genre. Their abilities could include telepathy, mind control, or shared emotions among a horde.
This type of zombie taps into the uncharted territory of the human mind and the potential for psychic forces to shape reality. Psychic zombies raise questions about the extent of human consciousness, our limited understanding of the mind, and the interplay between the physical and metaphysical worlds.
14. Quantum Zombies
Infected by quantum anomalies, these zombies exist in a state of flux, appearing and disappearing unpredictably. Their unpredictable nature makes them all the more dangerous, since humans are unable to predict their movements and actions. This concept would bring an element of quantum uncertainty to the apocalypse.
15. Sentient Swarm Zombies
This concept brings an intricate twist to the traditional zombie archetype. In this scenario, the undead are not just individual creatures acting independently. Instead, they form a collective and coordinated entity that operates as a swarm.
Sentient swarm zombies exhibit a form of collective intelligence, where the individual creatures become interconnected and share information. This allows them to strategize, communicate, and work together as a unified force. Their coordination sets them apart from the more mindless zombie types that act solely on instinct.
16. Soundwave Zombies
These zombies emit powerful sonic vibrations that can incapacitate or even kill humans. Survivors must find ways to counteract or mitigate the impact of these soundwaves, adding an auditory dimension to the horror. Humans could develop sound-dampening barriers, echo chamber traps, frequency-jamming devices, and other innovations to fight the horde.
17. Steampunk Zombies
Existing in a steampunk setting, these zombies become reanimated through mechanical means, such as clockwork gears, steam power, and intricate machinery. This subgenre merges Victorian aesthetics with the macabre, yielding a visual and thematic contrast between technology and death.
Steampunk zombies also allow us to explore the intersection of science and the supernatural, along with the consequences of unchecked industrial advancement.
18. Techno-Zombies
Techno-zombies are victims of a digital virus that spreads through technology, turning people into mindless drones. In this scenario, the virus gets a boost from our hyper-connected, device-driven society. The more connected devices there are, the greater the spread.
This type of zombie explores the potential consequences of our ever-increasing reliance on technology and the way it impacts humanity. It’s a commentary on our vulnerability to unseen threats lurking in the digital realm.
19. Time-Loop Zombies
Trapped in a repeating time loop, these zombies die and resurrect endlessly. Survivors must grapple with the cyclical nature of their predicament, while seeking ways to break the loop and alter the course of events. Time-loop zombies challenge our perceptions of time and reality, creating a story that blends elements of horror, science fiction, and metaphysics.
20. Undead AI
Undead AI zombies are synthetic consciousnesses uploaded into reanimated human bodies or robotic shells. This unique type of zombie challenges our understanding of what it means to be “alive,” blurring the lines between human, machine, and the supernatural. It also forces us to consider the unwanted consequences of merging technology and biology.
21. Vodou Zombies
The term “voodoo” is a western creation, one that carries racist and imperialistic baggage. As the Haitian photojournalist Dieu-Nalio Chery wrote in The Washington Post Magazine:
“Vodou is a religion freighted with mischaracterizations, down to its very name, which is frequently styled incorrectly as ‘voodoo.’ Among practitioners, the word is considered a pejorative … The ancient, nature-based religion also has suffered from untrue stereotypes in popular culture involving zombies and dangerous spells.”
In 1929, William Seabrook wrote a travelogue called The Magic Island. That book is considered to be the first popular English-language work to describe the concept of a zombie.
Here’s a relevant passage from Seabrook’s book:
The zombie, they say, is a soulless human corpse, still dead, but taken from the grave and endowed by sorcery with a mechanical semblance of life — it is a dead body which is made to walk and act and move as if it were alive.
On the big screen, the concept of “voodoo zombies” was popularized by movies ranging from White Zombie (1932) to The Serpent and the Rainbow (1988).
In fiction, “voodoo zombies” are usually brought to life through dark magic and necromancy. A sorcerer or witch is often responsible for controlling these zombies, using them as pawns to pursue some ulterior motive.
