What games have taught us about surviving a zombie apocalypse

Aim for the head (unless they're in space)

There's no place for pacifists in a zombie apocalypse. Eventually, you're going to have to spill some infected blood, and unless you want to avoid unloading all your ammo in one walker, we suggest aiming for the head. The science around this is still fuzzy, but from what we can gather from House of the Dead and virtually every zombie game in existence, the undead need their brains to function. A precision shot to the cranium should do the trick or, in absence of a gun, a nice shiv through the eye or sharpened hockey stick through the ear. The only exception to this rule is in the case of Dead Space 2's Necromorphs, which require systematic dismemberment to take down. Unless they're those damn baby crawlers, in which case, your best strategy is to pray to your chosen deity and hope they finish you quick.

There was never, and never will be, such thing as a "safe zone" (sorry)

This one may be hard to swallow. The last bastion of humanity? It doesn't exist. That zombie-free safe zone you heard about over the radio? Sorry man, but in the legendary Ackbar's famous words, It's a trap!" There may have been a gas station or prison that protected humans for a few nights in the beginning, but dollars to donuts those places are Zombieville now. At the very most, you may get invited to spend the night at a government installation, but you better believe that base is either days away from getting overrun a la Left 4 Dead, or housing some experimental walkers in a nearby hangar, a la every cliched zombie movie. Oh, and just in case you're thinking about hiding out in the quaint town of Ravenholm, don't. Unless you dig headcrabs.

You can never go wrong in a mall

George Romero had it right. In lieu of an actual safe zone (which, remember, don't exist), malls are the next best thing. They're a one-stop murder shop, brimming with vital supplies, food, and a cornucopia of zombie killing tools all at 100% off their regular sale price. There's a reason shopping centres have featured prominently in the likes of Dead Rising, Left 4 Dead 2, and Dead Island. More than just digital homages to the classic film Dawn of the Dead, these temples of mass-consumerism are a survivor shangri-las. If you're lucky enough to find one that hasn't already been looted, consider yourself the winner of the apocalypse lottery. Reversely, if you find yourself stuck inside a mall that's become a zombie hangout, consider yourself dead.

Killer plants are a great line of defense

We're not sure this is a real strategy, but given mankind's obsession with Plants vs Zombies, we figure there has to be some truth to it. Then again, fungus is alleged to be the reason behind The Last of Us's troubles, so we're divided on the whole trust mother nature thing. At the very worst, you'll have a nice salad. Just mind the teeth.

Zombies have (and will) outlive us all

Here's a fun fact: Did you know that zombies have existed for centuries? It's true! From playing Call of Duty, Red Dead Redemption Undead Nightmare, Castle Wolfenstein, Stubbs the Zombie, and other historical texts, we can prove with absolute certainty that the undead have be lurching throughout time in a number of different forms. Heck, if the Dead Space series is to believed (and really, why should it not?), zombies are also a common enemy in the dark outer reaches of space. How will this help you to survive? Beats us. But hey, we just gave you something to talk about the next time you have to hide out in a storm cellar or something.

What have we learned?

That about covers it. Now you should be ready to take on the undead hordes and hopefully survive until winter when they all die off and leave humanity to begin rebuilding itself. Wait... they do die off in winter, right? Think you know better? Let us know where we went wrong and if there's a lesson we left out. Otherwise, we'll see you on the road...

Keep the zombie ball rolling with our list of Zombies that give zombies a good names and our musings on Why we can't quit zombies. And for extra kicks, check out the Creepiest enemies in otherwise cute games.