Zombies Ate My Neighbors

Zombies Ate My Neighbors is a famous run-and-gun shooter created by LucasArts for SEGA Mega Drive/Genesis and SNES, released in 1993.

It is one of the most inventive and offbeat action games of the 16-bit era. The game published by Konami in 1993 became a cult classic thanks to its tongue-in-cheek horror theme, frenetic gameplay, and distinct visual style that mixes campy humor with monster movie thrills.

Players control either Zeke or Julie, two suburban teenagers who must save their neighbors from waves of classic horror monsters. Armed at first with squirt guns, they can collect an array of bizarre weapons such as explosive soda cans, silverware, fire extinguishers, and even magic tomes. The game pays homage to every kind of horror film imaginable: zombies, werewolves, evil dolls, axe murderers, Martians, and even giant mutant babies roam the neighborhoods, malls, castles, and haunted mansions. Each level is a race to rescue all the neighbors before the monsters reach them.

The SNES version boasts more vibrant colors and slightly better sound effects, while the Genesis version maintains smooth performance and responsive controls. Both offer the same challenging level design and over-the-top monster roster. A highlight of the game is its cooperative two-player mode, where both players can simultaneously explore the map, fight off monsters, and share resources—making it ideal for couch co-op sessions.

The game's top-down perspective and chaotic action draw comparisons to Smash TV or The Chaos Engine, other intense run-and-gun shooters, though Zombies emphasizes exploration and survival rather than pure arena combat. It also showcases the range of LucasArts as a studio, proving they could craft creative and fun action titles outside of their better-known point-and-click adventures like Maniac Mansion and The Secret of Monkey Island.

While not a massive commercial hit upon release, Zombies Ate My Neighbors has since earned a devoted following. Its mix of fast-paced gameplay, clever design, and quirky humor still resonates with retro game fans. It's an essential title for anyone interested in the weirder, more experimental side of 16-bit gaming.