Choose ZombiesWaves
Choose ZombiesWaves if you want a Strategy, Massively Multiplayer, and Free To Play experience. On Steam, it's free to play, so the barrier to trying it is zero. ZombiesWaves launched in 2021.
ZombiesWaves vs Escape Z
ZombiesWaves and Escape Z both land in Action, Adventure on Steam, which is why they keep getting compared. The comparison below is built from each game's Steam metadata — release year, genres, categories, Steam Deck status, price, and review score — refreshed daily by imho.run's scraper. Headline differences: Both share Action, Adventure on Steam. ZombiesWaves (2021) is 4 years older than Escape Z (2025). ZombiesWaves is free; Escape Z is paid (6.99 USD). No login or purchase needed — scroll for the full table, the verdict FAQ, and links to ranked similar games for both titles.
Which should you pick?
Choose Escape Z
Choose Escape Z if you want an Indie game with Steam Leaderboards, LAN Co-op, and Custom Volume Controls. On Steam, it's the newer release (2025) and ships with the modern feature baseline. Escape Z launched in 2025.
Both ZombiesWaves and Escape Z sit in Action and Adventure on Steam and both list Multi-player, Online Co-op, and Co-op, so either pick lands in the same broad neighborhood. Use the side-by-side table for the feature view, or follow the "Games like" links below to see ranked alternatives for either title.
Side-by-side comparison
 ZombiesWaves |  Escape Z | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2021 | 2025 |
| Genres | Action, Strategy, Adventure, Massively Multiplayer, Free To Play | Action, Indie, Adventure |
| Platforms | Windows | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Deck Playable | Unrated |
| Price | Free to play | 6.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 54.8% positive (42 reviews) | 4 reviews |
| Multiplayer | Multi-player, Online Co-op, Co-op | Multi-player, Online Co-op, LAN Co-op |
| Developers | MhrGames | Matt Games |
Side by side
- Both share Action, Adventure on Steam.
- ZombiesWaves (2021) is 4 years older than Escape Z (2025).
- ZombiesWaves is free; Escape Z is paid (6.99 USD).
- Both support cooperative play.
- ZombiesWaves is Deck Playable on Steam Deck; Escape Z has no Deck rating yet.
ZombiesWaves vs Escape Z — FAQ
- Should I play ZombiesWaves or Escape Z first?
- If you want chronology, ZombiesWaves (2021) came out before Escape Z (2025). If neither is a sequel to the other, order doesn't really matter — start with whichever fits your current mood, since both share enough on Steam to make either a reasonable opener.
- Are ZombiesWaves and Escape Z similar?
- They overlap on Action, Adventure on Steam, so the catalogue groups them together — but "similar" depends on the specific mechanics. Use the genre + category rows above to decide whether the overlap matches what drew you to the one you've already played.
- Do both ZombiesWaves and Escape Z have co-op?
- Yes — both list a co-op category on Steam. Specifics differ: ZombiesWaves ships Online Co-op, Co-op; Escape Z ships Online Co-op, LAN Co-op.
- Is ZombiesWaves free?
- Yes — ZombiesWaves is a free-to-play Steam title. Escape Z is paid (6.99 USD).
- Does ZombiesWaves run on Steam Deck?
- Yes — ZombiesWaves is rated Deck Playable by Valve. Escape Z doesn't have a Deck rating yet, so its Deck behaviour is currently unverified.