Choose DayZ
Choose DayZ if you want an Adventure game with Valve Anti-Cheat enabled. On Steam, it carries the stronger Steam consensus at 74.2% positive across 175,514 reviews.
DayZ vs Infestation: The New Z
DayZ and Infestation: The New Z both land in Action, Massively Multiplayer 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, Massively Multiplayer on Steam. Infestation: The New Z (2016) is 2 years older than DayZ (2018). DayZ scores higher on Steam reviews (74.2% positive) than Infestation: The New Z (46% positive). 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 Infestation: The New Z
Choose Infestation: The New Z if you want an Indie, RPG, and Free To Play experience. On Steam, it's free to play, so the barrier to trying it is zero. 10,824 Steam reviews back the pick.
Both DayZ and Infestation: The New Z sit in Action and Massively Multiplayer on Steam and both list Multi-player, MMO, and Online PvP, 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
 DayZ |  Infestation: The New Z | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2018 | 2016 |
| Genres | Action, Adventure, Massively Multiplayer | Action, Indie, Massively Multiplayer, RPG, Free To Play |
| Platforms | Windows | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Deck Unsupported | Deck Unsupported |
| Price | 49.99 USD | Free to play |
| Steam reviews | 74.2% positive (175,514 reviews) | 46% positive (10,824 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Multi-player, Online Co-op, Co-op | Multi-player, Online Co-op, Co-op |
| Developers | Bohemia Interactive | Fredaikis AB |
Side by side
- Both share Action, Massively Multiplayer on Steam.
- Infestation: The New Z (2016) is 2 years older than DayZ (2018).
- DayZ scores higher on Steam reviews (74.2% positive) than Infestation: The New Z (46% positive).
- Infestation: The New Z is free; DayZ is paid (49.99 USD).
- Both support cooperative play.
- Both are Deck Unsupported.
DayZ vs Infestation: The New Z — FAQ
- Which is better, DayZ or Infestation: The New Z?
- On Steam reviews DayZ scores higher (74.2% positive) than Infestation: The New Z (46% positive). Both have enough reviews to trust the signal, so for players using reviews alone, DayZ is the safer pick. Genre fit still matters — check the side-by-side table for the categories each game lands in.
- Should I play DayZ or Infestation: The New Z first?
- If you want chronology, Infestation: The New Z (2016) came out before DayZ (2018). 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 DayZ and Infestation: The New Z similar?
- They overlap on Action, Massively Multiplayer 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 DayZ and Infestation: The New Z have co-op?
- Yes — both list a co-op category on Steam. Specifics differ: DayZ ships Online Co-op, Co-op; Infestation: The New Z ships Online Co-op, Co-op.
- Is Infestation: The New Z free?
- Yes — Infestation: The New Z is a free-to-play Steam title. DayZ is paid (49.99 USD).