Games like Contagion
If Contagion is your kind of game, the closest matches are Left 4 Dead 2, Killing Floor 2 and Cops N' Zombies — picked from the ranked list below. Reviewers single out its atmospheric, dark and stressful. Each pick is ranked by what players of this game also play, shared genres and tags, and review-mined similarity — not a generic popularity list.
Get personalized picks →Contagion is a post-apocalyptic zombie shooter released in 2013 by Monochrome, Inc, available for $3.99. Reviewers and players describe the atmosphere as dark and tense, with the infection mechanic turning co-op play into a high-stakes gamble where one bite can ruin an entire run. The game features headshot-only kills, horde waves, limited inventory space, and tight ammo management that forces tactical positioning. Players highlight that zombies die with headshots only, making every encounter a calculated risk. Crowds must be managed carefully as resources, objectives, and paths shift unpredictably between rounds. The built-in level editor and modding tools extend replayability. The game runs verified on Steam Deck and holds a 73% positive rating from over 5500 Steam reviews.
About Contagion: Contagion isn't your average Zombie Shooter but instead takes a more realistic and different approach to the popular genre with unique characters, environments, weapons, items, and a built in system that makes every round completely unpredictable with resources, objectives, and paths ever changing.
Players who liked Contagion also play
Steam players who put hours into Contagion also tend to own these titles — a signal called collaborative filtering. imho.run cross-references millions of library ownership patterns to surface games whose real audiences overlap, regardless of whether their genre tags match.
Left 4 Dead 2
WHY THIS
Shares a tense mood with Contagion.
Top pick for Contagion fans by collaborative filtering across millions of Steam libraries. Shares Action with Contagion.
Set in the zombie apocalypse, Left 4 Dead 2 is a co-operative action horror FPS takes you and your friends through the cities, swamps and cemeteries of the Deep South, from Savannah to New Orleans across five expansive campaigns.
Killing Floor 2
WHY THIS
Shares a dark mood with Contagion.
Second-strongest match for Contagion fans by collaborative filtering across millions of Steam libraries. Shares Action with Contagion.
In KILLING FLOOR 2, players descend into continental Europe after it has been overrun by horrific, murderous clones called Zeds that were created by rogue elements of the Horzine Corporation. 6-player Co-Op & 12-player VS Zed-slaughtering mayhem.
Cops N' Zombies
WHY THIS
Third-strongest match for Contagion fans by collaborative filtering across millions of Steam libraries. Shares Action and Indie with Contagion.
A horror social deduction game where you and your friends take on the roles of police officers on a critical mission. But there is a zombie among you that can transform at will. Can you trust your friends?
No More Room in Hell
WHY THIS
Shares infection system and an atmospheric mood with Contagion.
Ranked #4 for Contagion fans by collaborative filtering across millions of Steam libraries. Shares Action and Indie with Contagion.
The chances of you surviving this all out war of society and the undead are slim to none. Already, there are millions of the walking dead shambling about, searching for food to eat. There's no known cure. One bite can possibly end it all for you. However, you aren't alone in this nightmare.
Dying Light
WHY THIS
Shares a dark mood with Contagion.
Ranked #5 for Contagion fans by collaborative filtering across millions of Steam libraries. Shares Action with Contagion.
First-person action survival game set in a post-apocalyptic open world overrun by flesh-hungry zombies. Roam a city devastated by a mysterious virus epidemic. Scavenge for supplies, craft weapons, and face hordes of the infected.
DayZ
WHY THIS
Shares an atmospheric mood with Contagion.
Ranked #6 for Contagion fans by collaborative filtering across millions of Steam libraries. Shares Action and Adventure with Contagion.
How long can you survive a post-apocalyptic world? A land overrun with an infected "zombie" population, where you compete with other survivors for limited resources. Will you team up with strangers and stay strong together? Or play as a lone wolf to avoid betrayal? This is DayZ – this is your story.
Masked Forces: Zombie Survival
WHY THIS
Shares an atmospheric mood with Contagion.
Ranked #7 for Contagion fans by collaborative filtering across millions of Steam libraries. Shares Action and Indie with Contagion.
What will you do when the zombie apocalypse comes, are you ready to tackle it right now and stay face to face with all the horrors that will appear?
RIO - Raised In Oblivion
WHY THIS
Ranked #8 for Contagion fans by collaborative filtering across millions of Steam libraries. Shares Action and Indie with Contagion.
There was an infection in a large part of Rio De Janeiro and, in order not to spread, the government built retaining walls, whoever is inside will not be able to leave and will have to survive until the cure is discovered.
Reviewers mention these as similar to Contagion
Surfaced from review text: when other players write 'if you liked X, try Y', we catch the name and resolve it back to a Steam game.
No More Room in Hell
WHY THIS
Shares infection system and an atmospheric mood with Contagion.
Reviewers of Contagion cross-mention this title as a similar play. Shares Action and Indie with Contagion.
The chances of you surviving this all out war of society and the undead are slim to none. Already, there are millions of the walking dead shambling about, searching for food to eat. There's no known cure. One bite can possibly end it all for you. However, you aren't alone in this nightmare.
DayZ
WHY THIS
Shares an atmospheric mood with Contagion.
Reviewers of Contagion cross-mention this title as a similar play. Shares Action and Adventure with Contagion.
How long can you survive a post-apocalyptic world? A land overrun with an infected "zombie" population, where you compete with other survivors for limited resources. Will you team up with strangers and stay strong together? Or play as a lone wolf to avoid betrayal? This is DayZ – this is your story.
Dying Light
WHY THIS
Shares a dark mood with Contagion.
Reviewers of Contagion cross-mention this title as a similar play. Shares Action with Contagion.
First-person action survival game set in a post-apocalyptic open world overrun by flesh-hungry zombies. Roam a city devastated by a mysterious virus epidemic. Scavenge for supplies, craft weapons, and face hordes of the infected.
Rust
WHY THIS
Shares a stressful mood with Contagion.
Reviewers of Contagion cross-mention this title as a similar play. Shares Action and Indie with Contagion.
The only aim in Rust is to survive. Everything wants you to die - the island’s wildlife, other inhabitants, the environment, and other survivors. Do whatever it takes to last another night.
No More Room in Hell 2
WHY THIS
Shares an atmospheric mood with Contagion.
Reviewers of Contagion cross-mention this title as a similar play. Shares Action and Indie with Contagion.
No More Room in Hell 2 is an intense 8 player zombie shooter. Overcome the endless undead. Avoid infection. Survive hell together.
Resident Evil 2
WHY THIS
Shares an atmospheric mood with Contagion.
Reviewers of Contagion cross-mention this title as a similar play. Shares Action with Contagion.
A deadly virus engulfs the residents of Raccoon City in September of 1998, plunging the city into chaos as flesh eating zombies roam the streets for survivors. An unparalleled adrenaline rush, gripping storyline, and unimaginable horrors await you. Witness the return of Resident Evil 2.
Left 4 Dead
WHY THIS
Shares a stressful mood with Contagion.
Reviewers of Contagion cross-mention this title as a similar play. Shares Action with Contagion.
From Valve (the creators of Counter-Strike, Half-Life and more) comes Left 4 Dead, a co-op action horror game for the PC and Xbox 360 that casts up to four players in an epic struggle for survival against swarming zombie hordes and terrifying mutant monsters.
Resident Evil 3
WHY THIS
Shares ammo management and a stressful mood with Contagion.
Reviewers of Contagion cross-mention this title as a similar play. Shares Action with Contagion.
Jill Valentine is one of the last remaining people in Raccoon City to witness the atrocities Umbrella performed. To stop her, Umbrella unleashes their ultimate secret weapon: Nemesis! Also includes Resident Evil Resistance, a new 1 vs 4 online multiplayer game set in the Resident Evil universe.
Cheaper alternatives
Games in the same vein priced at least 40% below Contagion at current Steam store prices.
POSTAL 2
WHY THIS
Priced ~75% under Contagion on Steam right now. Shares Action and Indie with Contagion.
Live a week in the life of "The POSTAL Dude"; a hapless everyman just trying to check off some chores. Buying milk, returning an overdue library book, getting Gary Coleman's autograph, what could possibly go wrong?
The Test
WHY THIS
Priced ~50% under Contagion on Steam right now. Shares Indie and Adventure with Contagion.
You will answer a series of questions that will reveal truths from deep within. These questions may make you uncomfortable, but with great knowledge comes great sacrifice. Can you make it all the way through The Test, and if you do, are you sure you want the answers you seek?
Milk inside a bag of milk inside a bag of milk
WHY THIS
Priced ~63% under Contagion on Steam right now. Shares Indie and Adventure with Contagion.
A short story about what sort of challenges everyday little things can be. Help the girl buy milk, be the first not to disappoint her.
Blood and Bacon
WHY THIS
Priced ~75% under Contagion on Steam right now. Shares Action and Adventure with Contagion.
This Co-op Shooter , has Day and Night levels, multiple maps, players will take on 25 enemy types and numerous bosses, like Gargantuan Monsters and Minibosses every 10 days as you explore, shoot and run for your life against the onslaught of porcine monstrosities.
shapez
WHY THIS
Priced ~75% under Contagion on Steam right now. Shares Indie with Contagion.
shapez is an easy-going, minimalistic factory building game about the automation of shapes through extraction and satisfying production lines. Adapt to increasingly complex shapes and grow your factory across an infinitely expanding map. Your only limitation is your creativity!
The Test: Hypothesis Rising
WHY THIS
Priced ~50% under Contagion on Steam right now. Shares Indie and Adventure with Contagion.
The second chapter in The Test trilogy. Answer a series of in-depth questions to reveal hidden truths about yourself and unlock secrets to discover how your life can change drastically with just a few, slight modifications. ...But are you sure you want the answers you seek?
The NOexistenceN of you AND me
WHY THIS
Priced ~50% under Contagion on Steam right now. Shares Indie and Adventure with Contagion.
Use "game" as a medium to showcase the world of "you/girl". Explore the truth of "you/girl/world" through the form of a "visual novel".
Shower With Your Dad Simulator 2015: Do You Still Shower With Your Dad
WHY THIS
Priced ~75% under Contagion on Steam right now. Shares Action and Indie with Contagion.
"Shower With Your Dad Simulator 2015: Do You Still Shower With Your Dad?" is a fast paced shower-simulation where you shower with your 8-bit dad.It's good, clean fun!
Free alternatives
Free-to-play games that recommended players of this title also tend to enjoy.
Ultimate Custom Night
WHY THIS
Free-to-play pick from the same recommendation pool — no purchase to try it. Shares Action and Indie with Contagion.
Welcome to the ultimate FNAF mashup, featuring 50 selectable characters and custom difficulties!
ENA: Dream BBQ
WHY THIS
Free-to-play pick from the same recommendation pool — no purchase to try it. Shares Indie and Adventure with Contagion.
Experience surreal environments and inexplicable characters as ENA in a new wild world.
Indigo Park: Chapter 1
WHY THIS
Free-to-play pick from the same recommendation pool — no purchase to try it. Shares Action and Indie with Contagion.
Explore the abandoned childhood wonder of Indigo Park! Guided by Rambley the Raccoon, help restore power to the destroyed amusement park while you run from the reason it shut down.
The Looker
WHY THIS
Free-to-play pick from the same recommendation pool — no purchase to try it. Shares Indie with Contagion.
You wake up, alone, on a strangely familiar island full of puzzles that will frustrate and annoy you.
Counter-Strike:Global Offensive
WHY THIS
Free-to-play pick from the same recommendation pool — no purchase to try it. Shares Action with Contagion.
Counter-Strike:Global Offensive (CS:GO) expands upon the team-based action gameplay that it pioneered when it was launched over 2 decades ago. CS:GO features new maps, characters, weapons, and game modes, and delivers updated versions of the classic CS content (de_dust2, etc.).
The Expendabros
WHY THIS
Free-to-play pick from the same recommendation pool — no purchase to try it. Shares Action and Indie with Contagion.
The Expendabros have assembled and set their sights on the forces of ruthless arms dealer Conrad Stonebanks in the forests of Eastern Europe.
Dagon: by H. P. Lovecraft
WHY THIS
Free-to-play pick from the same recommendation pool — no purchase to try it. Shares Indie and Adventure with Contagion.
Face unspeakable horrors. Succumb to madness. Welcome to a free daemonic narrative experience inspired by H. P. Lovecraft.
Narrow it down
Head-to-head comparisons
Frequently asked about Contagion
- Is Contagion verified for Steam Deck?
- Yes — Contagion is Steam Deck Verified, meaning Valve has confirmed it runs well on the Deck with full controller, text legibility, and default configuration support.
- How much does Contagion cost?
- Contagion is listed on Steam at 3.99 USD (current store price; Steam sales may reduce this temporarily).
- Does Contagion have multiplayer or co-op?
- Yes — Contagion supports multi-player play according to its Steam store listing (Multi-player, Online PvP, Online Co-op).
- What games are most similar to Contagion?
- Based on Steam play patterns and shared genres/tags, the games most often recommended alongside Contagion are Left 4 Dead 2, Killing Floor 2, Cops N' Zombies.
- Who developed Contagion?
- Contagion was developed by Monochrome, Inc.
imho.run ranks Steam game alternatives using a mix of collaborative filtering (ALS / iALS / EASE / LightGCN), content scoring over genres, categories, Steam tags, developers, and publishers, plus AI-extracted vibes mined from review text. The page above is generated in seed mode anchored on Contagion.
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