Since its release in 2022, the survival game SurrounDead has recently achieved the highest concurrent player count of any title in the current era on Steam, nearly three years after its launch.
This is seen as a positive sign for the zombie game genre, which has recently experienced a significant resurgence.
According to data from SteamDB, on June 1, 2025, SurrounDead reached a peak of 4,151 concurrent players, far exceeding the previous record of 2,000 players recorded throughout 2022 and 2023.
This growth trend began around March and accelerated in May, coinciding with the Zombie vs. Vampires Fest event on Steam, which helped attract players to this discounted title. SurrounDead immerses players in a familiar survival environment, where they must find ways to survive against bloodthirsty zombies and dangerous human enemies. Although it lacks several new features, the game still impresses with its highly challenging gameplay, appealing to those who enjoy authentic survival experiences.
The resurgence of the zombie game genre is not limited to big titles like Dying Light: The Beast or Days Gone Remastered; it also paves the way for unique products like SurrounDead. Although still in Early Access, this game is steadily carving out its own niche in a market that is currently sparse for titles that emphasize authentic zombie survival experiences. This is particularly evident as players are still very much “thirsty” for new zombie survival games, while franchises like State of Decay 3 have yet to provide significant updates. Meanwhile, several other new zombie game titles like Darkest Days have struggled to gain traction due to disappointing open beta phases.
It is still unclear whether the increase in player count is sufficient to accelerate the development process of SurrounDead. However, this is certainly a positive signal for the development team, while also opening up opportunities for the community eager for this genre to continue exploring the “hidden gems” in the resurgent zombie wave. The year 2025 is likely to be a standout year with numerous high-profile zombie titles, such as Killing Floor 3, and SurrounDead – with its current growth trajectory – could very well become a notable contender alongside the big names.
