Top 10 Deadliest Video Game Outbreaks

“Dishonored” (2012)

This 2012 action-adventure game follows a former bodyguard framed for the murder of his empress. If that wasn’t bad enough, there’s a catastrophically deadly virus sweeping through the poor community. By the time the game begins, half the citizens of the fictional Dunwall have already been wiped out. The Rat Plague, also known as the Doom of Pandyssia, causes the body to simply fall apart before taking the host’s life. It produces a hacking cough, weight loss, discolored skin, and bloody discharges from the eyes. Worse even still, it was introduced via rats by the city’s Spymaster as a way to end poverty. While a cure exists, it’s made so luxuriously expensive that no one who has the plague could afford it anyway.

“Subnautica” (2018)
It’s not as famous as other entries on this list, but alien bacteria should never be underestimated. This 2018 open-world game follows the lone survivor of an expedition to planet 4546B. As you explore its depths, you find you’re far from the first being to visit. Among various wildlife, the planet is home to a fatal bacteria that was brought there 1,000 years prior. The Precursor Race was in search of a cure before they themselves were decimated. And information you find points to a kill count of over 143 billion. The bacteria starts by shutting down the immune system before the infected turns aggressive, growing large green cysts on the skin that overtake the body. It’s a good thing you find a cure.

“Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain” (2015)

While the “Metal Gear” series is filled with absurd concepts, the use of parasites that can spread through a specific language is a whole new level of absurdity. The parasites can be attuned to any language. They’re ingested in larval form, growing and feasting on the vocal cords whenever the host speaks the specific language. After death, the host reverts to a zombie-like state and begins spreading the parasite to others. The game’s villain Skull Face attempted to use an English strain of the parasite, to wipe out nations that had English as their first language. Though he was thwarted, an outbreak of the parasite occurred twice at Mother Base, with the second wave in particular resulting is one of the franchises most harrowing moments.

“World of Warcraft” (2004)

Released less than a year after “World of Warcraft,” the Zul’Gurub update caused an entirely accidental outbreak. The first 20-player raid dungeon was meant for higher level players as it culminated in a tough-as-nails boss fight. One of the things this boss could do was infect players with Corrupted Blood, a status effect that dealt heavy damage over a certain amount of time and could spread to nearby players. While it was only intended to appear here, Blizzard didn’t account for pet companions. The effect would pause after dismissing a pet and summoning them elsewhere caused the virus to spread. Low-level players died instantly as did NPCs, making the game virtually unplayable until Blizzard implemented a patch.

“Gears Of War” series (2006-)

While there are many strains and outbreaks related to this disease, its worst cases proved catastrophic. Rustlung comes from prolonged exposure to Imulsion, a highly volatile fuel source found on the planet Sera. It became common in miners resulting in a persistent cough, reddish brown phlegm and vomit, chest pain, body decay, hemorrhaging, paranoia, and aggression. It could also lead to Lambency, an ever-changing and literally explosive mutation. Research into a cure only made things worse. Genetic experimentation on the children of those with Rustlung eventually led to the creation of the Locust Horde, which then led to all-out war. While it provided terrifically violent gameplay, it’s undoubtedly a worst case scenario for an outbreak.

“Tom Clancy’s The Division” series (2016-)

In terms of villainous master plans, it’s hard not to be impressed with this one’s inciting incident. In order to stop the planet’s increasing population size, Dr. Gordon Amherst developed a superstrain of Smallpox with an incredibly short incubation period and a mortality rate of 80-90%. He released it in one of the most populated areas, New York City, on one of the busiest days of the year, Black Friday. By sending out contaminated bills, Amherst insured the Green Poison would spread to most citizens at an immense speed. This also caused an outbreak of criminal activity within the quarantine zone as experts desperately searched for a cure. But with traces of six different pathogens, it was able to adapt against most antibodies.

“Dying Light” (2015)

There are a lot of explanations for zombies. In this open world survival horror game, they come from a mutation of rabies. Which actually makes them a lot more aggressive than normal. It isn’t a quick turn either. Infected will often experience seizures causing exhaustion and blurred vision. Luckily for the player, the virus is light-intolerant. But an extra amount of caution needs to be taken when venturing out at night. The virus is named for the fictional Middle Eastern city in which it breaks out. And while the game ends with the virus still contained, the upcoming sequel makes it clear that it spreads to the rest of the world. Things are about to get a lot worse.

“Resident Evil” series (1996-)

Also known as the Tyrant Virus, this biological weapon is one of the most famous in video games. It was developed by the Umbrella Corporation, who extracted a virus from a rare African flower and combined it with leech DNA to create something horrific. When infected, the T-Virus devours the host’s cells and mass reproduces. This leads to the host behaving animalistically as they’ve lost all higher brain functions. Which is just a scientific way of saying it turns them into a brain-hungry zombie. The T-virus has been the instigating factor in many “Resident Evil” games. The power-hungry people behind Umbrella and sales of various strains on the black market have made sure that it will never truly go away.

“The Last of Us” series (2013-)

In 2013, a parasitic fungal outbreak caused 60% of the world to die or turn into rage-filled nightmare creatures. 20 years later and with no sign of a cure, humanity is on its last legs. Based on a real fungus, the Cordyceps Brain Infection grows on the host’s brain. Those infected go through several stages, each more disturbing than the last. Stage 3 infected, also known as Clickers, develop echolocation due to the massive fungus growing out of their eyes. At Stage 4, the fungus has spread to the rest of the body, leading to massive growths that can be torn off and used as grenades. Unlike other zombie-like viruses, CBI has a mind of its own and that’s all the more terrifying.


Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

The Roboenza Virus
“Mega Man 10” (2010)


The Green Flu
“Left 4 Dead” series (2008-09)


Genophage
“Mass Effect” series (2007-17)


Tiberium
“Command & Conquer” series (1995-)


The Gray Death
“Deus Ex” (2000)

“Halo” series (2001-)

When talking about video game outbreaks, it’s hard to top the extra-galactic parasite that has wiped out multiple species and almost the whole universe. The Flood works incredibly quickly, immediately controlling the nervous system of any host it infects. The more it spreads, the smarter it becomes as every infected life form becomes part of one hive mind. It can even bring dead hosts into the fold. This provides a variety of monstrous forms the Flood can take. “Halo” isn’t an inherently scary game. But watching a horde of Flood lifeforms swarm a platoon before you fight them off alone showed just how ruthless and terrifying this parasite is. And that was just the beginning.