iTechGuides is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Learn more
Choose World War Z: Aftermath if you want globe-spanning episodes, class progression, melee options and huge horde modes. Choose Back 4 Blood if you want player-built card decks to change campaign runs or want a 4v4 PvP mode. Both support up to four-player online co-op and offer solo play, but your group’s platforms can determine which one works for you.
How the games differ
| What you want | Better fit | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Global story episodes and large swarms | World War Z: Aftermath | Its episodes visit several cities and regions, and the game includes Horde Mode; Horde Mode XL is available only on select platforms. |
| Classes, melee variety and optional first-person play | World War Z: Aftermath | It offers eight classes, weapon customization, melee weapons including dual-wield and two-handed options, and an optional first-person mode. |
| Campaign runs shaped by a custom deck | Back 4 Blood | Its card system lets you choose a premade deck or build your own, changing the experience between runs. |
| Team-versus-team zombie action | Back 4 Blood | Its Swarm mode pits two teams of four against each other. |
| Solo play without being online | Either | Back 4 Blood specifies offline Campaign and Training with three AI teammates. Saber says World War Z missions and solo modes can be played without an online subscription. |
What World War Z: Aftermath is best at
World War Z: Aftermath builds its campaign around episodes set in New York, Moscow, Marseille, Jerusalem, Tokyo, Rome and Kamchatka. Its central draw is large-scale swarm combat, backed by class progression, weapon customization and horde modes. Focus Entertainment’s feature page describes the game’s episodes, eight classes, melee system, optional first-person mode and Horde Mode XL.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
The Diofield Chronicle - PlayStation 5 | $21.51 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
|
World War Z: Aftermath | $22.01 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
|
World War Z: Aftermath - PlayStation 5 | $39.95 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
|
Back 4 Blood - PlayStation 5 | $9.43 | Buy on Amazon |
Platform matters if you are choosing it for a particular mode. Saber lists Aftermath for PlayStation 4 and 5, Xbox One and Series X|S, PC (Steam, Epic Games Store and Microsoft Store), and Amazon Luna. The original World War Z—not Aftermath—is also available on Nintendo Switch. According to Saber’s platform and mode FAQ, standard Horde Mode maps are available on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S; Horde Mode XL maps are limited to PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X|S.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
What Back 4 Blood is best at
Back 4 Blood is a cooperative first-person campaign shooter whose defining customization feature is its card system. You can select a premade deck or assemble your own, and the game uses those choices to vary campaign runs. Its other distinct option is Swarm, a 4v4 PvP mode. The official Back 4 Blood game page describes the card system and PvP; its FAQ identifies Swarm as the eight-player mode.
#1 Best Overall
- New Strategy RPG by Square Enix - An all-new Strategy RPG that chronicles an epic tale of war and honor; Featuring a unique and beautiful world that blends fantasy, medieval and modern-day influences, and a deep yet innovative real-time battle system
- Deep, strategic, real-time tactical battles – Make real-time assessment of battlefield conditions and decisive orders that take advantage of your troops strengths and weaknesses; Make use of skills, classes and equipment to complete your mission
- Realistic diorama style battle scenes - Richly detailed depictions of the environments of the island of DioField combined with unique "diorama" style visuals as you command your forces like a general
The FAQ also documents offline Campaign and Training modes. Offline Campaign gives you three AI teammates, supports progression and unlocks, and can carry campaign progression between offline and online play. Training also works offline and provides all cards so you can try deck builds. On console, the FAQ says these offline modes do not require Xbox Live Gold or PlayStation Plus; online console modes require the platform subscription described there.
Can you play solo or with friends?
Solo and offline play
Both games have solo options, but they describe them differently. Back 4 Blood’s FAQ specifically names offline Campaign and Training, including its three AI teammates. Saber says World War Z missions and solo modes can be played without a platform subscription; that is not a claim that every mode is available offline.
Rank #2
Cross-play and platform compatibility
World War Z: Aftermath supports cross-play among PC, PlayStation 4 and 5, and Xbox One and Series X|S. Nintendo Switch is excluded: Saber says Switch has no cross-play with other platforms. Saber also says Aftermath has no local co-op and does not support cross-progression, although a one-time save transfer through PROS is possible.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →The official Back 4 Blood pages cited here list PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S, but do not establish cross-play compatibility. If your group owns different platforms, confirm the current support details for your exact versions before buying; do not assume cross-play based on the platform list alone.
Rank #3
- Take back Vatican City in an epic confrontation in Rome, and join forces with survivors in Russia’s snowbound Kamchatka peninsula in all-new story missions
- Play in glorious 4K|60 FPS. Endure endless waves of increasingly difficult zombies in the new Horde Mode XL game mode, featuring hundreds more zombies on screen than ever before possible
- Experience a heart-pounding new perspective with Aftermath’s immersive new First-Person Mode option
- Level up eight unique classes — the Gunslinger, Hellraiser, Slasher, Medic, Fixer, Exterminator, Dronemaster, and all-new Vanguard class — each with their own perks and playstyles
Which one should you choose?
- Pick World War Z: Aftermath for international episode settings, enormous swarms, class progression, melee variety or Horde Mode. Check whether your platform supports the specific horde mode you want.
- Pick Back 4 Blood for deck-building that changes campaign runs or for a dedicated 4v4 PvP option.
- For a mixed-platform group, verify first. Aftermath’s supported cross-play platforms are documented, but Switch is left out; the cited Back 4 Blood material does not settle cross-play.
There is no evidence here for a universal quality winner, current population, matchmaking speed or measured performance comparison. The more useful choice is the game whose campaign loop, extra modes and platform support match your group.
Quick Recap
Rank #4
- Fight your way through a perilous world In a 4-player co-op story campaign where you must work together to survive increasingly challenging missions
- Choose from 8 customizable cleaners and a range of lethal weapons and items
- Play with or against friends in PvP
- A new Roguelike card system creates different experiences each and every time
- A PlayStation Plus subscription is required to play Back 4 Blood on PlayStation or Xbox consoles.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
