They've got us dead to rights

These days, you can't go more than a few hours without seeing a zombie. They not only dominate TV (thanks to Halloween programming), but also the movies (Zombieland raked in $26 million) and most importantly, video games. It seems like every publisher has its own zombie game, from Capcom's Resident Evil series to PopCap's Plants Vs. Zombies. With that, join us for a look at the best zombie games of 2009.

Burn, Zombie, Burn! (PSN)

Doublesix's old-school shooter gives you hundreds of zombies to mow down and little time to do it with. You play Bruce (a nod to Bruce Campbell from The Evil Dead, perhaps?), a gunman who takes down the undead with shotguns, flamethrowers and anything else he can get his hands on. This game controls like Midway's arcade classic, Smash TV, with the left analog stick handling movement and the right controlling your line of fire. It's good, quick fun.

I Made a Game With Zombies In It!!! (Xbox Live)

Ska Studios, the same publisher behind the enjoyable Xbox Live Arcade release, The Dishwasher: Dead Samurai, is back with this dirt cheap zombie shoot-em-up. You gun down wave after wave of incoming zombies, while also fending off electrical threats, like glowing snakes that look like they came out of Robotron. For an Xbox Live indie game, the graphics look great and the music is hilarious.

Zombie Apocalypse (PSN/Xbox 360)

Konami's Zombie Apocalypse is on the same level as Burn, Zombie, Burn!, but introduces a few new elements. First, there are four characters to choose from, each with their own personalities. Second, you can play co-op with up to four people, either online or off. Finally, you can use more than guns to kill zombies. You can wield a chainsaw, knock them into environmental objects or best of all, hurl explosive teddy bears at them. "What's your favorite color? Mine's red!" Boom!

Undead Knights (PSP)

In Tecmo's undead adventure, you chop enemy knights to bits and slowly convert them into zombies. From there, you can command them to do your bidding, forming zombie ladders and bridges to reach new areas, hurling them like boulders and unleashing them on unsuspecting enemies. It's gory, mindless fun. Check out the Undead Knights demo now at the PlayStation Store.

Left 4 Dead 2 (Xbox 360/PC)

We know it's only been a year since the release of the original Left 4 Dead, but we don't mind more zombie-killing from the folks at Valve. Left 4 Dead 2 features an all-new campaign, with four new characters and a slew of new weapons, including a bat and a chainsaw. It also has a bit of Southern flavor, a huge switch from the original. We can't wait for this one. However, if you can't live without the first Left 4 Dead, don't worry. A new Crash Course campaign arrived last week, so there's plenty of monsters to slaughter.

Resident Evil: The Darkside Chronicles (Wii)

With Resident Evil Classics already released this year for Wii (featuring both Resident Evil Zero and the remade Resident Evil), we thought Wii had enough zombie mayhem. Thankfully, we thought wrong, as the long-awaited Resident Evil: The Darkside Chronicles is set to invade the console next month. You'll control Leon Kennedy and Claire Redfield as they tear apart hordes of zombies, occasionally using an Evade system to avoid being bitten. We can't wait.

Dead Space: Extraction (Wii)

Even though it plays entirely different than the original, Dead Space: Extraction still provides plenty of horrifying thrills on the Wii. You play as members of a team trapped on a spaceship filled with deadly creatures known as Necromorphs. It's your job to take them down through a series of on-rail shooting segments, using various weapons to do so; aim for the limbs. Extraction is great fun, and it'll keep you busy until Dead Space 2 arrives next year for Xbox 360 and PS3.

Onechanbara: Bikini Zombie Slayers (Xbox 360/Wii)

What's better than chopping dozens of undead to bits with samurai swords? Chopping them to bits as bikini-clad babes, of course. Onechanbara: Bikini Zombie Slayers lets you select from scantily clad hotties as they fend off a zombie plague in Japan. You can wield guns, but it's more fun using swords, as blood and body parts fly everywhere.

Plants Vs. Zombies (PC)

If you crave a lighthearted zombie game, PopCap Games' Plants Vs. Zombies pits the undead against garden-variety heroes, including Pea Spitters, Potato Mines and more. The goal is to keep the zombies from reaching your house using a variety of plants. The more levels you complete, the more plants become available. Just be aware that the zombie horde grows stronger as well. Just wait until you see the Zombie Bobsled Team.

House of the Dead: Overkill (Wii)

Sega's House of the Dead series is beloved by zombie fans, thanks to its ridiculous dialogue ("Suffer like G did!") and quick shoot-em-up gameplay. The latest addition to the series, Overkill, is the most stylish to date. The visuals and audio take a cue from the Grindhouse movies, with an over-the-top storyline to match. The game is tons of fun, especially when you get around to shooting zombie clowns. Be ready for a heap of profanity as well.

Dead Rising: Chop Till You Drop (Wii)

Frank West's nightmarish day is far from over. The photographer turned apocalyptic hero is back for more in Dead Rising: Chop Till You Drop, a modified version of the hit Xbox 360 game. In this edition, you'll still fend off zombies using anything you can get your hands on, from a Servbot helmet to a shopping cart. However, you won't have to worry about taking pictures, and the game smartly uses Wii motion controls to make you feel every ounce of zombie-killing excitement.

Combat Arms (PC)

Nexon America released the free-to-play Combat Arms a while back for PC, and it's gathered quite an audience with its intense first-person shooting action. However, the recent edition of Quarantine Mode could push its audience even further. Here, you have two teams, humans versus zombies, in a fight to the finish. The zombies eventually win, as the round comes to an end once everyone is infected. However, it's a matter of how long it takes for you to convert. The longer you survive, the better your rank. Grab some ammunition and buck up.

Zombie Wranglers (Xbox 360)

If you're looking for an action-packed zombie game without the gore, Sierra's downloadable Zombie Wranglers is a decent choice. Here, you'll pit neighborhood kids against armies of the undead, using weapons like a plate shooter and a plasma-powered cannon. However, don't expect the zombies to give up easily. They evolve into bigger, smarter enemies, including the nearly unstoppable Zomball. It's kind of like a katamari, but deadlier.

Dead Rising 2 (Xbox 360/PS3)

Although the game won't come out until 2010, Dead Rising 2 should offer plenty of thrills. You play Chuck Greene, a motocross champion who finds himself neck deep in zombies in the middle of a Las Vegas-inspired city. You'll need to improvise and use whatever weapons you can get your hands on, including chainsaws, a motorcycle and our personal favorite, a moose head. What better way to bring down zombies than impaling them with antlers? Bring the pain!