Fanfic Recs / Left 4 Dead

Proof that the remaining 10% is worth grabbin' pillz for here.

These are recommendations made by Tropers for Left 4 Dead fanfics, all of which have to be signed to stay on the page. Feel free to add a fanfic of your own to the list, but remember to use the template found here.

You can also add to the current recommendations if you want. Refrain from posting Conversation in the Main Page though; that goes in the discussion page. Discussion of the recommendation is welcome on the discussion page. As such discussion is important, do remember to add the discussion page to the watchlist if need be.

Do warn when a fanfic may head into sexually explicit or non-canon territory. Some people just don't like it, and as we all know, Shipping is Serious Business.

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Authors and Websites

grimmons88

• Recommended by UnDefinedLegacy
• Mostly Nick/Ellis centered(one Francis/Zoey oneshot). 3 multi-chapter stories God, Ellis/Nick loves/hates ____, Resurgence, and an "Untitled Left 4 Dead 2 fic". Plus many oneshots. All of them sexy and well written.

General Fics

Stories focused on the family and the friendly relationships of the cast. Plot-focused stories or light day-in-the-life stories. Pretty much anything that isn't focused on romance.

Whatever Days May Come by WildArm

• Recommended by: zoeymoe, REV 6 Pilot
• Status: Complete
• Synopsis: Bill Overbeck endured the jungles of Vietnam. He endured his retirement from service. And now, he is going to have to endure Hell on earth. He was always a leader, and although his new squad may not be what he's used to, he'll have to make do. The events of the Left 4 Dead Campaigns mostly in Bill's perspective.
• Tags: Horror, Suspense
• Comments: This fic is one of the rare gems, because it is well written. The author gives more depth to the characters.
  • REV 6 Pilot: Another thing that makes this a gem among mounds of dirt is that it's exactly the game if it had cutscenes... and without the gameplay quirks. The zombies are still attracted to light and sound, but are really quite rare, which you would expect from an ensemble that tries its hardest to be stealthy, sneaks around depopulated areas, and doesn't have an AI Director breathing down their necks. The start deviates from canon a little bit, since it was written before the releases of the Crash Course DLC and the Sacrifice comic, but the version presented in the fic is still solid gold.

Two Step by Disrupted Original

• Recommended by: gRough, REV 6 Pilot, Randomfanboy, and Kris Mahai
• Status: Complete
• Synopsis: At least twice a day he would trace a finger over the faded highways that stretched over the map in his hands. Every step he took could very well be in the wrong direction, but he had to take it. He had to find them. Nick loses an eye and gets separated from the others when their cruise ship sinks, and goes on alone to find them.
• Tags: Tragedy, Friendship, Language, violence, adult situations, Original characters, No pairings,
• Comments: Has a TV Tropes page here.
• One of the few Left 4 Dead fics that I actually recommend. Well written and a great place for anyone not particularly knowledgeable in the series to start. Author gets a big thumbs up from me.
  • Same from me. This is probably the best Left 4 Dead fanfic out there - well-written, great Character Development, and no linearity to the plot - believe me, you can't guess what'll happen next, especially because the author pulls no punches about either characters, settings or "vampires". You'll laugh, cry and jump at the edge of your seat sometimes, but mostly you'll be glued to your seat, frozen in anticipation.
  • Agreed. It's addictively readable - I couldn't stop. I tell you what if Nick doesn't meet up with the others, I will be very upset. And it looks like that's a possibility.

Cat and Mouse by randomfox

• Recommended by: Kamakazikid8, seconded by Dark Gidora
• Status: Complete
• Synopsis: Cats toy with their prey before killing them. When a Hunter sees Zoey as prey, will she live long enough to escape before he is finished toying with her?
• Tags: Horror, Suspense
• Comments: Excellently written. It easily shows Zoey's acquired fear of the Hunter while it sadistically toys with her. On the other side, it gives us a look into the Hunter's mind and shows us why and how far it will go to keep chasing its prey.
  • Second Opinion: Very, very well done. Randomfox manages to give the Hunter a personality and intelligence without diminishing the creature's menace. Zoey's growing fear of the Hunter, her fellow survivors' reactions to it, and it's sadism are believable and interesting elements. As their mutual character development occurs, the fic approaches an epic climax. Good action scenes ensure this as a great fic.

Bill's Ultimate Adventure by KoopaEater

• Recommended by: JakAttack
• Status: Dead: Last update: 2010
• Synopsis: As Bill smokes his last cigarette, looking at the oncoming tanks, he smirks. For he knows that this is no ordinary cigarette: it's a magic cigarette. No, Bill doesn't die; he lives, and defeats the tanks in a truly hilarious way.
• Tags: Crack, humor
• Comments: It's a crack fic, and boy does it handle that well. There's no real plot, the spelling's good except for when it's intentionally messed up, but with too many "gritty dirt realism" stories, it's nice to see a fanfic that exists purely to make you laugh.

Just Like the Movies by Wutruffbeest

• Recommended by: zcohen723, Purple People Eater
• Status: Complete
• Synopsis: A story largely from Zoey's perspective as she experiences the zombie apocalypse.
• Pairing(s): Zoey/Francis
• Tags: Adventure
• Comments: A very well done fic of Blood Harvest that adds more meat to the original story. Zoe provides drama and comic relief with her pop-culture references as she tries to cope, such as this little gem here regarding her chances of survival "After all, she hadn't drank, hadn't smoked pot, and definitely hadn't had sex. That meant she'd at least make it to the end of the movie unscathed. Right?"

Apex by P Chill Now

• Recommended by: ShoddopEatYourBurgers
• Status: Complete
• Synopsis: A tale of a hunter's journey from the hunter's perspective. Offers a glimpse into the thoughts and emotion of one of the infected.
• Pairing(s): Hunter/Witch
• Tags: Horror, Romance, Tragedy
• Comments: Very unique and very interesting. The hunter's thoughts are like those of an amnesiac, and his view of the world is naive and childlike. It is admittedly difficult to understand at times, and the fight scenes are rather anticlimactic. However, the author does a good job of making you care about the hunter and his companion, the romance is interesting and the ending... Read to find out.

The Misadventures of a Curious Hunter by Crazychibisama

• Recommended by: the dragonchick
• Status: Dormant: Last update: 2014
• Synopsis: An unusually curious (and intelligent) hunter decides to follow the team of the original Left 4 Dead. Shenanigans ensue.
• Tags: Humor/Drama
• Comments: The character development is quite fascinating, and while the author deviates from the canon story a fair amount, she still manages to keep it dramatic and interesting. Warning: It's very addictive!

Alternate Universe

Alternative Universe. The characters are written into a different world/universe than the one they are typically from.

Respect A Woman by Zarla, Jazzaboo, et al

• Recommended by: SnarkTron, Seconded by JiaMekare
• Status: Ongoing
• Synopsis: Respect A Woman is a shared fan-Universe (by (among others, including anyone who wants to join in) Zarla and Jazaaboo.) focusing primarily on gender-swapped versions of four of the special infected: Hunter the Genki Girl, Smoker the Deadpan Snarker, Laughing Mad Jockey and Charger the Team Mom. Together, they try to survive in the post-zombie apocalypse world.
• Comments: Has a TV Tropes page here.
• Tags: AU
• Comments: In addition to this main universe there are side-stories focusing on Hunter and Smoker's friendship (and sometimes more) before the apocalypse struck and a Cowboy AU of an AU in which Smoker and Hunter are outlaws and Jockey and Charger work on a ranch.

Left 2 Die: Infected by movie buff girl

• Recommended by: PotatOS, Your Buddy Bill
• Status: Complete
• Synopsis: "Humans aren't the only ones who need to survive." The Green Flu outbreak has torn families apart. Nick has been separated from Julie, his 12-year old daughter, who has been Infected with the Witch strain. She, along with three other Special Infected, travel to New Orleans, where Julie hopes to reunite with her dad.
• Tags: Family, Adventure
• Comments: As I'm terrible to give a synopsis without spoiling half of the story, the plot runs around Nick, his daughter (which needs an operation due to being diabetic and turn into a witch), and how Julie (his kid, now in witch form) decides to go all the way from a city (probably in New England, can't remember now) to Savannah in search of her father. When she is unable, she follows him through every place where the campaigns take place. To do so, she teams up with a Hunter named Vance, a Smoker named Carter and a Jockey named Adrian. Ignoring how much of a sucker for Tear-Jerker moments I am, the author gives a ton of character development for the infected and you actually feel like you're cheering for the infected. So far, Dark Carnival has been completed.
  • All campaigns have been completed except Cold Stream, which is teased in the epilogue.

"Blind Man's Bluff" by ladyredms

• Recommended by: DeenieDore, VagabondGrasshopper
• Status: Dormant at 317 chapters; last updated October 2020
• Synopsis: Essentially, this story explores a type of AU where, instead of doing a play-by-play of the campaigns, is a more realistic take on the Left 4 Dead 2 survivors' adventures during the zombie apocalypse. My synopsis doesn't really do it justice though, it's a really long, remarkable epic of these characters and their lives.
• Pairings: Nick/Ellis
• Comments: can be foundhere.
  • This is one of the best fanfics I've ever read in my entire life. No, seriously. This story is a long, sprawling epic filled with snappy dialogue, in-character interactions, and definite and plausible character development. And, unlike many Nellis fics, this author includes Coach and Rochelle as IMPORTANT CHARACTERS. And while the Nellis is present and sweet, it doesn't dominate the plot, which is actually very long and extremely entertaining. It even illustrates and highlights some of the more ignored aspects of each character, such as Rochelle's sassiness and level-headed personality and the fact that Ellis has, you know, brains. I'm neither eloquent or articulate enough to describe just how amazing this story is. You should read it and find out for yourself. It now has it's own page!

Shipping

Stories focused on the romantic relationships between the cast.

Let The Devil In by Archy The Cockroach

• Recommended by: TheTallOne, and generalwinter
• Status: Complete
• Pairing(s): Nick/Ellis, Rochelle/Ellis
• Synopsis: Four survivors. A journey through hell, hope and fear.
• Tags: Friendship, Romance, sex, gore
• Comments: One of the best Left 4 Dead 2 fics I've read.
  • Seconded without hesitation by me. This is, quite honestly, not only the best L4D fic I've read, but also one of the best pieces of fic I've read in any fandom, to date. I don't care whether you ship the pairings here, this is damn good writing. And, really, it manages to make both pairings believable, while not fawning all over them endlessly, or forgetting that Coach is there, too. Wonderfully in-character, beautifully written...yeah, I'd recommend this to anyone who enjoys this game.

PLAYTHING by mihoyonagi

• Recommended by: fenrir7139
• Status: Complete
• Synopsis: Thrown from the third story of an office building, Zoey finds herself hurt, low on ammo, and alone. That is, until a wayward and strangely intelligent hunter decides he wants her all for his own...
• Tags: Angst, Romance, NSFW
• Comments: WARNING: NSFW! With that out of the way, don't be fooled by the site it's on; the story is well-written, and can be quite a tear-jerker.

It Starts With Desperation by CleverDucky

• Recommended by: Sophiebybophie
• Status: Complete
• Pairing(s): OC/Hunter
• Synopsis: You become responsible, forever, for what you have tamed.
• Tags: Adventure, Romance, NSFW, Abuse
• Comments: I highly recommended this for the way the writer CleverDucky write how Michael's (the OC) and the Hunters relationship develop from Enemies to Lovers.

47 Crosses by NothingEnough

• Recommended by: thunderandthedesert, Cheerful Optimistic
• Status: Complete
• Pairing(s): Nick/Ellis, Rochelle/Nick
• Synopsis: A novel-length series breakdown of -isms involving and fascinating exploration of race, gender, game mechanics, and found family with stylistic texture.
• Tags: Canon-Typical Violence, a lot of fucking swearing, Implied/Referenced Drug Use, Misogyny, Racism, Alternate Character Interpretation, Trans Male Character, Ill-advised Sexual Encounters, Anxiety Attacks, discussions of rape, Homophobia
• Comments: Transgender!Nick is one of the most novel approaches in the fandom, and the author handles it with skill and eloquence.
  • Seconded. There's plenty of well-written angst.

Give Five Minutes by WooperPooper

• Recommended by: Cheerful Optimistic
• Status: Complete
• Pairing(s): Rochelle/Nick
• Synopsis: During a busy week, Nick tells Rochelle he's capable of reaching her within five minutes in case of an emergency or if there's something she needs. When he tells her this, Rochelle reminds him how busy work is and requests something related to his guidelines he didn't quite expect. Nick/Ro, AU, oneshot.
• Tags: Alternate Universe
• Comments: The characterization is spot on, the dialogue is fun, and it's a nice romance.

Crossover Fics

A fan fiction which incorporates characters, events, places, ideas, etc from another fandom.

Name's Ellis by MAGO5

• Recommended by: Nightelf37, Poptard
• Status: Dormant: Last update: 2013
• Synopsis: Applejack finds a strange visitor in her apple orchard one day, with even stranger stories to tell.
• Tags: Gore, Humor

Add Review

In Duty And In Death: Biological Warfare by Death Valley Reaper

• Recommended by: groguistheway141
• Status: Ongoing
• Synopsis: The biological weapon known as the Green Flu has become a global pandemic, just as the world enters into war against Ultranationalist Russia and its allies. With no other options left, the survivors align themselves with the remnants of the United States military, the well-renowned Task Force 141, and international allies to fight for survival in a world ruled by the Infected.
• Tags: Horror, Suspense
• Comments: I didn’t get to read the other chapters, but this is a great story and I feel like it encapsulates what the characters would say and do, so that’s extra brownie points from me, not to mention I like the plot and the pacing and I wonder if Shepherd gonna still be a sick in causing WW3 or become a good guy and help with the defense of the US. I can see that when they are getting overrun and he has a chance of leaving the President behind, he could become the active commander-in-chief because to my knowledge, it’s just the President that survived. Not the speaker or any of the President’s cabinet.

Animation and Machinima

Left 4 Nicks, by lucius0mega

• Recommended by DerangedGenius
• Comments: Think one Nick was too snarky? Try a whole quartet of him! A hilarious love letter to Nick's in-game banter lines, covering "Dead Center" and "Dark Carnival".

Who's Cooking Tonight?, by Raikujo

• Recommended by Vessel, REV 6 Pilot
• Comments: Coach is trying to get Nick to make him some dinner, Nick refuses, and a fight of epic proportions ensues. Now with more Francis, Rochelle, and Ellis!

Tasty Cools, by seibmoz

• Recommended by Purple People Eater
• Comments: What started as a silly windows movie maker short of Coach dancing with food has gracefully evolved into several minute long episodes featuring his cannibalistic pursuit of Nick & co. It manages to be hilarious while also featuring amazing machinima work that can easily lend itself to dramatic looking moments.
  • Now has a TV Tropes page here.

Webcomics

Left 4 Dead Comics by IsisMasshiro

• Recommended by KingSonnDeeDoo
• Comments: Well-drawn and amusing, these comics mainly focus on the Infected, with the artist steadly making a comic-cross-info sheet for each. Oh, and be sure to look out for the oft-cameoing Headcrab! There are occasional typos and gramatical errors (the artist is Finnish), and a word of adivce in that the text can be bit small at times, so you may need to choose 'Download Image' near the Artist's comment.
  • Seconded. These comics are so funny that they are 100 percent responsible for me actually buying the game.
    • I third this. From the Hunter and his reactions that are like a cat to the Gentleman Tank that BREAKES THROUGH THE FREAKING SAFEHOUSE DOOR in search for A CUP OF TEA, any kind of humor is there. It's just awesome.