In 2008, legendary games publisher Valve released Left 4 Dead, a hugely influential multiplayer survival game which pitted a group of four humans against a horde of 'infected' (basically zombies, back when that word was unfairly maligned). One year later – to the day – they released a sequel. And then… nothing.

Now, free of Valve's notoriously sketchy release schedule, original developer Turtle Rock Studios has finally unleashed a spiritual successor to its genre-defining masterpiece. Back 4 Blood, as its title strongly suggests, is Left 4 Dead 3 in all but name. Yet again, you must team up with three other players (known as 'cleaners') and take on the undead, scrambling across town from one safe room to the next.

The intervening years have forced some small but important changes to the format. Decks of cards come into play, smartly altering the way each game plays out. Corruption cards, dealt by the AI director, might cause the environment to be enveloped in dense fog or increase the number of enemies. These can be countered, to some extent, by booster cards which might give you extra ammunition, more health or other advantages.

The range of weaponry is significantly broader than before, and guns can now be customised with sights, stocks and so on. There are also new utility items, including a tool kit that can be used to break into storage rooms. Significantly, each playable character has unique attributes, and so you're nudged into taking on specific roles such as medic or armourer. Fortunately, these changes are clearly implemented and they helpfully encourage cooperation.

One of Left 4 Dead's few flaws was it's low-calibre ordnance: its assault rifles handled like pop guns, accompanied by tinny audio. That's not the case here: guns are satisfyingly loud and powerful, easily keeping the horde at bay, at least until you become overwhelmed, or the special infected turn up; these unique creatures broadly resemble their counterparts from Left 4 Dead, with a few twists. And while that game's Tank monster was a terrifying brute, Back 4 Blood has a few new foes that absolutely dwarf it.

As you'd expect, the maps are a lot more detailed than before, and the set pieces that occasionally conclude the action are much more impressive. The campaign is surprisingly long, broken up into small sections: to play the later chapters you'll need to complete the earlier parts, and that'll take some time: without good cooperative teammates the game is challenging from the start. Wander off on your own or linger too long in a particular area and the AI director will punish you for being overeager or lazy.

For players wishing to take on the role of infected there is Swarm mode. Rather than Left 4 Dead's Versus mode, this new format pits two teams in a timed survival encounter set in a distinct part of the map. It's a lot less compelling than the old game and it's strange that the original PVP has been ditched, although with new content promised for the game it wouldn't be unreasonable to expect its inclusion at some point.

Back 4 Blood is exciting, terrifying and often seriously stressful. Like its esteemed predecessors, there's plenty here to encourage repeat play. Here's hoping they reinstate Versus mode to complete the package.

Buy Back 4 Blood — out now for PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S.