Post-apocalyptic games include some of the big hitters of the last few centuries. In games that include Fallout and The Last of Us, it’s evident that fans enjoy surviving and toughing out a world anew. If you enjoy survival or apocalyptic open-world games and want a challenge facing a world at the brink of distinction, then try out these 24 Post-Apocalyptic games!
The Best Post Apocalyptic Games
7 Days To Die
7 Days to Die is a survival horror video game that takes place in a post-apocalyptic world overrun by zombies. The game is set in an open-world environment, and players must scavenge for resources, build shelter, and fight off hordes of zombies that become more dangerous and numerous as the game progresses. The game also features a day-night cycle, with the zombies becoming more aggressive and dangerous at night. Players must use their wits and survival skills to stay alive for as long as possible, with the ultimate goal of surviving for 7 days and nights.
Biomutant
Biomutant is an action role-playing video game set in a post-apocalyptic world where players take control of a genetically mutated creature. The game features an open-world environment with a range of biomes to explore, each with its own set of creatures and challenges to overcome. The player’s character can mutate and evolve over time, allowing them to gain new abilities and adapt to different situations. Combat is a key element of the game, with players using a variety of melee and ranged weapons to take on enemies. The game also features a branching storyline with choices that affect the outcome of the game’s ending.
Days Gone
Days Gone is an action-adventure survival horror video game set in a post-apocalyptic world ravaged by a global pandemic that has turned most of humanity into zombie-like creatures called “Freakers.” Players take control of Deacon St. John, a former biker gang member turned bounty hunter, as he tries to survive in this hostile environment while searching for his missing wife. The game features an open-world environment where players must scavenge for resources, craft weapons and gear, and fight off hordes of Freakers as well as hostile human factions. The game also features a day-night cycle and dynamic weather system that affect gameplay, with Freakers becoming more dangerous at night and rain making it harder to hear and see. The game’s storyline is revealed through cutscenes, missions, and character interactions.
Death Stranding
Death Stranding is an action-adventure game set in a post-apocalyptic world where most of humanity has been wiped out by mysterious creatures called “Beached Things” (BTs) and survivors are scattered across isolated cities and settlements. The player takes on the role of Sam Porter Bridges, a deliveryman tasked with reconnecting these isolated communities through the delivery of essential supplies and equipment. The game features an open-world environment with a range of landscapes to traverse, including mountains, forests, and deserts. The gameplay includes traversal mechanics such as climbing, balancing, and using equipment like ropes and ladders to navigate obstacles. The game also features combat mechanics, although combat is often avoided in favour of stealth and evasion. The game’s storyline is revealed through cutscenes, interactions with characters, and through Sam’s own personal journey to uncover the truth about the BTs and the world he lives in. The game also features online multiplayer elements where players can help each other by leaving supplies and messages for others to find.
Dying Light 2
Dying Light 2 is a first-person action survival horror video game and a sequel to the original Dying Light game. The game is set in a post-apocalyptic open-world environment, where the player takes on the role of Aiden Caldwell, a survivor in a world overrun by zombies. The game features parkour mechanics similar to the original game, allowing the player to traverse the city by running, jumping, and climbing across buildings and obstacles. Dying Light also features a new dynamic narrative system, where the player’s choices and actions will have a significant impact on the game’s world and story. The game includes a variety of factions and settlements to interact with, each with its own unique motivations and conflicts. The game also features a new combat system with improved melee combat and the ability to use weapons in a more tactical manner. The game’s storyline involves Aiden’s search for a cure to the zombie virus while navigating the complex political landscape of the city.
Fallout 4
Fallout 4 is an action role-playing video game set in a post-apocalyptic world following a nuclear war that devastated the United States. The player takes on the role of the Sole Survivor, a person who emerges from a vault 200 years after the war to find their spouse murdered and their infant child missing. Fallout 4 features an open-world environment, allowing the player to explore a vast wasteland and complete quests and missions to progress the game’s storyline. The game includes a variety of factions, settlements, and characters to interact with, each with its own goals and motivations. It also features a dynamic dialogue system that allows the player to make choices that affect the game’s story and outcomes. The game also includes a crafting system, allowing the player to scavenge for resources to build weapons, armour, and settlements. The game features a real-time combat system with a variety of weapons and abilities to choose from. The game’s storyline involves the Sole Survivor’s search for their missing child and the discovery of a conspiracy that threatens the entire wasteland.
Fallout New Vegas
Fallout New Vegas is an action role-playing video games set in a post apocalyptic world following a nuclear war that devastated the United States. The player takes on the role of the Courier, a person who is shot in the head and left for dead while delivering a package in the Mojave Wasteland. The game features an open-world environment, allowing the player to explore a vast wasteland and complete quests and missions to progress the game’s storyline. Additionally, it includes a variety of factions, settlements, and characters to interact with, each with its own goals and motivations. The game features a dynamic dialogue system that allows the player to make choices that affect the game’s story and outcomes. The game also includes a crafting system, allowing the player to scavenge for resources to build weapons, armour, and settlements. The game features a real-time combat system with a variety of weapons and abilities to choose from. The game’s storyline involves the Courier’s search for the person who shot them, and the discovery of a conspiracy that threatens the entire Mojave Wasteland. The game is known for its branching narrative paths and multiple endings based on the player’s choices.
Frostpunk
Frostpunk is a city-building survival game set in a frozen post-apocalyptic world. The player takes on the role of a leader of a small group of survivors who must build and manage a city to withstand harsh weather conditions and scarce resources. The game features a unique resource management system, where the player must balance the needs of the citizens, the availability of resources, and the harsh weather conditions to keep the city alive. The game also includes moral dilemmas, where the player must make difficult choices that affect the survival of the citizens and the city’s progress. The game features a story mode and several scenarios with different challenges and objectives. The game’s storyline involves the player’s struggle to survive in a world where humanity is on the brink of extinction, and the discovery of the cause of the freezing climate. The game’s atmosphere, soundtrack, and visuals contribute to creating a bleak and immersive experience.
Horizon Zero Dawn
Horizon Zero Dawn is an action role-playing video game set in a post-apocalyptic world where humanity has reverted to tribal societies and robotic creatures roam the land. The player takes on the role of Aloy, a young hunter who embarks on a journey to uncover the mysteries of her past and the world she lives in. The game features an open-world environment, allowing the player to explore a vast, stunningly beautiful world and complete quests and missions to progress the game’s storyline. The game includes a variety of robotic creatures to fight, each with its own strengths and weaknesses, and the player must use strategy and cunning to defeat them. The game also features a skill tree system, allowing the player to develop Aloy’s combat and survival skills. The game’s storyline involves Aloy’s quest to uncover the truth about the world and her place in it, as well as her fight against a mysterious and powerful force threatening humanity’s existence. The game’s graphics, storytelling, and characters received critical acclaim, making it one of the most highly regarded games of the last decade.
Horizon Forbidden West
Horizon Forbidden West is an upcoming action role-playing video game and the sequel to Horizon Zero Dawn. The game is set in a post-apocalyptic world where humanity has been pushed to the brink of extinction by robotic creatures and other dangers. The player takes on the role of Aloy, the protagonist from the first game, as she embarks on a new journey across a vast and stunningly beautiful world to uncover the mysteries behind a new threat that is endangering the survival of humanity. The game features an open-world environment, allowing the player to explore new regions, including underwater areas, and complete quests and missions to progress the game’s storyline. The game includes a variety of robotic creatures and new enemies to fight, each with its own unique abilities and weaknesses. The game features new weapons, abilities, and skills for Aloy to develop, allowing the player to customize their gameplay experience. The game’s storyline involves Aloy’s quest to stop a new threat that is endangering the survival of humanity, and her journey to uncover the truth about the world and her place in it. The game is highly anticipated and expected to feature stunning graphics, storytelling, and characters, building on the success of the first game.
I Am Alive
I Am Alive is a post-apocalyptic survival game set in a fictional city in the aftermath of a catastrophic event that has devastated the world. The player takes on the role of a survivor searching for their family in the city, which is now in ruins and inhabited by dangerous gangs and other survivors. The game features a unique stamina system, where the player must manage their character’s physical and emotional resources to survive in the harsh environment. The game includes a variety of survival elements, such as scavenging for supplies, managing inventory, and dealing with other survivors. The game’s atmosphere is tense and claustrophobic, with the player having to navigate through crumbling buildings and avoid environmental hazards to progress. The game’s storyline involves the player’s search for their family and the challenges they face along the way, including encounters with other survivors and gangs. The game’s focus on survival elements and its intense atmosphere received praise from critics, although some criticized the game’s linearity and short length.
Left 4 Dead 2
Left 4 Dead 2 is a cooperative first-person shooter video games set in a post apocalyptic world overrun by infected zombies. The game features four playable characters, known as the Survivors, who must fight their way through various campaigns, each consisting of several levels, to reach a safe haven. The game can be played either online with other players or offline with AI-controlled characters. The game features a variety of weapons and items, such as guns, melee weapons, and medical supplies, to help the players survive the zombie horde. The game’s AI system, called the Director, dynamically adjusts the difficulty and pacing of the game, ensuring a different experience each time the game is played. The game’s campaigns take place in different settings, such as a city, a swamp, and a carnival, and feature unique challenges and gameplay mechanics. The game’s focus on cooperative gameplay and its replayability received critical acclaim, making it one of the most popular and influential multiplayer games of the last decade.
Mad Max
Mad Max is an action-adventure video game set in a post-apocalyptic open-world environment, based on the Mad Max film franchise. The game follows the character of Max, a lone warrior who must navigate through a hostile wasteland filled with dangerous gangs and other survivors in order to survive. The game features a variety of vehicles that the player can use to traverse the world, including cars, trucks, and motorcycles, all of which can be customized and upgraded with weapons and armour. The game’s combat system focuses on hand-to-hand combat and vehicular combat, with the player being able to use weapons such as melee weapons and firearms to fight off enemies. The game’s storyline involves Max’s quest to build a new car, the “Magnum Opus,” and to seek revenge against a gang known as the War Boys who stole it from him. The game’s open-world environment is vast and includes a variety of settings, such as deserts, canyons, and caves. The game received praise for its visuals, combat system, and vehicle customization, but was criticized for its lack of story depth and repetition in its side missions.
Metro Exodus
Metro Exodus is a first-person shooter video game and the third instalment in the Metro series, based on the novels by Dmitry Glukhovsky. The game takes place in a post-apocalyptic world following a nuclear war, where the player takes on the role of Artyom, a survivor who must navigate through the ruins of Moscow and other areas in Russia to find a new home for his people. The game features a variety of weapons and equipment, such as gas masks and improvised weapons, which can be customized and upgraded. The game includes both stealth and action gameplay elements, with the player being able to choose their approach to combat and exploration. The game’s setting includes both outdoor environments and underground tunnels, which are home to various mutants and hostile human factions. The game’s storyline involves Artyom’s journey across Russia in search of a new home, encountering new friends and enemies along the way. The game received praise for its atmospheric world-building, attention to detail, and its engaging story and characters, although some criticized the game’s pacing and occasional technical issues.
Project Zomboid
Project Zomboid is a survival horror video game that takes place in a post-apocalyptic world overrun by zombies. The game features an open-world environment where players must scavenge for resources, craft items, and build a shelter to survive. The game includes a variety of survival elements, such as managing hunger, thirst, and fatigue, and dealing with injuries and illnesses. The game features a complex combat system where the player must consider factors such as weapon weight and durability, the player’s fatigue level, and the type and number of zombies encountered. The game also includes a sandbox mode, where players can customize their gameplay experiences, such as adjusting zombie spawn rates and the availability of resources. The game’s development has been ongoing since 2011, with frequent updates and improvements to the gameplay and features. The game’s emphasis on survival elements and its realistic depiction of a zombie apocalypse has been praised by critics, although the game’s steep learning curve and lack of hand-holding have been noted as potential barriers to entry for some players.
Rage 2
Rage 2 is a first-person shooter video game set in a post-apocalyptic open-world environment. The game is a sequel to the original Rage game and is set 30 years after the events of the first game. The player takes on the role of Walker, a ranger tasked with battling the Authority, a tyrannical organization that seeks to control the wasteland. The game features a variety of weapons and abilities, including guns, melee weapons, and special abilities called “nanotrites,” which give the player enhanced abilities such as telekinesis and enhanced movement. The game’s open-world environment includes various settings, such as deserts, forests, and swamps, and is filled with enemies and other survivors to encounter. The game’s storyline involves Walker’s quest to defeat the Authority and its leader, General Cross. The game received praise for its fast-paced and frenetic combat, its open-world design, and its unique abilities, although some criticized the game’s lack of depth in its storyline and world-building.
S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Shadow Of Chernobyl
S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Shadow of Chernobyl is a first-person shooter survival horror video game set in a post-apocalyptic open-world environment. The game takes place in the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone, a fictionalized version of the real-life location that suffered a nuclear disaster in 1986. The player takes on the role of a stalker, a scavenger and adventurer who must navigate the dangerous and mutated landscape in search of artefacts, and valuable items left behind from the disaster. The game includes various factions of stalker groups, each with its own objectives and alliances, as well as various mutated creatures and anomalies that pose a threat to the player. The game features a complex AI system that allows NPCs to have their own agendas and schedules, adding to the game’s sense of realism and immersion. The game’s storyline involves a mystery surrounding the “Zone” and the player’s journey to uncover its secrets. The game received praise for its immersive open-world environment, its atmospheric setting, and its depth of gameplay mechanics, although some criticized the game’s technical issues and lack of polish in certain areas.
State Of Decay
State of Decay is an open-world survival horror game that focuses on managing a community of survivors in a post-apocalyptic world overrun by zombies. The game features a variety of gameplay elements, including scavenging for resources, building and upgrading a base of operations, and managing relationships and conflicts within the survivor community. The game includes a permadeath mechanic, where characters can die permanently if they are not properly equipped or cared for, adding a sense of tension and risk to the gameplay. The game’s world is filled with different types of zombies, as well as other survivor groups that may be friendly or hostile to the player’s community. The game’s storyline involves the player’s group trying to uncover the origins of the zombie outbreak and ultimately find a way to survive and thrive in the new world. The game has been praised for its deep survival mechanics, immersive world-building, and its emphasis on community management and decision-making, although some have criticized the game’s technical issues and repetitive gameplay.
Stray
Stray is an upcoming action-adventure video game developed by BlueTwelve Studio and published by Annapurna Interactive. The game is set in a futuristic city filled with robots, where the player takes on the role of a stray cat. The player must explore the city, interact with various characters and robots, and solve puzzles to uncover the mystery behind the disappearance of the humans in the city. The game’s unique perspective of playing as a cat allows the player to use feline abilities to navigate the environment, such as jumping, climbing, and using the senses of hearing and smell to find clues. The game’s visuals are highly detailed and stylized, giving the game a unique look and atmosphere. The game has generated excitement for its unique concept and promising visuals, although its gameplay and storyline have yet to be fully revealed.
The Last Of Us
The Last of Us is a post-apocalyptic action-adventure video games developed by Naughty Dog and published by Sony Computer Entertainment. The game is set in a world where a fungal outbreak has turned the majority of humanity into zombie-like creatures called “infected.” The player takes on the role of Joel, a smuggler who is tasked with escorting a young girl named Ellie across the country in search of a resistance group known as the Fireflies. Along the way, the two must face off against the infected as well as other hostile survivors. The game features a mix of combat, exploration, and puzzle-solving elements, with a heavy emphasis on character development and storytelling. The game’s emotional storyline and realistic character interactions have been widely praised, as have the game’s visuals, sound design, and gameplay mechanics. The game received numerous awards and accolades upon its release and has since become a beloved and highly regarded entry in the video game medium.
The Last Of Us 2
The Last of Us Part II is a post-apocalyptic action-adventure video games developed by Naughty Dog and published by Sony Interactive Entertainment. The game takes place five years after the events of the first game and features a new protagonist, Ellie, who is now 19 years old. The game follows Ellie’s journey of revenge against a group of hostile survivors in a world that is still overrun by the infected. The game features similar gameplay mechanics to the first game, with an emphasis on stealth, combat, exploration, and puzzle-solving. The game also introduces new gameplay mechanics such as a dodge and prone system, as well as an improved crafting system. The game’s narrative is driven by themes of revenge, loss, and redemption, and has been praised for its emotional depth and complex characters. The game features stunning graphics, realistic character animations, and a haunting soundtrack. Despite the controversy surrounding some of the game’s story choices, the game has been widely praised for its gameplay mechanics, graphics, and storytelling, and has won numerous awards and accolades.
The Long Dark
The Long Dark is a first-person survival video game developed and published by Hinterland Studio. The game is set in the Canadian wilderness after a geomagnetic disaster caused a widespread power outage, leaving the world in a state of chaos. The player takes on the role of a lone survivor, struggling to stay alive in the harsh, unforgiving wilderness. The game features a realistic survival simulation, requiring the player to scavenge for food, water, and supplies, manage their hunger, thirst, and fatigue, and protect themselves from the cold and wildlife. The game also features a crafting system, allowing the player to create tools and weapons to aid in their survival. The game has both a story mode and a sandbox mode, with the story mode featuring a narrative-driven experience and the sandbox mode offering an open-ended survival experience. The game’s atmospheric visuals, sound design, and immersive gameplay have been widely praised, as has its unique blend of survival and exploration elements.
Telltale’s The Walking Dead
Telltale’s The Walking Dead is an episodic graphic adventure game developed and published by Telltale Games. The game is set in the world of Robert Kirkman’s The Walking Dead comic book series and follows the story of Lee Everett, a convicted criminal who becomes the unlikely guardian of a young girl named Clementine in the midst of a zombie apocalypse. The game features a branching narrative system, where the player’s choices and actions have consequences that impact the story and the relationships between the characters. The game is known for its emotional storytelling, intense decision-making, and realistic characters. The game has won numerous awards and accolades for its storytelling, character development, and voice acting.
Wasteland 3
Wasteland 3 is the third of there post-apocalyptic games that are role-playing video games developed by inXile Entertainment and published by Deep Silver. The game is set in a fictional wasteland in Colorado after a nuclear war devastated the world. The player takes on the role of a Ranger, a member of a military organization tasked with maintaining law and order in the wasteland. The game features a turn-based combat system, allowing the player to control a squad of up to six characters with a variety of weapons and abilities. The game also features a complex branching narrative with a wide range of choices and consequences, as well as a deep character customization system. The game can be played solo or cooperatively with a friend. The game has been praised for its engaging storytelling, memorable characters, and challenging tactical combat.
How About You? What are your favourite Post Apocalyptic games? What are your least favourite Post Apocalyptic games? We’d love to hear from you.
Other things you might want to know.
What was the first post-apocalyptic game?
Wasteland (1988) –
It was developed by Interplay Productions and published by Electronic Arts. The game takes place in a future where a nuclear war has devastated the world, and the player takes on the role of a group of Desert Rangers, tasked with investigating strange occurrences in the wasteland and restoring order.
The game is known for its open-world gameplay, non-linear storyline, and deep role-playing elements. It was well-received by critics and became a cult classic, inspiring a sequel and influencing many other post-apocalyptic video games, such as the Fallout series.
What game is about rebuilding after apocalypse?
Floodland –
Floodland is a post-apocalyptic survival adventure game developed by OY Games and published by Sometimes You. The game takes place in a flooded world where the player takes on the role of a young girl named Haydee, who is searching for her parents in the dangerous and flooded ruins of a city.
The game features a unique art style and a nonlinear narrative, with the player having to make choices that will affect the outcome of the story. The gameplay involves exploration, puzzle-solving, and combat with various enemies, including mutated creatures and rival scavengers.
Floodland has received positive reviews for its atmospheric setting and emotional storytelling, as well as its challenging gameplay mechanics.
Why video games are obsessed with the apocalypse?
- Sense of danger and urgency: The apocalyptic setting creates a sense of danger and urgency, which can make the gameplay more exciting and engaging.
- Exploration and discovery: The ruins of a post-apocalyptic world offer a unique setting for exploration and discovery, as players can uncover the remnants of civilization and learn about the world that existed before the apocalypse.
- Survival and resource management: Post-apocalyptic games often require players to manage limited resources and make tough choices in order to survive, which can add an additional layer of challenge to the gameplay.
- Reflection of societal fears: The apocalypse is a reflection of real-world fears, such as environmental disasters, nuclear war, or pandemics, and playing games set in an apocalyptic world can be a way for players to process and cope with these fears.
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