The finish of the world is a well-liked theme in video video games, and post-apocalyptic situations have given rise to among the trade’s most iconic titles. From scavenging for assets to preventing off hordes of mutants and zombies, these video games immerse you in an enormous and difficult world the place survival is the last word objective
However with so many post-apocalyptic video games on the market, it may be troublesome to differentiate one of the best ones. A few of them might have a extra strategic strategy, whereas others throw you into an action-packed open world.
Up to date by Stefania Ikeda-Stavridi on the April 12, 2024: We’ve got up to date this checklist to incorporate 5 extra video games all about navigating post-apocalyptic worlds. Previous entries have additionally been up to date to incorporate extra related info, resembling metascores or bullet factors on why somebody ought to play them.
15 Pacific Drive
Drive Via The Zone With A Metascore Of 79
- Immersive sci-fi survival sport.
- Progressive gameplay, along with your automotive as your solely companion.
Pacific Drive immerses gamers in a first-person driving survival expertise set in a reimagined Pacific Northwest. Because the Driver, your sole companion and lifeline is your automotive, navigating via the post-apocalyptic Olympic Exclusion Zone. Uncover mysteries and confront supernatural perils whereas exploring deserted analysis websites and unsafe landscapes.
You’ll be able to customise and improve your automobile from a dilapidated storage base, scavenge for assets, and delve into the secrets and techniques of the Zone. There, you will encounter anomalies and keep away from storms amidst an unpredictable and hostile atmosphere. Though the gameplay loop might develop repetitive with routine upkeep and prolonged drives, Pacific Drive presents a singular mix of survival and exploration inside a fascinating post-apocalyptic narrative.
14 Stray
Roam The Cyberpunk Metropolis As A Cat With A Metascore Of 83
- Participating gameplay with numerous puzzles, obstacles, and intriguing characters.
- Atmospheric soundtrack and visuals.
In Stray, you embark on a mesmerizing journey via a post-apocalyptic cyberpunk metropolis, assuming the function of a stray cat navigating its enigmatic streets. As you discover, you steadily unravel the mysteries shrouding the town’s abandoned landscapes and the destiny of its vanished inhabitants.
With gorgeous visuals capturing the dystopian ambiance and intricate puzzles, Stray guarantees an immersive expertise that challenges each thoughts and senses. If there’s one draw back to the sport, it is that it is too brief; you may full it in nearly 5 hours, leaving you craving for extra exploration and discovery.
13 S.T.A.L.Okay.E.R.
Survive The Zone With A Metascore Of 82
- Open-world sport contained in the atmospheric world of the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone.
- Lively modding group presents infinite replayability and customization choices.
The S.T.A.L.Okay.E.R sequence takes you on an exhilarating journey via a haunting post-apocalyptic world that was born from the aftermath of the Chernobyl catastrophe. Inhabited by mutated creatures and anomalies, this world poses fixed threats to survival. Although the primary title was launched virtually twenty years in the past, the vibrant modding group retains it alive by providing infinite content material and enhancements.
What units Stalker aside is the dynamic and unpredictable nature of the Zone. Non-scripted occasions and energetic NPCs make each encounter really feel genuine, whereas the evening brings extra risks that heighten the sense of dread and suspense. This sequence is the indeniable king of atmospheric survival-horror experiences, because of its unparalleled environment and immersive gameplay.
12 Frostpunk
Courageous The Chilly With A Metascore Of 84
- Distinctive city-building survival; handle a metropolis in a frozen, post-apocalyptic world.
- Morally advanced selections, and harsh environmental situations await.
Frostpunk, top-of-the-line Tycoon video games, presents you with a chilling post-apocalyptic world the place a catastrophic occasion has plunged the Earth into an everlasting winter. On this frigid panorama, you will need to lead a society struggling to outlive towards the weather. Because the ruler of the final remaining metropolis on Earth, you are tasked with making troublesome selections to make sure the survival of your residents.
The sport’s morally advanced selections and strategic city-building mechanics create a deeply immersive expertise. With its haunting environment, difficult gameplay, and thought-provoking narrative, Frostpunk presents a singular and compelling tackle the survival style, making it a must-play for followers of post-apocalyptic settings and city-building video games.
11 The Talos Precept 2
Unravel The Mysteries Of A World With out People With A Metascore Of 88
- Intricate puzzles that require artistic considering.
- Wealthy narrative with philosophical undertones.
The Talos Precept 2 presents a deep and interesting puzzle expertise set in a post-apocalyptic world devoid of human life, the place ruins and remnants of civilization function the backdrop for its enigmatic challenges. Regardless of some management points and the occasional difficult puzzle, its intricate narrative and gorgeous visuals make it a must-play for puzzle fanatics and philosophy aficionados alike.
With round 35 hours of important content material and extra aspect quests, the sport presents loads of alternatives to delve into its mysteries. The sequel builds upon the success of its predecessor, introducing new instruments and increasing upon the philosophical themes. Its totally open-world design solely provides to the sense of post-apocalyptic isolation.
10 Challenge Zomboid
Survive The Undead With A Consumer Rating Of seven.6
- Lively modding group.
- Discover procedurally generated environments and select from numerous difficulties and situations.
In Challenge Zomboid it’s a must to survive in a world stuffed with zombies whereas profiting from no matter instruments and substances you will discover. It’s not a forgiving sport, as a single scratch can get contaminated and trigger your demise. Discovering weapons may also be fairly difficult, so that you higher discover ways to craft some spears as rapidly as attainable.
The eye to element by way of survival mechanics, crafting system, and open-world sandbox design makes it a fantastic sport. The longer you survive, the extra the world round you adjustments, with roads and buildings decaying, and meals changing into extra scarce.
9 Days Gone
Journey Via The Zombie-Infested Wilderness With A Metascore Of 71
- Immersive open-world survival with distinctive gameplay mechanics.
- Intense motion and deep customization choices.
Days Gone is without doubt one of the greatest action-adventure video games on the market set in a post-apocalyptic world. You comply with the story of Deacon St. John, a former outlaw-turned-bounty hunter, as he struggles to outlive in a land overrun by Freakers.
You’ve gotten an enormous open world to discover, with numerous characters to work together with, in addition to among the greatest romantic relationships in PlayStation video games. What units Days Gone aside is its distinctive deal with motorbike journey and fight, and the dynamic climate system and day-night cycle. Why the low Metascore? You will must play over 60 hours if you wish to full each single quest, and for some, that was too tedious.
8 The Strolling Lifeless
Survive The Apocalypse Or Die Making an attempt With A Metascore Of 82
- Discover the long-lasting world of The Strolling Lifeless.
- Replay worth because of a number of endings and freedom of alternative.
Set within the post-apocalyptic world of the well-known sequence, The Strolling Lifeless additionally makes for a fantastic zombie sport. You comply with the story of a convicted felony, Lee Everett, as he types a bond with a younger woman named Clementine. On this acclaimed episodic graphic journey you do your greatest to assist each of them survive.
What units the sport aside is its deal with decision-making and participant alternative. The sport’s narrative is formed by your selections and actions, and the penalties of those selections have far-reaching results on the story. It is not solely the zombies you will must control.
7 The Legend Of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild
Save And Assist Rebuild Hyrule With A Metascore Of 97
- Benefit from the vastness of Hyrule in an open-world sport stuffed with deep lore and immersive storytelling.
- Gorgeous visuals, hidden places and Easter Eggs.
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is a unique kind of post-apocalyptic sport. Whereas there aren’t any Zombies or Freakers, the world of Hyrule has been destroyed as soon as already. You tackle the function of Hyperlink, who awakens from a hundred-year slumber to discover a world on the point of destruction.
When you set off to discover the huge open world, you discover out what precisely occurred throughout your slumber, by interacting with different characters, finishing quests, or studying books. You additionally see a world attempting to slowly rebuild itself whereas being held by the specter of the guardians and Ganon himself.
6 Metro Exodus
Traverse Via Radioactive Ruins With A Metascore Of 82
- Immersive first-person shooter with intense fight.
- Survive towards horrifying mutants, whereas using stealth, crafting, and useful resource administration.
Metro Exodus is a first-person shooter sport set in a destroyed and post-apocalyptic Moscow. You tackle the function of Artyom, a survivor of a nuclear battle navigating via the harmful metropolis. The storyline is wealthy and interesting, and the characters are well-developed and memorable.
The world is full of numerous mutants and terrifying people that roam the streets of Moscow trying to find their subsequent sufferer. From mutant spiders to straight-up horrifying demons, you’ll have to combat to be able to survive.
5 Gears Of Conflict
Wage Conflict In opposition to The Horde With A Metascore Of 94
- An intense third-person shooter motion set in a dystopian world.
- Iconic characters and unforgettable set items.
Gears of Conflict is a superb third-person shooter sport sequence, set within the fictional world of Sera. On what grew to become referred to as Emergence Day, a monstrous subterranean race emerged and decimated 1 / 4 of the planet’s inhabitants. This sci-fi franchise has a lot of nice titles, that can have you ever preventing towards these horrible monsters, and attempting to save humanity from the blink of extinction.
The video games might be loved in multiplayer mode and significantly emphasizes cover-based fight and cooperative gameplay. With gorgeous graphics and a well-crafted storyline, it’s troublesome to not fall in love with the sequence.
4 Horizon
Unravel The Thriller And Save The World With A Metascore Of 89
- Open-world exploration of lush and vibrant post-apocalyptic environments.
- Charming story full of twists and mysteries.
The world seen in Horizon is ready within the far way forward for the thirty first century and in a post-apocalyptic United States. What triggered the extinction of all life on Earth had been the rogue battle machines, often known as the Faro Plague. Now the world is full of numerous harmful machines it’s a must to combat.
You tackle the function of a younger lady named Alloy, who’s looking for out extra about her id, whereas additionally attempting to save humanity from one more extinction. In opposition to the backdrop of gorgeous landscapes reclaimed by nature, you face each the bodily threats posed by these machines and the existential questions they elevate about humanity’s future.
3 The Final Of Us
Survive The Fungal-Contaminated World With A Metascore Of 95
- Intense, survival-focused gameplay mixing stealth, motion, and exploration.
- Gorgeous visuals and emotional storytelling.
- Distinctive enemies.
In The Final of Us the world was destroyed by a quickly spreading pandemic, by which a mutated fungus contaminated folks and turned them into zombie-like creatures. The sport begins at first of the outbreak however quickly makes a time skip to a extra post-apocalyptic world.
You tackle the function of Joel, a smuggler tasked with escorting a younger woman named Ellie throughout the zombie-infested United States. The 2 of them are introduced collectively by determined circumstances and should do their greatest to outlive. It’s not, nonetheless, solely the contaminated they must watch out of.
2 Dying Stranding
Reconnect America With A Metascore Of 85
- Kojima’s masterpiece, exploring human connection and isolation.
- Gorgeous visuals and atmospheric soundtrack.
In Dying Stranding, the world was destroyed by explosions occurring concurrently throughout the globe. These explosions triggered a connection between the world of the lifeless and the residing, destroying virtually all of humanity. The residing and the lifeless now intertwine, and America lies in ruins.
You management Sam Bridges, a courier tasked with serving to out scattered shelters, fulfilling their requests, and constructing roads and recharge stations to be able to join them. You need to watch out in your travels to not encounter any BTs, as they’re extraordinarily hostile in direction of residing beings.
1 Fallout
Journey Via Submit-Apocalyptic America With A Metascore Of 93
- Limitless replayability and freedom of alternative means that you can form your individual story.
- Participating quests and memorable characters.
- Darkish humor and satire, with a lot of Easter eggs.
The Fallout universe is ready in a post-apocalyptic world which was the results of the Nice Conflict. After the collapse of social and authorities buildings, nuclear blasts destroyed most of Earth. Whereas the world isn’t fully destroyed, it’s horribly contaminated by radiation.
Earth has grow to be a terrifying place, stuffed with mutated monsters roaming round freely, in addition to surviving people attempting to reap the benefits of one another. On this desolate panorama, remnants of civilization cling to survival in makeshift settlements, underground bankers, and fortified cities.
