Post-apocalyptic settings are one of the few genres that excel in all forms of media, whether it be books, films, or video games. The idea of a post-apocalyptic landscape seems to bring out numerous emotions in people, whether it be fear, intrigue, or even adrenaline-pumping excitement depending on the theme. In theory, video games can offer a superior post-apocalyptic experience to books and films, as they can uniquely put their audience in the shoes of the main character as they journey through the deprived world before them.
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Unfortunately, many development teams fail to realize the potential of how immersive a post-apocalyptic game can be and instead use the genre as a gimmick to improve otherwise bland and generic games. The 10 games on this list, however, offer fantastic post-apocalyptic worlds that excel in either letting the player explore its landscape, telling a gripping story, or offering unique gameplay mechanics to fit the morbid reality.
Updated June 3, 2021, by Jack Pursey: Due to gaming's ability to put players in the shoes of a character and engross them in their surrounding setting, the post-apocalyptic genre has proven to be extremely popular. Consequently, there has been a plethora of post-apocalyptic titles released over the years, many of which have done an excellent job of encapsulating the feel of a deteriorating world. So, to give further recognition to the unique genre, this list has been expanded to include more fantastic post-apocalyptic games.
15 Mad Max
Available Platforms: Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Linux, macOS
Mad Max was released in 2015 but isn't a tie-in to the hit film Mad Max: Fury Road, which was released in theatres just four months earlier. Although the film was well-received by fans and critics, many players were happy that the game wasn't a direct tie-in, as movie tie-in games have a poor reputation today following numerous releases in the 2000s that felt like cash-grabs.
Mad Max impressed fans and critics with its explosive action and well-designed open-world that is a joy to explore.
14 I Am Alive
Available Platforms: Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Microsoft Windows
Ubisoft's I Am Alive may not be able to hold a candle to the other games on this list in terms of its objective quality, but it deserves a spot nonetheless for implementing some of the most ambitious and forward-thinking ideas that the post-apocalyptic genre has ever seen.
Such ideas include the devastating impact that climbing, jumping, and other strenuous movements can have on the player's well-being; as well as the lack of ammunition that forces players to utilize bold strategies like aiming an empty gun at enemies, in hopes that they believe it's loaded. The realistic take on combat was breath of fresh air for the genre, and one that makes many other self-proclaimed realistic post-apocalyptic adventures look like Rambo in comparison.
13 Death Stranding
Available Platforms: PlayStation 4, Microsoft Windows
When Death Stranding was announced, it instantly became one of the gaming industry's most highly anticipated titles. The baffling trailers intrigued players who had no idea what type of game Death Stranding was going to be, a theme that continued when Hideo Kojima confusingly described it as the first "strand game."
Most gameplay predictions from fans proved to be completely wrong, as there weren't many who predicted that Death Stranding would predominantly consist of extreme post-apocalyptic amazon delivery. The unique gameplay divided players, but the story was universally praised, making Death Stranding worth considering even if the gameplay sounds off-putting.
12 Wasteland 3
Available Platforms: Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Linux, macOS
Wasteland 3 was initially released in August 2020 and had the tough task of improving upon its critically acclaimed predecessor, Wasteland 2. The game features a similar style of turn-based tactics combat as the XCOM series but differentiates itself with its heavier focus on role-playing mechanics.
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InXile Entertainment's game was well-received by fans and critics, exemplified by its 85 Metascore on PC and Best Role-Playing nomination at The Game Awards 2020, an award that eventually went to the remake of Final Fantasy VII.
11 Resistance: Fall of Man
Available Platforms: PlayStation 3
Following the enormous success of the PlayStation 2, the PlayStation 3 became one of the most highly anticipated console releases of all time when it was announced. Unfortunately, the months leading up to its release were anything but smooth, with numerous delays and an excessive starting price handing the initiative t0 Microsoft's Xbox 360. Consequently, the console needed to hit the ground running upon release, which it managed to do thanks to its smash-hit launch title Resistance: Fall of Man.
Fall of Man gave gamers a glimpse of what the seventh generation of consoles had to offer, thanks to its significant graphical and technical improvements from first-person shooters on the PlayStation 2.
10 Final Fantasy VI
Available Platforms: Super Nintendo, PlayStation 1, Game Boy Advance, Android, iOS, Microsoft Windows
The iconic Final Fantasy series received its sixth main series game in 1994 on the SNES, which is still considered to be one of the best entries today. In fact, some consider the '90s release to be one of the greatest RPGs of all time, a view shared by IGN, who ranked the game 2nd only to Chrono Trigger in their list of the top 100 RPGs of all time.
Final Fantasy VI excels in every key area of a Final Fantasy game, thanks to its memorable soundtrack, tear-jerking story, well-crafted combat mechanics, and charismatic characters.
9 The Walking Dead
Available Platforms: Android, iOS, Kindle Fire HDX, OS X, Linux, Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, Ouya, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita, Xbox 360, Xbox One
Much like I Am Alive, The Walking Dead ensures that it doesn't become an unrealistic post-apocalyptic adventure that relies on traditional action-gameplay tropes, thanks to Telltale Games' unique decision-centric gameplay.
Telltale Games' brand of storytelling and gameplay ensures that The Walking Dead can focus on creating a compelling story that shows the bleak horror a post-apocalyptic world would provide, while still making it engaging for the player.
8 Left 4 Dead 2
Available Platforms: Microsoft Windows, Xbox 360, Mac OS X, Linux
One the complete flip side of the two aforementioned titles is Left 4 Dead 2, an action-heavy shooter that makes no apologies in how it focuses on fun gameplay over realism and storytelling. Fans of the game certainly wouldn't have it any other way, as Valve's modern classic is one of the most enjoyable shooters to play either alone or with friends.
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Although Valve seemingly has no plans to bring the series back for a third installment, there is a spiritual successor set to release in June 2021 titled Back 4 Blood.
7 Metro Exodus
Available Platforms: Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Stadia, Luna, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Linux, macOS
4A Games' Metro series has carved itself a spot in the post-apocalyptic genre with its fantastic trilogy of survival horror first-person shooters. Metro Exodus marked the franchise's first attempt at implementing an open-world, which expanded on the game's narrative in a natural way and offered players a stunning visual journey.
Metro Exodus was nominated for the Best Storytelling and Best Visual Design accolades at the Golden Joystick Awards but lost out to Bend Studio's Days Gone and Capcom's Devil May Cry 5 respectively.
6 S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Shadow Of Chernobyl
Available Platforms: Microsoft Windows
S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Shadow Of Chernobyl was released in 2007 and likely became a significant source of influence for subsequent post-apocalyptic titles like Bethesda's Fallout 3.
The gameplay mechanics in S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Shadow Of Chernobyl may not be up to scratch with 2009's S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Call of Pripyat, but the atmospheric setting and encapsulating story of Shadow Of Chernobyl makes it the best choice for this list.
5 Horizon Zero Dawn
Available Platforms: PlayStation 4, Microsoft Windows
Guerrilla Games' Horizon Zero Dawn was released in 2017 and is today recognized as being one of the highlights of the eighth generation of consoles.
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Horizon Zero Dawn was unfairly criticized before it was released for having similar post-apocalyptic themes to Nintendo's The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, which was released just a few days later and understandably had far more hype behind it. Now that time has passed, the games have naturally separated from one another in people's minds, ensuring that Guerrilla Games' adventure now receives the respect that it always deserved.
4 Gears Of War
Available Platforms: Xbox 360, Microsoft Windows, Xbox One (Ultimate Edition)
Released just four days before the PlayStation 3, Epic Games' Gears of War was Microsoft's last opportunity to convince gamers to opt for their Xbox 360 instead of Sony's follow up to the highest selling console of all time.
Epic Games couldn't have done much more to sway the opinion of even the most die-hard PlayStation fans, as Gears of War offered one of the most intense and gritty third-person-shooter experiences up until that point, exemplified by the game's whopping 94 Metascore.
3 The Last Of Us
Available Platforms: PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4
The Last Of Us was released in 2013 and provided a fitting end to the seventh console generation with its morbid, touching, and heartbreaking story. The Last of Us showed how far storytelling in video games had come.
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Granted, the cover-shooting and stealth mechanics are starting to feel dated, but hopefully, new generations of gamers can look past such shortcomings to enjoy one of gaming's most well-written and well-acted stories to date.
2 Fallout: New Vegas
Available Platforms: Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360
Fallout: New Vegas hit stores in 2010 to a fair amount of skepticism, due to many players seeing the lack of visual improvement from Fallout 3 and subsequently believing the game to be a glorified DLC.
This viewpoint seems ridiculous today, as Obsidian Entertainment's Fallout: New Vegas has not only become one of the most beloved post-apocalyptic games of all time but also one of the best RPGs ever. As well as expanding upon the gameplay mechanics of Fallout 3, Fallout: New Vegas improved upon its predecessor with the increased freedom of choice available to players, something that many open-world RPGs are still struggling to top today.
1 The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
Available Platforms: Nintendo Switch, Wii U
The latest Legend of Zelda game has quickly become one of the most beloved and critically acclaimed entries into the iconic franchise, exemplified by its eye-watering 97 Metascore.
Although the Legend of Zelda series likely doesn't spring to mind when people think of post-apocalyptic titles, the series has in fact explored such themes before, with Wind Waker and Ocarina of Time being prominent examples. Breath of the Wild is undoubtedly the franchise's best take on the post-apocalyptic genre, with the game's breathtaking open-world that is wonderfully designed and densely populated with adventures to complete.
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