Video games with post-apocalyptic settings are something that is really popular. We see it get explored in games with zombies, in adventure games, and even in films, books, or other media beyond just games.
In the list below, we jot down some of the best video games in this particular sub-genre, and discuss what makes them great recommendations.
Post-Apocalyptic Settings in Video Games
Fallout: New Vegas
Fallout is always the first franchise that comes to mind when we bring up the term ‘post-apocalyptic’ in video game settings. Most importantly, Fallout: New Vegas, which is definitely one of the most important games with such a setting.
New Vegas was released after the third Fallout game, in 2010, and was inspired by films such as Mad Max. The game takes place in the Mojave Desert, 204 years after a nuclear war. The game has its own set of fan following and several mods that create new and interesting experiences.
You step into the shoes of an individual who is caught in the crossfire between the several surviving factions of this massive wasteland. You make choices, paving your own way through the game while facing various kinds of enemies, including annoying mutated foes.
Nier: Automata
We have already talked about Nier: Automata in several different contexts, including discussions on hack and slash as well as fanservice. But this time, we are going to point at the innate post-apocalyptic nature of the game.
For those still unfamiliar with the series, the game kicks off with an action-packed sequence. You are the perfectly crafted android created for battle to keep humanity safe. The war cry that literally resonates through most parts of the game is ‘glory to mankind.’
The more you progress through the game, you slowly start to realize what is actually going on in this bleak landscape. Why everything that has been set into motion is all for naught.
The Last of Us
Most of us are too caught up in the criticisms surrounding the reception of The Last of Us series. So much so that we don’t even remember that the game is set in a post-apocalyptic world.
The Last of Us does a really good job of creating a story surrounding the common and overused trope of zombies in a post-apocalyptic setting. The first game is a great starting point if you are looking for titles in the genre.
The good part of The Last of Us is that Sony cares a bit too much about the franchise, so it is pretty much available on most modern platforms.
S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl
Can’t make a list about post-apocalyptic games without mentioning S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl. If there was a game that perfectly encapsulates how a narrative can be built around a radioactive zone, then it’s this game.
The topic of atomic radiation disasters has plagued humanity throughout the ages, occurring in several parts of the world. The most significant was in Chernobyl, which was horrifying for taking away so many lives.
S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl takes us to an alternate reality where a second radiation disaster hit the same Chernobyl zone. This has altered the surrounding environment, mutating life and creating life-threatening zones.
Metro 2033
Supposing you have already been a long-time fan of S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl, and want more games with a similar setting. Metro 2033 might be the title that can quench your thirst for video games in a post-apocalyptic setting.
Other than being the debut title of 4A Games, Metro 2033 is a title that was based on post-apocalyptic novels written by Dmitry Glukhovsky. He went on to write sequels to the novel, which further inspired more games in the franchise.
The relation between Metro 2033 and S.T.A.L.K.E.R. runs deep because the developers originally worked on the former game.
Pacific Drive
Ever thought that one of the best post-apocalyptic games in recent years would be a driver simulator, but actually fun? Not us, but here we are. Pacific Drive, released in 2024 and developed by Ironwood Studios, gives us exactly that experience.
Pacific Drive is completely played from the first-person perspective, giving you control over a station wagon. The setting is the Olympic Peninsula; you have to traverse through the region while avoiding several obstacles, which include dangerous anomalies.
The game was developed around the time when the world was hit by the dangerous COVID-19 pandemic. The creator, Cassandra Dracott, got the idea as she was driving through the exact location.
Borderlands
If you want your post-apocalyptic game to be meaningful with characters that you will remember throughout the series, then Borderlands is for you. The franchise was created by Gearbox Software, who are known for working on the Brothers in Arms and Half-Life series.
The general gameplay is that of a looter shooter, but what makes it special is blending it with RPG elements in an open world. Players get to select from a wide variety of vault hunters, each with a unique personality and skills.
The game has become quite successful in the last few years, stretching it out to a fourth game, which was released this year. Even green-lighting a live-action film that was full of star casts, the reception was that great.
Death Stranding
Hideo Kojima is one of the most celebrated game directors in history. He is known for popularizing the Metal Gear Solid series. But shattered the fanbase when he left Konami, with an unfinished Silent Hill title.
That was until he came back with his own studio to work on a game that would seek to blend big names from Hollywood with the gaming industry. That title was Death Stranding, and it is one of the best post-apocalyptic video games that you should check out.
That is, if you are not bothered by a game that requires about hours of walking. Players take the role of Sam Porter Bridges, who is tasked with the cumbersome job of connecting the entirety of America.
Shin Megami Tensei IV
Most of the great games with a post-apocalyptic setting are usually first-person shooters, so let’s change that a bit. Shin Megami Tensei is a JRPG franchise created by ATLUS and is always set around such cataclysmic events.
The funny thing is, almost all the mainline games in the franchise are set in Tokyo, which is always the epicenter of these world-altering events. If you want a good place to start, then Shin Megami Tensei IV is the best one, even though it is pretty much locked to the Nintendo 3DS.
Shin Megami Tensei games are also monster collectors, and they actually predate Pokémon by a few years. You dungeon crawl through post-apocalyptic Tokyo, which is now infested with demons from mythologies, befriending them in your party.
Stray
So far, we have discussed almost all kinds of games that are set in a post-apocalyptic world. RPGs, hack and slash titles, shooters, and even driving games, but we can go even further than this. Stray is a title where you literally play as a cat in a post-apocalyptic future.
Usually, the genre is associated with bleak and dark imagery with a lot of action, but Stray subverts that idea. Released in 2022 and developed by BlueTwelve Studio, you get to wedge through narrow spaces and leap across platforms as a cat.
The world is visually stunning and neon colored, with most of the inhabitants being robots and other machines. But sometimes you may come across some sinister threats that need to be avoided.
