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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 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 July 17, 2022, by Tom Bowen: Due to gaming’s ability to put players in the shoes of a character and engross them in their surroundings, the post-apocalyptic genre has proven to be extremely popular with modern gamers in recent years. Consequently, a steady stream of post-apocalyptic titles continues to be released, many of which do an excellent job of encapsulating the look and feel of a deteriorating world. The best post-apocalyptic games are able to paint incredibly grim pictures while simultaneously evoking feelings of desperation and despair within players. Naturally, this style of immersive storytelling best suits horror games, but that’s not to say that other genres can’t also offer up an excellent end-of-the-world experience when given the chance.
18 Days Gone
Available Platforms: PlayStation 4 & Microsoft Windows
Despite hundreds of thousands of people signing a petition calling for Sony to release a sequel, the chances of a new Days Gone game seem pretty slim right now. That’s unfortunate, as, despite its somewhat disappointing Metascore, many consider it to be one of the best open-world survival games of the modern era thanks largely to its immersive storytelling and well-written characters.
Players assume the role of Deacon St. John, a former bounty hunter struggling to survive in a post-apocalyptic world filled with zombie-like creatures called Freaks. Though players are surrounded by death and danger on all sides, the world that they get to explore feels as though it’s truly alive, which can encourage players to take risks when they probably shouldn’t. The experience on offer is therefore a tense one, but also a lot of fun.
17 State of Decay
Available Platforms: Xbox 360, Xbox One & Microsoft Windows
Like Days Gone, Undead Labs’ State of Decay series struggled to impress critics, though has garnered something of a cult following within the Xbox ecosystem. Both the original and its sequel take place in a post-apocalyptic world that’s infested with zombies and take players on a somewhat singular journey that very few other games can match.
With an infinite supply of zombies and a wide array of weapons with which to dispatch them, the State of Decay games are more about having fun picking apart zombies than they are evoking feelings of fear. In that respect, they’re a lot like the Dead Rising games, only they boast a much larger sandbox in which to play around and place a lot more emphasis on crafting and resource management.
16 The Division
Available Platforms: PlayStation 4, Xbox One & Microsoft Windows
After a genetically engineered super-virus known as Green Poison brings humanity to its knees, civilization collapses and chaos and anarchy soon fill the void. Players are left to explore what remains of New York City, which now boasts an ever-expanding dark zone in which all decency and decorum are consumed by evil inclinations and despicable desires.
In many ways, The Division is exactly what one might expect from a Tom Clancy game, particularly when it comes to combat and mechanics. However, the game’s wonderfully well-realized post-apocalyptic depiction of New York really helps to set it apart from many of its peers and is well worth a visit for those curious about what the end of the world might look like.
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. For this reason, many regard it as one of the most underrated video games of the past decade, with very few people having checked it out despite its obvious quality.
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, PlayStation 5 & 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.”
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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.
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 7. Still, those looking for a great post-apocalyptic video game could certainly do an awful lot worse.
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 to 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. Players can now enjoy it in full HD too thanks to Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster, though only on PC and Mobile for the time being.
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.
Although Valve seemingly has no plans to bring the series back for a third installment, there is a spiritual successor in the form of Back 4 Blood. Sadly, it’s nowhere near as enjoyable as the original Left 4 Dead games, though should be able to scratch the itch of those looking for a bit more multiplayer zombie fun.
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.
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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. That hasn’t stopped people from buying it though, with many considering it one of the best post-apocalyptic video games of all time.
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. It also became a fan favorite for those who enjoy post-apocalyptic video games, thanks largely to the care and attention that went into its creation.
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. 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 a bit more 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. Unfortunately, though, the game’s sequel was equally unlucky, with Horizon Forbidden West arriving within a few weeks of the hugely popular Elden Ring.
4 Gears Of War
Available Platforms: Xbox 360, Microsoft Windows & Xbox One (Ultimate Edition)
Released just four days before the launch of 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. Looking back, it seems safe to say that the company succeeded.
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. The game’s whopping 94 Metascore is a testament to this, as too are its many sequels.
3 The Last Of Us
Available Platforms: PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4 & PlayStation 5
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 the world just how far storytelling in video games had come and the fact that Naughty Dog opted to remake the game for PS5 rather than work on a new title is a testament to its quality.
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. Alternatively, players can instead play through the game’s 2022 remake, which utilizes many of the improved mechanics from The Last of Us Part 2.
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. This includes the Fallout series, with neither Fallout 4 nor Fallout 76 able to match Fallout: New Vegas when it comes to quality.
1 The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
Available Platforms: Nintendo Switch & Wii U
The latest game in the Legend of Zelda series has quickly become one of the most beloved and critically acclaimed entries into the iconic franchise, exemplified by its eye-watering 97 Metascore. It’s right up there with the likes of Ocarina of Time and The Windwaker and remains one of the most ambitious Switch titles to date despite also being released for the Wii U.
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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