Summary
- Open-world games with dying worlds captivate players through atmospheric desolation and exploration, using danger or loneliness to create immersive settings.
- Dying Light 2 and Days Gone exemplify dark, zombie-infested worlds with constant threats surrounding players.
- Shadow of the Colossus and Death Stranding provide solitary journeys in melancholic, dying settings.
The setting often dictates players' interest in a game, and for the open-world genre, dying worlds full of destroyed or abandoned structures, desolate landscapes, and bloodthirsty threats have long proven to be a perfect match. Even without survival mechanics, many open-world games emphasize their harsh, hostile environments, where constant danger permeates the air, requiring players to always stay on their toes.
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While dying worlds are often tied to some sort of post-apocalyptic event, this isn't always the case. Some open-world games use different techniques to create a setting with a melancholic atmosphere, highlighting a sense of loneliness rather than emphasizing the persistent dangers or oppressiveness of their worlds. With that in mind, let's explore some of the best open-world games set in dying worlds, ranking them by how effectively they use their settings to create just the right kind of atmosphere and place exploration at the core of the experience.
8 Mad Max
Desolate and Brutal Wasteland Where Only the Strongest Survive
Mad Max
- Released
- September 1, 2015
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ Due To Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Strong Language, Use of Drugs
- Genre(s)
- Action-Adventure, Open-World
In the Mad Max universe, which the open-world game by Avalanche Studios largely follows, the world has collapsed due to a combination of resource wars and subsequent environmental damage, leaving nothing but a desolate desert where the last survivors raid each other and fight for scraps of food, weapons, and gasoline.
In this brutal wasteland, players are driven by a single instinct — to survive…and to build the Magnum Opus car, of course. While there's not much variety in Mad Max's gameplay, both the fighting and driving elements are engaging enough to keep open-world fans occupied for dozens of hours while admiring the breathtaking desert views under the scorching sun.
7 Dying Light 2: Stay Human
Civilization Reverted to the Dark Ages
Dying Light 2 Stay Human
- Released
- February 4, 2022
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Strong Language, Suggestive Themes
Open-world zombie games are almost synonymous with the dying world concept, placing players at the center of a visceral environment that demands a relentless struggle to survive each new day. Dying Light 2: Stay Human embraces this concept, requiring players to build alliances with other survivors in the City, where civilization has reverted to the Dark Ages, while constantly facing the terrors of the outer world beyond its walls — especially at night.
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Danger follows players at every step, as it's always uncertain whom to trust and which choices might be right or wrong in the grand scheme of things. Dying Light 2 combines an overarching narrative with deeply personal quests and struggles, constantly pushing players to reevaluate the concept of the greater good and determine the fates of other survivors.
6 Shadow of the Colossus
Melancholic and Solitary Journey with a Single Goal
Shadow of the Colossus
- Released
- February 6, 2018
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T For Teen due to Blood, Violence
- Genre(s)
- Adventure
Shadow of the Colossus is a distinct type of dying open world, fully emphasizing loneliness and desolation over a sense of danger or survival. In this world, players are the apex predators, relentlessly tracking and eliminating their targets, driven by a single goal — to resurrect their lost love.
From its ascetic visuals to its unforgettable music, Shadow of the Colossus offers a unique experience, with the game never attempting to offer anything beyond its core plot and the grand quest of searching for and killing colossi. Without delving into spoilers, let's just say that players won't bring hope to this dying world, and the entire journey is not what it seems.
5 Days Gone Remastered
Grounded, Zombie-Infested Oregon to Fight Through
Days Gone Remastered
- Released
- April 25, 2025
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M For Mature: Blood and Gore, Drug Reference, Intense Violence, Sexual Themes, Strong Language
In the realm of post-apocalyptic, zombie-infested open worlds, Days Gone is as notable as Dying Light 2, depicting a believable collapsed Oregon where each passing day results in more survivors joining the ranks of the walking dead. With its grounded setting and atmosphere, players are far beyond trying to save this desolate world — it's nothing more than an everyday struggle for survival and a glimmer of hope to find Deacon's missing wife.
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With unique features like bike riding and fighting zombie hordes, not to mention its admirable technical execution, Days Gone Remastered stands out from many similar titles. Even if there's little variety in player activities, its vast map offers enough breathtaking discoveries for players who find their pace in clearing this dying world from all of its dangers.
4 Fallout 4
More Vibrant Than Its Predecessors, Yet Sharing the Same Iconic DNA
Fallout 4
- Released
- November 10, 2015
WHERE TO PLAY
The post-nuclear world of Fallout 4 may be more colorful and less oppressive than earlier entries, but it's still a fundamentally broken world, with humanity on the brink of extinction. From gangs of raiders to mutants and radioactive dangers, there are many ways to die in this harsh environment, but exploration remains intriguing and engaging due to excellent environmental storytelling and the ability to put nearly anything players find to good use.
Fallout 4 also sets itself apart from other Fallout games by emphasizing rebuilding, highlighting that there's still a chance to return to prosperity on top of this wasteland and securing the safety of those who remain.
3 Death Stranding
Complex Themes Elevated by a Unique Dying World
Death Stranding
- Released
- November 8, 2019
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood, Intense Violence, Partial Nudity, Strong Language
- Genre(s)
- Action
Death Stranding is among the best examples of open-world games with a dying world that is not only evident in the surroundings but also deeply woven into the game's themes and focal points, exploring the importance of human connection as well as complex themes like the afterlife, isolation, and human extinction.
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Even for players who aren't interested in deeply exploring the game's rich lore to uncover all of this world's mysteries, Death Stranding delivers an impeccably desolate atmosphere, providing one of the most profound sensations of loneliness and isolation in the medium. Additionally, players are directly involved in “fixing” this world, serving as a beacon of hope for reconnecting people for a brighter future.
2 NieR: Automata
Memorable and Emotional Depiction of a World Without Humans
NieR: Automata
- Released
- March 7, 2017
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood, Partial Nudity, Strong Language, Violence
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG
NieR: Automata captures the essence of a post-apocalyptic world after humanity's fall, where androids and robots take center stage. From breathtaking vistas of melancholic, desolate cities and ruins to a masterful soundtrack, simply traversing the game's world is a memorable experience, gradually uncovering its mysteries and tracing the long path that two opposing factions have followed through years of futile war.
Beyond this, the game offers much more. With its philosophical themes and unpredictable plot twists, NieR: Automata stands as one of the most impactful and profound experiences in gaming, unafraid to pose bold questions, shatter players' hopes, and guide them through an emotional rollercoaster.
1 Elden Ring
A Journey Through a Dying World of Epic Proportions
Elden Ring
- Released
- February 25, 2022
WHERE TO PLAY
Like most soulslikes, Elden Ring's events unfold in a dying world, devastated by endless wars among Demigods, with little hope remaining for things to improve. The world of Elden Ring is in ruins — dying, rotting, and ablaze — but it's so diverse and beautiful that exploring each new open area is an experience in its own right.
Not only does Elden Ring feature numerous bleak locations that leave a lasting impression on players, but the “dying” aspect also extends far beyond that. Many enemies and bosses, from dragons to Demigods, are the last of their kind, as are several characters representing the final remnants of once-thriving kin. Through all this, Elden Ring creates a remarkably believable atmosphere, blending a constant sense of danger with the desolate abandonment of many areas, where players can feel truly alone.
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