Summary
- Apocalyptic video games provide a unique blend of survival, mystery, and human drama.
- Mad Max offers action-packed gameplay with customizable cars and a revenge-driven storyline.
- Horizon: Zero Dawn and The Last of Us showcase strong protagonists in immersive, richly detailed worlds.
Surviving in an apocalyptic wasteland can be a scary and arduous journey in many video games, but it can also lead to stories and characters for the player to fall in love with. From desolate wastelands to crumbling cities, these virtual worlds challenge us to navigate through the aftermath of disaster and uncover hidden truths.
Best Apunkalypse Games, Ranked
It's not quite the same playing in an apocalyptic video game without fighting against the anarchists and marauders of the wasteland.
The games offer a unique blend of survival, mystery, and human drama set against the backdrop of a world forever changed. Whether it's the haunting silence of abandoned cities or the struggle to rebuild society from the ashes, they can be sci-fi adventures or modern zombie infestation thrillers, allowing gamers to become as invested in them as movies or shows.
8 Mad Max
Avalanche Games Created A Love Letter To The Franchise
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
- Developer(s)
- Avalanche Studios
- Genre(s)
- Action-Adventure, Open-World
- OpenCritic Rating
- Fair
What could have been a rushed and lackluster movie tie-in game proved to be a surprising gem by Avalanche Studios, with Mad Max feeling like another entry in the beloved post-apocalypse series. With free-flow combat akin to the Batman: Arkham games and fully customizable cars, including Max’s new Magnum Opus, the open-world apocalypse is action-packed and gruesome.
Much like in the movies, Mad Max doesn’t have a complicated story, but it is still an enjoyable one with Max being nearly killed by crazed warlords of the wasteland, and he sets out to take his revenge. Max Rockatansky is more of a main character than ever as he allies with different settlements to take down the villains who stole his car.
7 Fallout 4
The Sole-Survivor’s Journey Is A Personal One
Fallout 4
- Released
- November 10, 2015
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M FOR MATURE: BLOOD AND GORE, INTENSE VIOLENCE, STRONG LANGUAGE, USE OF DRUGS
- Developer(s)
- Bethesda
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
The main story has never been the focus of the Fallout franchise, and that is mostly the same with Fallout 4, but it still provides the most personal story of the series. It shows the horrors of being a sole survivor who went into cryogenic sleep just as the bombs fell, starting the apocalypse. They awoke to find their spouse dead and their infant child kidnapped by wastelanders.
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The initial setup, mixed with the Boston and New England setting, allowed Fallout 4 to stand out while also instantly hooking the player to root for the main protagonist. The hundreds of side quests, characters, instances, and various storylines add to what has become a definitive title for the Fallout series.
6 Horizon: Zero Dawn
Gamers Learn Fate Of The Earth As Aloy
Horizon Zero Dawn
- Released
- February 28, 2017
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T for Teen - Blood, Drug Reference, Language, Mild Sexual Themes, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Guerrilla Games
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
A world long after the apocalypse, where robots have evolved to be like wild animals, while humans have had to restart and be like Vikings again, utilizing simple archery bows and spears. It makes Horizon: Zero Dawn already interesting from the start, but the story of Aloy as she uncovers how the world came to be as it currently is.
The team at Guerrilla Games worked hard to make the open-world sci-fi apocalypse feel like a living, breathing environment that is both grueling to endure and paradisiacal. Aloy is also a strong protagonist, and this, combined with the crafting and engaging third-person gameplay, marks the beginning of a modern classic franchise.
5 Horizon: Forbidden West
Aloy's Second Chapter Pushes Her Even Further
Horizon Forbidden West
- Released
- February 18, 2022
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T for Teen: Blood, Language, Use of Alcohol, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Guerrilla Games
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
Aloy must head to the remnants of the Pacific coast to discover the origins of a mysterious plague infecting the world in Horizon: Forbidden West, which goes even further to create a cinematic adventure. With special guest stars Lance Reddick, Angela Bassett, and Carrie Ann Moss, the story is even darker and more epic than before.
Exploration in Horizon: Forbidden West has been enhanced with improved underwater mechanics, new tools, and environmental puzzles, while still preserving the elements from the previous installment. These enhancements contribute to the richness of the game's various storylines and side missions, furthering Aloy’s personal journey, especially in the Burning Shores DLC.
4 The Last Of Us
A Dark Zombie Thriller Rivaling The Best Movies
The Last of Us
- Released
- June 14, 2013
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Sexual Themes, Strong Language
- Developer(s)
- Naughty Dog
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
The story of Ellie Williams, which has won over the hearts of gamers and viewers on HBO, began with Naughty Dog’s The Last of Us, featuring a zombie apocalypse spawned by fungus. Ellie is being guided by Joel Miller across the destroyed remnants of America, fighting monsters, fascists, and cannibalistic factions.
While The Last Of Us has many tropes seen in The Walking Dead and many other zombie apocalypse stories, it executes them masterfully and doesn’t hold back on the dark elements. It also helps that the third-person shooter gameplay is simple yet effective, mixing stealth with similar third-person shooter aspects that Naughty Dog did with the Uncharted games.
3 The Walking Dead: A Telltale Definitive Series
Telltale Tugged At The Hearts Of Fans And Newcomers
The Walking Dead: The Telltale Definitive Series
- Released
- September 10, 2019
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- Mature 17+ // Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Sexual Themes, Strong Language, Use of Drugs
- Genre(s)
- Graphic Adventure, Horror
From the story of Lee Everett in the first season to seeing Clementine grow up throughout multiple seasons, The Walking Dead: A Telltale Definitive Series puts the drama and horror of the zombie survival series in the hands of the player. They have to guide players and make decisions that can drastically alter relationships and storylines in both good and bad ways.
Telltale’s take on The Walking Dead has become so beloved that some argue that it’s better than the AMC television series, thanks to its many characters that have made players smile, hate, or even sob. It also helps that it is trying not to retell the events of the comic or the show, but instead focuses on its own original story that still feels straight out of Robert Kirkman’s world.
2 The Last Of Us Part 2
Boldly Takes New Directions That Are Still Controversial
The Last of Us Part 2
- Released
- June 19, 2020
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Nudity, Sexual Content, Strong Language, Use of Drugs
- Developer(s)
- Naughty Dog
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
Following up The Last Of Us is no easy task, but Naughty Dog managed to not only pull it off, with The Last Of Us Part 2, but still keep the fans on their toes thanks to its many twists and turns that were divisive. On top of that, it tackles multiple social issues, such as the vicious cycle of revenge and the way people project heroism onto characters who can also be seen as the villain from another perspective, and vice versa.
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The Last of Us Part 2 advances Ellie’s story as the main protagonist, showing her dealing with the aftermath of the first game. However, the story for The Last of Us Part 2 swaps perspectives to Abby, who is arguably the main villain, which is unexpected for a game. Both sides mix the dark and ugly sides of humanity while also providing improved stealth and action gameplay.
1 Days Gone
Being A Drifter Can Be As Gripping As It Is Sad
Days Gone
- Released
- April 26, 2019
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Drug Reference, Intense Violence, Sexual Themes, Strong Language
- Developer(s)
- Bend Studio
- Genre(s)
- Open-World, Action, Adventure
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 4
- OpenCritic Rating
- Fair
Days Gone manages to take an overused concept like a zombie apocalypse and manages to craft a strong title, featuring stellar voice work and performance capture. It follows the life of Deacon St. John, a biker-turned-mercenary for hire in the open world of rural Oregon as he works to overcome his past while surviving in a world filled with untrustworthy factions.
On top of a praised performance by Sam Witwer as Deacon, Days Gone makes it clear as the player scavenges, hunts, and rides through Oregon that he is the only faction worth siding with. Although he isn't a perfect hero and can be self-centered, flashbacks reveal his broken heart while players navigate a world that demands strong motorcycle gameplay, including repairs and refueling.
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