In recent years post-apocalyptic games have grown in popularity. Mega hits like the Fallout series and The Last of Us have garnered almost universal acclaim, but there are so many more post apocalyptic games that go unnoticed. Here is a list of 5 post apocalyptic you (probably) haven’t played and should.
Wasteland 2 (Xbox One, PS4, PC)
Wasteland’s premise is one you’re probably familiar with. Cold War tensions at its peak, someone launches nukes and mutual assured destruction creates a irradiated wasteland for everyone. If that happened to remind you of Fallout it’s for good reason. Fallout is the spiritual successor to the original Wasteland. One kickstarter campaign later and a true sequel to Wasteland was made. While there is no retro-future aesthetic, Wasteland 2 still has the same wacky sense of humor, crazy characters and unique settings that people love in the Fallout series. The game is also a return to the classic CRPG formula, but with enough improvements to bring it up to date with modern gaming standards.
Enslaved: Odyssey to the West (Xbox 360, PS3, PC)
Enslaved is retelling of the classic myth of Odyssey Journey to the West with the biggest difference being it takes place hundreds of years after robots have killed most of humanity. The mixture of telling an old myth while building a beautiful post apocalyptic world is something that should be experienced. Enslaved never sold very well or got much attention, but that certainly isn’t reflective of its quality. The game does certainly have some issues with controls, but the mixing of themes and well written characters provide a solid experience that differs from most other games. I wish I could say more, but that may get into spoilers.
Tokyo Jungle (PS3)
Unlike the other games on this list, the apocalypse in Tokyo Jungle was a really good one, in fact it killed everyone. Now animals roam the streets and they try to survive in this human-less world. Players take on the role of various animals, everything from Pomeranians and Beagles to lions and hyenas. A truly human-less world that is not filled with anthropomorphic creatures is rare for any media. That unique perspective alone could be reason to play it. If you need more convincing, Tokyo Jungle does have both serious and ridiculously silly moments. At one point you will be trying to protect your baby from predators and in another you may see a pack Pomeranians kill a crocodile. If that doesn’t convince you to play this game then I don’t know what will.
I Am Alive (Xbox 360, and PS3, PC)
This game is a mixed bag filled with great ideas. Your character has limited stamina that must be managed while you climb great heights, you’ll have to give up rare resources if you want to help others, and combat can be handled without attacking anyone. I Am Alive has plenty of mechanics that make the world feel grounded in reality. It’ll often feel like you really are just barely scraping by to survive. The downside is that game doesn’t always execute these ideas well. It is also fairly linear despite having the world encourage exploration for resources. Regardless of whatever flaws the game may have, it does have enough unique mechanics that make it worth checking it out.
Lisa The Painful RPG (PC)
Despite its quirky nature, Lisa is a game that deals heavily with dark themes and is surprisingly well written in a sea of RPGMaker games. Lisa focus on a father-daughter relationship and sacrifice although unlike many similar games, Lisa bakes these themes in all aspects of its design. Gameplay choices such as whether or not to take Joy can become a major personal choice for the player despite the benefits it may bring. Even the backstory of a disease that has wiped out most women servers to further strengthen themes and add an interesting twist to the world. If nothing else Lisa is game that will make you think and feel.
