Summary
As fun as wandering in an apocalyptic game fighting zombies or monsters can be, there’s something appealing about taking onpunks and raiders in a ravaged world.For years now, video games taking placeafter some cataclysmic eventgenerally feature a human faction to fight throughout the story or open world.
It’s the idea that when civilization falls, humanity breeds worse monstrosities than literal monsters. They usually devolve into anarchy-driven syndicates that care only about violence, destruction, conquering, and far worse motivations. Plenty of games have utilized this to enhance a player’s experience.
While not set in a post-apocalyptic world,Batman: Arkham Knighttakes place during a time when criminals reign. Civilians evacuated the city thanks to Scarecrow’s terrorist attacks. And now, many gangs and supervillains, combined with the Militia, make the open world of Gotham into a chaotic warzonefor the caped crusader Batmanto traverse.
The desolate Gotham City filled with nothing but Batman’s prey givesArkham Knighta tense and horrific atmosphere. It makes it hard to believe the story all takes place in one night, but it shows how important Batman is to the city. Without him, the rest of the world would become like Gotham.
While the more grounded Montana setting inFar Cry 5was a fine change for the series, the spin-offFar Cry: New Dawnusing the same game build was arguably more fun thanks to its setting. In post-apocalyptic Montana, the twins Mickey and Louhave become fan-favoriteFar Cryvillains, and their followers, the Highwaymen, provide a memorable threat.
The altered map of Hope County, Montana inNew DawnprovidesMad Max-esque human threats and mutated animals to fight. It’s perfect for players looking for a more fantastical experience in the long-runningFar Cryseries. The game is more or less a moddedFar Cry 5,but executed well enough to warrant a look from gamers.
Though not a version of Earth,Borderlandsgames show what happens when greedy corporations let outlaws and deranged killers take control of a hostile planet.Borderlands 2plunges players deep into the heart of Pandora with endless hordes of bandits standing between them and fortune. Even the heroes are as over the top as the villains.
WhileBorderlands 3was loved by fans, it focused more on evil corporations instead of the wild inhabitants of Pandora. The second game maintains its punk focus thanks to not only the bandit forces, but also the twisted actions ofone of the franchise’s most evil villains: Handsome Jack. The result is the game that changed looter shooters forever.
One part shooter, one part MMORPG, Tom Clancy’sThe Divisiongamesstand out as live-service titlesthanks to their squad-based gameplay, but also take place in desolate versions of famous cities. Wandering through destroyed versions of Washington D.C. and New York City is eerie.
With more variety in its missions and rewards than the first game,The Division 2has lasted over five years thanks to consistent updates, patches, and new content. Strong gameplay has also helpedThe Division 2have longevity compared to other live-service games.
In the same vein asXCOMgames,Wasteland 3has the players controlling characters in missions inturn-based combat with a heavy focus on strategy. However, where most apocalyptic punk games focus on a dessert world,Wasteland 3takes place in a new ice age. A simple change that makes a lot of difference.
WithWasteland 3, it’s not just the enemies that are punk raiders and vandals to fight. Even the team that the player builds is just as wild and over-the-top as the enemies they fight. From killer clown gangs to bizarre cults,Wasteland 3makes its world as foreboding as it is fun.
In many ways,Rage 2is a clone ofBorderlandswith an open world for players to to explore either on foot or by car, to fight hordes of crazed raiders in a barren wasteland. However, despite the similarities, it still manages to be a strong first-person shooter thanks to it being developed byiD Software, who are known for first-person shooter gamessuch asWolfensteinandDoom.
Rage 2took everything good about the first game and enhanced it, while replacing most of the lacking elements with better ones. It may not reinvent the wheel, butRage 2was still received positively, and it provides a fun romp through the apocalypse.
In a case where the player plays a punk,Days Gonefocuses on a lone biker surviving in the forests of Oregon after hordes of zombies and corrupt government organizations take over. While Deacon is far from a perfect hero, he is far better than the evil factions and monsters he fights on his journey.
Sam Witwer is the face and voice of Deacon, and he gives an instantly iconic performance as the character. It enhances the more grounded feel of the game, with Deacon constantly giving commentary on the situations he deals with. On top of it all,Days Gonehas one of the more unique open worlds where players must be mindful of the fuel in Deacon’s motorcycle.
TheFalloutfranchise is filled with famous apocalyptic elements, from its giant mutated insects tocreepy locations made by post-nuclear devastation.Fallout 4, the most easily accessible and beginner-friendly of the series, also features countless deranged raiders trying to prey on the innocent.
Throughout the Commonwealth inFallout 4, there are random encounters and in-depth missions to go against chaos-driven factions in the wasteland; raiders are just one problem. There are also the zealous Children Of The Atom, Super Mutants, Harbormen, and more. All of them are determined to destroy the player.
Games based on or inspired by famous movies are usually a roll of the dice, butMad Maxgot a lucky roll. With Avalanche Games at the wheel,Mad Maxfaithfully recreates the world of George Miller with multiple sects of crazed raiders that the movies helped revolutionize into a staple of pop culture.
From customizable cars and Max Rockatansy being fully upgradeable to free-roaming the wastelands and taking out War Boy-infested settlements,Mad Maxis a strong title that shows nothing but love for the franchise. Even though the gameplay borrows aspects from games such asBatman: ArkhamandAssassin’s Creed, it never feels redundant or dull.
