It’s not quite the same playing in an apocalyptic video game without fighting against the anarchists and marauders of the wasteland.
As fun as wandering in an apocalyptic game fighting zombies or monsters can be, there’s something appealing about taking on punks and raiders in a ravaged world. For years now, video games taking place after some cataclysmic event generally 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. 9 Batman: Arkham Knight
While not set in a post-apocalyptic world, Batman: Arkham Knight takes 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 warzone for the caped crusader Batman to traverse.
The desolate Gotham City filled with nothing but Batman’s prey gives Arkham Knight a 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. 8 Far Cry: New Dawn
While the more grounded Montana setting in Far Cry 5 was a fine change for the series, the spin-off Far Cry: New Dawn using the same game build was arguably more fun thanks to its setting. In post-apocalyptic Montana, the twins Mickey and Lou have become fan-favorite Far Cry villains, and their followers, the Highwaymen, provide a memorable threat.
The altered map of Hope County, Montana in New Dawn provides Mad Max-esque human threats and mutated animals to fight. It’s perfect for players looking for a more fantastical experience in the long-running Far Cry series. The game is more or less a modded Far Cry 5, but executed well enough to warrant a look from gamers. 7 Borderlands 2
Though not a version of Earth, Borderlands games show what happens when greedy corporations let outlaws and deranged killers take control of a hostile planet.
