The Fall-out series began in 1997, created by developer Interplay Productions, who also published it. It was a gem among Interplay's roster until it eventually fell into the hands of Bethesda Softworks, who released their first series entry in 2008 with Fallout 3 as part of its Bethesda Game Studios. The rest is history once Bethesda did it Fall-out franchise into a more recognizable brand. There's even a hit TV show now on Amazon Prime.
The best post-apocalyptic games of all time
A post-apocalyptic setting adds a certain uniqueness to a game. These titles left a lasting impression on gamers.
While its post-apocalyptic setting changes between releases, the same series of ideas have been the foundation of the franchise since 2008. These other post apocalyptic games are more interesting in some ways because of their settings, world design, characters, mechanics, and so on. They may not be better yet Fall-out by all means, but they certainly have some bigger ideas than Bethesda's games.
Nuclear fallout
Leaving the US
Nuclear fallout takes place in an alternate version of the 1960s in rural England. The countryside is ruined by rusted weapons, machinery, and broken buildings, but since the apocalyptic event recently occurred, everything is still green.
While Fallout: London exists and is comparable, it's just a fan mod based on Fallout 4. In 2024, the mastermind behind Bethesda's RPG, Todd Howard, said that Fall-out the series will remain in the US. The one who hopes for one Nuclear fallout-like games from Bethesda will have to keep hoping, as the US is at the forefront of their thinking.
Death Stranding
The email is here
Death Stranding has a unique post-apocalyptic setting as it takes place across almost the entire United States, or at least a scaled-down version of it. Although there are action elements, this game is predominantly about a courier, Sam, who connects underground bunkers by delivering packages.
Imagine a Fall-out game set throughout the US, and also about delivering packages. It seems way outside of what Todd Howard would ever want to do with the franchise. Thankfully, there are other gaming visionaries, namely Hideo Kojima, who are always pushing the boundaries of what's possible in a post-apocalyptic setting.
Fate
A post-earthly apocalypse
Fate
7/10
- Released
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September 9, 2014
- ESRB
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T for Teens -Animated Blood -Violence
Some fans might forget that Fatea 2014 game, begins on Earth, set in a ruined Russian environment. After a cataclysmic event, most of humanity has fled to space or a tower above Earth, since much of the planet became uninhabitable.
The game itself is a first-person shooter where players go to several planets and fight back against various aliens. Bethesda already has one Fall-out-like space games, Starfieldso there's no way their post-apocalyptic franchise will ever leave Earth. It would be like Bethesda eating its own tail.
Final Fantasy 6
To witness the end
Final Fantasy 6 is where the first major spoiler enters the game, as players have to get through half the game to get to it. This is a landmark title within Final Fantasy franchise because the villains are winning, the planet is nearly destroyed, and the rest of humanity must hold on to what they have left. Players must then remember each party member to raise hopes of stopping the man who can strike again, Kefka.
7 post-apocalyptic games with unique settings
Post-apocalyptic games are always a lot of fun. Here are some gorgeous titles with unique settings that add to the overall atmosphere.
While there have been scenes before the bombs fall, as in Fallout 4there probably won't be any games that have gameplay right after the blast, or even weeks after. It would be interesting to see though.
Horizon Zero Dawn
A beautiful apocalypse
Horizon Zero Dawn is not the first post-apocalyptic game set in a beautiful version of the end of the world. It also features a set of enemies unlike any other in gaming: robot animals. By harvesting their parts, players can upgrade their heroine, Aloy, with new equipment, or she can even hack the robots to turn them into allies.
While there are dangerous machines in Fall-outlike the Assaultrons, they are nowhere near as complex as the animals in them Horizon Zero Dawnnor are they as tricky to take down as something like a Thunderjaw.
The last of us part 1
A horror themed apocalypse
The last of us part 1 also has a beautiful world, but it is not open like Horizon Zero Dawn's is. This is a purely linear adventure, and it's hard to imagine Bethesda going that route with it Fall-outespecially with a story this emotionally gripping.
The real standouts in this game are the horror and stealth elements. The way infected stalk corridors haunt, and even the raiders are more unbound than those in Fall-out game. Pure horror Fall-out The game could be good, especially if it focuses on Ghouls, but that seems unlikely.
The Legend Of Zelda: The Wind Waker
Come sail away
Many may forget that The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker is technically set after a post-apocalyptic event that led to the flooding of Hyrule. The rest of life now exists mostly above water while the kingdom of Hyrule lies below. Sailing is a big part of the game as Link can explore side islands before tackling large dungeons to progress the main story.
There aren't many states that Bethesda could use where it would make sense to have the land completely flooded for sailing purposes, except maybe Minnesota, “The Land of 10,000 Lakes.”
The bait and the switch
Metaphor: ReFantazio is another game that needs to be spoiled here to get to the juicy bits. First, this turn-based/action hybrid is a linear RPG, much like it Persona game. It's disguised as a fantasy RPG with a rich web of races, monsters and magic, but there's a big twist towards the end.
8 Post-Apocalypse Games with the Best Stories, Ranked
In addition to the engaging gameplay, games like Days Gone and Horizon: Forbidden West provide compelling stories that take place after the apocalypse.
This world was built on the ruins of what used to be modern civilization. Imagine if Bethesda announced a new RPG set in a fantasy world that wasn't The Elder Scrollsand in fact it turned out to be a spinoff of Fall-out towards the end. Bethesda would never pull one Metaphor: ReFantaziobut if they did it would be the biggest video game gimmick of all time.
Sand Land
Runs hard on vehicles
One of the weirdest things about Fall-out game is that everything must be explored on foot without mounts or vehicles, unless clunky Power Armor counts. It's there Sand Land is different. It takes place in a sandy world with no water, but that's exactly what players are tasked with finding.
Players are Beelzebub, a demon prince, who is accompanied by both other demons and humans on their quests. There are action-based battles with Beelzebub, but there are also tanks and mechs to control for combat purposes, along with cars and monsters to mount for travel.
Shin Megami Tensei 4
Angels vs Demons
The Shin Megami Tensei The series is usually set in bombed out versions of Japan, with a war between angels vs demons with humans caught in the middle. Among the many, Shin Megami Tensei 4, a 3DS turn-based RPG, is perhaps the best example of this.
Players basically start out as a celestial samurai, a sworn guardian of all good, before being brought down to earth. To get home, they must form alliances with human survivors and even some demons who can help them. Fall-out is a pure sci-fi series, so adding literal angels and demons, or setting the game in Japan, probably won't happen.
Upcoming post-apocalyptic games
Post-apocalyptic is a popular setting in many games, and there are several highly anticipated games for players to look forward to.
