NieR:Automata – Game of the YoRHa Edition
Developer/Publisher: PlatinumGames/Square Enix | Platforms: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch | Release: March 17, 2017 | Metascore: 91 on PS4, none on PC (but 86% on Steam), 90 on Xbox (Become as Gods Edition) | Genre: Action-RPG | Mode: Single-player
What is NieR:Automata? After almost all of humanity was expelled from Earth by alien machine beings, an underground movement sends three androids into battle against the invaders: 2B, 9S, and A2. They now fight the mechanical beings and strive to give humanity a home again.
How does NieR:Automata play: At its core, NieR is an action game focused largely on combat and combat choreography. With various attacks and powerful combos, you combat robots that are several heads taller than you.
Unlike, for example, the Dark Souls series, not every enemy will instantly kill you if you are not careful. Instead, NieR is somewhat more “arcade-like” and mainly focuses on looking cool and providing a good feeling during combat. Various weapon types are available for different play styles.
NieR also offers an engaging story and a visually appealing, dystopian world where you can traverse both deserts and overgrown cities. For beginners, there is an “Automatic” mode that makes combat significantly easier.
You should check out NieR if:
- you enjoy action-packed gameplay and like to fight in video games.
- you are looking for captivating stories with profound themes.
- You like visually appealing environments.
- you are new to action games and are looking for an easy introduction.
The makers behind NieR are reportedly working on a live-service game.
Bonus: These games you should also check out
In addition to our top 10, we have some games and series that you should also consider as post-apocalyptic fans. They are, however, not in the main list because they are personal tips from the editorial team, fly under the radar, or do not necessarily fit a classic post-apocalyptic scenario.
S.T.A.L.K.E.R. games
What kind of games are they? In S.T.A.L.K.E.R., you play as one of the titular stalkers in the exclusion zone of Chernobyl after the major reactor accident in 1986. 20 years later, another incident occurs at the research stations there.
Animals and plants have mutated, and numerous anomalies have appeared in the area that defy the laws of physics and human understanding. You secure artifacts created by such anomalies, which is not necessarily allowed.
Over the years, many games have been released or are in development, heavily inspired by the setting. One of them is Pioner, which wants to mix the survival feeling of S.T.A.L.K.E.R. with MMORPG elements.
The official sequel, S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2, was supposed to be released in 2023, but is now set for 2024. Here’s the trailer:
The Fallout series
What kind of games are they? The Fallout series is probably one of the most famous post-apocalyptic games. In an alternate timeline, you play as a resident of one of the “vaults”, safety bunkers designed to protect from the bombs but actually used for experiments by the manufacturer Vault-Tec.
The Fallout series consists of several main entries and additional titles. The latest installment is Fallout 76, a multiplayer survival game.
Despite a difficult start, it has developed well over the years and was even a proper MMORPG two years after release. It even continued to improve, giving players more features. Therefore, Fallout 76 is now one of our best survival games for newcomers to the genre.
Here’s the trailer for the crazy update Nuka-World on Tour, which we interviewed the developers about:
The series has its own special charm, sometimes with dark and rough humor. If you’re into post-apocalypse, you should definitely check out these games, especially Fallout 3 and Fallout: New Vegas, which are considered jewels of the series.
Lisa: The Painful
What is Lisa? In Lisa: The Painful, you deal with an indie game in pixel look that many of you probably haven’t even heard of. It is a side-scrolling RPG set in a post-apocalyptic wasteland.
The world is decayed, and morality is hardly found. You are constantly forced to make decisions that you probably wish you didn’t have to make. Every decision has a permanent impact on the game. Will you save a friend by chopping off a body part, or will you let them die? Such situations arise repeatedly.
On Steam, Lisa: The Painful has a rating of 96% positive based on 11,285 votes (“overwhelmingly positive”).
Warhammer: Vermintide 2
What is Vermintide 2? Vermintide 2 is not a classic post-apocalyptic game, as it takes place in the fantasy universe of Warhammer. Nevertheless, the world there is currently – as almost always – threatened by the forces of chaos and the Skaven, a rat people.
You play as one of five possible characters with several specializations and a unique talent tree, joining four other players in a Left-4-Dead manner in an adventure to complete a task and slay hordes of enemies.
With the Winds of Magic expansion, beastmen have also joined the threat. Additionally, there are new missions and more weapons for each class. Vermintide 2 stands out from other games on this list significantly, but might offer some post-apocalyptic fans an entry into other settings through its overlaps.
Now, Warhammer 40,000: Darktide has been released as a spiritual successor, which had over 100,000 players at launch. Darktide takes place in a dystopian future but is also not a true post-apocalyptic setting.
At the start, Darktide received mixed reviews and was considered not very polished, but it has improved significantly over the months. The current consensus is that the game is worthwhile, but Vermintide still reigns supreme.
Stray
What is Stray? At first glance, Stray appears to be a charming game that also belongs to the post-apocalyptic genre. Humanity had to isolate itself from the outside world, only to be wiped out by a plague. In this cyberpunk-like game, there are no longer any humans to interact with, only robots.
In Stray, you take on the role of a furry cat and experience adventures from the animal’s perspective. You are separated from your cat pack and must solve puzzles in a neon-lit city to find your way home. Along the way, you can do what cats do: rub against robots, take naps, scratch the couch, or meow to your heart’s content.
The indie title quickly became a surprise hit: On Steam, the game boasts an impressive rating of 97%. Therefore, Stray is one of the titles that you should play as a post-apocalyptic fan.
What are your top post-apocalyptic games? What are you looking forward to the most? Let us know in the comments!
Many of the games we listed here already offer a multiplayer mode or coop. If you want to play with your friends at all costs, check out the new MMOs and multiplayer games for this year: New MMOs and multiplayer games 2024: The big release list
