Summary
The setting of a video game often seamlessly blends into the theme and genre of the game you’re playing, becoming part of the background instead of something you immediately think about like you would combat or character. That is, except one setting: few settings have the range, the terror, and the dynamic nature that the post-apocalyptic settings do.
From alien-held worlds, to the classic zombie apocalypse, they can be as deadly as they are interesting. Of the many post-apocalyptic settings in games out there, some are deadlier than others. Which would you want to try and survive in?
10Fallout - Years (Hopefully)
If The Rads Don’t Get Me
The Fallout universe is one of the most popular,with the TV showbringing in all new audiences. It’s a world wracked by nuclear radiation, and haunted by mutated monsters and some not-so-friendly humans that still call the wastelands of the USA home.
Living there wouldn’t be too bad. There are plenty of ways to eke out an existence in the post-nuclear Fallout world, like tato farmer, gunslinger, or brahmin rancher. You just have to have your wits, and verify your Geiger counter is up to snuff.
9Metro - A Few Months
Assuming I Stay Underground
The Metro games brought the post-apocalypse to new heights of horror and survival. It isn’t a fun place to live, to be sure, but there are ways to stay alive for a longer period of time.
The key here is staying down in the metro tunnels. This will keep us alive for a lot longer than if we were on the surface, even with a rad-suit and gas mask. Even then, it won’t be a good time; it’s dark, dank, and cramped. Plus, you have to hope that monsters, ghosts, radiation, cannibals, or Nazis don’t get ideas about your quiet way of life.
8Frostpunk - A Few Weeks
Hopefully It’s Summer
There are few post-apocalyptic worlds out there as instantly hostile as the Frostpunk universes. It’s cold, desolate, and, for the most part, relies on the ideas and works of the mayor of your steam-powered city.
I can’t imagine lasting more than a few weeks in the Frostpunk world, mainly because I’m not a fan of the cold, but there aren’t many tropical post-apocalypses out there, I suppose. The main goal would be huddling up and getting warm, hopefully close to the geothermal vent in the center of town and hoping no raiders come knocking, or the heater doesn’t break down.
7Stalker - A Week
Not Cut Out For A Stalker’s Life
The world of Stalker is odd in the post-apocalypse genre. Mainly because there really isn’t an apocalpyse in the traditional sense. The Zone is only a few kilometers worth of oddities on an otherwise normal Earth.
However, if we had to live in The Zone, I would imagine a week would be a pretty standard, and probably optimistic lifespan. There aremutants, scavengers, zombies, radiation storms, and the various anomalies that dot the landscape. Don’t get me wrong, it sounds adventurous, but I can only eat dubious meat from a tin so often.
Gonna Get Thirsty
Jumping from film to video game was a natural thing for as much of a gasoline-fueled post-apocalypse as the Mad Max universe. Surviving in this world though isn’t as high-octane as it may seem, though.
Suping up my Nissan with spikes and nitrous with friends would be a blast. It’s just the endless desert and the maniacal gangs of spray-paint-huffing cultists that ruin the experience. There isn’t much option for a quiet life, you just wonder if you’ll die in a fiery crash or if the dehydration will get you first.
5Days Gone - A Day
Freakers Are Too Fast
Considering that gaming is rife with zombie apocalypses, it is impressive when a new one comes along and revamps the genre, much like Days Gone has.
Hitting the ruined highways on your motorcycle would be pretty exciting, but I don’t imagine the freakers and the cultists would take too kindly to all the loud noise. A day in the world of Days Gone would be about all that could be expected, considering that once there’s one zombie, a horde is soon to follow.
It’s No Margaritaville
Finally, atropical post-apocalypse. It took long enough, but Dead Island’s warm paradise would be a pretty soothing time for the few hours we could dodge zombies enough to enjoy it.
Mixed drinks, toes in the sand, and a hammock would be pretty ideal considering some of the other locales in this list. The only bad part is that I’m sure I would be too relaxed and full of hotel buffet food to really fight back against the various types of zombies that Dead Island would throw at me.
3Gears Of War - Less Than Five Hours
I’m Not Built Like Marcus
A post-apocalypse as all-consuming as Gears of War’s would not be one to survive easily. Ever since the first game, Sera has been on the brink of total annihilation by the locust, lambent, and swarm.
It is no walk in the park considering the groups of people are few and far-between in any of the games. If and when one of the factions does catch up with me, I don’t have high hopes of fighting back, considering I’m not built like an NFL linebacker. A few hours is all I’d really imagine I’d last.
2State Of Decay - Minutes
Scenic Yet Deadly
The zombie apocalypse of the State of Decay series is far morerural and serenethan many. Set in the American heartland, it makes sense that there are plenty of places to hide out in. It’s all the various types of zombies that make surviving for more than an hour far less likely.
Communities are few, and usually attacked by others or hordes more often than not. Cardio, weapons skills, and basic survival is a must, and to be honest, it’s been a little bit since I’ve had any practice in any of those aspects. The first group of zombies or feral that comes my way will probably be the end of things.
1The Last Of Us - Seconds
Not So Fun(gus)
If there is any post-apocalypse where survival really wouldn’t be possible for long at all, it’s The Last of Us.
Assuming you aren’t locked into a city controlled by one of the post-government agencies, being left to fend for yourself ina world full of zombies, spores that turn you into said zombies, and people who will do anything to survive will likely get you first. Not to mention the clickers and various other infected aren’t really the slowly ambling type.
Even the TV series version of the fungus, which is nerfed from the games, isn’t one that would make survival any easier.
