The Best Post-Apocalyptic Games on the PS4 in 2024 [List]

The post-apocalyptic genre has been around for quite some time and has been a part of all kinds of fictional media; books, movies, TV shows, games etc. While it may have become quite overused, that doesn’t mean that it has put out stale offerings. The PS4 has enjoyed a large number of absolute gems that should be a part of every gamer’s play-list. Here are the best post-apocalyptic games on the PS4.

1. The Last of Us Duology

This was an expected entry on this list and rightly so. In case you’ve been living under a rock, the Last of Us games have become the new epitome of post-apocalyptic zombie shooters. With both games boasting high attention to detail and extremely realistic mechanics, they capture the true survivalist feel of a post-apocalyptic world.

But, undoubtedly, the best part about these games is the narrative, which has received wide praise from all kinds of audiences and critics. The story follows the adventure of Joel and Ellie, his adopted daughter, as they find their way through a zombie-infested America and work to hide Ellie’s secret from the government, with the help of their friends and family.

2. Horizon Duology

If you’re looking for a break from the good old-fashioned post-apocalyptic zombie shooters, Horizon Zero Dawn and Horizon Forbidden West might be right up your alley. Set in a futuristic post-apocalyptic world where the world is overrun by large robots designed like animals, Horizon features a vast open world that is ripe with resources and all kinds of artificial wildlife.

In Horizon, you take control of Aloy, an outcast of her own tribe. After winning the favor of her tribe, she sets out to get revenge against those who killed her mentor. Horizon features fast-paced battles against both machines and humans. One thing is for sure, Horizon is a unique experience that is bound to capture you with its breathtaking visuals and engaging narrative.

3. Fallout 4

It would be criminal to talk about the post-apocalyptic genre and ignore Fallout. One of the first game series to adopt the post-apocalyptic genre, Fallout is the most well-known amongst hardcore fans of the genre. Unfortunately, not all games of the Fallout series are available to play on the PS4, but luckily, the narratives are not linked, so you can play Fallout 4 as a standalone game.

Set in a world that had to face a nuclear holocaust, Fallout 4 is a role-playing game where players can decide between 4 factions: the Institute, Brotherhood of Steel, Minutemen and Railroad. Featuring a vast open world where players are free to interact with other characters and make decisions that will change the outcome of the game, Fallout 4 is a great game that is bound to leave a lasting impression on you.

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4. Resident Evil Series

The original post-apocalyptic zombie third-person shooter, Capcom‘s Resident Evil has come a long way and has come to define a whole generation of gamers. For many, it is the definitive zombie shooter; all others pale in comparison. The series’ titular Chris Redfield, Ada Wong, Albert Wesker and Leon Kennedy have become pop culture icons.

Thanks to the recent remakes, you can now play nearly every single Resident Evil game on the PS4, including some spin-offs. Although the series seems to have diverted from its original roots in the 7th installment, it still remains a solid post-apocalyptic game with an exceptional narrative and gameplay.

5. Days Gone

Bend Studio‘s underrated masterpiece, Days Gone is a fantastic open-world third-person shooter game. Set in a zombie post-apocalyptic Oregon, Days Gone has you take control of Deacon, who scours the land on his bike looking for supplies to help out his allies and friends, while searching for leads on his long-lost wife, Sarah.

Days Gone is any zombie-shooter fan’s dream come true. With a large and expansive world teeming with zombies, called Freakers in the game, limited resources to give a true survivalist feel, and a great storyline, it is hard to deny the appeal of this gem.

6. Tom Clancy’s The Division 2

Looking to enjoy a post-apocalyptic game with your gaming buddies? The Division 2 is what you’re looking for. Ubisoft is a household name by now when it comes to making unique multiplayer games. The Division 2 is no exception and is another great title among Ubisoft’s existing lineup of upstanding multiplayer installments.

The Division 2 is set in a post-apocalyptic and war-ravaged Washington DC. It is a third-person tactical shooter, with great emphasis on teamwork and strategy. Players need to design their characters and need work their way up by exploring the open-world and completing quests. The more skilled you are, the better the variety of weapons you will be able to obtain and use.

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7. Dying Light Duology

Need a fast-paced, action-packed, zombie post-apocalyptic game, but bored with the normal run-of-the-mill shooting aspect? Dying Light is perfect for your needs. The Dying Light games have become fan-favorites, thanks to their adrenaline-fueled action and survivalist feel that requires you to depend entirely upon your resources when it comes defending yourself; whether against zombies or hostile humans.

The best part about the Dying Light games is the parkour mechanic. Dying Light has a first-person perspective and the variety of parkour moves performed, augmented by your grappling gun, makes sure that no nook and cranny goes unsearched in the vast open-world. Guns are a luxury, so you have to depend entirely upon traditional melee weapons.

Grappling around the city like Batman, while running from zombies doesn’t sound so bad right?

8. The Walking Dead: The Telltale Definitive Series

The Walking Dead is another household name when it comes post-apocalyptic zombie-infested worlds, thanks to its wildly popular TV show by the same name developed by AMC. The Telltale Definitive Series is separate from the TV show and is an entirely narrative-driven experience, where the user is only required to perform a few simple actions, but mostly spends time choosing the right dialogue or action.

The Telltale Definitive Series might seem a bit barebones, as it doesn’t seem to require a lot of user engagement and is more similar to a movie. But the narrative is nothing to scoff at, as the game’s outcome depends on what type of person you are based n the choices you make. Trust us, you’re in for a roller-coaster of an experience.

9. Metro Series

The Metro game series is similar to Fallout; you find yourself in the aftermath of a nuclear holocaust and have find your way through the post-apocalyptic Russia, which has established metros, which are shelters for people who have survived the holocaust. As supplies are scarce, factions have been formed that compete for these supplies. The popular factions are the Hanza, Red Line and Rangers of the Order.

However, in terms of gameplay Metro and Fallout differ vastly. Metro is first-person shooter, while in Fallout, you can toggle between both first and third-person perspectives. Metro also has a more grim and sinister atmosphere, and like Fallout, questions the player’s morality. It also forces the player scavenge for supplies and features some of the most grotesque creatures; a side-effect of the nuclear radiations.

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10. NieR Duology

For JRPG fans looking to enjoy the post-apocalyptic genre, NieR: Replicant and NieR: Automata are the perfect games. Square Enix is no stranger to great JRPGs and NieR is a perfect example of this. Set in world that is far in the future, where the Earth has been invaded by alien machines.

Humans, who now live in space, design androids and send them to Earth to combat and eradicate these machines, in hopes of liberating the Earth. Each android, while not completely human, is similar to one and has a distinct personality. They are also capable of showing emotion, although this capability varies over the model.

With an expansive, beautifully designed world, soothing soundtrack and classic hack-and slash style combat, NieR is checks all the right boxes, and is also recommended for non-JRPG fans,

11. Death Stranding

For players looking for a more relaxed experience with a strong narrative, Death Stranding is what you’ll want to check out. The most recent game from legendary game developer Hideo Kojima, Death Stranding is a game set in a post-apocalyptic world where humans live in shelters due to the occurrence of an unexplained phenomenon. It rendered the world inhabitable and gave birth to strange life-forms.

You take control of Sam Bridges, played by actor Norman Reedus, a porter who has a special suit that allows him to explore the Earth’s surface. The game has very complicated narrative so you’ll have to keep a close eye on that. Other than Norman Reedus, the game also features cameos from other Hollywood celebrities like Guillermo del Toro and Lea Seydoux.

12. Nuclear Throne

Indie lovers rejoice; this is the post-apocalyptic game you need to play. Nuclear Throne is a roguelike shooter game that can become chaotic pretty fast. The story has creatures, called mutants, aiming to reach the Nuclear Throne by travelling the world. The player must stop them by taking control of one of 12 characters, each of whom has their own unique ability.

The game can be enjoyed in single-player and a local co-op mode. The gameplay is pretty simple; aim and shoot down the mutants. Over the course of the game, you’ll receive power-ups and new guns to help you in this task. Despite this, the game is an absolute thrill, and the anarchy starts almost immediately.

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Conclusion

Over the better part of a decade, the PS4 has enjoyed many post-apocalyptic games. The ones we’ve listed are what we believe to be the best. What we truly hope is that the PS5 also enjoys the same number of games the PS4 had the honor of hosting.