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- Primary Subject: Best Post-Apocalyptic Games to try in 2026
- Key Update: Post-apocalyptic games across survival, RPG, and action genres suggested by fans on Reddit.
- Status: Confirmed (fan suggestions)
- Last Verified: February 23, 2026
- Quick Answer: The best post-apocalyptic games to play in 2026 include S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl, Frostpunk 2, Once Human, The Last of Us Part II Remastered, Wasteland 3, Undawn, and Days Gone.
It is time to take a look at the 7 best post-apocalyptic games to try in 2026. I don't know about you, but whenever I picture an apocalypse, I don't just think about a nuclear explosion or zombie hordes, but rather the silence in the aftermath of disaster and the empty highways that used to be bustling with traffic.
The eeriness and emotion associated with it make this theme even greater. Video games have long explored such avenues, but more with the angle of world-ending chaos. It's only in the last decade that developers have tried to incorporate something more than shoot-and-survival gameplay.
Now you can find more layered gameplay like wandering through digital wastelands like the titles listed below, rationing ammo, making bad moral choices, and occasionally getting ambushed. Based on what I have played and a bit of research, these 7 post-apocalyptic games are a must-try!
S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl
If you want a game that will truly test your nerves, this is the one. Inspired by the real events of the Chornobyl disaster of 1986, S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 will drop you into the highly radioactive zone of the virtual Chornobyl site. In this game, you will just be a regular person trying to find valuable items in an inhabited place.
The first thing you will notice is that developers have given heavy emphasis to the game's visual elements. There will be enemies, such as mutated animals caused by nuclear waste and other fellow scavengers. Most importantly, your character has to deal with hunger, sleep, bleeding, and radiation, all of which can affect performance or cause death if neglected.
Once Human
Another survival game in this list is Once Human, developed by Starry Studio and NetEase Games. So far, we have seen most post-apocalyptic-themed games based on either zombies or nuclear survival, which are basically man-made threats, but instead, this one creates its world around a “cosmic contamination” called “Stardust,” which has altered the environment, animals, and even human biology.
This creates a survival MMO that combines base-building, PvE exploration, PvP action, and a hint of horror gameplay into a single dynamic sandbox. The best part about it is the complete freedom it gives the player. You can easily play with huge groups of friends to explore the open world.
Frostpunk 2
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While alien or nuclear catastrophic events are still hot topics, let's be honest: environmental or climate change is the most accurate existential threat being faced by mankind. Frostpunk 2 explores the same theme. As for the plot, it is something like this: the Earth is frozen solid, and the only way for humanity to survive is to gather around a giant coal-fired heat generator.
As you will be the leader of the city, you are going to face difficult decisions. When you are running low on coal, do you make your people work double shifts? Do you reduce their food rations so they will last longer? You have to manage between different survival resources. Regardless, the dilemma of morality or survivability has to be figured out by you.
Undawn
Undawn was launched worldwide in June 2023 for both PC and mobile platforms, and the game allowed players to choose between PvE and PvP. Therefore, yes, it is a multiplayer open-world survival game.
Like the above-mentioned titles, the main part of gameplay centers on base building. Your daily life will include cutting down trees for wood and hunting wild animals for food. Your aim should be to simply build your own safe haven with all the required items.
Another crucial part of the gameplay is the dynamic weather, which will also affect your survival metrics such as hunger, mood, hydration, and so on. Now comes the exciting part: you can participate in huge camps made by players, trade items, and even team up to kill enemy bosses.
The Last of Us Part II Remastered
Even in 2026, many fans believe that The Last of Us Part II Remastered remains one of the most mechanically disciplined third-person action titles on the market. It was originally designed for PS5 only, and it clearly showcased how improved it was from the PS4 version, with enhanced lighting, faster loading times, higher frame rates, and much more.
Moving on to the storyline of the game, it revolves around the character of Ellie, set a few years after the first installment. When Joel is killed by Abby in revenge for her father, a traumatized Ellie sets out for Seattle to get revenge of her own. Even if you aren't a big post-apocalyptic theme lover, the stealth mechanics of The Last of Us Part 2 will turn heads.
Wasteland 3
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Some types of post-apocalyptic games don’t care if you feel powerful or if you are having a protagonist vibe. Wasteland 3 is one of them, developed by inXile Entertainment. In a classic turn-based tactical role-playing game, this still stands as a masterpiece.
The world has been devastated by nuclear war, and within it, you will be playing as a member of the Desert Rangers in Colorado. Your team will be assigned to deal with different powerful leaders of this post-war world order.
For example, you will have to negotiate with religious cults and gang leaders, testing your patience and decision-making skills. The fighting is intense and rewarding, where you have to carefully position your snipers, medics, and heavy gunners to take advantage of the weaknesses of the enemy.
Days Gone
Last but not least on our list is Days Gone, which was launched in 2019. It is a rare thing to witness a game mature as beautifully as Days Gone has. At first glance, you might conclude that it is just another "Zombie" game, and this is what happened when, after launch, it was overlooked by many. It was mostly the slow start of the game that did not align with fans' expectations.
However, slowly and steadily, it has built a massive, dedicated audience. The game takes place in the beautiful but deadly Pacific Northwest, where you are a drifter trying to survive in a world that has been overrun by infected creatures known as Freakers. Overall, it is a masterpiece survival game that you should not miss.
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