Summary
The setting often dictates players' interest in a game, and for the open-world genre, dying worlds full of destroyed or abandoned structures, desolate landscapes, and bloodthirsty threats have long proven to be a perfect match.Even without survival mechanics, many open-world games emphasize their harsh, hostile environments, where constant danger permeates the air, requiring players to always stay on their toes.
While dying worlds are often tied tosome sort of post-apocalyptic event, this isn’t always the case. Some open-world games use different techniques to create a setting with a melancholic atmosphere, highlighting a sense of loneliness rather than emphasizing the persistent dangers or oppressiveness of their worlds. With that in mind, let’s explore some of the best open-world games set in dying worlds, ranking them by how effectively they use their settings to create just the right kind of atmosphere and place exploration at the core of the experience.
In theMad Maxuniverse, which the open-world game by Avalanche Studios largely follows, the world has collapsed due to a combination of resource wars and subsequent environmental damage, leavingnothing but a desolate desert where the last survivorsraid each other and fight for scraps of food, weapons, and gasoline.
In this brutal wasteland, players are driven by a single instinct — to survive…and to build the Magnum Opus car, of course. While there’s not much variety inMad Max’s gameplay, both the fighting and driving elements are engaging enough to keep open-world fans occupied for dozens of hours while admiring the breathtaking desert views under the scorching sun.
Open-world zombie games are almost synonymouswith the dying world concept, placing players at the center of a visceral environment that demands a relentless struggle to survive each new day.Dying Light 2: Stay Humanembraces this concept, requiring players to build alliances with other survivors in the City, where civilization has reverted to the Dark Ages, while constantly facing the terrors of the outer world beyond its walls — especially at night.
Danger follows players at every step, as it’s always uncertain whom to trust and which choices might be right or wrong in the grand scheme of things.Dying Light 2combines an overarching narrative with deeply personal quests and struggles, constantly pushing players to reevaluate the concept of the greater good and determine the fates of other survivors.
Shadow of the Colossusis a distinct type of dying open world, fully emphasizing loneliness and desolation over a sense of danger or survival. In this world, players are the apex predators, relentlessly tracking and eliminating their targets, driven by a single goal — to resurrect their lost love.
From its ascetic visuals to its unforgettable music,Shadow of the Colossusoffers a unique experience, with the game never attempting to offer anything beyond its core plot and thegrand quest of searching for and killing colossi. Without delving into spoilers, let’s just say that players won’t bring hope to this dying world, and the entire journey is not what it seems.
In the realm of post-apocalyptic, zombie-infested open worlds,Days Goneis as notable asDying Light 2, depicting a believable collapsed Oregon where each passing day results in more survivors joining the ranks of the walking dead. With its grounded setting and atmosphere, players are far beyond trying to save this desolate world — it’s nothing more than an everyday struggle for survival and a glimmer of hope to find Deacon’s missing wife.
With unique features like bike riding and fighting zombie hordes, not to mention its admirable technical execution,Days Gone Remasteredstands out from many similar titles. Even if there’s little variety in player activities, its vast map offers enough breathtaking discoveries for players who find their pace inclearing this dying world from all of its dangers.
The post-nuclear world ofFallout 4may be more colorful and less oppressive than earlier entries, but it’s still a fundamentally broken world, with humanity on the brink of extinction. From gangs of raiders to mutants and radioactive dangers, there are many ways to die in this harsh environment, but exploration remains intriguing andengaging due to excellent environmental storytellingand the ability to put nearly anything players find to good use.
Fallout 4also sets itself apart from otherFalloutgames by emphasizing rebuilding, highlighting that there’s still a chance to return to prosperity on top of this wasteland and securing the safety of those who remain.
Death Strandingis among the best examples of open-world games with a dying world that is not only evident in the surroundings but also deeply woven into the game’s themes and focal points, exploring the importance of human connection as well as complex themes like the afterlife, isolation, and human extinction.
Even for players who aren’t interested in deeply exploring the game’s rich lore to uncover all of this world’s mysteries,Death Strandingdelivers an impeccably desolate atmosphere, providing one of the most profound sensations of loneliness and isolation in the medium. Additionally, players are directly involved in “fixing” this world, serving as a beacon of hope for reconnecting people for a brighter future.
NieR: Automatacaptures the essence of a post-apocalyptic world after humanity’s fall, where androids and robots take center stage. From breathtaking vistas of melancholic, desolate cities and ruins to a masterful soundtrack, simply traversing thegame’s world is a memorable experience, gradually uncovering its mysteries and tracing the long path that two opposing factions have followed through years of futile war.
Beyond this, the game offers much more. With its philosophical themes and unpredictable plot twists,NieR: Automatastands as one of the most impactful and profound experiences in gaming, unafraid to pose bold questions, shatter players' hopes, andguide them through an emotional rollercoaster.
Like most soulslikes,Elden Ring’sevents unfold in a dying world, devastated by endless wars among Demigods, with little hope remaining for things to improve. The world ofElden Ringis in ruins — dying, rotting, and ablaze — but it’s so diverse and beautiful that exploring each new open area is an experience in its own right.
Not only doesElden Ringfeature numerous bleak locationsthat leave a lasting impression on players, but the “dying” aspect also extends far beyond that. Many enemies and bosses, from dragons to Demigods, are the last of their kind, as are several characters representing the final remnants of once-thriving kin. Through all this,Elden Ringcreates a remarkably believable atmosphere, blending a constant sense of danger with the desolate abandonment of many areas, where players can feel truly alone.
