Society has an unhealthy obsession with the end of the world, whether the final days are ushered in by zombies, nuclear war, disease, or otherwise. With all the apocalyptic media we've digested surrounding the Mayan calendar's prediction, we may as well have been training ourselves to be prepared for every single scenario that could befall us. Zombies? Yawn. No, seriously. Yawn. We're ready for all the ifs, ands, or buts. And if for some bizarre reason you haven't yet fully prepared for impending doom, we've got an extensive list of tools to get you pumped and primed. Video games, of course. Get ready for the end with fifty of these training simulators.
Society has an unhealthy obsession with the end of the world, whether the final days are ushered in by zombies, nuclear war, disease, or otherwise. With all the apocalyptic media we've digested surrounding the Mayan calendar's prediction, we may as well have been training ourselves to be prepared for every single scenario that could befall us. Zombies? Yawn. No, seriously. Yawn. We're ready for all the ifs, ands, or buts. And if for some bizarre reason you haven't yet fully prepared for impending doom, we've got an extensive list of tools to get you pumped and primed. Video games, of course. Get ready for the end with fifty of these training simulators.
50. Dead Rising 2
Rather than staying holed up in a mall like Frank West did in the original Dead Rising, Chuck Greene is out performing in motocross tournaments and in the "Terror is Reality" game show to ensure his daughter Katey gets all of her required Zombrex medications. In a future like that of Dead Rising 2, medications to stop the slow spread of zombie infection would be hard to come by -- it's actually teaching you a lot more than you'd think.
49. Crysis
In the future, we're invaded by aliens. Again and again. So the only way to combat them is by throwing on a suit and letting one man handle the job. All over the world. He's that strong.
48. Fable III
The entirety of your game in Fable III is spent actually staving off a threat that could wipe out your entire kingdom and life as you know it, though you wouldn't suspect this from the beginning of the game where you think your greatest enemy is actually part of the kingdom itself. Managing your assets and rallying troops is actually where the game begins to get interesting, and the dangers looming over your head are what drive you to make the decisions that you do, just like you would in real life.
47. Red Faction: Armageddon
More like "Red Faction: Dead Space," right? In all seriousness, this entry into the Red Faction series was an interesting one in that it combined the fantastic "wreck everything" sensibilities from the previous game with tight third-person shooter mechanics that played beautifully. The world is in danger, but not the one you're thinking: it's actually Mars, which is under siege by a possible Armageddon via Martians. Thanks, fanatical religious priest!
46. Dead Space
Imagine yourself trapped up in space, with no way out. No one to protect you. Just a swarm of alien beings who willed themselves into being by way of the corpses of your friends and family. Yeah. That's Dead Space. The entire world is in danger if you can't quell the threat, and the only way to stop these beasts is to cut off their limbs. So not only do you have to be deadly, but you have to be accurate.
45. Mass Effect 3
We know, we know, Mass Effect isn't really the same as any of the other games we've listed here, but just think about it. The entire trilogy follows Shepard and his crew trying to thwart those who would see the whole of humanity wiped out entirely. In this, Mass Effect 3 (since it's the last game in the series, and about time to wrap things up) is certainly worthy of being called apocalyptic. You don't get much closer to the death of all sentient beings than the Reapers.
44. Lollipop Chainsaw
Juliet Starling's titillating zombie-slaying exploits begin at the cleverly titled San Romero High School, where the entire student body has been turned into members of the living dead. Zombies lazily slide down hallways looking for fresh meat. The football team rushes at Juliet looking for a peek up her skirt, or a quick bite to eat. Even the teachers are particularly miffed, and you can't trust a teacher who wants to throw a desk at you. Is it test anxiety or some kind of peer pressure bid? Nope, everyone's just hungry for brains -- and that's how these apocalypse things start.
43. Borderlands 2
Borderlands may have upset many with its anticlimactic ending, but it's got nothing on Borderlands 2, where Handsome Jack is pumped and primed to ensure he angers you any which way he can. The rundown world of Pandora is just as ramshackle as ever, and if you're unlucky enough to live under Handsome Jack or fall under his rule, you're in for a bad time. The game simply builds on how austere Pandora can truly be, and it should certainly be praised for doing so.
42. Dead Rising
Frank West has covered wars, you know. But he hasn't faced a zombie apocalypse. Until now. Just like that famous zombie flick, he's barricaded himself into a mall for safety where all the shoppers aren't late Christmas gift-givers, but disgusting undead jerks who want nothing other than to snack on the photojournalist. Luckily there are lawnmowers around to literally mow through the overpopulated mall.
41. Left 4 Dead 2
A brand new group of survivors are back to fight the good fight, and by that we mean mowing through crowds and crowds of the shambling flesh-eaters. This is a brand new saga with new characters to get attached to (or sigh with discontent if you can't play as your favorite) and hundreds of zombies to keep you occupied. And if you play your cards right and grab the DLC, you can have both groups of survivors meet up, once and for all. Sound like a lot of fun? It would be, if life as we know it hadn't been completely obliterated.
40. Yakuza: Dead Souls
It's a little tough to explain over and over how and why the zombie apocalypse in gaming relates to the theme of our list, but at the very least Yakuza: Dead Souls is a different experience. For one thing, it's about the weirdest franchise that could explore those circumstances. And secondly, it wasn't exactly treated as the enormous series departure it could have been. With such excellent Yakuza entries in the franchise before it, it should have given players many more options to explore. But it's still an intriguing alternative to games like Left 4 Dead or Dead Island, if only to see Japanese gang members beat up on zombies.
39. Fallout Tactics: Brotherhood of Steel
Combining the attitude and gameplay of Fallout with the sensibilities of a real time strategy game, Fallout Tactics: Brotherhood of Steel acted as another story told in the same universe, though it does not extend the story of the original two PC games, but it still finds players exploring the post-apocalyptic wasteland in the same manner. The only thing that's changed is how the story plays out -- if you're a tactical fan, you might prefer this to the prior two role playing games.
38. Wild ARMS
Wild ARMS is a classic PlayStation role playing game that combines elements of the Old West and Medieval Europe to weave a tale that explores both old and new technology after the banishment of the evil "Mother," the leader of the Metal Demons. Though thousands of years pass between this struggle and the events of Wild ARMS, the results of the crumbling of society are clearly evident throughout the journey.
37. Resident Evil
We're not so sure we even have to explain ourselves here, but zombies in Raccoon City that will bite you. Ouch! You don't want that to happen so gun them down before they turn you into the walking dead.
36. Chrono Trigger
Whether you fight Lavos now or later, you're still going to have to face the end of the world. Crono, Lucca, and Marle (as well as a cast of other equally colorful characters) must band together to stop the destruction of life and existence as they know it. And to think, this all started with a trip to the Millennial Fair.
35. Shin Megami Tensei
As a collective series, the MegaTen franchise itself follows post-apocalyptic happenstance, especially Shin Megami Tensei: Digital Devil Saga and Shin Megami Tensei: Nocturne, which follows the Conception, or the end of the world. Even the characters withint he world itself are noted as being "tired of the world" or "ready to die," making the MegaTen games prime for apocalyptical training and inspiration.
34. S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Call of Pripyat
Where S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Clear Sky acted as a prequel to the S.T.A.L.K.E.R. series, S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Call of Pripyat actually takes place in Pripyat, Ukraine, and following the events of the original game. The Zone is believed to be expanding outside its original radius and the mutated creatures are growing stronger -- there's the fear that the Zone may eventually eclipse Russia, and that's where much of the horror comes from this time around, rather than the fact the world has all but ended and survival is much more than eating and sleeping.
33. Fragile Drams: Farewell Ruins of the Moon
This cult Wii hit isn't exactly survival horror, but it can certainly feel like it from time to time. All of a sudden, the world's population has all but vanished entirely. You take up the mantle of young Seto, a boy who's looking through Tokyo for survivors of the events that occurred to wipe off the face of humanity, and while wandering alone through the ruins of the past, happens upon another human being and also beings who wish to take his life. It's a bittersweet lense through which some extremely touching instances of human drama unfold.
32. Pathologic
Again, the world isn't ending, but it sure feels that way in Pathologic, in which you must get to the bottom of a bizarre sickness that's plaguing the inhabitants of the village. Disturbing imagery, frustrating puzzles, unsettling quests, and uncomfortable themes make Pathologic a must-play, especially in the event of a sickness eliminating a good portion of the human population.
31. Crysis 2
In the future, we're invaded by aliens again, but they seem concentrated in the New York City area. That's when you know things have gotten serious. When they take a bite out of the Big Apple, that's when the world starts to get a bit concerned.
30. Disaster Report
Hokey as it is, Disaster Report is just about as close as you can get in video game format to living through a diaster. You're not escaping the world, but a collapsing island that's being plagued by damaging earthquakes and aftershocks. It's not as important as the world ending, to be sure, but it's packed with enough survival training that we feel it makes a great fit on our round-up here.
29. Panzer Dragoon Saga
Though we're not quite sure if this is the Earth or not, Panzer Dragoon Saga unfolds across a human civilization which is competing for land and resources after a vague disaster has befallen civilization. The Ancients, the hyper-advanced race of beings, are revered and feared by those left behind by whatever cataclysm wiped them and the rest of the planet nearly off of the map. It's a fantastic Sega Saturn RPG that fans clamor for a port of, but missing source code has prevented this from happening.
28. Terranigma
Rather than penning a tale of life after destruction and how horrible it can be, Terranigma diverges from the beaten path and follows a youth named Ark who resurrects the planet from an otherwise uninhabitable state and restores it to its former beautiful, thriving state. It's an interesting journey through the evolutionary system of life and the planet, and how humanity has interacted with its planet over the course of several trillions of years.
27. Outlander
Similar to Mad Max in ways that recall vehicular carnage and the automobile motif, Outlander released on two consoles and found players driving down the road in a post-apocalyptic future while being attacked on all sides by bikers, trucks, and hillbillies looking to impede their progress. Luckily you're armed with machine guns, shotguns, and plenty of other armaments to keep on truckin'.
26. Crystalis
A man wakes from a cryogenic sleep a hundred years following a global nuclear war. That seems to be the theme here, doesn't it? While he doesn't remember who he is or why he was put into a cryogenic sleep in the first place, he soon finds that he may be the chosen one to clear out a path for the remnants of humanity who are still surviving, under the tyrannical rule of the Draygonia Empire.
25. Mad Max
If you're familiar with the series of Mel Gibson films of the same name, you should already have a pretty good idea of what the Mad Max video game should offer, but if you don't, we'll spell it out for you: survive. Find plenty of gas, water, and supplies in order to survive life after the very end of the world. And wear lots of leather.
24. Metal Max
This RPG/vehicle combat hybrid released via Famicom back in 1991 as a Japanese exclusive, following humans who lived underground in ruins and tiny villages while monster hunters left the underground caverns to fight the creatures who roamed outside. It's an interesting adventure that presents a deep storyline and allows players to customize their own special tank, which can be modified to ther choosing. Too bad it never received an official English release.
23. Fallout: New Vegas
Though not part of the main entries in the Fallout series, Fallout: New Vegas is a killer apocalypse simulator that takes the struggle for survival all the way to a dilapidated Sin City. Familiar sights and sounds pepper the landscape, but there no Vegas showgirls to be found here. The glitz and glamour has faded, but at least you've got your Pip-Boy to keep you company.
22. Metro 2033
The world may be the center stage for most of the games we've explored, but Metro 2033 is placed inside of Moscow, stretching through most of the subway systems beneath the surface. The nuclear war of 2013 found most of Russia being targeted with nuclear missiles, which irradiated those who weren't lucky enough to scramble to safety underground. Those unlucky enough to be left above ground mutated into bizarre creatures known as the Dark Ones, which of course, cause trouble for the player around every turn.
21. Resident Evil 2
See Resident Evil for an explanation, but as we mentioned previously, Resident Evil 2's obvious inclusion should be a no-brainer.
20. Gears of War
Gears of War kicked off a memorable trilogy with a plot that surrounded Emergence Day, the day the warlike Locust race arose from the bowels of Sera, turning their attention to wiping out humanity from the face of the planet. The Coalition of Ordered Governments summoned their best soldiers, the COGs, to combat the threat, and Gears of War explodes into an all-out war against those who seek to reclaim Sera for their own -- namely, the Locust Queen.
19. Resistance
The future isn't at stake this time with the flagship PlayStation 3 shooter Resistance, instead revolving around an alternate 1950s history where an alien civilization known as the Chimera have all but conquered Earth, using humans as their very own troops, making our own race fight against us. While it's based in the past, there's still futuristic weaponry to fight back with, making Resistance notable for its armaments and usage of unique technology.
18. Enslaved: Odyssey to the West
The loose remake of Journey to the West takes place about 150 years after a catastrophic event that befell the Earth -- a horrible global war -- and the only shards of humanity left are scattered throughout the globe. Despite the Earth having been nearly been obliterated, in stark contrast to the rest of the list it's still lush and verdant, making Enslaved one of the better-looking games on our list. Good thing Monkey's not to be trifled with.
17. S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Clear Sky
The prequel to the original S.T.A.L.K.E.R. follows the events that unfold before the second Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant explosion, with players assuming the role of Stalker Scar, rescued by an independent Zone faction researching and learning about the irradiated area and the bizarre goings-on inside it. And it's just as ridiculously unforgiving.
16. Darksiders
Rather than exploring a post-apocalyptic Earth, you actually control one of the fabled Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, and in this particular game, you take control of War. The Horseman War rages on, and you're tasked with bringing balance to the conflic that's been being waged for centuries. It's not exactly the same concept as we've been exploring throughout the rest of the list, but a relatable one nonetheless.
15. Phantom Dust
In the future, Earth is an enormous barren wasteland where humans wander aimlessly, plagued by amnesia. Humans live underground and there's a bizarre dust on the surface that few dare to interact with. There's a group of humans who can actually control the dust known as Espers, and these individuals can control it and bend it to their will to learn brand new skills. The card game/action adventure game is a cult hit, and certainly one that left us scratching our heads.
14. Half-Life
What more could be said about Half-Life? It's certainly one of the most recognizable games on this list? The tale of a mere scientist, Gordon Freeman, analyzing a bizarre artifact, who's caught up in a dimensional rift between the Black Mesa Research Facility and a world called Xen, is one that many of us still remember. It's a menacing look at society when faced with alien beings, and its sequel expands on these concepts more fully.
13. Deus Ex
JC Denton is a member of the United Nations Anti-Terrorist Coalition, and he's out for blood when it comes to terrorist forces. Unfortunately, the world of Deus Ex doesn't make things that black and white. He finds himself mixed up with several different organizations, including the Illuminati (YouTube commenters have a blast with that one, we assume). Deus Ex was a pioneer in its age with its attitudes toward combining RPG, FPS (first person shooters), and adventure elements. The dystopian world of 2052 was one we couldn't wait to explore in the fullest.
12. Beneath A Steel Sky
Time for a cyberpunk spin on the typical "wasteland" mindset. Beneath a Steel Sky is largely set in a dystopian future where the good old Earth has been ravaged by pollution and nuclear fallout. After the destruction of civilization as we know it, society has been reduced to "city states" and wouldn't you know it? They're all warring. You follow Robert Foster, a child raised by Indigenous Australians, who are soon killed off and Foster kidnapped to be taken back to Union City. Foster uncovers the corruption in the city while gradually adjusting to his new life. We're not envious.
11. Midwinter
A different sort of "end of the world" is showcased in Midwinter, where the entire world has been covered with layers and layers of snow and ice after a meteorite striking Burma in 2040. Warring factions of different temperate zones compete for areas where migration has caused the different areas to overpopulate. As Captain John Stark, you lead a force that's attempting to resist the invasion from islanders looking to overtake more liveable lands. Think we'd rather have zombies than impact winter.
10. Wasteland
After the nuclear war of 1998, Earth has been turned into, as the title suggests, a wasteland. This PC adventure follows the civilization of 2087, where survival is the only thing you really need to worry about. And trust us when we say you really need to worry about it. You head up a group of Desert Rangers tasked with investigating a series of goings-on outside of the wasteland, which invariably reveals a group of survivors still hanging about in a post-apocalyptic Las Vegas. Some might call it Fallout-lite, but it's so much more multi-faceted and full of deliciously juicy combative prose that we still love it, even though time hasn't exactly been so kind to it.
9. S.T.A.L.K.E.R.
One of the most unforgiving apocalyptic scenarios out there can be found within the bowels of S.T.A.L.K.E.R. The area surrounding the infamous Chernobyl incident has succumbed to yet another explosion at the very same power plant, and now those unlucky enough to inhabit The Zone, as it's called, are forced to live as nomads and scavengers while keeping away from the various pockets of radiation around them, which could mean certain death at any given moment. Sound harsh? It is.
8. Project Zomboid
This open-world RPG is set after yet another zombie apocalypse. It's up to you to survive as long as you possibly can before succumbing to the open jaws of the decaying armies who are out to get you. You'll inevitably die, but it's a different sort of adventure than the third and first-person shooters on the list that display things right in front of you rather than using an isometric view. It's also a sandbox -- so when you're not running for your life, you can mess about with the tools right in front of you.
7. Fallout 3
Escaping the Vault has never been a more visceral experience, and Fallout 3 really built on the previous entries into (arguably) the biggest name in post-apocalyptic adventures. Taking the struggle to a 3D world and adding branching decision points, even more gruesome discoveries, and Hollywood star power (Liam Neeson of all people!) wove an exciting narrative that resonated with both old and new fans of the franchise. And the killer radio tunes don't hurt, either.
6. Borderlands
Borderlands knows all about looting, scrounging for important parts, and staying alive in a less-than-ideal world. Pandora may not be the greatest place to grow up in, but it's rife with enemies to take down, vehicles, ridiculous monsters, and plenty of rewards for engaging in the insanity. Plus, you can tackle it with friends. Eridium, aliens, researchers, and robots who like to dance to dubstep are just the beginning, Vault Hunters.
5. Rage
Borderlands' decidedly more vulgar cousin brings the heat as you explore the sand dunes of the open world, fighting off bandits and those who would have your head on a platter. Rage's incarnations (including a type of shooting gallery) perfectly frames a bleak future and all those who dwell within. It's also a great shooter with homages to Wolfenstein 3D and plenty of secrets to uncover. Racing in buggies and offing rival factions sound like fun? It might become something very real should we see the world come to an end.
4. DayZ
Where Dead Island and Left 4 Dead are somewhat coddling in the amount of tools they provide you with in order to tackle the apocalypse, DayZ is an unforgiving wasteland rife with death and destruction that doesn't stop to pick you up when you fall, not even for a moment. The ARMA II mode is tough in all the right places, just perfect for you to meet with death face-to-face. It'll find you. If the zombies don't come for you, the other humans will. The sad reality of life is thus -- who's really the enemy? Monsters or your fellow man?
3. Left 4 Dead
What to do when the world's been reduced to a select few survivors when the zombie apocalypse has swept through the entire world like wildfire? Find a safe house, suit up, and sweep through waves of monstrous shamblers on your way to safety. Pills will patch you right up, but you've got to be vigilant and avoid Boomers, Hunters, and other special Infected, especially the ominous Witch.
2. Dead Island
Dead Island may not have turned out as the emotional roller coaster it was portrayed as in its early trailers, but it was certainly austere enough to secure a place on this list. Ammo? If you can find it. Most of the time, you'll be running through the island fending off the undead with sticks, shovels, chairs, or whatever you can rig together to effectively fend off zombies. Just like real life -- except in real life, you won't be racking up experience points based on your behavior.
1. Fallout
Arguably one of the greatest apocalyptic franchises out there, the Fallout series touches on many of the fears society has regarding possible nuclear holocausts: radiation, famine, mutation, a horrible, sand-colored world devoid of any more natural beauty, and nasty enemies out in the wasteland to contend with. It's also packing a killer sense of humor not easily found in most games meant to explore the horrors of the wasteland.