Best Post-War Video Games

War serves as the backdrop for many games because it immerses players in intense action both on and off the battlefield. However, there are also games that focus on post-war struggles, highlighting both the positive and negative aspects through the characters, locations, and storylines.

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Many games are centered around the consequences of war, whether based on real conflicts or fictional ones. In contrast, some games incorporate war as a background element within their lore, allowing players to discover details as they explore various locations or receive information during gameplay.

8

BioShock

Rapture Was Not The Utopia The Creator Thought It Was

Systems

Released

August 21, 2007

ESRB

m

Fearing communism after World War 2, the underwater city of Rapture was created to be a haven. However, utopian societies never last and BioShock showcases that by showcasing Rapture through the eyes of someone trying to survive the genetically modified denizens of the city who have devolved into insanity after a civil war inside the underwater city.

Not only is BioShock a beautifully crafted retro-futuristic world that can be as mesmerizing as it is terrifying. The first-person shooter game earned praise for its memorable gameplay, including the use of superpowers, puzzles, and a unique atmosphere. This resulted in BioShock becoming a beloved trilogy of games.

7

Cyberpunk 2077

Night City Is The Result Of Multiple Wars

Released

December 10, 2020

ESRB

M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Nudity, Strong Language, Strong Sexual Content, Use of Drugs and Alcohol

While not a major part of the story in Cyberpunk 2077, it is said via dialogue that Night City and the rest of country are still suffering in the aftermath of a devastating civil war. The Unification War was only the latest of several wars across the decades, including the Fourth Corporate War and Night City became a beacon of peace despite numerous criminal activities.

The neon colors and fantastical technology in Cyberpunk 2077 are always matched with a sense of everyone and everything being worn down. It adds to the world as the player explores Night City as the cybernetically enhanced V. The result is a well-made glimpse of a dark future and an RPG that dramatically improved over the years after a controversial launch.

6

Metro 2033: Redux

War Sent Russia Into A Permanent Nuclear Winter

Released

August 28, 2014

ESRB

m

In the nuclear war-ravaged wastelands of Russia, the player controls a soldier who must fight mutated animals and enemy factions. Metro 2033: Redux is the remastered version of a game that started a trilogy of beloved games, each one taking full advantage of the post-apocalyptic concept.

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While Metro 2033: Redux does not reinvent the wheel when it comes to being a first-person shooter, it executes its concepts with elegance and grace. Checking for radiation, fighting off monsters, and upgrading the different weapons to become more powerful, combined with an engaging plot, results in a surprise gem that spawned two sequels.

5

Mafia 2

Vito Scaletta Returned From War And Joined A Criminal Empire

Systems

Released

August 24, 2010

ESRB

m

Mafia 2 focuses on Vito Scaletta, a man so determined to be unlike his father that he goes to any lengths to refrain from being poor that he joins the Falcone crime family. This path is partially due to being discarded by the world after fighting in World War 2, coming home to no money and a purple star.

The rest of the Mafia 2 story spans across the 1940s and 1950s as Vito rises to power in the Falcone family. It’s often debated which Mafia game is better, which is a testament to how good the first two games are. Both provide engaging stories and gameplay, with Mafia 2 delivering a familiar yet fresh experience for fans of the first game and can still be played by newcomers.

4

Vampyr

Jonathan Reid Traded A Human War For A Supernatural One

Released

June 5, 2018

ESRB

M For Mature 17+ Due To Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Sexual Themes, Strong Language, Use of Drugs

The death and destruction of the First World War combined with the rise of influenza resulted in a vampire plague in London. In Vampyr, the player controls a doctor named Jonathan Reid, a doctor who has returned to England from the war and has become a vampire, allowing him to be the ultimate hero or villain.

Vampyr can best be described as Mass Effect for vampire fans, with dialogue and story decisions that can drastically alter the story. It is also an RPG where the player can level up Jonathan Reid to have a plethora of powerful vampiric abilities, such as blood constructs, enhanced speed, and rapid regeneration.

3

Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order

Life Of A Long Jedi After Order 66

9/10

Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order

Released

November 11, 2019

ESRB

t

Rather than focusing on The Clone Wars or the Galactic Civil War, Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order puts the player in a period between wars. Cal Kestis is a young Jedi who survived the great Purge and is discovered by the Empire after five years alone, setting him off on a journey of self-rediscovery and survival.

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Cal Kestis has quickly become a beloved character thanks to being one of the first characters to really illustrate the trauma of a young Jedi who lived through Order 66. Add in addictive gameplay that mixes Souls-like and Metroidvania elements with stellar customization for Cal to create a memorable Jedi experience for all generations of Star Wars fans.

2

Fallout 76

The Earliest Point Seen In The Fallout Franchise

Systems

Released

November 14, 2018

ESRB

M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Drug Reference, Intense Violence, Strong Language, Use of Alcohol

All Fallout games take place after the nuclear devastation of what is known as the Great War. Fallout 76 takes place earliest in the official timeline, only twenty-five years after the bombs fell and the wastelands of West Virginia are still fresh with newly formed monsters, bandits, and other threats to fight either solo or with friends.

While Fallout 76 was initially an undercooked game with many glitches and felt incomplete, consistent updates have allowed the game to make a turnaround. Now Fallout 76 provides a fun MMO experience that rivals The Elder Scrolls Online, with plenty of content that can have players roaming the wasteland for hours with no end in sight.

1

Wolfenstein: The New Order

A Dark Timeline Where The Nazis Won World War 2

FPS

Stealth

Action

Adventure

Systems

Released

May 20, 2014

ESRB

M For Mature 17+ due to Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Strong Language, Strong Sexual Content, Use of Drugs

The franchise that helped revolutionize first-person shooters was rebooted with Wolfenstein: The New Order, featuring B.J. Blazkowicz on a new adventure fighting the Nazis. However, the twist is that in this timeline, the Nazis won World War 2 thanks to their technological advancements and have turned most of the Earth into their cold and steel empire.

The alternate history concept of Wolfenstein: The New Order breathed new life into the long-running franchise, with adrenaline-pumping gameplay that makes the player feel Captain America but with an R-rating. From dual-wielding massive weapons to brutally massacring legions of evil fascists, the reboot checked off all the right boxes, thus leading to two sequels and a prequel.

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