Shin Megami Tensei is one of the most unique RPG series from Japan because they are all basically post-apocalypses. Some of the games skirt the line on that genre, like Shin Megami Tensei 5, but saying anything further would be a spoiler. If players wish to go down the Japanese apocalyptic rabbit hole, there’s no better game right now than Shin Megami Tensei 5.
Why will be elaborated on but it isn’t the only post-apocalyptic RPG in town. There are quite a few. Most cannot be found on Shin Megami Tensei 5’s Switch home but they are all still worth recommending. From the West to the East, these dark RPGs are waiting.
8 Shin Megami Tensei 5
Shin Megami Tensei 5 was a long wait for fans. It all seems to have been worth it looks like one of 2021’s best RPGs according to aggregate scores. It has a lot of returning elements such as the darker story and monster-catching mechanics.
Catching, or more like talking to demons, has never been easier. This is also the first time the series has ever gone full open-world, making it an even better recommendation for post-apocalyptic RPG fans.
7 Fallout 3
The Fallout series is the quintessential post-apocalypse game. While Fallout 3 may be older, it’s still fairly accessible for console folks thanks to backward compatibility. It’s a true marvel of what open-world games can be. It’s still buggy beyond belief but that has never diminished what fans have loved about it: exploration.
There’s so much to see and do in this game and the whole series. The simple shooting of things to make them explode never got old. Plus the branching narratives made second playthroughs more tempting than other games with dialogue choices.
6 Wasteland 2
Wasteland 2 is like a spiritual successor to the classic Fallout series. The original, this, and its sequel, are all top-down strategy RPGs. That’s the closest classification for the series at least.
It took a long time to get this game out but fans were patient. It’s a much slower experience than modern Fallout games which is nice. Being able to plan attacks as well as dialogue choices presents players with fun in a different light.
5 Horizon: Zero Dawn
Now is the perfect time for players to jump into Horizon: Zero Dawn since the sequel is coming out soon. It offers a different experience than most as it is a bit cheerier for a post-apocalypse game. The earth is still in ruins with humanity being on the brink of extinction thanks to robot dinosaurs.
Still, the sun is shining and there is plenty of vegetation. Earth may come back even if people die. The RPG elements are light in this one but upgrading Aloy’s skills and equipment still counts. The open-world of the robot dinosaur apocalypse is calling which can also be enjoyed on computers now.
4 Tom Clancy’s The Division
Tom Clancy’s The Division is a smaller-scale apocalypse. Black Friday went horribly wrong with people spending diseased physical currency thus shutting down certain parts of the country. New York City was the first to go with others to follow.
The second game, for example, takes place in Washington DC. Worry not for players is a secret agent of the Division unit. They are tasked with bringing order to lawless lands. Both games are good in this series, but the first still packs the bigger punch thanks to the story, environments, and weapons. The snow is such a great part of that game. It’s a polar-apocalypse.
3 Dead Island
Dead Island is another post-apocalypse experience that is bright and colorful on the outside, but extremely dark on the inside. A fantastical beach resort gets overrun by zombies and players can choose one of four characters, who were caught in the chaos, to escape the zombie resort with. There is also a co-op for players wishing to continue the adventure online.
There was traditional leveling up by killing enemies. There was also weapon modding which was one of the coolest parts of the game. Adding electricity to a paddle and then whacking a zombie to see it explode was like a gift that kept on giving.
2 Metal Max Returns
Metal Max is a series that started in Japan and has not had many entries leave Japan. Metal Saga and Metal Max Xeno are the only two to hit North America. They’re all mostly the same but the best game is a remake of the original.
Metal Max Returns was for the Super Nintendo. It follows a young boy off to start an adventure in a turn-based RPG wasteland. It feels like Japan’s answer to the Fallout games. While this was never officially released in the West, it, and many others, has received an English fan patch.
1 NieR: Automata
NieR: Automata is a high-concept post-apocalypse. All of humanity has retreated to a space station. Robots, like the main character 2B, are sent to Earth to gather resources. On a routine hunt, 2B and her partner 9S are swept into a conspiracy that would take too long to explain here.
Needless to say, this is a game that deserves a thorough examination through multiple playthroughs. It’s a drab world to explore but there’s some color thrown in as well from grassy plains, friendly animals, and babbling brooks. The best part is the slick action combat.