The thought of an apocalypse is scary but equally fascinating. Thinking about how people would survive such a situation can cause an existential crisis when considering how the world could end. This is common for fans ofpost-apocalyptic games, all of which have plenty of original stories and ideas about what humanity’s eventual downfall will be.
But a lot of these games also draw inspiration from real life. Situations range from a deadly pandemic inThe Last of Us,an automated military robot uprising and the subsequent environmental collapse inHorizon: Zero Dawn, or an all-out nuclear war in theFalloutseries. The narrative themes and overall aesthetics of these games also draw inspiration from movies of the post-apocalyptic genre. Some are obvious, while others pay homage in different ways.
TheFalloutgames occur in the mid-22nd century in an alternate retro-futuristic world. Following World War II, atomic physics and nuclear fusion created technological advancement inFallout’s universe. But as the world moves into the 21st century, an energy and resource crisis causes wars and the United Nations to collapse. This culminates with the Great War on July 25, 2025, in which nuclear destruction creates the post-apocalyptic wastelandFalloutplayers have become so accustomed to.
Among the many films that theFalloutseries was inspired by, theMad Maxfranchise was central to the game’s concept. LikeFallout, the post-apocalyptic Australia depicted in the franchise comes as a result of resource shortages and the resulting collapse of society. TheMad Maxfilms follow former police officer Rockatansky (Mel Gibson), who becomes a loner wandering the Wasteland. Of all theFalloutgames, Rockatansky’s solitary journey runs in closest parallel withFallout 4, where gamers play the Lone Wanderer, who travels the Wasteland in search of answers about their family. InMad Max 2,Rockatansky is accompanied by a dog,much like DogmeatinFallout 4.
5The Last Of Us — Inspired By Children Of Men
InThe Last of Us, the world is ravaged by a mutant strain of theCordycepsfungus. The infectionwipes out 60% of humanity, and those who survive face a rapidly declining social structure. Two decades after the start of the infection, most survivors live in cities under strict quarantine. These zones are overseen by the Federal Disaster Response Agency (FEDRA), which has become a totalitarian faction within the United States that imposes martial law.
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Neil Druckmann, creative director ofThe Last of Us, cited the 2006 filmChildren of Menas a significant influence on the game during an interview withGamesBeat.Children of Menis an underrated dystopian movie starring Clive Owen as Theo Faron, a man who lost his child to a flu pandemic. The film takes place in 2027, during a time of complete infertility alongside war and a global financial depression. As a result, humanity faces extinction until Kee (Clare Hope-Ashitey), an asylum seeker, becomes the only pregnant woman in the world. BothChildren of MenandThe Last of Uscenter around the degradation of society, as well as hope in one person holding a cure.
4Horizon: Forbidden West — Inspired By Princess Mononoke
Horizon: Zero Dawnintroduced theimportance of environmental storytellingin its narrative, expanding upon this further withHorizon: Forbidden West. From the red blight plaguing the lands, the supercell storms, and the contaminated water caused by a collapsing biosphere,Horizon: Forbidden Westexplores what can happen if changes in the climate are out of control.
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Among the many influences Guerilla Games had during the production ofZero Dawn, its lead writer John Gonzalez toldGamesBeatabout the effectStudio Ghibli’sPrincess Mononokehad on its production – particularly in terms of Aloy’s characterization. “She sort of arose out of the world we were developing. There was no one-for-one reference point. But certainly some things were influences,” he said, including “Nausicaa,Princess Mononoke, the Studio Ghibli heroines.” Both Aloy andPrincess Mononoke’s San are outcasts and warriors raised in isolation, living ina world centered around environmental collapse.
3I Am Alive — Inspired By The Road
I Am Aliveis a 2012 survival game developed by Ubisoft Shanghai. Playerstake on the role of Adam Collins, a man who returns to his hometown a year after a series of devastating earthquakes that wipe out 90% of the human race. Like other dystopian games, the lack of resources after the event drives surviving humans to fend for themselves, often in violent ways.
When speaking of films that inspired the game, Ubisoft’sAurélien Palasse told Gamespot in 2012that the 2009 filmThe Roadwas a source the development team pulled from. “Post-disaster [in games] is often unrealistic, andI Am Aliveis realistic,” Palasse said. “I think it’s different from all the other games we’ve seen: it’s more mature, everything is real.” Adam is influenced by Viggo Mortensen’s character inThe Road, a father trying to survive with his son in a world after a catastrophe. The game andThe Roadhave a similar tone and aesthetic, set in a bleak and destitute United States.
2Death Stranding — Inspired By Blade Runner
Created by Hideo Kojima,Death Strandingtakes its name from an event caused by creatures that come from the place between life and the afterlife. When these creatures, known as ‘Beached Things’ or ‘BTs,’ consume a human as food, they can cause an explosion (a “voidout”) with the same power as a nuclear bomb. The rain from these explosions, called “Timefall,” deteriorates everything it hits, leading to the dissolution of humankind. Those who have survived live in colonies that are supported by porters, people who deliver essential supplies and brave the lands where the BTs roam.
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Of all the films that could have influencedDeath Stranding, theBlade Runnerfilmsare an unexpected discovery. While the film does take place after a cataclysmic event (a nuclear war) and follows the dystopian society that forms from it,Death StrandingandBlade Runneraren’t obviously connected on the surface. But Kojima is a massive fan of theBlade Runnerfranchise. Looking closely, players can certainly see his love for the films through aspects like the architecture of the land, the colonies that inhabit it, and the futuristic technology used. “The rhythm of how it begins and all, that’s why it catches my eyes,” Kojima described his love of the film toFar Out Magazine.“It’s something that’s really indigestible in the beginning and stays with me.”
1Days Gone — Inspired By World War Z
Adifferent take on the zombie genre,Days Gonesees a biker gang tackle a horde of zombies known as Freakers as they ravage through Oregon following a viral pandemic.Days Gonewas heavily inspired byWorld War Z, in addition toThe Walking DeadandSons of Anarchy. “At the time, around 2013,The Walking Deadwas really popular,Sons of Anarchywas out, and evenWorld War Zwas out around that time,” Jeff Ross, director ofDays Gone,toldThe Hollywood Reporter. “With all those inspirations spinning around in our brains, we realized we could do our own version of some of the best parts of all those things.”
InDays Gone, most of the story centers around finding a cure. While a cure is mentioned inThe Walking Dead, this part of the story derives mainly fromWorld War Z.The film follows Gerry Lane (Brad Pitt), a former investigator with the United Nations who attempts to find a solution for the zombie pandemic plaguing the world.
