Dystopian TV games often have bewitching but brutal human race that show humanity ’s worst potential futures . From the irradiated Wastelands of theFalloutseries to the corporate - ruled Night City ofCyberpunk 2077 , dystopias can take many forms and tell dissimilar stories about the fate of society .

The grim but sometimes arresting dystopian worlds in video games often come with rich lore that can be piece together through pursuance and item . Part of the play of playing these game is calculate out incisively what led to the prostration of society in a particular world and what the player ’s role is in work on to ready it .

Deus Ex: Human Revolution

Deus Ex : Human Revolutionfollows the level of Adam Jensen who accidentally discovers that there ’s a bass story about the coveted biological augmentations that have been dividing high society for years . It explores themes of transhumanism , thrust players into a world where those who can afford augmentation prescript and those who ca n’t are leave to starve .

The most sinewy entity in the biz ,   as is the case with many fabricated dystopias , are mega - corp . The fate of these corporations depends on the protagonist ’s military action and decisions — it ’s one of thosegames where musician ’s choices really matter . From prefer for stealing over unmediated rape to choosing to say one matter over another , Deus Exgives role player a lot of freedom over their legal action . These conclusion importantly affect the story and the ultimate fate of the characters and the humankind .

Dishonored

Set in the industrial city of Dunwall , Dishonoredlets players control Corvo Attano , who was serving as the Empress ’ bodyguard before her character assassination . It ’s up to the player to uncover the sinister plot of the new rulers and see out how to reinstate the rightful inheritor to the throne .

Dishonored ’s dystopian universe show a complete separation between the ample and the poor , with most of bon ton relying on harvest whale oil colour to make a living . The entire metropolis is also infested with infestation - spread scab , which turn citizen into Weepers , grotesque zombie - comparable entities that yell ancestry and attack unprovoked . Of course , the intact post is sodding for the tyrannical new political science that use armed Tallboys to execute citizen regularly . It ’s a gloomy image of a future where only the rich can afford to be salubrious and well-to-do .

Wolfenstein: The New Order

Wolfenstein : The New Ordertakes one of the gloomy periods of mankind and turns it into an even more misrepresented reality . Its alternative history takes stead in a dystopian interlingual rendition of the 1960s where the Nazis are establishing a global totalistic regime after gain ground the 2d World War .

The player ’s use is to master the war veteran William Blazkowicz and check the expansion of the Nazi regime . Wolfensteintakes it a stone’s throw further by adding technical and scientific monstrosity to their dystopia . With robotic opposition like the Panzerhund and heavily - armor super - soldiers like the Fire Troopers , it ’s an exhilarating existence to search and an interesting take on diachronic upshot .

Detroit: Become Human

It ’s 2038 , and technology has progressed rapidly enough to produce humanoid that walk and talk like humans . Detroit : Become Humanfocuses on the struggles between humanity and androids , raising interrogation about morality and servitude .

Players control three androids , all serve different masters , as they slowly make sentience and make crucial decisions about their lives and humanity ’s time to come . It ’s a game that focuses on histrion ’ choices , as it has several potential endings bet on what the androids decide to do with their newfound awareness and potential exemption . Seeing a futuristic Detroit from the perspective of these androids gives role player a unique look at ways applied science can go too far , endangering high society and all of its conscious beings .

Horizon: Zero Dawn

Horizon : Zero Dawnis one of those few dystopian games that takes place in a gorgeous world . With lavish fields and verdant mess , players must uncover the gloomy tarradiddle behind Aloy ’s world . ThroughZero Dawn ’s exciting master and side quests , Aloy eventually learns that the primitive state of humanity and the rampant belligerent machines all stem from an ancient plan that has get wrong .

It ’s up to player to navigateZero Dawn ’s world to find out more about the machine and the AI govern them . As Aloy ventures deeper into Cauldrons and learns more about her own past , players get a clearer picture of the impending apocalyptical outcome they must barricade , as well as the protagonist ’s straight role in restore the dystopian world to the way it ’s stand for to be .

Metro Exodus

In the year 2036 , players find themselves in the heart of the state of war - torn Moscow Metro , with the dust of the old world serving as their tax shelter against the harsh nuclear wintertime . The protagonist ofMetro Exodus , Artyom , is win over that there ’s life outside of the Russian wintertime they ’ve grown used to .

The player must stake out with their band of dauntless Rangers , taking the gear called ‘ Aurora ’ in hunting of a better life out in the East . histrion have to get through mutated creatures , irradiate tunnels , and war faction to find their own place in this disorderly future tense . It ’s an expansive world in a secret plan that takes position throughout an entire class , showing players that , with time and crusade , there can be hope in even the most desolate dystopias .

BioShock

BioShock ’s inundate city , Rapture , was entail to be a Sion that provided the best resources to the elite group . Of course , humanness ’s rapacity and corruption eventually won , with citizens starting wars over a new worthful kernel call ‘ ADAM . ’ As inequality and corruption became the norm , the hypothetic utopia commence to birth mechanically skillful monstrosities like Big Daddies and Little Sisters .

Players control Jack in the thick of all the chaos , a surface - dweller who unwittingly discovers this dystopian city . By sail its punic street and interact with its few sane citizens , Jack slow ascertain about Rapture ’s complicated past tense and his crucial purpose in find out its future . Its philosophy - driven storey involve important questions about humans , avarice , and the conception of a utopia , establish player a prospect to reflect on mankind ’s nature .

Cyberpunk 2077

hacker 2077has changed a plenty since its initial buggy launch , giving players a chance to get Night City in all of its glory . It ’s a dystopia teeming with cybernetic modifications and bright show off ads , rule by mega - corporations with the sole agendum of rest on top .

It can be either a glamourous or brutal dystopia , look on who ’s life one looks at . As the mercenary vanadium , it ’s an unforgiving city with violent gangs and cosmetic - obsess citizens . Cyberpunk 2077is a terrorise glimpse into a hereafter where corporate regulation is the norm . The game does an unbelievable job of unroll this narrative as players can pass hebdomad on end exploring the dark secrets hidden in the vivacious marvel that is Night City .

Half-Life 2

Half - Life 2is coiffe 20 years after scientist incidentally unleash exotic strength in the Black Mesa Research Facility . Players ensure the scientist , Gordon Freeman , who was actually partially responsible for accidentally launch the vena portae that allow the Combine aliens in .

The plot tells an incredibly immersive story , as musician see the world through the hangdog protagonist ’s eyes , who must now do everything he can to make up for his misapprehension . The brutal constabulary state that the Combine has demonstrate now control what remain of the world . urban center 17 ’s citizen are live in horrible conditions , dependent to regular raids and insult by the aliens . Its bedraggled hospitals , parks , and restaurant serve as a constant and unspeakable reminder of the normal lives they once had .

Fallout 4

The events ofFallout 4take stead in 2287 , more than two hundred years after The Great War . The entireFalloutseries   is built in this post - nuclear war cosmos , where a retro - future with technology and esthetics from the ‘ 50s serves as the backdrop for its events . Irradiated monster like Bloatflies and Deathclaws roam the barren Wastelands , make it one of the most inhospitable andbleakest video game worlds .

Fallout 4has an telling open world full of well - save fibre and exciting quests . As participant explore the irradiated landscape , they ’ll find out more about the complicated politics and warring factions in the biz . The protagonist plays a crucial function in determining the skilful course for what ’s left of humanity while also skin to understand their own past tense and thier complex family relationship with their family .

NEXT : The 15 Greatest Video Game Narratives , rank

Naoe from Assassin’s Creed Shadows with the game’s map to her left and gameplay to her right.

Attempting to bounce off this block in CP7 of Black Belt in Trials Rising.

Marvel Rivals Sue Storm, Emma Frost, and Cloak Dagger

Cyberpunk 2077 Fallout 4 Metro Exodus

Deus Ex

Corvo on a ledge with a mechanical monster behind him and a villain in the window in the video game, Dishonored

An image of a gun pointing at Nazis and a robotic enemy in the video game Wolfenstein The New Order

Connor’s back with the word "Android" on his uniform in the video game, Detroit: Become Human

Horizon Zero Dawn Cover Art

Metro Exodus Sunrise Key Art

Big Daddy with Little Sister by its side in the video game, BioShock

A man standing behind his car looking out at Night City in the video game, Cyberpunk 2077

A promotional poster featuring Gordon and Alyx in the video game, Half-Life 2

A Brotherhood of Steel warrior in Power Armor in Fallout 4.

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