9 Games with a post-apocalyptic setting like Horizon Zero Dawn that you should try

Games like Horizon Zero Dawn · Find similar →

Ranking compiled by Lluis Enric Mayans, Founder & Head of ContentUpdated May 19, 2026How this is calculatedOrdered by an attribute-similarity model, not editorial opinion.

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We filtered the 50 games similar to Horizon Zero Dawn down to the 9 that fit the “Post-Apocalyptic” category. Death Stranding, NieR and Danganronpa Another Episode: Ultra Despair Girls top the list, ranked by affinity and similarity score to Horizon Zero Dawn.

iRank87/ 100

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GenreRPGSubgenreAction RPGSub-subgenreThird-Person ARPG

The best games with a post-apocalyptic setting like Horizon Zero Dawn

9 similar games foundUpdated May 2026

Handpicked by our similarity algorithm, these are the titles with the highest gameplay match to Horizon Zero Dawn. Each one has been evaluated across 14 real attributes — from combat style and progression mechanics to world structure and visual perspective — so every recommendation is based on how the game actually plays, not just its genre label.

#1Death StrandingClosest overall match

iRank88

GenreRPGSubgenreAction RPGSub-subgenreThird-Person ARPG

SoloStealthMeleeNarrativeOpen WorldPost-ApocalypticSci-FiExplorationThird Person

Steam👍 93%· 79KIGDB84· 17OC83· 203

Year 2019Dev Kojima Productions · Sony Interactive EntertainmentOn PS4 · PC

✓ Same family of third-person Action RPGs: deep RPG systems, adventure storytelling and shooter

≠ Where it differs: brings survival mechanics, horror tension and dark, oppressive atmosphere, while skipping action RPG combat

Genre100Combat100Game mode100World100Progression100Visuals100

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Steam Epic PS

#2NieRClosest on tone

iRank69

GenreRPGSubgenreAction RPGSub-subgenreThird-Person ARPG

SoloMeleeNarrativeOpen WorldSci-FiPost-ApocalypticExplorationThird Person

IGDB69· 4

Year 2010Dev Cavia · Square EnixOn Xbox · PlayStation 3

✓ Same family of third-person Action RPGs: deep RPG systems, shooter and third-person shooting

≠ Its own twist: deep simulation, historical setting and visual 2d, while skipping action RPG combat

Genre100Game mode100Tone100World100Progression100Setting85

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Xbox

#3Danganronpa Another Episode: Ultra Despair Girls

iRank78

GenreRPGSubgenreAction RPGSub-subgenreThird-Person ARPG

SoloMeleeNarrativeSci-FiPost-ApocalypticThird Person

Steam👍 82%· 7.3KIGDB74· 9OC73· 56

Year 2015Dev Spike ChunsoftOn PS4 · PC

✓ Fits the third-person Action RPGs cluster, with deep RPG systems, action RPG combat and shooter

≠ Where it differs: brings puzzle design, survival mechanics and visual novel storytelling, while skipping open world exploration

Genre100Game mode100Visuals100Combat78Tone62Setting61

GenreRPGSubgenreAction RPGSub-subgenreThird-Person ARPG

SoloMeleeStealthNarrativeOpen WorldPost-ApocalypticSci-FiExplorationThird Person

Steam👍 80%· 14KRAWG👍 72%· 1.1KMC79IGDB78· 8

Year 2009Dev Activision · Activision BlizzardPlaytime ~3hOn PC · PS · Xbox

✓ Both are third-person Action RPGs — sharing deep RPG systems, action RPG combat and adventure storytelling

≠ Stands apart with precision platforming, sandbox freedom and survival mechanics, while skipping shooter

New York, Manhattan Peninsula (very detailed), our days. The townspeople are struck by a mutation that turns people into bloodthirsty monsters. The protagonist of the game is a seemingly unremarkable young man named Alex Mercer.

It predates Horizon Zero Dawn by 8 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Combat100Game mode100Visuals100Setting77World70

GenreRPGSubgenreAction RPGSub-subgenreThird-Person ARPG

SoloMeleeStealthNarrativeOpen WorldPost-ApocalypticSci-FiExplorationThird Person

Steam👍 80%· 14KRAWG👍 72%· 1.1KMC79IGDB78· 8

Year 2009Dev Activision · Activision BlizzardPlaytime ~3hOn PC · PS · Xbox

✓ Both are third-person Action RPGs — sharing deep RPG systems, action RPG combat and adventure storytelling

≠ Its own twist: precision platforming, sandbox freedom and survival mechanics, while skipping shooter

It predates Horizon Zero Dawn by 8 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Combat100Game mode100Visuals100Setting77World70

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Steam Xbox PS

#6Oni

iRank70

GenreRPGSubgenreAction RPGSub-subgenreThird-Person ARPG

SoloSci-FiPost-ApocalypticThird PersonCyberpunk

IGDB70· 1

Year 2001Dev Rockstar Toronto · Rockstar GamesOn PC · Mac

✓ Fits the third-person Action RPGs cluster, with deep RPG systems, action RPG combat and shooter

≠ Stands apart with setting cyberpunk, while skipping adventure storytelling

It predates Horizon Zero Dawn by 16 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Game mode100Visuals100Setting80

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#7Enslaved: Odyssey to the WestClosest on setting

iRank85

GenreRPGSubgenreAction RPGSub-subgenreThird-Person ARPG

SoloMeleeNarrativePost-ApocalypticSci-FiThird Person

Steam👍 86%· 8.1KIGDB82· 9

Year 2010Dev Ninja Theory · Namco Bandai GamesOn PlayStation 3 · PC

✓ Same family of third-person Action RPGs: deep RPG systems, action RPG combat and adventure storytelling

≠ Where it differs: brings precision platforming and puzzle design, while skipping shooter

Genre100Game mode100Tone100Setting100Visuals100Combat81

GenreRPGSubgenreAction RPGSub-subgenreThird-Person ARPG

SoloSci-FiPost-ApocalypticThird PersonLoot

Steam👍 94%· 87KIGDB86· 8OC81· 168

Year 2024Dev SHIFT UP · Sony Interactive EntertainmentOn PC · PS5

✓ Fits the third-person Action RPGs cluster, with deep RPG systems, action RPG combat and adventure storytelling

≠ Stands apart with loot and gear systems and skill tree progression, while skipping shooter

Where it drifts furthest from Horizon Zero Dawn: progression.

Released 7 years after Horizon Zero Dawn.

Genre100Game mode100Setting100Visuals100Progression0

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Steam Epic PS

#9Dirge of Cerberus: Final Fantasy VII

iRank61

GenreRPGSubgenreAction RPGSub-subgenreThird-Person ARPG

SoloSci-FiPost-ApocalypticThird PersonFantasy

IGDB61· 3

Year 2006Dev Square Enix Product Development Division 1 · Square Enix

✓ Same family of third-person Action RPGs: deep RPG systems, shooter and third-person shooting

≠ Where it differs: brings fantasy world, setting mythology and setting cyberpunk, while skipping action RPG combat

Where it drifts furthest from Horizon Zero Dawn: progression.

It predates Horizon Zero Dawn by 11 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Game mode100Visuals100Setting59Progression0

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