Dystopian games
A dystopia is the lesser-known counterpart to utopia, representing an undesirable or nightmarish society. Dystopian societies often suffer from various negative aspects such as environmental degradation, oppressive governments, rampant despotism, extreme inequality, or social decay.
Cyberpunk and post-apocalyptic games serve as prime examples of dystopian themes. Cyberpunk worlds often depict high-tech, low-life futures where corporate control, surveillance, and societal breakdown are rampant. Post-apocalyptic games, on the other hand, explore the aftermath of catastrophic events, where humanity is struggling to survive in a ruined, lawless world. Both genres reflect dystopian fears about the future, technology, and society.
Most popular dystopia games
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2112
DOS1994
Welcome to 2112, a game that predicted a grim techno-future back when floppy disks still ruled. This DOS-era oddity throws you into a world that’s part cyberpunk, part fever dream, and entirely confusing. It’s got clunky controls, yes, but also that charming old-school ambition where every corridor hides either doom or disappointment. T...
A Mind Forever Voyaging
DOSMac OS1985 Infocom
If you ever wanted to play a video game that doubles as a philosophical think piece, A Mind Forever Voyaging (1985) is your ride. Released for DOS and Macintosh, this is one of Infocom’s most ambitious works - a text adventure where you’re not a hero with a sword, but an AI tasked with simulating the future of society. Exciting, right? ...
Archimedean Dynasty
DOS1996protected Massive Development
In Archimedean Dynasty, humanity did the logical thing after wrecking the surface world: moved underwater and started shooting each other in submarines. It's part tactical sim, part gritty sci-fi novella, and entirely German in its dedication to menus and moodiness. Imagine playing Wing Commander, but everyone is wet, brooding, and inexplicably ang...
Archipelagos
DOS1989 Astral Software
Archipelagos is like a fever dream after watching too much Myst. You’re dropped onto strange, floating islands inhabited by stone monoliths and evil terrain-infecting sludge. Your job? Purify the land by destroying said monoliths - because obviously. The visuals are surreal, the soundscape unnervingly tranquil, and the gameplay strangely hypn...
Autoduel
DOS1985 Origin Systems
What do you get when you mix Mad Max, Car Wars, and a fondness for vehicular homicide? You get Autoduel (1985, DOS), a top-down driving RPG where your car is your castle and your guns are your diplomatic policy. Part racing game, part combat sim, and part postal delivery service (seriously), it's the kind of game that punishes mistakes with explosi...
Bad Blood
DOS1990 Origin Systems
Set in a post-apocalyptic world where leather vests are apparently immune to radiation, Bad Blood lets you wander the wasteland deciding whether to be a brute, a brainiac, or a mutant with questionable fashion sense. Dialogue-heavy and surprisingly progressive for 1990, it’s Fallout before Fallout was cool — minus the polish and plus a ...
Beneath a Steel Sky
DOS1994freeware Revolution Software
Beneath a Steel Sky is a classic point-and-click adventure game released in 1994, developed by Revolution Software. Set in a dystopian, cyberpunk future, the game is renowned for its rich atmosphere and distinctive artwork. The game follows Robert Foster, who, after being abducted from his tribal home in the Outback, finds himself in Union Cit...
Blade Runner
Windows XP/98/95LinuxMac OS1997protected Westwood Studios
One of the best licensed games of the '90s, Blade Runner (1997) puts you in the rain-soaked shoes of Ray McCoy, a detective tracking down replicants in a world where it's always night and nobody smiles. It’s not just point-and-click—it’s point-and-question-your-existence. With branching paths, randomized targets, and that gritty c...
BloodNet
DOS1993protected MicroProse Software
BloodNet combines vampires, cyberspace, and noir in a cocktail so strange it probably shouldn’t work but somehow does. You are a hacker who just got bitten by a vampire and now you must juggle your thirst for blood with your desire to not completely lose your mind. The game world is dense, filled with dark alleys, gothic hackers, and more dia...
Chamber of the Sci-Mutant Priestess
DOS1989protected ERE Informatique
Chaos Overlords
Windows XP/98/95Mac OS1996protected Stick Man Games
Chaos Overlords is a cyberpunk-themed strategy game developed by Stick Man Games and published by New World Computing in 1996. Set in a dystopian future, the game focuses on controlling the underworld of a city dominated by corrupt corporations and oppressive government forces. The player assumes the role of a crime lord, leading a gang with the go...
Circuit's Edge
DOS1990 Westwood Studios
Circuit's Edge is a cyberpunk-themed role-playing game developed by Westwood Associates and published by Infocom. It was released in 1990 for MS-DOS. Set in a dystopian future, Circuit's Edge takes place in the fictional city of Rhoes Island, a dark and gritty urban landscape filled with crime, corruption, and advanced technology. Players take on t...
Crusader: No Regret
DOS1996protecteddemo Origin Systems
Crusader: No Remorse
DOS1995protecteddemo Origin Systems
Crusader is an action-oriented computer game. The player controls a super soldier that defects from the current world government and joins the Resistance. The world is shown in an isometric view.
Cybercon III
DOS1992 The Assembly Line
CyClones
DOS1994protected Raven Software
Deathtrack
DOS1989 Dynamix
Deathtrack is an abandoned racing vehicular combat game set in a post-apocalyptic North America. Deathtrack is a mix of high-speed racing and combat and was developed by Dynamix and released by Activision in 1989 for DOS.
Deus Ex
DOSMac OS2000protecteddemo Ion Storm
Deus Ex is a critically acclaimed action role-playing video game developed by Ion Storm and published by Eidos Interactive. It was released in 2000 and was designed by Warren Spector, combining elements of first-person shooters, stealth games, and role-playing games. The game is set in a dystopian future where society is fraught with conspiracy the...
Dreamweb
DOS1994freeware Creative reality
Dreamweb is a top-down point and click adventure set in a dark, cyberpunk city. You play as Ryan who has strange, violent, dreams. A top down perspective and the sheer number of items your character can pick up are just two of the peculiarities of this game. Dreamweb was developed by Creative Reality and published by Empire Interactive for DOS in 1...
Fallout
DOSWindows XP/98/95Mac OS1997protecteddemo Interplay Productions
The first Fallout game was released in 1997 by Interplay Productions and is widely regarded as one of the most influential RPGs of its time. The game begins in the year 2161, over 80 years after the nuclear war, with the player assuming the role of a resident of one of the many underground shelters known as Vaults. The player's mission is to l...
Fallout 2
Windows XP/98/951998protected Black Isle Studios
Fallout Tactics: Brotherhood of Steel
Windows XP/98/952001protecteddemo Interplay Productions
Fallout Tactics: Brotherhood of Steel is a tactical role-playing game published by Interplay Entertainment in 2001. Unlike its predecessors, which were traditional RPGs with turn-based combat, Fallout Tactics took a different approach by focusing more on tactical combat rather than extensive role-playing elements.The game features squad-based comba...
Farenheit 451
DOS1984 Telarium
Fountain of Dreams
DOS1990 Electronic Arts
I have no Mouth and I Must Scream
DOS1995protected The Dreamers Guild
Interphase
DOS1989 The Assembly Line
Manhunter 2: San Francisco
DOSMac OS1989 Evryware
Manhunter: New York
DOS1988 Evryware
Martian Memorandum
DOS1991protecteddemo Access Software
Martian Memorandum is a point-and-click adventure game developed and published by Access Software. It was released in 1991 and is the sequel to the game Mean Streets. The game is set in a dystopian future on Mars, where players take on the role of Tex Murphy, a private investigator with a sarcastic and humorous demeanor.The story begins with Tex Mu...
Mean Streets
DOS1989protected Access Software
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