What is “Paranormal Post-Apocalypse?” Most people know one or the other perfectly well, and only rarely do the two genres mix in popular media. Though it’s not an officially recognized genre at the moment,ParanormalPost-Apocalyptic is perhaps the best descriptor for a piece of media that attempts to combine seemingly inexplicable paranormal elements with a traditional Post-Apocalyptic setting.
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It’s been done in literature with novels such asRoadside Picnicand in movies such asStalker.Video games, however, offer some of the best examples of the genre around. Here are just a few of the games that attempt to blur the lines between the Paranormal and thePost-Apocalyptic.
5Chernobylite
WhileChernobylitecan only partially trace its style of gameplay back to games likeSTALKER, there is a much clearer lineage when it comes to the game’s world design. The game takes place in the ever-popularChornobyl exclusion zonein Ukraine, where all manner of extradimensional creatures and phenomena are known to reside.
The player is tasked with exploring the imposing ruins of the former Soviet city decades after it was abandoned, gathering allies in an attempt to find the protagonist’s missing wife. The game gets its name from the mysterious Chernobylite substance that can be found (and is actively spreading) all over the zone.
4BioShock
BioShockmay not seem all that post-apocalyptic at first, but it embodies the spirit of the genre quite strongly. In the first game, the player is dropped intoRapturewhile its society is in the midst of collapse due to war and cultural decay. By the end of the story, Rapture itself is in ruins, but the idealistic dream of a completely free society died long before. In the sequel,BioShock 2, the post-apocalyptic element is only strengthened as the player is forced to brave these ruins as new enemies attempt to exert their influence over what little remains.
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While it’s noSilent Hill,BioShockalso features a paranormal element in the form of ADAM. It might seem scientific, but it basically amounts to a magic serum that allows people to have superpowers. It’s also what allows much of the horror of the first game to be present at all. The game features ghosts at numerous points too, and though they might have an explanation, they certainly defy any conventional understanding of nature.
3Metro
Metrois a series that mixes the Paranormal and Post-Apocalyptic better than some games can handle either on their own. Set thirty years after a nuclear war in the ruins of Russia, the setting is teaming with seemingly unnatural and anomalous occurrences. In the first game, the player, known as Artyom, is forced to navigate the irradiated subways of Moscow, seemingly pursued by malevolentpsychic creaturesreferred to as the Dark Ones.
Of course, the truth is much more complicated than that, which is something the player discovers as the story progresses. During this time, Artyom will have ominous visions and witness a host of supernatural phenomena. Both of the sequels,Metro: Last LightandMetro: Exodus,continue this trend.
2Ashes 2063 & Afterglow
They may only beDoommods, but theAshesseries does a fantastic job of blending aFallout-style post-apocalypse withSTALKER,Metro,and evenSCP Foundation Paranormal. The series wears its influences on its sleeves with pride and this is one of the things that makes the series worth playing. In fact,Ashesis perhapsthe best total conversion modthere is forDoomat the moment.
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The level design flows well and it includes a whole host of colorful enemies like raiders, mutants, and supernatural enemies for the player to face. The games also manage to incorporate a dialogue system as well, allowing players to converse with NPCs and learn about the world directly from its inhabitants.Ashesseems to be aware that players are likely to take it at face value as a kind of “Falloutbut if it wasDoom” but goes the extra mile in throwing those paranormal twists and turns that make it truly memorable.
1S.T.A.L.K.E.R
As probably the most well-known game series in the Paranormal Post-Apocalypse genre,STALKERhas ended up as the inspiration for tons of games over the years. The series itself is heavily inspired by the novelRoadside Picnicand the movieStalker, translating their genre-bending stories into a standout gaming experience. The Chernobyl exclusion zone, or simply The Zone as it is known in-game, is a character in and of itself with various factions, creatures and mysterious happenings abound.
STALKERdoes have a healthy amount ofscience-based lore, but much of it takes on a more anomalous presentation. A good example of this is the Wish Granter, which the player can discover has origins in scientific experimentation. However, its appearance and function seem rather godlike in nature. In just the same way, many of the events, creatures, and characters take on a supernatural form, but some do have some sort of scientific root even if they break reality. It’s this delicate balance that helps to makeSTALKERone of the most compelling Paranormal Post-Apocalypse game series around.
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