20 Games Like Mad Max
This curated list of games like Mad Max features other titles that use post-apocalyptic settings, melee brawling or driving as a central game mechanic.
Drawing inspiration from the vast universe of Mad Max media the 2015 video game explores a post-apocalyptic wasteland with an open world action-adventure title. Exploring the canyons, vast dry land and various caves as Max Rockatansky your primary objective is to get revenge against a menacing group of raiders by building up your skills and the Magnum Opus.
Given the large landscapes the majority of exploration and combat is done from within a vehicle with Mad Max offering up means to upgrade its weapons and armour to increase your odds of survival. While not within your armoured vehicle combat is focused around various fire arms, wrestling and boxing. Improving your strength throughout the story is heavily linked to encouraging exploration with players scavenging items from the wasteland.
The games like Mad Max selected below offer similar post-apocalyptic settings where you’ll slowly grow your strength through exploration with these titles also having a focus on driving, vehicle combat and melee attacks.
Crossout
Taking you into a post-apocalyptic landscape with an endless array of parts to customise your own vehicle is Crossout, a game that resembles Mad Max in design as you engage in vehicle on vehicle combat (PvE and PvP). Available on Windows, consoles and mobile through the Crossout Mobile version this free to play MMO style experience offers a wealth of combat. Set 20 years after a disaster in 2027 that has left that world ravaged by a worldwide disease the game features several factions fighting o...[Read Review]
Borderlands 2
Borderlands 2 is a first person shooter that incorporates action role playing elements and loot drops into its core gameplay cycle. Building on the foundation of the original this 2012 release in the Borderlands franchise allows players to once again explore the planet of Pandora from the first game half a decade before. Alongside this familiar location players will have a returning villain in the form of Handsome Jack who is once again seeking the power of a new Vault. Despite the familiar loca...[Read Review]
Yakuza 0
Taking you back in time to a Tokyo of 1988 Yakuza 0 is as an action adventure title that serves as a prequel to the various other Yazuka titles. Focusing on fictionalised recreations of areas such as Shinjuku Golden Gai and Kabukicho there is plenty of Tokyo to explore in this sixth adventure into the world of Yakuza. Originally launched in Japan in 2015 it took two years for the game to come to North America and Europe although the PS3 release remained a Japan exclusive. Starting the story deep...[Read Review]
Batman: Arkham City
Batman: Arkham City takes place in the Batman universe and was released in 2011 for Windows, Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 with a remastered version for the next generation of consoles released 5 years later. The game blends fast paced action with an impressive Batman themed storyline and an open world environment while also serving as the second title released in the Arkham trilogy. The game takes place approximately a year after the first game released in the story arc (Batman Arkham Asylum) whic...[Read Review]
Fallen Earth
Fallen Earth is a MMO that combines FPS and role playing features with its post-apocalyptic game world to deliver an experience akin to the modern games in the Fallout series. Fallen Earth originally launched in 2009 as a paid MMO game before transitioning to a free to play game in 2011, it was later shut down for a temporary 2 year period between October 2019 and October 2021. Fallen Earth is centred around the Grand Canyon area which is now a wasteland after a series of devastating natural eve...[Read Review]
Borderlands
Borderlands is one of the original fist person shooters that embeds a range of role playing features into the core gameplay loop. Giving birth to a franchise that continues to live on in the current day through various core games, expansions and even a narrative spin off. Establishing the franchise as a fast paced title filled with humour, a unique art style and more importantly randomised loot usually seen in action RPGs such as the Diablo series. Sending players to the distant planet of Pandor...[Read Review]
Batman: Arkham Asylum
Arkham Asylum kicks off the Batman: Arkham Asylum story arc and was released in 2009 offering a blend of action, adventure and story as players control superhero Batman against his long time enemy, the Joker. With a focus on melee combat blended with stealth and gadget based action it’s a strong opening act to the Arkham Asylum experience which was further built upon over the years. This founding story of the Arkham Asylum plot follows the Joker’s attempt to seize control of Arkham Asylum ...[Read Review]
Just Cause 2
Just Cause 2 offers similar gameplay to its predecessor with players again playing as Rico Rodriguez as he attempts to save the world from an evil dictator. The game is based on an island setting with plenty of movie style action within the game as players trek across the diverse island location while engaging in first person combat and other open world activities. This Just Cause 2 island is known as the island of Panau which is a fictional island based on real world Southeast Asia themes. With...[Read Review]
Gas Guzzlers Extreme
Dominate your opponents with speed and brutal car based weapons in Gas Guzzlers Extreme a 2013 released title in the combat racing sub-genre. Designed for those that enjoy a racing experience but wanted an added layer of action Gas Guzzlers Extreme packs in 7 total race types alongside a healthy number of 18 different vehicles providing ample choice and customisation to design your ultimate death ride. Like any good racing game Gas Guzzlers Extreme locks the best cars and weapons away from the p...[Read Review]
Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor
Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor puts you in the middle of The Lord of the Rings universe as you combat orcs with a deadly ranger that also possesses unique wraith abilities. With strong sword combat, stealth mechanics, a large open world and a unique nemesis system Shadow of Mordor offers a high quality Lord of the Rings action adventure with 30-40 hours of gameplay for completionists. Set during in The Lord of the Rings universe a basic understanding of the lore will definitely be a great asset ...[Read Review]
Fallout 3
Fallout 3 continues the Fallout franchise and brings players a familiar role playing experience set within the wasteland of a post-apocalyptic game world. Shifting the previously turn based game design into real time first person shooter Fallout 3 is the first of several in the Fallout series that adopt this faster style while retaining the deep role playing elements fans have come to expect. Developed by Bethesda Game Studios and released in 2008 for multiple platforms the game was later expand...[Read Review]
Red Dead Redemption
Red Dead Redemption is an expansive free roam adventure game that takes place in a western setting. Transporting players back to 1911 you’ll adventure across the plains creating your own story, participating in a multitude of side quests and developing your wild western character. Serving as a spiritual successor to Red Dead Revolver players will trek through the blended realistic and fictionalised game world as John Marston in a third person perspective on horse and foot. John Marston is ...[Read Review]
Far Cry 3
If you like open world games but also enjoy them with plenty of shooter action as part of the core gameplay loop you’ll love what Far Cry 3 brings to the table with vast strides over the previous entries in the franchise. The game is the third in the series of open world shooters and mixes a number of different genres together which has proved a successful formula with gamers and critics across the games released so far and continues with Far Cry 3. Far Cry 3 uses a first person perspective and ...[Read Review]
Fallout: New Vegas
Fallout: New Vegas adds another impressive RPG experience to the Fallout franchise with an action role playing title that is packed full of content. Exploring the wasteland that is the Mojave Desert players will meet countless enemies, NPCs and side quests throughout the Las Vegas area. Developed by Obsidian Entertainment and released in 2010 Fallout: New Vegas remains a fan favourite of the Fallout franchise and Obsidian developed games. Like many open world RPGs since it’s original relea...[Read Review]
Fallout 4
The bombs have dropped and Fallout 4 is climbing out of the rubble allowing you to explore a devastated Boston landscape in the year 2287 over two centuries after the world was taken to the edge by nuclear war. Released on Windows, Xbox One and PS4 as the fifth major game in the Fallout franchise Fallout 4 has everything you’ve come to expect from the post nuclear war series and is once again split between the base game and various Fallout 4 DLCs. For the first time though players will be ...[Read Review]
Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel!
Borderlands expands the series with Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel! a game which explores the origins of the Borderlands universe and thus features plenty of familiar faces and mechanics. At the same time though Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel! introduces plenty of new challenges and content for fans of the franchise so far to adventure through. Like it’s past additions you’ll be able to enjoy this adventure on all major platforms and across two console generations. Set in between the event...[Read Review]
Batman: Arkham Origins
Batman: Arkham Origins is the third game in the Arkham series of Batman games and continues to offer an open world adventure with particular appeal for fans of the Batman universe and the previous games. Batman: Arkham Origins continues to evolve your gameplay experience with a number of minor tweaks, new locations and challenges thrown at players while also being the first in the series to add online multiplayer gameplay. As the game title suggests the storyline is all about the origins of the ...[Read Review]
Far Cry 4
Action and adventure hit new heights in Far Cry 4, a game that sticks to the open world shooter mechanics developed from previous additions in the franchise pretty closely while adding its own light spin. While new mechanics are few and far between in Far Cry 4 it’s a solid adventure experience none the less which is also set in one of the most unique settings of the series to date. Set in fictional Kyrat players assume the role of Ajay Ghale who returns home from America to spread his mother’s ...[Read Review]
Rage
Rage is a first person shooter that has many similarities to both the Fallout and Borderlands franchises with a post-apocalyptic setting that sees a number of towns needing your assistance as you drive across the wasteland environments completing quests and upgrading your arsenal of equipment. Set in a future where an asteroid known as 99942 Apophis collided with the Earth in the year 2029 human civilisation has been reduced to rubble with a wasteland environment and scattered survivors all that...[Read Review]
Just Cause 3
Ultimate freedom is the objective of Just Cause 3, a game in the open world adventure genre that continues the over the top destruction opportunities of its predecessors across Windows, Xbox and PlayStation platforms. Released in 2015 this title in the Just Cause franchise sends players deep into a fictional island in the middle of the Mediterranean and provides an open world playground for destruction and player decisions. Taking place half a decade after the popular Just Cause 2, the main char...[Read Review]