7 Games with a post-apocalyptic setting like DayZ that you should try

What brings it close to DayZ is dark, oppressive atmosphere, open world exploration and ranged combat, and the two track each other on genre, game mode and setting. Both also lean on post-apocalyptic world and multiplayer gameplay. The distance is in world and tone — its own ground is third-person shooting and free-to-play access.

If DayZ worked for you because of dark, oppressive atmosphere, open world exploration and ranged combat, the same is here. Both also lean on exploration and discovery, and PvP competition. The distance is in world and tone — its own ground is third-person shooting and free-to-play access.

What carries over from DayZ is shooting mechanics, dark, oppressive atmosphere and open world exploration. Both also lean on post-apocalyptic world and multiplayer gameplay. The distance is in genre and progression — its own ground is base building.

Where it meets DayZ is tone and place, not genre: shooting mechanics, dark, oppressive atmosphere and melee combat. To that it adds horror setting and multiplayer gameplay. They part company on genre: this one brings single-player focus.

What carries over from DayZ is shooting mechanics, dark, oppressive atmosphere and ranged combat. Both also lean on horror setting and co-op play. The distance is in progression and genre — its own ground is skill tree progression and 3D presentation.

On paper it is what DayZ is — melee combat, post-apocalyptic world and multiplayer gameplay — though the resemblance is mostly at that level. The distance is in combat and setting — its own ground is an early-access release.

It meets DayZ on shooting mechanics, a sandbox world and melee combat. To that it adds post-apocalyptic world and multiplayer gameplay. They part company on progression and genre: this one brings crafting mechanics.