Post-Apocalyptic

The post-apocalyptic genre depicts a world in the aftermath of a terrible disaster that has ended civilization as we know it. Whether nuclear war, pandemic, climate catastrophe, alien invasion, or zombie outbreak, the apocalypse has arrived, and now it's all humanity can do to survive and try to pick up the pieces. Post-apocalyptic media is defined by scarcity, survival, harsh conditions, conflict with external natural or unnatural apocalyptic forces, other survivors, and the struggle against despair. While many post-apocalyptic narratives are bleak explorations of the breakdown of society, some also contain an undercurrent of hope, that the human spirit can overcome even great tragedy. Post-apocalypses are among the most popular setting for tabletop roleplaying games. While most folks think of Mad Max-style wastelands and zombie apocalypses, even modern fantasy is descended from a post-apocalyptic tradition, whether the successors of a fallen ancient civilization or even a far-future earth serves as its setting. Hardened survivalists, scavengers, and adventurers braving a world of scarcity, raiders, wilderness, and maybe even monsters is ripe fodder for roleplaying games. It can also be a subgenre of another type of game, bringing in the elements of fantasy, sci-fi, horror, and more into the grim future of humanity's fallen legacy.