The Pacific Northwest is one of the most beautiful areas in the world and can produce some scenic settings you won’t find anywhere else. This naturally makes it a great spot to set up a video game, with gorgeous vistas and scenery to work with. However, there has been a surprisingly limited number of games to choose from for some reason.
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Still, some designers have tried to portray the area, usually in their apocalyptic games. People seem to think when the end of the world comes, everybody will end up in the Pacific Northwest, killing zombies and enjoying the greenery.
10State Of Decay Series
Microsoft’s State of Decay series is a zombie apocalypse survival game set in the fictional Trumball Valley in Washington State. It is said to be based on Mt. Rainier National Park and even includes areas that resemble Yakima Valley farmland. The setting does well with State of Decay’s open-world mechanics, and critics thoughtthe game’s loreand mixture of action and base simulation made it one of the better games of 2013. State of Decay 2 was also set in Trumball Valley.
9Deadlight
Deadlight was an atmospheric 2D sidescroller set in 1980s Seattle that has suffered from a zombie apocalypse. The art style of this game is beautifully depressing and artistic, and developer Tequila Works received praise for their work.
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Canadian park rangers heard Seattle had the last “Safe Point” in the Pacific Northwest, and you move them through a devastated city. While zombie games are done ten times over in video games, this one still stands out, and its setting plays a big part.
8Infamous Second Son
Sucker Punch used Seattle as the backdrop for their open-world action-adventure gameInfamousSecond Son since they were based out of the city. You play as Delsin Rowe and gain superpowers during the game. Using these powers, you can decide if you want to be good or evil on the streets of Seattle. Native American themes were also explored, including tribal members in the game. Considering you get to climb the actual Space Needle, this might be the most Seattle-ly of Seattle video games out there.
7Life Is Strange
Developers Don’t Nod Entertainment did field research on the setting ofLife Is Strange, set in Arcadia Bay, Oregon. While Arcadia Bay is fictional, it could stand in for other seaside towns along the Oregon Coast. Life Is Strange was well-received for its episodic adventure gameplay. You play as Max Caulfield, who can rewind time and prevent ends from happening – including the destruction of Arcadia Bay from a storm.
6Days Gone
Bend Studio’sDays Goneputs you in post-zombie apocalypse Oregon, where you must survive zombie-like Freakers. You play as Deacon St. John and can explore the Pacific Northwest surroundings on your motorcycle while encountering settlement camps.
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The studio decided to set the game in the open world in Central Oregon because it has terrain that ranges from snowy peaks to barren deserts. The highlight of this game was defeating a horde of Freakers, which could be terrifying set against the backdrop of the Pacific Northwest.
5Fallout 2
While this is a point of contention forFalloutfans, Fallout 2 could be set in both Oregon and Northern California. The town of Kalamath depicted in Fallout 2 is based on Klamath Falls, which is located in southern Oregon. Some people say the game map of a 1998 video game doesn’t add up, while others don’t care the developers didn’t do a pixel-for-pixel recreation of the West Coast. Those in the Pacific Northwest can hold onto the idea that your region was depicted in the Fallout universe.
4Far Cry 5
Ubisoft’sFar Cry 5is set in Western Montana,where a doomsday culthas taken over a county. You play as a sheriff’s deputy tasked with detaining church leader Joseph Seed. For many people living in the inland areas of the Pacific Northwest, Far Cry 5 felt pretty spot on when recreating a rural open-world environment.
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Ubisoft held off on bringing the apocalypse to the Pacific Northwest - until the game’s final act. Boy, people really love having the end of the world in this region.
3Backbone
Backbone doesn’t do a zombie apocalypse but does create a noir-style Vancouver in British Columbia – populated with animals. You play as a raccoon private detective – because who wouldn’t want to do that – who tries to solve mysteries around the city. The pixel art harkens back to old adventure games but uses the Unreal Engine to great effect, creating wonderful Vancouver environments.
2The Last Of Us Part 2
In this zombie apocalypse classic,The Last of Us Part 2uses Seattle as a key part of the game. Seattle was once a quarantine zone, but the Federal Disaster Relief Agency was rebelled against by the Washington Liberation Front. Once your show up in the game, a large part of the city has been left to the infected. The Seattle Seahawks' Lumen Field is the headquarters for the Washington Liberation Front and one of the game’s striking visuals. There aredetails scattered aroundthe city, making this city feel undoubtedly genuine.
1Oregon Trail
For kids in the Pacific Northwest, The Oregon Trail wasn’t just a game that included our region; it was used to teach the history of the Pacific Northwest. The Oregon Trail is an all-time classic with iconic gaming moments like fording a river and going hunting. While many people died in the game – so much so we could probably consider this another Pacific Northwest zombie game – its depth of gameplay and educational intent to show what pioneer life was like is a milestone in the video game industry. Every Apple Computer at school had this game, so perhaps the Pacific Northwest is more noticed in video games than we might think since nearly everyone has played this game andmade memes about it.
