The city that once felt like home is now a trap. War, plague, apocalypse…
No matter the reason, one thing is certain: you have to get out. Sometimes it’s not about where you’re headed — but whether you’ll survive the journey at all.
Games, where escaping the city isn’t just a prologue scene, but the core of the experience, can hit hard. Tension, helplessness, fleeting hope — these stories can stir up intense emotions.If you’re drawn to tales of desperation and raw willpower, this list is for you. Here are some unforgettable games where you can escape the city.
Selection Criteria For The Games
As we mentioned, the “escape the city” theme comes up a lot — in zombie games, post-apocalyptic worlds, even sci-fi thrillers. But in many cases, it’s just a mission, a chapter, or a cinematic kick-off. You fight your way through some burning streets, reach the edge… and then it’s on to something else. But what if escaping, surviving, or breaking out of an overrun city was the whole story?
That’s exactly what we set out to find: games, where escaping the city isn’t just a passing moment or an early plot twist — it’s the driving force behind the entire experience. These are titles that throw you into worlds that feel truly hostile, where the danger never fades into the background and tension clings to every step.
The odds are stacked against you, resources are painfully limited, and even the smallest decisions can mean the difference between life and death. In these games, safety isn’t just difficult to find — it’s almost mythical.
Games Where You Can Escape The City
Some of these stories are deeply personal, focusing on one character’s desperate struggle to survive and find a way out. Others raise the stakes even higher, putting the fate of families, entire communities, or even the future of humanity on your shoulders.
This War of Mine
Release Date: November 14, 2014
Genres: Simulator, Strategy, Adventure, Indie
Project Zomboid
Release Date: November 08, 2013
Genres: Role-playing (RPG), Simulator, Indie
Dying Light
Release Date: January 26, 2015
Genres: Shooter, Role-playing (RPG), Adventure
The Last of Us Part II
Release Date: June 19, 2020
Genres: Shooter, Adventure
Dead Island 2
Release Date: April 22, 2024
Genres: Shooter, Role-playing (RPG), Hack and slash/Beat 'em up, Adventure
Dying Light 2: Stay Human
Release Date: February 04, 2022
Genres: Shooter, Role-playing (RPG), Adventure
But no matter the scope, they share one thing in common: at the heart of each game lies the primal, relentless drive to escape — to make it out alive, against all odds.
Why Play “Escape The City” Games?
Escape-from-the-city games can be incredibly powerful — especially when developers aren’t afraid to show the weight of that choice. When the world collapses around you, there’s no time for comfort or easy paths. Every day is a fight. Every move matters.
And if, after playing these games, you feel a wave of tension — or just relief that you’re safe behind a screen — then it worked.