The best desert games

4 hours ago, by Enzo

Although they’re not often featured in video games, deserts are as fascinating as they are unsettling. It must be said that the term is quite broad. From endless dunes and forgotten ruins to sandstorms and even survivors battling a hostile environment, these arid expanses offer developers a unique playground. Without further ado, here is our selection of the best video games, inviting us to face the heat, the sand, and the mysteries of desert lands.

Without a doubt, the first game we’ll discuss is Assassin’s Creed Origins, which takes place in the heart of ancient Egypt. The dunes hide tombs, oases, and numerous secrets to discover as you explore. The game perfectly captures the sense of vastness and isolation that these vast desert expanses provide.

Inspired by the post-apocalyptic world of the famous film franchise, Mad Max plunges players into a ravaged desert where gasoline is worth more than gold. Vehicle combat, brutal confrontations, and exploration of the desolate lands create a unique atmosphere. The action takes place in a devastated version of Dubai in Spec Ops: The Line, buried under the dunes after catastrophic sandstorms. Here, the desert becomes a symbol of destruction and plays a key role in the story’s dark atmosphere.

Atlas Fallen: Reign of Sand is an experience well worth checking out. Despite a somewhat rocky launch, the game now offers a highly enjoyable experience, especially in co-op mode. Players can race across the dunes at high speeds and manipulate the desert using supernatural powers, all while hunting monsters that drop unique loot when defeated. Customizing your build, dismembering enemies, and solving puzzles across each of the game’s maps are all part of the fun.

For something a bit more laid-back, check out My Time at Sandrock. Set in a community built in the heart of a desert region, My Time at Sandrock blends crafting, management, and exploration. Players help revitalize an isolated town facing the challenges of an arid environment. Meanwhile, Journey offers a contemplative adventure that transforms endless dunes into a poetic and emotional journey toward a distant mountain.

Finally, for a change of pace, Dakar Desert Rally recreates the famous rally races across some of the world’s most demanding deserts, while Conan Exiles Enhanced plunges players into a vast desert inspired by the world of Conan the Barbarian. Between survival, base-building, and exploration, you must face the heat, hostile wildlife, and sandstorms to hope to survive.

Whether realistic, fantastical, or post-apocalyptic, deserts provide particularly rich settings for video games. Their vastness encourages exploration, while their harshness often heightens the stakes of survival or adventure. One thing is certain: some of the greatest video games are in the middle of nowhere. Stay tuned for our second installment of the best games set in the desert!