Skip to main content

‘The Bunker’ explores one man’s isolated life after a nuclear apocalypse

The Bunker - Gameplay Trailer
The nuclear apocalypse has been covered in countless video games and films, with perhaps the most famous example being the mutant-filled world of the Fallout series. But while Bethesda’s take on the end of the world is filled with danger and mystery, it largely ignores one aspect that will almost certainly play a role in the (hopefully not) inevitable doomsday: loneliness.

The Bunker, a live-action game from Splendy Games and Wales Interactive, follows a thirty-year-old man named John (played by The Hobbit‘s Adam Brown), who is the last survivor of a nuclear bunker three decades after England was destroyed. Gameplay initially consists of John’s mundane daily routine, including taking his medication and opening cans of rations, but he eventually discovers “terrifying mysteries held underground.” Curiously, it doesn’t appear to be set in the future, but is rather an alternate history; dates on a computer terminal point to the nuclear event taking place as early as the 1980s.

Described by the developers as a psychological horror game, don’t expect to see over-the-top monsters in The Bunker. It’s 100-percent live-action and was filmed on location in England at a genuine nuclear bunker — decommissioned, of course.  Its writing team includes veterans of The Witcher and Soma, which has us very optimistic for the script’s quality.

The first gameplay trailer, seen above, doesn’t make it clear whether John will actually encounter any survivors as an adult, but it includes flashbacks to his time growing up in the nuclear bunker. These scenes include appearances from Penny Dreadful‘s Sarah Greene, Game of Thrones‘ Grahame Fox, and the Star Wars prequels’ Jerome St. John Blake. The actor Splendy cast to play Brown as a child is spot-on, as well.

The Bunker arrives to PC, Mac, and consoles in September, with a mobile release to follow. Splendy’s other project, Camera 6, is also a horror game, though it’s “find the killer” approach seems more in line with classic slasher homages like Until Dawn.

Gabe Gurwin
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Gabe Gurwin has been playing games since 1997, beginning with the N64 and the Super Nintendo. He began his journalism career…
These are the 10 best gaming PCs I’d recommend to anyone
Graphics card in the CLX Hathor PC.

We review dozens of gaming PCs each year. In 2024, there are a ton of great options, but we've narrowed them down to a list of the 10 best gaming desktops that deserve your hard-earned money.

In 2024, we still recommend the Alienware Aurora R16 because of its fantastic design, solid performance, and decent value. However, there are several other options depending on your needs and budget. If you want a deeper look into how we evaluate gaming PCs, make sure to read about how we review desktops.

Read more
Samsung’s crazy 57-inch curved 4K monitor is $700 off today
The Samsung Odyssey Neo G9 57-inch mini-LED gaming monitor placed on a desk.

Your investment in gaming PC deals will  go to waste if you don't upgrade your screen, and if you're willing to splurge for the best possible gaming experience, you'll want to go for the 57-inch Samsung Odyssey Neo G9 curved gaming monitor. It's pretty expensive at its original price of $2,500, so you're going to want to take advantage of any discounts that are available. Fortunately, Samsung has slashed its price by $700 so it's down to $1,800 -- it's still not cheap, but once you're playing your favorite games on this monitor, you'll quickly understand why it's worth every single penny.

Why you should buy the 57-inch Samsung Odyssey Neo G9 curved gaming monitor
The Samsung Odyssey Neo G9 curved gaming monitor features a 57-inch screen with dual 4K Ultra HD resolution and a 1000R curvature, so it will fully immerse you in the worlds of the video games that you play with its lifelike details and vivid colors. It also supports HDR 1000 for better visual accuracy, and it uses Quantum Matrix technology for controlled brightness and improved contrast.

Read more
Nintendo Switch 2: release date rumors, features we want, and more
Prime Day Nintendo Switch Deals

Rumors of a Nintendo Switch 2 (or Switch Pro) have been circulating for years. Whispers of the next-gen Nintendo console first started when The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom was initially teased in 2019, gained steam when the Switch OLED launched in 2021, and are increasing now that the standard Switch has been out for six years.

There's no doubt that the Nintendo Switch is a fantastic console -- it has a unique and impressive game library (with more upcoming games slated for this year), the number of features included with Nintendo Switch Online is constantly improving, and it's still our favorite portable console -- but it isn't without its flaws. There's enough room for improvement to warrant an entirely new console in the near future. Nintendo recently announced that we wouldn't see a Switch upgrade in the next fiscal year, meaning the absolute earliest we get a look at a new Nintendo console would be in late 2024.

Read more