The player starts out as a character named Marcus. A store clerk who is an athlete and loves to hike; he is also a born leader. Returning from a hunting trip, he finds the world has gone to hell. As the game is an open world, the story progresses based on whether the player is focused on the story or simply surviving. Progressing the story will periodically trigger world changing events which will make the world more difficult to survive in. Securing clean water will also play a large part in the story line. less