Chances are Metropius isn’t the first dieselpunk world you’ve been exposed to. Here are some other examples from the gaming world—though their creators may not have intended them to be so and the debate can get lively once you start pigeonholing things!
Bioshock: This enigmatic and mind-bending videogame trilogy is a must-play. Featuring frenetic gameplay and art more deliciously rich than tub of creme brulee, the dystopian shooter has been ported over to pretty much every gaming platform. So no excuses.
Children of the Sun: Created in 2002, this boardgame is a little hard to find now, but was an early adopter of the term dieselpunk. Set in a “world of grit, oil, dust, and mud, the scars of war weep bitter bile.” Count us in.
Scythe: Still on the boardgame tip—though a videogame version now exists—Scythe is an elaborate game set in an alternate 1920s history, “a time of farming and war, broken hearts and rusted gears, innovation and valor”. Whether you like boardgames—and this one is rather complicated—Scythe is worth checking out just for the beautiful illustration and figurines.
Mad Max: To paraphrase Wu Tang Clan, “Diesel rules everything around me, D.R.E.A.M. get the diesel.” Like Metropius, Mad Max was created in Australia. It’s fair to say we are drawn to the gritty and dystopian down under. Not sure why?
Wolfenstein: One of the longest running videogame series’ out there—the first one was created in 1981—Wolfenstein has increasingly embraced dieselpunk in its recent incarnations (or more appropriately, incarcerations). Exploring an alternative history where the Nazi’s won was always going to get mucky.
Who have we missed? And what’s your favourite?
I disagree with Mad Max: it has none of the aesthetics of the 1920s-1950s that you mention elsewhere as a defining factor. Definitely nothing Art Deco. Otherwise, spot on. I would add a couple of other titles to your list though: Terry Gilliam's Brazil and Tim Burton's Batman. (And probably also the Indiana Jones series.)