Are You A Survivor?
Ever wondered how you would fare in an emergency, somewhere out in the elements? Well, luckily the gaming world has provided us with plenty of chances to find out! Survival games push players to make tough decisions while managing resources and staying alive against all odds. These 20 titles represent the ultimate test of your skills.
1. Minecraft
Released in 2011, Minecraft enhanced gaming with its procedurally generated worlds and survival mechanics. Players must gather resources, craft tools, and build shelters to survive hostile mobs that emerge at night. As sales exceed 300 million, it remains the most commercially successful video game to this day.
2. Rust
The unforgiving wilderness of Rust pits participants against each other in a brutal fight for resources. Endurance hinges on securing food, water, and shelter while defending against raiders. Originally launched in Early Access in 2013, this multiplayer sensation forces everyone to start with just a rock and torch.
Rust - New Player Guide (First Day Walkthrough) by MFPallytime
3. Valheim
Iron Gate Studio's Norse mythology-inspired game took Steam by storm in 2021. Competitors enter a procedural world as fallen warriors sent to Valheim by Odin himself. What makes this Viking adventure unique is its forgiving yet challenging approach to survival mechanics, focusing on exploration and building.
NEW! Open-world VIKING SURVIVAL Game - Valheim 2021 Gameplay - Ep. 1 by paulsoaresjr
4. Subnautica
This alien underwater world of planet 4546B creates an amazing survival experience. Unknown Worlds Entertainment crafted the game around the constant tension of managing oxygen supplies while exploring deeper ocean biomes. Since its 2018 release, players have been thrilled by Subnautica's balanced blend of wonder and terror.
Let's Play Subnautica - Episode 1 - Gameplay / Impressions by Splattercatgaming
5. No Man's Sky
Spanning 18 quintillion procedurally generated planets, No Man's Sky challenges folks to gather resources across diverse environments. This occurs while managing life support systems. The game’s redemption story, going from a disappointing 2016 launch to a beloved title through several updates, renders it special.
No Man's Sky is INCREDIBLE in 2024 by Tomographic
6. Ark: Survival Evolved
Taming and riding dinosaurs sets Ark apart in the crowded survival genre. Studio Wildcard's prehistoric playground launched in 2017 after a lengthy early access period. Players wash up on mysterious islands populated by over 176 different creatures that can be hunted, tamed, or feared.
ARK: Survival Evolved - Noob Meets Pro! - EP.01 by Keralis
7. Sons Of The Forest
Fear permeates every aspect of this horror experience. While playing, individuals must craft, build, and fight to stay alive after crash-landing on a remote peninsula inhabited by cannibalistic mutants. The game's advanced AI companion system allows everyone to form emotional bonds with NPCs who defend camps.
Sons of The Forest is Absolutely Insane...by jackfrags
8. DayZ
DayZ's unforgiving permadeath system means one mistake can erase weeks of careful scavenging across its 225 km² post-Soviet scenario. The game pioneered player interaction mechanics where trust is rare and betrayal is common. This has created intense psychological experiences alongside zombie-fighting action since 2018.
This Is DayZ - This Is Your Story by DayZ
9. Palworld
Often described as "Pokémon with guns," this 2024 sensation from Pocketpair combines creature collection with survival crafting. The controversial but wildly successful game lets competitors capture over 100 "Pals" that can be companions, workers, or food sources. Within just three weeks of release, Palworld sold around 15 million copies.
Palworld Gameplay Walkthrough Part 1 - POKEMON SURVIVAL GAME !!! by GameRiot
10. Stranded Deep
In this immersive survival adventure, you survive a plane crash and find yourself lost alone in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. To make it out alive, you’ll explore nearby islands, collect whatever you can find, craft tools, build shelter, and fight off threats like sharks, storms, and hunger.
Surviving in the Open Ocean - Stranded Deep by MrNix
11. 7 Days To Die
Every seventh day, hordes of undead swarm your base in this tower defense. The Pimps studio paired voxel-based building mechanics with realistic physics, allowing for structural collapses if support beams are destroyed. Despite remaining in alpha since 2013, the game has sold over 12 million copies.
7 Days to Die - 1.0 Gameplay Trailer by TheFunPimps
12. Grounded
Being shrunk to the size of an ant turns an ordinary backyard into a perilous wilderness. It brings Honey, I Shrunk the Kids vibes with microscopic individuals facing massive insects. The game gained fame for its "arachnophobia mode," which permits gamers to adjust how its eight-legged predators appear.
Grounded | GamePlay PC by Game channel MAZAVS
13. State Of Decay 2
Managing a community of survivors distinguishes this zombie apocalypse simulator from Undead Labs. Each character has distinct traits, skills, and personalities that affect your settlement's success. Since its 2018 launch, the game has received substantial updates, including the Juggernaut Edition in 2020, which added a new open-world map.
How State of Decay 2 Changes the Formula - YouTube Live at E3 by Inside Gaming
14. Don't Starve
Klei Entertainment developed a world where light is safe, and darkness brings instant demise. The 2013 indie hit challenges players with permanent death and procedurally generated worlds filled with bizarre creatures. Plus, there are seasons that dramatically alter gameplay and a sanity meter that causes hallucinations when depleted.
Don't Starve Gameplay and Core Mechanics by Jeremy Hill
15. Terraria
"Dig, fight, explore, build!" became the rallying cry for millions of Terraria fans worldwide. Often compared to Minecraft, this piece delivers extraordinary depth with over 5,000 unique items to discover. Since its 2011 release and numerous major updates, people have defeated 38 different bosses.
Terraria| Ep 1| Trapped in a Cave with a Zombie (Co-Op Gameplay) by Wolfenout Gaming
16. The Long Dark
Hypothermia, wolves, and starvation threaten people here. Hinterland Studio rejected zombies and supernatural elements for a pure survival feel against nature itself. The award-winning game has a compelling episodic story mode with a sandbox survival mode where folks have survived for 10 real-world years.
The Long Dark - Let's Play Part 1: Crash by FightinCowboy
17. Green Hell
In Green Hell, Psychological horror meets jungle survival in the Amazon rainforest. Players battle parasites, infections, and their deteriorating sanity. It is one of gaming's most detailed injury systems, requiring proper diagnosis and treatment of specific wounds and ailments. A tribal storyline explores indigenous cultures.
20 Minutes of Green Hell Gameplay with Developer Commentary by IGN
18. Project Zomboid
"This is how you died," warns the opening screen of Indie Stone's hyper-realistic zombie apocalypse simulator. Since entering Early Access in 2013, this isometric piece’s meticulous attention to detail includes complex systems for depression, boredom, nutrition, and illness. A single zombie bite means certain death.
Project Zomboid (2021) - Post Apocalyptic Zombie Survival Sandbox by Splattercatgaming
19. Raft
Redbeet Interactive's 2022 title began as a student project before evolving into a full commercial release. The constant threat of a circling shark named Bruce forces participants to form creative resource-gathering techniques. They can expand their floating home and explore mysterious islands.
I Spent 100 Days in Raft... Here's What Happened! [Full Playthrough] by Crowmeda
20. The Wild Eight
Cooperative survival distinguishes this Alaskan wilderness feel, where eight plane crash survivors must work together. It features a mysterious plot involving secret research facilities hidden beneath the snow. The stylized low-poly art design contrasts with brutal survival mechanics. Here, temperature management is paramount.
