Survival games have grown reasonably popular in recent years, even if the genre will likely always be somewhat niche. These projects came in many shapes, sizes, and tones too, ranging from cartoonish grind-fest like Dysmantle to hellish open-world projects such as The Long Dark. Basically, there should be a survival game for just about anyone, and the genre's mechanics even occasionally show up in non-representative titles like Breath of the Wild and Days Gone.
Indie releases, triple-A offerings, and some truly unique titles have made their way to the survival genre, offering players who want to challenge themselves against a harsh world a place to flex their muscles. When it comes to the best survival games, there are more than a few candidates.
Updated January 22, 2024 by Mark Sammut: Palworld is currently taking the world by storm, delivering an open-world with survival, crafting, shooter, and monster-collecting elements. While still too early to declare it among the greatest survival games of all time, Pocketpair's project might get there in due time.
19 Raft
Steam User Rating: 93%
Raft
Those looking for something a little different should definitely consider loading up Raft. This survival release pits players against the islands, forcing them to begin their journey adrift at sea. When things start, players will find themselves fighting for survival with a Raft, which they can then use to help them navigate to nearby islands.
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While an explorative release, Raft is still very much a survival game as players will need to outmaneuver man-eating sharks in their quest to survive. The best part is that Raft can be enjoyed solo or with a friend in an enthralling cooperative mode.
18 This War Of Mine
Metascore: 83
This War of Mine
- Released
- November 14, 2014
- Developer(s)
- 11 Bit Studios
- Platform(s)
- Android, iOS, Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
- Genre(s)
- Survival
War games are a dime-a-dozen, but This War of Mine is one of a kind. Unlike so many entries in the genre, this project focuses on civilians caught in the middle of a conflict rather than soldiers on the front lines. Players are handed a few survivors to manage, all of whom come with unique traits that can be beneficial or detrimental in this highly stressful situation. During the day, the survivors spend their time in a base, fortifying everything to increase their odds of seeing another sunrise. At night, they head out in search of supplies, an endeavor that obviously comes with plenty of danger.
Replayable, exhausting, or realistic, This War of Mine regularly forces players to make choices with obviously steep consequences, and sacrificing one person to protect the group can become a viable option. The gameplay is not overly complex, but it has enough depth and freedom to remain interesting for multiple playthroughs. New players should pick up The Final Cut version (or the Complete Edition) as it includes the Little Ones DLC, which adds a new harrowing element by introducing a child.
17 Grounded
Metascore: 83
Grounded
- Released
- September 27, 2022
- Developer(s)
- Obsidian Entertainment
- Platform(s)
- Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5
- Genre(s)
- Survival Horror, RPG
Grounded is one of the most unique survival titles of the last couple of years. This Honey, I Shrunk the Kids style adventure drops players into a suburban backyard. There's nothing particularly scary about being in a backyard, unless, players find themselves shrunk down to microscopic size.
This twist has gamers trying to survive against massive ants, spiders, and other dangers as they attempt to build bases and survive in a landscape that isn't threatening at all to someone who's "normal size." Grounded is a lot of fun solos, but one of its strongest selling points is that it can be enjoyed with other players online.
16 Green Hell
Metascore: 81
Green Hell
- Released
- September 5, 2019
- Developer(s)
- Creepy Jar
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
Green Hell tends to be compared to The Forest since they are both survival games set in similar locations, with the former opting for the Amazon Jungle. Out of the two titles, Green Hell arguably leans more into its survival mechanics over things like combat, which gives it a slight edge in this discussion. Set in a dense world, this 2019 release does a great job of immersing players in a beautiful but consistently dangerous area, and exploration is a central part of the campaign. Along with a survival mode, Green Hell comes with a fairly lengthy story that has some emotional weight to it.
In terms of survival elements, Green Hell has all the basics one might expect from the genre. Players have access to a watch that monitors their vitals, and they will need to go out hunting to find food and resources for crafting. The latter is one of the game's highlights.
15 Pathologic
Metascore: 76 (Classic HD Version)
Pathologic
While certainly drenched in horror imagery, Pathologic is primarily a survival game, and it is among the genre's hardest entries. Released in 2005 and available in the form of a Classic HD version, this Russian project sends players to an isolated village that becomes infested with a disease that quickly begins to ravage the population. As one of three characters, players have only 12 days to figure out the cause behind the illness, and survival is far from guaranteed.
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Besides having a core story that is literally about survival, Pathologic also has plenty of mechanics that are synonymous with the genre, including stuff like hunger and exhaustion. However, earning the things needed to remain breathing is painfully difficult, especially since stuff like money and food are extremely hard to come by. Players will be constantly making decisions that, more often than not, require sacrifices in one area. Beyond the core mechanics, Pathologic also builds a tense and unforgiving atmosphere through its unsettling and unpredictable NPCs.
14 Dying Light
Metascore: 75
Dying Light
- Released
- January 27, 2015
- Developer(s)
- Techland
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC
- Genre(s)
- Open-World, Survival Horror
Many survival games feature subtle side-tracked storylines that can be completed at the player's leisure. Dying Light is very much the same, but it has a much wider and deeper story than most survival releases. Players are free to explore the open-world and collect supplies and weapons as they see fit, completing the array of side quests that can be found littered throughout the expansive cityscape.
Yet, when players want to engross themselves in the storyline, they will find a wonderfully executed tale of struggle and hardship during a post-apocalyptic zombie outbreak.
13 State Of Decay
Metascore: 79
State of Decay
Zombies seem to be the subject of a lot of survival games, which is fine since most people seem to enjoy the thrill of escaping ravenous hordes of the undead. There is something quite electric about being surrounded by so much danger, and State of Decay puts players in the driver's seat when it comes to post-apocalyptic planning and survival.
The title is a mixture of traditional scavenging and world-building, where survivors will need to establish a base and keep as many survivors safe as they can. After all, there's strength in numbers. State of Decay 2 builds on its predecessor well and is another fun survival option.
12 ARK: Survival Evolved
Metascore: 70
ARK: Survival Evolved
In ARK: Survival Evolved, players start their adventure with absolutely nothing, and they will need to quite literally punch trees and craft the bare necessities just to make it through the night. Those who can quickly establish a base and craft weapons to defend themselves will find a world teeming with possibilities and dinosaurs.
That's right, ARK lets players hunt and tame dinosaurs, which they can then turn into their own personal pack mules. ARK is also unique in the sense that players will go from a primitive tool to a full-blown armored gun-wielding T-rex-rider throughout their adventure.
Ark: Survival Ascended gives the base game an Unreal Engine 5 makeover, and it is currently in early access on Steam.
11 Project Zomboid
Steam User Rating: 94%
Project Zomboid
- Released
- November 8, 2013
- Developer(s)
- The Indie Stone
- Platform(s)
- PC
- Genre(s)
- Survival Horror
If a game spends years in early access, that is typically not a great sign since it could suggest a full release will never happen; however, Project Zomboid defies expectations. Not only has the game managed to remain popular since arriving on Steam in 2013, but The Indie Stone has also been relatively consistent in terms of updates. While not "complete," the current version has a lot of content and a gameplay loop that can keep someone engaged indefinitely. Visually, the title shows off its indie roots, which is not a criticism but just a note that new players should not go in expecting a presentation that matches big-budget AAA or even AA projects. That said, the graphical style has charm while allowing huge hordes of zombies to flood the screen; more importantly, the survival game does not require a high-end PC to run well.
Project Zomboid brings to life a post-apocalyptic world set in the '90s, and players are largely left to their own devices as they try to survive in a world that very much wants them dead. Realism is a big part of the package, and that extends to the survival mechanics as players also have to deal with stuff like boredom alongside typical meters such as hunger. The package also comes with a few different modes that tweak the experience to provide something that feels fresh if someone wants a change of pace from the traditional loop.
10 Frostpunk
Metascore: 87
Frostpunk
- Released
- April 24, 2018
- Developer(s)
- 11 Bit Studios
- Platform(s)
- PC, Xbox One, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5
- Genre(s)
- City Builder, Survival
Some survival games are much more "realistic" than others. Many of the genre's titles feature mechanics that players must follow in order to "survive," but a few of them are skewed or simply non-existent. The hunger meter is annoying for some in Minecraft, but it won't outright kill the player. That's what makes games like Frostpunk such an engrossing and difficult experience. The survival aspects in this top-down strategy survival game aren't there as "side mechanics," they actually matter.
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Those who can't correctly allocate their food storage, fuel supplies, and other assorted materials will find themselves with a dying population bent on civil war. Frostpunk isn't just about surviving, it's about ensuring EVERYONE survives, and that can be an incredibly difficult task. Players won't just need to collect supplies in this game, they'll also have to answer tough questions and make hard decisions to make it out alive.