6 Survival Games That Have Great Combat

The survival genre has continued growing and changing over the last decade, as the popularity of open-world games allowed it to expand in scope. Standing apart from lots of other games in many aspects and mechanics, one thing that is vastly different across the genre is the way that combat works and is approached.

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By  Chris Birsner

In even the best survival games, the focus is generally on exploring large worlds and grinding for different materials, with combat often being something of an afterthought. Many survival games don’t even feature true combat mechanics. However, some of them put a great focus on this element and surprise players by making the combat a pivotal and highly enjoyable part of the game.

6 Valheim

An Early Access Hit With Dark Souls-Esque Combat

Valheim is an incredibly promising Early Access release, set in a world where Vikings are sent to prove themselves worthy of Valhalla by defeating the powerful enemies of Odin. Players begin with nothing and must grind for equipment while preparing to fight several brutally difficult bosses. It will take a lot of practise to do so, as the combat has been compared to that of the Dark Souls games.

There are a vast number of types of enemies in Valheim. Players need to learn how each one fights and the best type of weapon to use against them, if they plan to survive any length of time at all. Of course, the most important thing to do is learn the timing for parrying. That way, players will have a much better chance of taking down the many creatures and moving up in the world of Valheim quickly. From this very solid Early Access base, Valheim's combat may become even more nuanced and technical.

5 Project Zomboid

A Keen Aim And The Ability To Weigh Up The Size And Danger Of An Enemy Grouping Is Critical

There are a lot of survival games that focus on players trying to stay alive in a world infested with zombie hordes. In such titles, combat will typically become an integral part of the experience from the get-go. Of all such games, Project Zomboid delivers some of the best mechanics and systems for combat, making it a fair but challenging fight to survive against zombies.

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By  Sam Carrick

It’s easy in survival games to focus only on building bases and gathering resources, but not learning the combat systems early on in Project Zomboid is a serious mistake. Charging swings, learning to aim with every shot, and ensuring you don't take on more than one or two zombies at a time are all key elements of survival in the combat situations that arise. Whether players want to be brave and fight or avoid confrontation at all costs, they need preparation and a lot of skill to prevail against the ferocious enemies they’ll encounter.

4 Conan Exiles

An Engaging And Mechanically Deep Combat Experience

A survival sword and sorcery game that has changed a lot over the years with various updates, Conan Exiles has reached quite an impressive state. Set in the world of Conan the Barbarian, the game begins brutally, as players take the role of a warrior who is saved from a horrible death by Conan himself. Despite that, players will quickly find that surviving in the harsh landscapes of Conan Exiles is no easy task.

Combat is a huge part of the game, as there are a lot of enemies to be faced in single-player and even more in online play. What’s more, a huge update in December 2023 changed combat a lot, making locking onto enemies more difficult and yet vital. Combos also became a lot harder to maintain, which results in a new challenge for existing players and beginners alike. All in all, the title represents a big departure from the combat of other survival games, which often try to keep such mechanics simple.

3 Minecraft

There's Considerable Nuance To The Basics Of Battle

Minecraft has become perhaps the biggest game in the world, and has managed to retain an impressive amount of popularity for a long time now (inspiring a wide range of imitators in the process). How? Largely because it has something for everyone. This includes the combat, which is rather better balanced for the PvE side over PvP but is good fun and easy to learn.

Some players find it difficult to break into the world of survival games, since many of them are unforgiving in their realism. However, Minecraft' s combat is simple to understand yet can be challenging to master. Things like using the shield and weapon back and forth, learning how to aim with a bow and trying to time swings correctly with swords are elements that help create the ultimate learning experience. It’s also a big part of the game, as players have to really get the hang of combat before attempting to beat the formidable Wither or Ender Dragon.

2 Grounded

A Slower, More Methodical Approach To Combat Than You May Have Expected

Everyone who has seen a certain classic movie about shrinking children has dreamed of whether they’d survive being shrunk down in their own yard. Being forced to take on ants and spiders as you try to figure out how to stay alive in this tricky new world has a surprising appeal to it. Grounded puts players in that exact position, and the combat boasts a challenging but worthy learning curve: Most fights with (relatively) huge bugs end up becoming elongated battles of attrition.

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By  Andrew McLarney

Instead of wantonly mowing down enemies in action game style, Grounded gives players a realistic challenge. Even veteran players are recommended to practice the combat style on earlier enemies for a while when getting to grips with Grounded, and paying attention to the attack patterns of the enemy creatures will pay off in a huge way in this backyard adventure.

1 Sons Of The Forest

A Combat Experience That Relies On Careful Management Of Your Stamina

Though it is still in Early Access at the time of writing, Sons of the Forest has already gained a quick footing as one of the very best survival games for combat yet. The Forest was a challenging game, especially in single-player, and that’s only continued with the sequel. Players control a private military contractor sent to an island by a company searching for their CEO and his family, finding only death as a huge number of vicious foes inhabit the island.

Combat is varied, with a wide selection of weaponry and with a lot of different types of enemies to contend with. The big issue is that players need to get to grips with the AI early. It's important to try to avoid chasing weaker foes. Players only have so much stamina and enemies can take advantage of this, so learning how to use ranged weapons early is key. More powerful weaponry needs to be saved for more formidable targets, while players need to slowly gather resources and build bases to avoid being trapped out in the wilderness at the mercy of many enemies at once. Picking your battles and selecting the right tools for those battles is key.