Today we will discuss some of our favorite survival games! From the classic Minecraft to DayZ, such games test our skills, patience, and courage. Maybe you’ll find here your next game to play? Let’s go!
Minecraft
Looking at Minecraft’s cartoony art style, we often forget that it is an excellent survival game. Survival mode boasts core mechanics such as gathering resources and building a shelter. Our characters have to watch out for plenty of Minecraft monsters, such as zombies, creepers, Endermen, and many more.
Players are given the possibility to craft pretty much everything that is required to survive. That includes the armor and weapons necessary to slay enemies on your way. As usual, we have to keep our character healthy and well-fed. Other Minecraft modes, such as adventure mode or hardcore mode, offer some variations. The latter is characterized by permadeath and the most difficult mechanics Minecraft has to offer.
Minecraft release date: November 18, 2011
Subnautica
Subnautica is not a game for those who have thalassophobia. You’ll venture to the deepest oceans of an unknown planet. Produced by Unknown Worlds Entertainment, Subnautica is an original survival game with dozens of fun mechanics.
After you crash land on an alien ocean planet, you’ll have to make yourself a new home in its depths. It’s a wonderful world with stunning fauna and flora and… danger lurking in every corner. You’ll have to not only establish your hideout but also explore the area and analyze strange structures scattered around it. The Subnautica map is a large one, with diverse ecosystems and mesmerizing views!
The game offers dozens of customization options for your underwater house. You may also build devices and mechanical suits to explore the ocean. All of that will be needed to survive in this unforgiving world: you’ll meet plenty of fantastic creatures that will either ignore your presence or… try to kill you straight away. You may use the elements of the environment to distract them or just run swim like hell. The Subnautica game boasts a new adventure, Subnautica Below Zero, that takes players to the icy region of Planet 4546B.
Subnautica release date: January 23, 2018
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Rust
Rust game is a true survival experience. You land on a shore, completely naked, equipped with a rock and a torch, and obviously a will to survive. You’ll need it since in Rust, pretty much everything tries to kill you. Fight with cold, heat, hunger, wild animals, and other survivors. The latter is going to be particularly dangerous! Since Rust is an online experience, you always have to be cautious about other players.
It doesn’t mean you can’t form alliances with them. Playing with your friends is even more fun: you can build an entire sustainable town! Or, if you are feeling like it, mercilessly raid someone else’s town. Rust gives you incredible freedom of choice in terms of activities and playstyle. Nevertheless, it is going to be a challenging experience.
Rust release date: December 11, 2013
ARK: Survival Evolved
Survival games often share a common theme: you find yourself on a remote island, clueless and without anything on you. ARK Survival offers pretty much the same, but also adds something great: dinosaurs. Yes, dinosaurs! ARK Survival Evolved is a unique combination of classic survival mechanics with original additions. Apart from gathering resources, hunting, and building, you can tame, breed, and train dinosaurs.
The game is rich in different activities we might do solo or in a group. For instance, we can start our own tribe, establish a village, and protect it from other players. It’s a fun but also challenging adventure. Thanks to the unique setting and mechanics, this is a perfect survival game, not only for those who love dinos.
In 2023, ARK will receive a sequel: ARK 2. It will come with many new features and…stars. ARK 2 trailer showed us Vin Diesel riding a majestic T-Rex!
ARK Survival Evolved: June 2, 2015
Valheim
Vikings are still popular, aren’t they? Valheim is a survival game set in a procedurally generated Viking world. Players start with nothing and must gather resources to build up their base, craft weapons and armor, and survive against hostile creatures. Similarly to other survival titles, death means you lose everything you’ve gathered. Valheim was developed by Iron Gate AB, a small Swedish indie studio .
Valheim boasts many interesting mechanics that make the game a fun experience. For instance, characters receive boosts depending on the food they have eaten. There are boss fights, sailing, exploring new lands, and a flexible building system. You may play alone or with up to 10 other players!
Valheim release date: February 2, 2021
DayZ
Developed and published by Bohemia Interactive, DayZ is a survival horror game that embodies the classic zombie theme. It’s a very interactive experience since you may communicate with other players, try to survive together, or quite the contrary. There are no checkups, so every mistake might have terrible consequences for your character.
With many interesting mechanics, including hunting, health preservation, building, and resource management, DayZ is one of the most realistic survival titles out there. The DayZ map is filled with challenges to cope with, and most importantly, zombies lurking in every corner. It’s quite huge as well, with landmarks based on real-life locations.
DayZ release date: December 16, 2013
Don’t Starve
Don’t Starve is a survival video game developed and published by Klei Entertainment. The game was released for Microsoft Windows, macOS, Linux, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One in 2013. Don’t Starve is an open-world survival game with a unique cartoon art style, somewhat resembling Tim Burton’s works.
Dont Starve is one of the most popular survival games that boasts a unique setting and original characters. Thanks to randomly generated maps, Don’t Starve never gets boring. If you want to try the game with someone else, check out Don’t Starve Together, a standalone multiplayer expansion.
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Dont Starve release date: April 23, 2013
That’s all for now! If you want to see whether this genre is for you, we believe this list of the best survival games should help you choose your first title. Have fun!
