Best 25 Indie Survival Games

Survival games have taken the gaming world by storm, offering players the chance to prove their mettle in harsh environments, and no one does it better than indie developers. This article dives into the best 25 indie survival games, offering many choices to get your heart racing and your wits tested. Get ready to dive into a world of peril and adventure with these great titles.

What are the Top 25 Indie Survival Games?

Indie Survival Games are video games developed by independent studios or individual developers, typically featuring survival gameplay mechanics. These games often focus on exploration, scavenging, and crafting to survive in hostile environments, such as post-apocalyptic worlds or isolated islands. Indie Survival Games may also include elements of horror, simulation, and role-playing games.

Our Favorite Indie Survival Games

We have compiled a list of the Best 25 Indie Survival Games that promise to offer an exciting and fantastic experience.

1. The Long Dark

· Release Date: August 1, 2017

· Platform: PC, Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch

· Camera: First-person

· Multiplayer: No

· Co-op: No

· Genre: Survival, Exploration

· Developer: Hinterland Studio

Starting our list is a game that sets the bar high for survival games. Set in a frozen, post-apocalyptic world, The Long Dark challenges players to survive against the elements and wildlife while exploring a vast and unforgiving landscape. The game's immersive atmosphere, realistic mechanics, and captivating story make it an unforgettable experience.

2. Subnautica

· Release Date: January 23, 2018

· Platform: PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch

· Camera: First-person

· Multiplayer: No

· Co-op: No

· Genre: Survival, Adventure, Exploration

· Developer: Unknown Worlds Entertainment

Subnautica is a beautifully crafted underwater adventure that has garnered a vast following. Players are tasked with surviving on an alien ocean world after their ship crashes. With stunning visuals, diverse biomes, and a gripping story, Subnautica offers a deep and engaging experience.

3. Don't Starve

· Release Date: April 23, 2013

· Platform: PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Mobile

· Camera: Top-down

· Multiplayer: Yes (Don't Starve Together)

· Co-op: Yes (Don't Starve Together)

· Genre: Survival, Adventure, Sandbox

· Developer: Klei Entertainment

Crafting, exploration, and a striking art style make Don't Starve a standout entry in the indie survival genre. In this game, you'll find yourself stranded in a mysterious wilderness and must fend off various creatures while gathering resources. In these games, you need to craft items to survive, and the combination of gothic aesthetics and challenging gameplay creates a compelling experience highly recommended for fans of the genre.

4. Green Hell

· Release Date: September 5, 2019

· Platform: PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch

· Camera: First-person

· Multiplayer: Yes

· Co-op: Yes

· Genre: Survival, Adventure

· Developer: Creepy Jar

Green Hell covers you if you want a realistic and intense survival experience. Set in the Amazon rainforest, the game tests your survival skills, focusing on mental and physical health. You'll have to navigate through dense foliage, deal with dangerous wildlife, and craft essential tools to make it out alive.

5. Oxygen Not Included

· Release Date: May 29, 2019

· Platform: PC

· Camera: Side-scrolling

· Multiplayer: No

· Co-op: No

· Genre: Survival, Simulation, Strategy

· Developer: Klei Entertainment

From the creators of Don't Starve comes a unique take on the survival genre. In Oxygen Not Included, players manage a space colony, ensuring the Survival of its inhabitants by maintaining oxygen levels, food supplies, and infrastructure. This game offers a satisfying blend of simulation, strategy, and survival elements.

6. The Forest

· Release Date: April 30, 2018

· Platform: PC, PlayStation 4

· Camera: First-person

· Multiplayer: Yes

· Co-op: Yes

· Genre: Survival, Horror

· Developer: Endnight Games

The Forest puts you in the shoes of a plane crash survivor stranded in a remote woodland where cannibalistic creatures roam. This first-person survival game offers tense and immersive gameplay focusing on crafting, base building, and exploration. Its unsettling atmosphere and impressive graphics make it a must-play for horror fans.

7. Astroneer

· Release Date: February 6, 2019

· Platform: PC, Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch

· Camera: Third-person

· Multiplayer: Yes

· Co-op: Yes

· Genre: Survival, Sandbox, Adventure

· Developer: System Era Softworks

Astroneer is an indie sandbox adventure and survival game developed by System Era Softworks. In Astroneer, players take on the role of an astronaut exploring various planets and moons to gather resources, discover valuable artifacts, and build bases. The game offers single-player and multiplayer modes, allowing players to work together to achieve their goals.

The gameplay in Astroneer revolves around resource management, crafting, and exploration. Players are equipped with the Terrain Tool, which is used to manipulate the environment and gather resources. They can craft vehicles, storage containers, and base modules, which help them survive on alien planets.

8. RimWorld

· Release Date: October 17, 2018

· Platform: PC (Windows, macOS, Linux)

· Camera: Top-down, 2D

· Multiplayer: No (officially, but mods available for multiplayer)

· Co-op: No (officially, but mods available for co-op)

· Genre: Construction and management simulation, survival

· Developer: Ludeon Studios

RimWorld is a top-down game that combines colony management and survival elements. It offers a distinctive blend of strategic gameplay and storytelling. You'll manage a group of colonists as they crash-land on a hostile planet and ensure their Survival by making tough decisions, building an operational base, and defending against various threats.

9. Frostpunk

· Release Date: April 24, 2018

· Platform: Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, macOS, Linux

· Camera: Isometric, top-down view

· Multiplayer: No

· Co-op: No

· Genre: City-building, survival, strategy

· Developer: 11-bit studios

Frostpunk is a game that combines city-building and survival mechanics, taking place in a post-apocalyptic, frozen world. Players must build and maintain a city capable of withstanding the harsh climate while making difficult moral choices to ensure their society's Survival. Its striking visuals, and engaging gameplay make it a standout title in the genre.

10. This War of Mine

· Release Date: November 14, 2014

· Platform: Microsoft Windows, macOS, Linux, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, iOS, Android

· Camera: 2D side-scrolling

· Multiplayer: No

· Co-op: No

· Genre: Survival, strategy, simulation

· Developer: 11-bit studios

This War of Mine offers a sobering and emotional take on the survival genre, placing players as civilians trying to survive in a war-torn city. You'll need to scavenge for resources, maintain your shelter, and make tough decisions that will impact the lives of your characters.

11. Raft

· Release Date: May 23, 2018 (Steam Early Access)

· Platform: Microsoft Windows

· Camera: First-person perspective

· Multiplayer: Yes

· Co-op: Yes

· Genre: Adventure, survival, crafting

· Developer: Redbeet Interactive

Raft offers a unique twist on the survival genre by placing players on a small, floating raft in the middle of the ocean. With limited resources, you'll need to catch debris, fish for food, and craft items to expand your raft and stay alive. Its innovative concept and engaging gameplay make it a must-play title.

12. Project Zomboid

· Release Date: November 8, 2013 (Steam Early Access)

· Platform: Microsoft Windows, macOS, Linux

· Camera: Isometric, top-down view

· Multiplayer: Yes

· Co-op: Yes

· Genre: Survival, open-world, role-playing, simulation

· Developer: The Indie Stone

If you're a fan of zombie survival games, Project Zomboid provides a brutal and realistic gameplay experience. Set in a post-apocalyptic world overrun by the undead, you'll have to scavenge for resources, build a base, and interact with other survivors to stay alive. Its deep mechanics, engaging gameplay, and the persistent world make it a standout in the genre.

13. 7 Days to Die

· Release Date: December 13, 2013 (Steam Early Access)

· Platform: Microsoft Windows, macOS, Linux, PlayStation 4, Xbox One

· Camera: First-person perspective, optional third-person perspective

· Multiplayer: Yes

· Co-op: Yes

· Genre: Survival, horror, open-world, crafting, building

· Developer: The Fun Pimps

7 Days to Die is another zombie survival game that blends elements of first-person shooters, survival horror, and tower defense into a unique gameplay experience. Players must gather resources, build a base, and defend themselves from hordes of zombies in a procedurally generated world. With its comprehensive crafting system and challenging gameplay, 7 Days to Die is an excellent option for genre fans.

14. Conan Exiles

· Release Date: May 8, 2018

· Platform: Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One

· Camera: Third-person perspective, optional first-person perspective

· Multiplayer: Yes

· Co-op: Yes

· Genre: Survival, open-world, action, crafting, building

· Developer: Funcom

Conan Exiles is an open-world survival game in the harsh universe of Conan the Barbarian. You'll have to gather resources, build a base, and defend yourself from hostile creatures and players in this expansive and unforgiving world. With its complex crafting system and engaging combat, Conan Exiles is a must-play for fans of the survival genre.

15. The Flame in the Flood

· Release Date: February 24, 2016

· Platform: Microsoft Windows, macOS, Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch

· Camera: Isometric, top-down view

· Multiplayer: No

· Co-op: No

· Genre: Survival, roguelike, adventure

· Developer: The Molasses Flood

The Flame in the Flood is a delightful rogue-lite survival game set in post-apocalyptic America. You'll navigate a procedurally generated river, scavenge for resources, and fend off various dangers while trying to survive the harsh elements. Its unique setting and beautiful art style make it an unforgettable experience.

16. Darkwood

· Release Date: August 17, 2017

· Platform: Microsoft Windows, macOS, Linux, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch

· Camera: Top-down view

· Multiplayer: No

· Co-op: No

· Genre: Survival, horror, adventure, roguelike

· Developer: Acid Wizard Studio

Darkwood is a survival horror game played from a top-down perspective, featuring an eerie atmosphere and challenging gameplay. Set in a mysterious, procedurally generated forest, you'll have to scavenge for resources, build a base, and fend off nightmarish creatures to survive. Its eerie visuals and tension-filled gameplay makes it a must-play for horror fans.

17. Subsistence

· Release Date: October 25, 2016 (Steam Early Access)

· Platform: Microsoft Windows

· Camera: First-person perspective

· Multiplayer: Yes

· Co-op: Yes

· Genre: Survival, crafting, building, open-world

· Developer: ColdGames

Subsistence is a first-person, open-world survival game emphasizing resource management and base building. You'll have to hunt, farm, and craft items to survive in a world filled with wildlife and other players. Realistic mechanics, impressive graphics, and the captivating gameplay make Darkwood an excellent option for enthusiasts of the genre.

18. Stranded Deep

· Release Date: January 23, 2015 (Steam Early Access), April 21, 2020 (Full Release)

· Platform: Microsoft Windows, macOS, Linux, PlayStation 4, Xbox One

· Camera: First-person perspective

· Multiplayer: No

· Co-op: No

· Genre: Survival, open-world, crafting, adventure

· Developer: Beam Team Games

Stranded Deep is an open-world survival game in the expansive and relentless Pacific Ocean. You'll have to explore islands, dive into the ocean's depths, and craft items to survive in this harsh environment. With its procedurally generated world and beautiful visuals, Stranded Deep offers an immersive and challenging survival experience.

19. The Solus Project

· Release Date: June 7, 2016

· Platform: Microsoft Windows, Xbox One, PlayStation 4, PlayStation VR

· Camera: First-person perspective

· Multiplayer: No

· Co-op: No

· Genre: Adventure, survival, science fiction

· Developer: Teotl Studios, Grip Digital

The Solus Project is a survival game played from a first-person perspective, set on an extraterrestrial planet. You'll have to explore the world, solve puzzles, and gather resources to stay alive in this mysterious and hostile environment. The game's distinctive setting, fascinating storyline, and atmospheric gameplay make it an exceptional title within the survival genre.

20. Empyrion - Galactic Survival

· Release Date: August 5, 2015 (Steam Early Access)

· Platform: Microsoft Windows

· Camera: First-person perspective, optional third-person perspective

· Multiplayer: Yes

· Co-op: Yes

· Genre: Survival, open-world, space, crafting, building

· Developer: Eleon Game Studios

Empyrion: Galactic Survival is an open-world sandbox survival game set in outer space. You'll have to gather resources, build bases, and explore planets to survive in this expansive universe. With its vast procedurally generated worlds and engaging gameplay, Empyrion offers a genuinely epic survival experience.

21. Scum

· Release Date: August 29, 2018 (Steam Early Access)

· Platform: Microsoft Windows

· Camera: Third-person perspective, optional first-person perspective

· Multiplayer: Yes

· Co-op: Yes

· Genre: Survival, open-world, action, simulation

· Developer: Gamepires, Croteam

Scum is a multiplayer, open-world survival game that strongly emphasizes realistic mechanics and features a complex character progression system. You'll have to navigate a massive, dangerous island while managing your character's health, hunger, and thirst. With its stunning graphics, intricate mechanics, and exhilarating gameplay, Scum is an outstanding option for enthusiasts of the survival genre.

22. The Infected

· Release Date: August 7, 2020 (Steam Early Access)

· Platform: Microsoft Windows

· Camera: First-person perspective

· Multiplayer: No

· Co-op: No

· Genre: Survival, open-world, crafting, building

· Developer: DigX Studios

The Infected is an open-world, sandbox survival game set in a world overrun by a deadly virus. You'll have to gather resources, build a base, and fend off infected creatures and wildlife to stay alive. Its combination of survival mechanics, base building, and tower defense elements make it an engaging and challenging experience.

23. Desolate

· Release Date: January 17, 2019 (Full Release)

· Platform: Microsoft Windows

· Camera: First-person perspective

· Multiplayer: Yes

· Co-op: Yes (up to 4 players)

· Genre: Survival, open-world, horror, action, adventure

· Developer: Nearga

Desolate is a first-person survival horror game set on a mysterious island. You'll have to explore the world, gather resources, and battle supernatural enemies to uncover the truth behind the island's dark past. The game is an excellent option for horror fans, with an unsettling atmosphere, gripping storyline, and intense gameplay.

24. Barotrauma

· Release Date: June 5, 2019 (Steam Early Access)

· Platform: Microsoft Windows, macOS, Linux

· Camera: 2D side-scrolling

· Multiplayer: Yes

· Co-op: Yes

· Genre: Survival, simulation, strategy, submarine

· Developer: FakeFish, Undertow Games

Barotrauma is a unique cooperative survival game set in the depths of Europa's oceans. You'll have to manage a submarine, complete missions, and survive the harsh underwater environment in this tense and challenging experience. With its inventive concept, captivating gameplay, and remarkable visuals, the game stands out as a distinguished title in the genre.

25. Mist Survival

· Release Date: August 15, 2018 (Steam Early Access)

· Platform: Microsoft Windows

· Camera: First-person perspective

· Multiplayer: No

· Co-op: No

· Genre: Survival, open-world, crafting, horror

· Developer: Rati Wattanakornprasit

Mist Survival is an open-world, sandbox survival game set in a post-apocalyptic world overrun by a mysterious mist. To survive, you must search for resources, construct a base, and protect yourself from infected creatures and other survivors through scavenging. Its mix of survival mechanics, base building, and exploration make it an excellent choice for fans of the genre.

Conclusion

The indie survival game genre has exciting and diverse titles, offering unique challenges, settings, and gameplay mechanics. Whether you prefer exploring frozen wastelands, diving into the depths of alien oceans, or battling zombies in a post-apocalyptic world, there's something on this list for every survival game fan. So, grab your gear and prepare to embark on an unforgettable journey with these 25 incredible indie survival games.