Top 25 Survival Games

Survival games are a widely played video game genre that presents players with the challenge of surviving in a harsh environment, usually with limited resources and high difficulty levels. These games typically involve gathering resources, crafting tools and weapons, and managing hunger, thirst, and other Survival needs.

Best Survival Games Of All Time

I'll list a few of my all-time best survival games for you. As a fan of survival games, I have spent numerous hours playing these fantastic games. This article is perfect if you enjoy games that involve running around without any clothes on while being pursued by long-necked creatures. Let's get started!

Choosing a Survival Game: The Essential Factors

Considering all the alternatives, choosing a survival game can be difficult. When choosing a survival game, keep the following points in mind:

• Difficulty level: Some survival games are more challenging, so consider your skill level before choosing a game.

• Gameplay style: Different survival games have different styles, such as open-world, crafting, or survival horror.

• Multiplayer options: Some survival games allow multiplayer gameplay, which can be an exciting experience with friends.
• Graphics: The graphics of a survival game can significantly impact the overall experience, so consider the visuals before choosing a game.
• Platform: Consider the platform you want to play on, such as a PC, console, or mobile.

Top 25 Survival Games

This article will take you on a mysterious and thrilling journey as it reviews the top 25 Survival Games ever created.

1. Rust

2. Ark: Survival Evolved

3. DayZ

4. The Forest

5. 7 Days to Die

6. Conan Exiles

7. Green Hell

8. Subnautica

9. The Long Dark

10. Stranded Deep

11. Don't Starve

12. This War of Mine

13. Project Zomboid

14. State of Decay 2

15. Minecraft

16. The Walking Dead: The Final Season

17. Raft

18. Empyrion - Galactic Survival

19. Dead Matter

20. Generation Zero

21. Outward

22. Grounded

23. They Are Billions

24. Frostpunk

25. H1Z1

Rust

Developer: Endnight Games

Platform: Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4

Release Date: February 8, 2018

In this game, players must survive in a harsh open-world environment filled with dangerous animals, harsh weather conditions, and hostile players. Rust's focus on player interaction is one of its distinctive features. Players can form alliances with others to increase their chances of Survival or engage in combat to take over other players' bases and resources. The gameplay is made more surprising and exciting by the player-versus-player element.

Moreover, Rust contains a crafting system that enables users to make tools, structures, and weapons to help them survive. A player's chances of survival can be improved as they advance by unlocking additional items and skills.

Ark: Survival Evolved

Developer: Studio Wildcard

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

Release Date: August 29, 2017

In Ark: Survival Evolved, players are stranded on a mysterious island inhabited by prehistoric creatures such as dinosaurs and other dangerous predators. As players progress, they can tame and train these prehistoric creatures, using them to gather resources and defend themselves against other players or hostile creatures.

Survival Evolved is its multiplayer aspect, allowing players to form tribes and work together to survive in this dangerous world. Players can also engage in player-versus-player combat, raiding enemy bases and epic battles to control resources and territory.

The game also has a deep and intricate crafting system, allowing players to create various weapons, tools, and structures to aid their Survival. Players can unlock new items and abilities as they progress, making their survival journey more comfortable and secure.

DayZ

Developer: Bohemia Interactive

Platform: Microsoft Windows, Xbox One, PlayStation 4

Release Date: December 13, 2018

Players of DayZ are thrust into a post-apocalyptic world that zombies have overtaken. Players must hunt for food, water, and other necessities while fending off or dodging the undead and other players who can be a threat. The game has a large open world designed to be highly realistic, with a day/night cycle, weather conditions, and various terrains to explore. The game also includes various weapons, vehicles, and other equipment players can use to help them survive. However, these items are often scarce and hard to come by, so players must balance their need for gear with the risk of attracting attention from other players.

The Forest

Developer: Endnight Games

Platform: Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4

Release Date: 30 April 2018

The Forest is a survival game that challenges players to survive in a mysterious forest after a plane crash. The game has aspects of exploration, fighting, building, crafting, a variable day/night cycle, and weather.

Players must search for materials, construct a home, and collect food and drink to survive. They must also protect themselves from dangerous monsters like the mutant cannibals in the Forest. Players can gain new crafting recipes as they go through the game and upgrade their gear and weapons. The mysteries of the Forest and the cause of the plane accident can potentially reveal.

7 Days to Die

Developer: The Fun Pimps

Platform: Linux, Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X, PlayStation 4, Xbox One

Release Date: December 13, 2013

7 Days to Die is a survival horror video game set in an open-world environment. It came out in 2013 and can be found on various systems, like Windows, X - box, Ps, etc. Players in the game must gather supplies, create shelter, and defend themselves from legions of zombies that get harder to kill as the days pass. The game features a day/night cycle, bringing more and more zombies to the player's location each night.

Players can create weapons, tools, armor, traps, and defenses to defend themselves from the zombie hordes. Together with single-player modes, the game also offers multiplayer options that let players cooperate to stay alive.

Conan Exiles

Developer: Funcom

Platform: Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S

Release Date: May 8, 2018

Conan Exiles is a multiplayer survival game in Conan the Barbarian's realm. The game occurs in a harsh and unforgiving environment, where players must fight against other players, wild animals, and the world's harsh conditions.

Players must gather resources, build shelters, and craft weapons and armor to defend themselves against the dangers that they will face in the game. They must also manage their hunger, thirst, and health to stay alive.

Green Hell

Developer: Creepy Jar

Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch

Release date: September 5, 2019

Creepy Jar created the 2019 first-person survival game titled Green Hell. The game takes place in the Amazon rainforest and requires the player to survive by managing various aspects such as hunger, thirst, body temperature, and health while exploring the jungle.

In the game, players assume the role of Jake Higgins, who is stranded in the jungle with no food, water, or supplies. The player must gather resources, build shelter, and find food and water to stay alive. The game also features an immersive storyline that unfolds through the player's interactions with the environment and various characters they encounter.

Subnautica

Developer: Unknown Worlds Entertainment

Platform: macOS, Microsoft Windows, Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S

Release Date: January 23, 2018

Subnautica is a survival game set in an open-world underwater environment. The player assumes control of a spaceship crash survivor on an alien world almost fully saturated with water. The game focuses on exploration, resource management, crafting, and Survival in a dangerous and often hostile environment.

As the player progresses through the game, they must scavenge for food, water, and other resources while avoiding dangerous creatures and navigating the treacherous terrain. They can also craft tools and equipment to aid their Survival and build underwater bases to establish a foothold on the planet.

Subnautica is known for its immersive atmosphere, stunning graphics, and engaging gameplay, providing a challenging and rewarding experience for players who enjoy Survival and exploration games.

The Long Dark

Developer: Hinterland

Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One, Switch

Release date: January 1, 2017

The Long Dark is a survival game in a post-apocalyptic world where an unknown event has caused a global disaster. The game sets in the Canadian wilderness and players must navigate harsh terrain and unforgiving weather conditions to survive.

In The Long Dark, players must manage their hunger, thirst, fatigue, and body temperature while exploring the game world. To keep themselves alive, they must scavenge for food, water, supplies, craft, repair equipment, and shelter.

The game features a dynamic weather system, including blizzards, snowstorms, and other weather events that can significantly threaten the player's Survival. Wildlife, such as wolves and bears, roam the game world and can attack the player.

Stranded Deep

Developer: Beam Team Games

Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One

Release date: April 21, 2020

Stranded Deep is a survival game where the player takes on the role of a survivor stranded on a deserted island after a plane crash. The game sets in an open-world environment where the player must explore the island, gather resources and survive the elements and wildlife.

Some survival mechanics are present in the game, such as hunger and thirst, which the player must control by seeking and preparing food and water supplies. The player must also create a shelter to protect themselves from the elements and craft tools and weapons to defend against dangerous wildlife and hunt for food.

Don't Starve

Release date: April 23, 2013

Developer: Klei Entertainment

Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One

Don't Starve is a survival game where the player takes on the role of a scientist named Wilson, who is transported to a strange and dangerous world by a demon. The game sets in a procedurally generated environment filled with strange creatures and supernatural phenomena.

The game aims to survive in this hostile environment for as long as possible while gathering resources, crafting tools, and exploring the world. The game features a day-night cycle, and the player must manage their hunger, sanity, and health to stay alive.

This War of Mine

Developer: 11 bits studios

Platform: Microsoft Windows, OS X, Linux, Android, iOS, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch

Release Date: November 14, 2014

This War of Mine is a survival game in a war-torn city, where the player controls a group of survivors trying to stay alive during a brutal conflict. The game sets in a 2D side-scrolling environment, focusing on resource management and decision-making.

This War of Mine offers a unique and thought-provoking perspective on the horrors of war, and the struggles of ordinary people caught up in a conflict. It is a challenging and emotionally impactful game that offers a memorable and immersive experience.

Project Zomboid

Developer: The Indie Stone

Platform: Java, Microsoft Windows, OS X, Linux

Release Date: November 8, 2013

Project Zomboid is a game set in an isometric perspective and features a sandbox-style gameplay where players must manage their character's basic needs while avoiding and fighting off zombies.

The game offers a high degree of customization, with players able to select from various starting occupations and traits that affect their character's abilities and starting gear. The player must explore the environment to scavenge for resources, such as food, water, and weapons while avoiding or fighting off the zombie hordes that roam the world.

State of Decay 2

Developer: Undead Labs

Platforms: Microsoft Windows, Xbox One

Release Date: May 22, 2018

The state of Decay 2 also has an online multiplayer component, allowing players to team up with friends to survive together or even compete against each other to see who can build the most robust community. Players start by selecting a group of survivors, each with unique skills and abilities, and must scavenge for resources such as food, medicine, and weapons. They must also build and fortify a base to protect themselves from zombie attacks and other dangers.

Minecraft

Release date: November 18, 2011

Developer: Mojang Studios

Platforms: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Nintendo Switch

Minecraft is a survival game developed by Mojang Studios. In this game, players find themselves in a randomly generated world. Their goal is to collect resources and construct various structures to survive. The world comprises various biomes, such as forests, deserts, and oceans, each with unique resources and challenges.

Players must gather resources like food, wood, stone, and other materials to build a house, make tools and weapons, and protect themselves from dangerous monsters like zombies, skeletons, and creepers.

The block-based crafting system in Minecraft, which enables users to build practically anything they can conceive using the materials they collect, is one of the game's key elements. This includes buildings, vehicles, weapons, and complex machines and systems.

The Walking Dead: The Final Season

Release date: August 14, 2018

Developer: Telltale Games and Skybound Entertainment

Platforms: Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch.

The Walking Dead: The Final Season Survival game is a video game that follows the story of Clementine, a young survivor in a post-apocalyptic world overrun by zombies. The game was developed by Telltale Games and published by Skybound Entertainment.

In this game, players control Clementine as she navigates through dangerous situations, makes tough decisions, and interacts with other survivors. The gameplay consists of exploration, puzzle-solving, and decision-making, and the player's choices can significantly impact the story's outcome.

The Final Season is the last installment in the series, and it follows Clementine as she mentors a young orphan named AJ, teaching him how to survive in a world full of danger. The game focuses heavily on the relationship between Clementine and AJ, and the choices players make will determine the fate of both characters.

Raft

Release date: May 23, 2018,

Developer: Redbeet Interactive

Platforms: Microsoft Windows, macOS, and Linux.

Raft is a survival game where the player strand on a small raft in the middle of the ocean. The objective is Survival by gathering resources, building structures, and defending against threats like sharks and hunger.

The game begins with the player floating on a small raft of wooden planks and debris on the water's surface. The player must use a hook to collect resources such as plastic, wood, and scrap metal from the water. The player can create tools, weapons, and shelter to survive and thrive with these resources.

The game also features a hunger and thirst system that requires the player to find food and water to stay alive. As the player progresses, they can upgrade their raft, build more advanced structures, and explore nearby islands to find valuable resources.

Empyrion - Galactic Survival

Release date: August 5, 2015

Developer: Eleon Game Studios

Platforms: Microsoft Windows, Linux, and macOS

Empyrion: Galactic Survival is a video game developed by Eleon Game Studios. It is a sci-fi open-world sandbox game where players explore and survive in a vast, dangerous galaxy filled with hostile alien creatures and other hazards.

Empyrion is a challenging and engaging survival game with great depth and replayability. Survival gameplay, Empyrion also has a strong emphasis on exploration. The game features a procedurally generated galaxy with many planets, each with its unique terrain, resources, and creatures. Players can explore these planets, discover ancient ruins and artifacts, and unravel the universe's secrets. One of the critical features of Empyrion is the crafting system, which allows players to create a wide range of tools, weapons, vehicles, and structures. The game also has a complex technology tree that players can unlock by gathering resources and learning new skills.

Dead Matter

Developer: Quantum Integrity Software Inc

Platforms: Microsoft Windows

Release date: Upcoming

Quantum Integrity Software Inc created the upcoming survival game, Dead Matter. The game takes place in a post-apocalyptic environment where players must gather resources and cooperate to survive in the face of swarms of zombies and other dangers.

In the game, players can customize their characters, build and fortify bases, craft weapons and equipment, and scavenge for supplies in a massive open world. The game features a unique system for managing hunger, thirst, and other survival needs and a complex crafting system that allows players to create custom weapons, vehicles, and more.

Generation Zero

Release date: March 26, 2019

Developer: Avalanche Studios

Platforms: Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One

Generation Zero is a unique and exciting survival game with a thrilling gameplay experience. Players are interested in hours due to the game's fascinating mechanics, plot, and visuals. The game's multiplayer mode adds another layer of excitement and teamwork, allowing players to share resources and tackle challenges together. With the game's ongoing updates and DLCs, Generation Zero always has something new to discover.

Outward

Release date: March 26, 2019

Developer: Nine Dots Studio

Platforms: Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One

Outward is a third-person open-world survival game developed by Nine Dots Studio and published by Deep Silver. The game sets in a high-fantasy world where the player takes on the role of an adventurer trying to survive in a harsh and unforgiving world.

In Outward, the player must manage their hunger, thirst, fatigue, and overall health while exploring a vast, dangerous world filled with hostile creatures, bandits, and other challenges. The game features a unique magic system where the player must use runic spells to cast magic, which requires proper preparation and timing.

Outward also features a deep and immersive crafting system, where the player must gather materials and use them to create weapons, armor, and other valuable items. The game offers a non-linear story with multiple factions and questlines, providing players with various choices and paths to take.

Grounded

Release date: July 28, 2020

Developer: Obsidian Entertainment

Platforms: Microsoft Windows and Xbox One

Grounded is a survival game created by Obsidian Entertainment and released by Xbox Game Studios. The game features a combination of survival mechanics and exploration as players navigate the environment to scavenge resources and build a base. In addition to the environmental challenges, such as harsh weather conditions and hostile insects, the player must contend with the mysterious forces that caused their shrinkage and find a way to return to standard size.

Players can team up with friends to play cooperatively or go it alone, and the game also features a story mode with a series of quests and objectives to complete. Overall, "Grounded" offers a unique and engaging take on the survival genre, with a whimsical setting and various gameplay mechanics to keep players engaged.

They Are Billions

Release date: December 12, 2017

Developer: Numantian Games.

Platforms: Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One

Numantian Games created the post-apocalyptic strategy and survival game 'They Are Billions.'. A zombie-like epidemic killed most humanity in the world where the game is situated, influenced by steampunk. Players must build and manage a colony while defending against waves of infection.

The game is played from a top-down perspective and features a variety of structures and units that can build and upgraded to defend against the infected. Players must balance resource management, colony expansion, and defense strategies to survive and thrive in the harsh world.

The game features a campaign and a survival mode where players must survive as long as possible against increasingly difficult waves of infected. 

Frostpunk

Release date: April 24, 2018

Developer: 11-bit studios

Platforms: Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, macOS, Linux.

Frostpunk is a survival strategy game developed by 11-bit studios. The game sets in a frozen, post-apocalyptic world where players take on the role of a leader of a group of survivors trying to establish a new civilization in a frozen wasteland.

Players must manage resources, build and expand their city, and make difficult decisions that impact the Survival of their people. The game's central theme is the balance between hope and despair. Players must maintain hope among their citizens while facing challenges such as resource scarcity, extreme weather conditions, and the threat of extinction.

The game's unique mechanics include the "heat" system, where players must maintain a sustainable heat source to keep their citizens alive, and the "laws" system, which allows players to make difficult decisions that can have both positive and negative consequences.

H1Z1

Release date: January 15, 2015,

Developer: Daybreak Game Company

Platforms: PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One

H1Z1 is a survival game developed by the Daybreak Game Company. It was one of the early games to popularize the battle royale genre, and its fast-paced gameplay and emphasis on survival elements have made it a popular choice among fans.

The game features a single-player and multiplayer mode, where players can team up with others to increase their chances of Survival. A battle royale option for the multiplayer game pits players against one another until only one survivor is left.

Players must control their desire and thirst levels to be safe from the environment and other players. The game also has a crafting system that lets players create valuable objects like traps, weapons, and other items to help them survive.

My Final Thoughts

Survival games have become increasingly popular in recent years, offering players a variety of challenging and immersive experiences. From post-apocalyptic wastelands to mysterious islands and beyond, survival games often test players' resource management, decision-making, and survival skills.

The top 25 survival games offer diverse gameplay experiences, from open-world exploration to base building and crafting. Each game has unique mechanics, narrative, and challenges, providing players with hours of entertainment and replayability.

Some of the standout titles in the list include "The Forest," which offers a terrifying and immersive survival experience in a dense forest filled with hostile creatures. "Subnautica" provides players a beautiful and mysterious underwater world to explore while challenging them to manage their oxygen levels and fend off dangerous sea creatures.

Overall, the top 25 survival games are a testament to the genre's enduring popularity, and they offer players countless hours of entertainment and excitement.

FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)

Q: What is a survival game? 

A: A survival game is a video game genre where players must navigate a dangerous environment while managing resources and facing challenges such as hunger, thirst, and hostile enemies.

Q: What makes a good survival game? 

A: A good survival game should offer challenging gameplay that requires players to manage resources and navigate a dangerous environment. It should also offer an immersive and engaging narrative, well-designed mechanics, and a strong sense of progression and accomplishment.

Q: Can Survival games be played solo? 

A: Many survival games can be played solo, although some games offer a multiplayer component that allows players to team up with others to increase their chances of Survival.

Q: Are survival games only for hardcore gamers? 

A: No, survival games can be enjoyed by players of all skill levels. While some survival games offer a profound difficulty level, many offer multiple difficulty options and tutorial modes to help players learn the game's mechanics.

That's my list folks; please let me know your favorites below. I know there are another 25 we could probably get added here! Thanks for reading.