Here you’ll find the most popular survival games and exclusive insider tips that you definitely shouldn’t miss.
Survival games are becoming increasingly popular, with exciting new titles released every year. To make your search easier, we’ve put together an overview of the most popular survival games. Further down, you’ll also find a few special insider tips you shouldn’t overlook.
- Note: We update this list regularly whenever new and interesting games are released.
7 Days to Die
In 7 Days to Die, you can test your survival skills in a brutal post-apocalyptic world overrun by the undead. The game combines elements of first-person shooter, survival horror, tower defense, and RPG, inviting you to fight, loot, and build in an open world.
You’re free to explore vast environments with five unique biomes and carve your own path. With over 500 recipes, you can craft and repair weapons, clothing, tools, and more. Build and upgrade your base with traps and defenses to withstand the hordes of undead.
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You can either cooperate with other players to develop settlements or compete against them to raid bases. The game lets you unleash your creativity with over 800 items and an extensive building system.
Palworld
In Palworld, you dive into an open-world action-adventure survival game that can be experienced by up to 32 players at the same time. Developed by Japanese studio Pocket Pair, you explore the island of Palpagos as your avatar, using “Pal Spheres” to capture various creatures called “Pals.” These Pals assist you in combat with their unique abilities and also help with everyday tasks.
You’ll need to gather resources, monitor your hunger level, and expand your base using a crafting system. Countless Pals can help with cooking, collecting resources, or building up your base. Through a research tree, you can unlock new weapons, structures, and decorations to further customize your world.
Enshrouded
In Enshrouded, you enter the lost realm of Embervale, which your ancestors plunged into a blight through their greed for magical power, throwing the world into chaos. The game is a gripping action RPG set on a vast voxel-based continent, combining survival and crafting elements in an open world full of dangers and mysteries.
You start with nothing but your will to survive in this wild and decaying world. On your journey, you’ll roam the remnants of a fallen kingdom, defend yourself against beasts that stalk you, and rekindle the ancient power of the Flame to uncover Embervale’s hidden history.
Your journey takes you through dense forests, dark caves, and mysterious dungeons in search of lost knowledge and hidden treasures. Only by growing stronger can you venture into the dangerous depths of the Shroud and face the horrors that lurk within.
Nightingale
In the survival game Nightingale, you become Realmwalkers in a PvE open-world survival crafting game, venturing out either solo or in co-op with friends. Your journey takes you through mystical portals into the fascinating and dangerous Faewilds, where you reactivate ancient Crossroads Portals and explore new, otherworldly realms.
In this challenging environment, the motto is: build, craft, and explore. You’ll move through corrupted forests, gravity-twisted deserts, and other stunning landscapes. Along the way, you’ll fight your way through grim dungeons and face awe-inspiring enemies while exploring a labyrinth of immersive worlds.
Sons of the Forest
In Sons of the Forest, you are sent to a remote island to find a missing billionaire and end up in a dangerous world full of cannibals. Use your crafting skills and fight for survival in this open-world survival horror game.
You’re free to make your own decisions and master the island’s challenges. Fight mutated creatures with different weapons and protect yourself and your allies. Build shelters and use seasonal resources. You can play solo or in co-op with friends and explore the dangerous island together.
Grounded
In this multiplayer survival adventure, you’re shrunk down to the size of an ant and find yourself in a dangerous world filled with giant insects. Together, you must explore the backyard’s mysteries, gather resources, and build to survive.
Work together to overcome the challenges and withstand the threats of this new, oversized environment. Use your skills to deal with swarms of huge insects and build your own tiny world.
Rust
In Rust, it’s all about raw survival. You must endure hunger, thirst, and cold by lighting fires, building shelters, and hunting animals for meat. But other players are a threat as well, you can fight them or form alliances to build settlements together.
Every day brings new challenges, and only those who adapt will survive. Use your skills and tactics to make it in this unforgiving world.
Ark: Survival Ascended
In ARK: Survival Ascended, you wake up on a mysterious island surrounded by breathtaking nature and gigantic dinosaurs. Your task is to survive in this living world by gathering resources, building shelter, and forming a tribe. You can tame, breed, and ride dinosaurs while uncovering the island’s secrets.
The new version delivers advanced visuals and physics powered by Unreal Engine 5. You’ll experience dynamic water, interactive foliage, and realistic environments. Team up with other players across platforms to take on the challenges of this captivating world.
Conan Exiles
In Conan Exiles, you’re rescued by Conan the Barbarian and must survive in the Exiled Lands. In this huge open sandbox, you’ll learn to endure extreme temperatures, survive deadly sandstorms, and hunt animals for food and resources.
Explore a seamless world spanning deserts to snow-covered mountains. Build your own home or an entire city and grow from a simple survivor into a powerful barbarian and sorcerer. Fight in epic siege battles, use spells and weapons, or summon gigantic god avatars to crush your enemies.
Green Hell
In the unforgiving Amazon rainforest, you’re completely on your own, without food or equipment. In “Green Hell,” your only mission is to survive. This challenge tests both your body and your mind. You must learn to take care of yourself without any outside help.
With your bare hands, you build shelters, craft tools, and create weapons to hunt and defend yourself. The jungle holds countless dangers: wild animals, tropical diseases, and the dark depths of your own fears.
Subnautica: Below Zero
On the mysterious planet 4546B, your search for your sister’s fate begins in “Subnautica: Below Zero.” In the arctic ocean world, you must uncover the truth behind a mysterious incident with limited resources and your survival instincts. Abandoned research stations and scattered data provide clues about the scientists’ disappearance.
As you explore new biomes like the Crystal Caves and icy glacial basins, you build bases and vehicles to endure the harsh conditions. Discover unknown creatures and brave freezing temperatures to unravel the secrets of the past and continue the story of Subnautica.
The Long Dark
In The Long Dark, you must survive the icy Canadian wilderness after a geomagnetic storm. With no zombies or supernatural threats, the focus is on surviving against ruthless nature. You explore the vast frozen landscape while using your wits and skills to find food and shelter.
But it’s not just the lack of food that can get you, wolves and other animals may stalk and strike. Look for weapons to defend yourself if necessary, and avoid the darkness whenever possible.
Games we also recommend:
Beyond the well-trodden paths of the typical survival genre, there are plenty of games we can still recommend.
Once Human
Waking up in the middle of nowhere, you must face the challenges of the wilderness in “Once Human.” The ever-present Stardust contaminates both living beings and the environment, so you should make sure to eat and drink clean supplies to stay healthy.
Face countless enemies and powerful bosses from other dimensions to collect valuable items and fight the pollution. With around 100 weapon blueprints, you can customize and upgrade your gear. Using the Territory Core, you can build your own house and shape it freely to match your vision. Our Thermal Tower guide also shows you how to use this wonder building properly.
Serum
In Serum, you fight to survive in an apocalyptic world plagued by toxic fog and mutated creatures. A timer on your arm keeps ticking, deciding your fate. Your task is to uncover the secret of the serum that grants you special abilities.
Explore the mysterious surroundings, brew different serums, and fight dangerous enemies. Look for shelter and usable technology to modify your weapons and become more effective. Every moment counts in this race against time. Be brave and discover how to survive amid the chaos. The survival game was already a real hit at Steam Next Fest and impressed with its visuals and story.
Aska
Build your own self-sufficient Viking tribe in “Aska,” where you work, hunt, and fight alongside intelligent NPC villagers to survive in a dynamic, procedurally generated world. Your main task is to organize the tribe by assigning specific jobs to villagers in order to gather resources and expand the settlement.
Build houses, workshops, mines, and defensive structures while facing ancient dangers and the darkest winters. Explore hidden caves in search of valuable resources and take on mythical foes in thrilling, skill-based combat. Adapt your survival strategies to the ever-changing weather system.
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