The survival games are not for the weak, especially the very best games in the genre. But for those ready to embrace their challenges, they can make for some of the most fun experiences in all of gaming.
These games are all about testing your will to survive in the toughest of situations, using skills in crafting, gathering, combat, and exploration. Each game approaches these survival elements differently, all with their own unique challenges. Some survival games have bloodthirsty dinosaurs ready to destroy you and your precious resources, others have you swimming in an eerie deep sea ecosystem full of creepy creatures on the hunt, while others still are full of eager invaders that can’t wait to break into your shelter and steal everything you’ve built.
These are the survival games that stand out in the genre, blending unique gameplay elements with classic survival challenges that will keep players on their toes.
Image credit: Studio Wildcard
Ark has the usual elements of a survival game, dropping players onto a large island where they need to gather resources, build shelter, and fight others to protect themselves and what they’ve gathered. But Ark: Survival Evolved takes that concept and makes it feel wilder than do others in its genre, with dinosaurs and other massive beasts to encounter, fight, fend off, even tame and ride. There are endless challenges to be had in Ark, especially due to other people on the server plotting against you, trying to take your stuff, and aiming for your downfall. You’ll need to learn to survive against constant threats, eventually gaining respect from the creatures around you and players you come across.
Ark: Survival Evolved has held a consistent player base since 2015, meaning it’s over a decade old and thriving. There are often bugs to contend with, and not everyone is built for its grind. But it’s a stand-out in the genre that’s worth playing if you want a real challenge or just love dinosaurs.
Rust is a grittier and less refined take on the survival genre that has gained a massive following due to its competitive gameplay. Like most of the best survival games, Rust has crafting, combat, building, exploring – but Rust seems to do it with more color and intensity. With hundreds of people in a single server at times, Rust puts players in a constant state of alertness, ready to fight back against hostile opponents at any time. The fear of losing everything you’ve worked for can make the game feel quite intense, and even stressful. Some updates have added a bit of wackiness to the gameplay, including massive rockets and medieval weapons.
While Rust provides players with a competitive and intense survival experience, it can be a bit frustrating to keep dying before you really get established. A lot of Rust players take the game quite seriously and the conversation around the game can be brutal and full of accusations. But if you’re the type who wants to really immerse yourself into a challenging survival game, this may be the one.
Image credit: Krafton
Subnautica has crafting, surviving, combat… but it’s mostly underwater. While Below Zero has a bit of a smaller world than the original game, it carries the same eerie intensity that made the first title simultaneously oppressive and exciting for players. Its underwater biomes are full of alien deep sea creatures, all very memorable, as well as colorful environments that border on breathtaking. Below Zero offers new vehicles, gadgets, and gameplay fixes that have led many players to consider it an upgrade from the original. This is not a game focused on combat, instead encouraging players to sneak or run away, creating a tense experience in what’s already an isolating place: the deepest of deep waters.
Unlike many of the other best survival games you can find, Subnautica: Below Zero actually has an engaging story full of mystery that drives players forward. The relatively small map can be a bit disappointing for those that like to explore, there is less empty space here than in many other games, including the original Subnautica. So while the map isn’t as big as in some other titles, it’s densely packed with interesting things to do and fresh discoveries to make.
Dinosaurs, deep sea, and now… outer space. Set in what is a truly open world, No Man’s Sky is full of exploration and survival elements spread across entire solar systems. Players can land on various planets, each of which comes with its own environments, challenges, creatures, and resources. You can search crashed spaceships, encounter other players and aliens, and craft the elements that will fuel your ship and even allow you to breathe in space.
When No Man’s Sky first came out, it was a complete disaster. Its planets felt empty, crafting was overly complex, and there were no multiplayer. Developers at Hello Games worked earnestly for years to improve the game’s experience, revamping many of its core elements and fixing bugs, and it really shows. It’s not a perfect game, but the idea of endless space exploration is quite tantalizing for sci-fi fans and the modern experience of No Man’s Sky is absolutely one of the best survival games you can play.
Image credit: 11 bit studios
Blending survival experiences with city-building, Frostpunk is a visually stunning strategy game that immerses players in its a rich, dark hitsory. Hiding from a wild climate that has ravaged society in the late 1800s, those few who survived have attempted to rebuild in a small city. This is a challenging game that forces players to make tough decisions that will shape the future of humanity. Will you ration food to stretch out resources? What will you do to help those in need at the expense of your own needs? Frostpunk forces players to really question their own humanity as they try to make the best decisions for a struggling community.
While the idea sounds bleak, Frostpunk has easy-to-understand mechanics and is surprisingly easy to get into. Many players find themselves engrossed due to the crisp visuals and intriguing storytelling, with a new challenge or tough decision around each and every corner.
Frostpunk 2 has been hit or miss for the original game’s community, with some feeling a bit disappointed that the larger scale of the game seems to have come at the cost of more personal connections. The people in Frostpunk 2 can feel more like numbers on a spreadsheet rather than living and breathing characters, making the decisions feel less crucial and personable. So if you’re looking to play one of the best survival games out today and the idea of Frostpunk intrigues you, you may want to stick with the original game rather than playing its sequel.
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