Key Takeaways

• Survival games blend resource management, exploration, and combat for an immersive experience.
• Each game offers unique mechanics that set it apart from others in the genre.
• Innovation and storytelling are critical factors in the success and impact of these games.
• Multiplayer and single-player modes provide different dynamics in survival scenarios.
• Cross-platform availability ensures broader access and popularity among diverse gaming communities.

Survival games have captivated players for years, immersing them in worlds where resource management, strategy, and the fight for survival are key. These games often combine elements of exploration, crafting, combat, and storytelling to create intense and rewarding experiences.

The following list highlights ten of the best survival games ever created, each offering a unique approach to the genre. These titles have been selected for their innovative gameplay, compelling narratives, and the lasting impact they’ve had on both players and the gaming industry.

#1

Minecraft

Revolutionary Open World Sandbox Survival Game

• Developer: Mojang Studios
• Release Date: November 18, 2011
• Platforms: PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, iOS, Android
• Genre: Sandbox, Survival
• OpenCritic Rating: Mighty

Minecraft is a revolutionary open world sandbox survival game that allows players to explore a blocky, procedurally generated world, gathering resources, crafting tools, and building structures to survive. The game’s survival mode challenges players to manage their hunger and health while fending off hostile mobs like zombies and skeletons.

Its simplistic yet profound gameplay mechanics, coupled with the freedom to create virtually anything, have made it one of the best-selling games of all time. The limitless possibilities for exploration and creativity have cemented Minecraft’s place as a cornerstone of the survival genre.

#2

The Forest

Blends Survival Mechanics With Horror Elements

• Developer: Endnight Games
• Release Date: April 30, 2018
• Platforms: PC, PlayStation 4
• Genre: Survival Horror
• OpenCritic Rating: Strong

The Forest blends survival mechanics with horror elements, creating a tense and atmospheric experience. Players find themselves stranded on a mysterious island after a plane crash, where they must build shelter, find food, and craft weapons to survive against terrifying mutant cannibals.

The game stands out for its dynamic day-night cycle, which affects the behavior of enemies and the environment. The Forest’s immersive gameplay, coupled with its chilling atmosphere, makes it a standout in the survival horror genre, offering both solo and cooperative multiplayer experiences that keep players on edge.

#3

Rust

Focuses on Player Interaction and Combat

• Developer: Facepunch Studios
• Release Date: February 8, 2018
• Platforms: PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
• Genre: Survival
• OpenCritic Rating: Fair

Rust is a multiplayer-only survival game that focuses on player interaction and combat. Set in an open world, players must gather resources, craft weapons, and build bases while dealing with threats from both the environment and other players. Rust is known for its harsh, unforgiving gameplay, where death can result in the loss of all progress.

The game’s PvP elements add an extra layer of tension, as players must constantly be on guard against others who might raid their bases or steal their resources. Rust’s focus on social dynamics and its high-stakes environment have made it a favorite among survival game enthusiasts.

#4

Subnautica

An Alien Ocean World Filled With Wonders and Dangers

• Developer: Unknown Worlds Entertainment
• Release Date: January 23, 2018
• Platforms: PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
• Genre: Survival, Adventure
• OpenCritic Rating: Mighty

Subnautica takes the survival genre underwater, where players explore an alien ocean world filled with wonders and dangers. After crash-landing on the planet, players must gather resources, craft equipment, and build underwater bases while managing oxygen levels and fending off hostile creatures.

Subnautica’s unique setting and emphasis on exploration create a sense of awe and discovery, as players uncover the mysteries of the deep. The game’s compelling narrative, combined with its stunning visuals and immersive gameplay, make it a standout title in the survival genre.

#5

ARK: Survival Evolved

A Survival Game Set in a Prehistoric World

• Developer: Studio Wildcard
• Release Date: August 29, 2017
• Platforms: PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, iOS, Android
• Genre: Survival, Action-adventure
• OpenCritic Rating: Weak

ARK: Survival Evolved is a survival game set in a prehistoric world filled with dinosaurs and other extinct creatures. Players must hunt, harvest resources, craft items, and build shelters to survive, all while taming and riding dinosaurs.

The game’s large, open world and the ability to play both solo and in multiplayer modes add to its appeal. ARK’s combination of survival mechanics and dinosaur taming has captured the imaginations of players, making it one of the most popular and enduring titles in the genre. The game’s frequent updates and expansions have also contributed to its lasting success.

#6

Don’t Starve

Whimsical Survival Game That Challenges Players

• Developer: Klei Entertainment
• Release Date: April 23, 2013
• Platforms: PC, PlayStation, Xbox, iOS, Android, Nintendo Switch
• Genre: Survival, Roguelike
• OpenCritic Rating: Strong

Don’t Starve is a dark, whimsical survival game that challenges players to survive in a randomly generated world filled with strange creatures and deadly hazards. The game’s unique art style and eerie atmosphere set it apart, as players must manage hunger, sanity, and health while crafting tools and exploring the world.

Don’t Starve’s permadeath mechanic adds an extra layer of difficulty, as players must start over from scratch if they die. The game’s challenging gameplay and distinctive style have made it a cult classic, with several expansions and a multiplayer version, Don’t Starve Together, further expanding its appeal.

#7

DayZ

A Post-Apocalyptic World Overrun by Zombies

• Developer: Bohemia Interactive
• Release Date: December 13, 2018 (Standalone version)
• Platforms: PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
• Genre: Survival, Action-adventure
• OpenCritic Rating: Weak

DayZ is a survival game set in a post-apocalyptic world overrun by zombies. Players must scavenge for food, water, and supplies while avoiding both the undead and other players, who can be as dangerous as the environment itself. The game’s emphasis on realism, with detailed health and survival mechanics, sets it apart from other zombie games.

DayZ is known for its intense player interactions, where trust and betrayal play significant roles. The game’s persistent online world and unforgiving gameplay have made it a staple in the survival genre, influencing many other games that followed.

#8

The Long Dark

A Survival Game That Focuses on Realism and Atmosphere

• Developer: Hinterland Studio
• Release Date: August 1, 2017
• Platforms: PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
• Genre: Survival
• OpenCritic Rating: Strong

The Long Dark is a survival game that focuses on realism and atmosphere. Set in the Canadian wilderness after a global disaster, players must survive the harsh conditions by managing their warmth, hunger, and fatigue. The game features a story mode, Wintermute, as well as a survival mode where players can explore the open world at their own pace.

The Long Dark’s emphasis on environmental storytelling and its minimalist, atmospheric design make it a unique entry in the survival genre. Its realistic survival mechanics and hauntingly beautiful landscapes have earned it critical acclaim and a dedicated player base.

#9

7 Days to Die

Survival Horror Game That Combines Elements of Tower Defense

• Developer: The Fun Pimps
• Release Date: December 13, 2013 (Early Access)
• Platforms: PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
• Genre: Survival, Horror
• OpenCritic Rating: Weak

7 Days to Die is a survival horror game that combines elements of tower defense, crafting, and combat. Set in a post-apocalyptic world, players must survive against hordes of zombies while gathering resources, building fortifications, and crafting weapons.

The game’s unique blend of survival mechanics and horror elements, along with its voxel-based world, allows for extensive creativity in base-building. The title’s dynamic day-night cycle and the escalating difficulty as the days progress create a constant sense of urgency and tension. 7 Days to Die remains popular for its deep crafting system and cooperative multiplayer mode.

#10

Terraria

Features Deep and Complex Gameplay

• Developer: Re-Logic
• Release Date: May 16, 2011
• Platforms: PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, iOS, Android
• Genre: Sandbox, Survival, Action-adventure
• OpenCritic Rating: Strong

Terraria is a 2D sandbox survival game that offers players a vast world to explore, filled with resources to gather, enemies to fight, and structures to build. Despite its simple, pixelated graphics, the game features deep and complex gameplay, with an emphasis on exploration and combat.

Players can dig, build, and craft to their heart’s content, facing increasingly difficult challenges as they delve deeper into the world. Terraria’s blend of sandbox mechanics with survival elements has made it a beloved game in the genre, offering endless replayability and a rich multiplayer experience. Its enduring popularity and regular updates have solidified its status as a classic.

Callum Wainwright

I am an avid gamer and have been since I was in my teens, some 20 years ago. I mostly play role-playing games, although I do have a soft spot for survival games, and anything with a sc-fi theme.