In recent years, the popularity graph of survival games has not dipped an inch. The urge for survival games has grown for years in gamers. Survival games now are beyond just a simple green health bar.
In a survival game, a player has to focus on survival in unusual circumstances like thirst, hunger, temperature fluctuations, diseases, and other life-ending threats. Exploring, collecting resources, building shelters, crafting required tools, hunting, and cooking are the common elements in survival games. The timeless grind behind the survival game makes it more engaging for gamers.
It will be tricky to choose the top 10 survival games of all time from the vast range of games in the survival genre. However, the list noted below is based on exciting worlds and interesting gaming mechanics which are fun to play.
Table of contents
Rust
Rust is on the list because it demands hardcore survival skills. Rust should be in your gaming system if you have serious expectations related to the difficulties of survival games.
Though the main objective of Rust is to survive, the player has to deal with challenging weather, wildlife, and other players. The game supports only multiplayer mode, where the player spawns naked and builds territory to survive. Other players and wild creatures want to hunt the player down.
Rust is also about creating bonds with other players by trusting each other and securing the long run of survival. The game also offers vehicles like train networks, hot air balloons, etc. The frequent update on the servers and new downloadable elements keeps this brutal survival game highly engaging.
- Developed by: Facepunch Studios, Double Eleven
- Published by: Facepunch Studios
- Platform(s): PC, PlayStation, and Xbox
You can download this game from Steam.
Don’t Starve
Do NOT be misjudged by the charming graphics and of Don’t Starve. This Tim Burton-style 2D world is filled with danger. It is a must-play for survival fanatics. The game’s main objective is to find ways to solve multiple problems and overcome fear. The player has to stay safe from bizarre monsters such as Werepigs, Bearger, and more.
Don’t Starve focuses on crafting to make the player’s survival smoother. Survival also includes practicing magic and science, surviving scary nights, fighting with animals, and maintaining mental health. The mad and mystical kick in survival makes this sepia-toned world more enjoyable.
If you are afraid to experience survival solo, the game also offers you a version named Don’t Starve Together, one of the best co-op games in the gaming world.
- Developed by: Klei Entertainment
- Published by: Klei Entertainment
- Platform(s): PC, PlayStation, and Xbox
You can download this game from Steam.
Minecraft
If you are looking for the best crafting survival game, Minecraft is waving at you. At first glance, players may ignore this as it seems mostly to build and break blocks, but the adventure underneath is exhilarating.
In this game, the player has to start from nothing. Gathering resources from the surroundings for making a shelter, hunting animals for food, and crafting weapons from the resources will pat the back and nourish creativity. Going for mining to diamond is too much excitement for a Minecraft player.
The gameplay of Minecraft is flexible, where the players can build a fortress to defend themselves from creatures and monsters at night, or they can go all out and test their weaponry. This Minecraft world is endless, and Mojang Studios regularly adds new things so players can enjoy the fullest.
- Developed by: Mojang Studios
- Published by: Mojang Studios, Xbox Game Studios, Sony Interactive Entertainment
- Platform(s): PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, and Smartphone (Minecraft: Bedrock Edition)
You can download this game from the Minecraft website.
You can buy Sony PS4 Minecraft Bedrock Ed. (PS4) from Amazon Store.
The Forest
You may find The Forest exciting if you like story-based solid survival games. The game starts with the story that the player is a plane crash survivor who has to survive unfavorable circumstances, including cannibals and mutants!
Yes, the player is a lone survivor on that not-so-alone mysterious island. The objectives also include searching for and finding Timmy. The players must stay hydrated and well-fed, build structures for shelter, make traps for the animals, and defend themselves from the locals.
The Forest also offers a sizeable graphical world to explore. With a nicely knitted storyline, you may enjoy this game with your friends and survive together in ‘The Forest.’
- Developed by: Endnight Games
- Published by: Endnight Games
- Platform(s): PC, PlayStation, Mobile
You can download this game from Steam.
This War of Mine
This is undoubtedly This War of Mine if any survival game can stay with the player after finishing the campaign. This game portrays the war from a bunch of civilians’ perspectives, where they are trying to survive the struggles and chaos caused by the war.
The game contains survival from soldiers and other survivors with traumatic experiences and life-or-death situations. Each of the survivors has a different story. From their experience, everyone has to enhance their chance of survival.
The player will face tough choices regarding maintaining survivors’ health, food, and other supplies. While playing this game, taking chances to save subordinates is morally problematic, and it draws a line between ruthless survivors and empathic leaders.
It is more than a survival game that shows the harsh reality of war. You must try This War of Mine if you are hard enough to be in these circumstances.
- Developed by: 11-bit studios
- Published by: 11-bit studios
- Platform(s): PC, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, Xbox, and mobile
You can download this game from Steam. You can purchase This War of Mine: The Little Ones (PS4) from Amazon Store.
Valheim
If you fade up with the same pattern of the survival game, Valheim will make you fall in love again with the survival games. This game took inspiration from Norse mythology.
The game offers an excellent storyline where the player is a slain warrior whose soul has gone to the Valheim world. The main objective is to slay Odin’s ancient enemies and bring peace to Valheim. This makes a survival game more intense and provides a sense of purpose.
Players can create several crafts in this game, manage their shelter, and make food before heading out for a battle. To bring peace, players must defend their home base, locate magnificent bosses, defeat them, and progress to the next. You can play solo, but teaming up with your friends and progressing together will add more fun to this game.
- Developed by: Iron Gate Studio, Fishlabs, Piktiv
- Published by: Coffee Stain Studios
- Platform(s): PC, Xbox
You can download this game from Steam.
Raft
If you want something different in the survival genre, you should consider downloading Raft.
At the beginning of the game, the player will be alone on a wooden raft in the middle of the sea. In the front, the player must fight to survive in the Raft. Maybe you have already got the idea of the important thing from the game’s name.
The game’s primary goal is to survive by maintaining and expanding the Raft, going on adventures in the islands, and gathering resources and food to get going. The player must face sharks, seagulls, and others, defend the Raft to survive, and return home.
Raft is more fun with your friends, so jump in the Raft and sail along.
- Developed by: Redbeet Interactive
- Published by: Axolot Games
- Platform(s): PC
You can download this game from Steam.
The Long Dark
Where other games focus on the elements like horror, war, and fantasy, The Long Dark stands out with its unique atmosphere and environmental-related survival. The player portrays a bush pilot who got struck in a Canadian wilderness. The main objective is as simple as in other survival games: to stay alive.
Here, the player has to combat the uncertainty of Mother Nature. Deadly snow drifts, freezing weather, and starvation are the primary foes of the survivors here. Maintaining the calories, staying hydrated, and searching for food can be challenging for the player.
Though there is no visible sparkle in the storyline, terrifying moments, fighting with wildlife, and human fragility makes this game worth playing.
- Developed by: Hinterland Studio
- Published by: Hinterland Studio
- Platform(s): PC, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, and Xbox
You can download this game from Steam.
Grounded
With a unique concept in the survival genre, Grounded has gathered an enormous fanbase. By mentioning a fantastic idea, it can be said that Grounded takes premises from science fiction movies and fairytales and generates a survival game.
At the beginning of the game, obsidian shrank the player and dropped into a backyard. The grass patches would seem like a jungle. Survival involves escaping hungry birds, spiders, ants, and other predators. Using the resources from the backyard, such as grass, dew, and others, will enhance the chance of survival.
It is a decent survival game with beautiful graphics that can be enjoyed with friends online and taste the environment from a perspective of a bug-sized you.
- Developed by: Obsidian Entertainment
- Published by: Xbox Game Studios
- Platform(s): PC, Xbox
You can download this game from Steam.
ARK: Survival Evolved
A survival game filled with dinosaurs sounds crazy. ARK: Survival Evolved is one of the best survival games and one of the best dinosaur games ever made. The game has a huge dedicated fanbase which is keeping this game alive.
This game is similar to other survival games where the players must utilize wood to make shelter, hunt animals to get food, and find water to keep them hydrated.
As mentioned before, what makes it different from other survival games is the dinosaur. The game also offers more than just staying alive. The player has to craft weapons and gears, build a base, ride dinosaurs and tame them, and fight with or alongside the other players. No other game can be matched this game’s intensity and fun level.
- Developed by: Studio Wildcard
- Published by: Studio Wildcard
- Platform(s): PC, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, Xbox, and mobile
You can download this game from Steam.
Conclusion
Survival games have been around for decades, and they have evolved significantly over the years. Classic titles like Minecraft, The Forest, Valheim, and Don’t Starve, the list is endless! So whether you’re a horror or sci-fi fan, there’s sure to be something here for you!
While enjoying those games well, quality headphones can double the overall experience. Sometimes, Survival games keep you on your toes, and you need good-quality sounds to scout the surroundings. Therefore, you should buy SteelSeries Arctis Pro.
FAQs on Top Survival Games
Q: What is the best survival game?
A: There are several good survival game titles, such as Valheim, Don’t Starve, The Forest, Raft, Rust, etc. With plenty of titles available, you can find the right one that suits your interests and preferences.
Q: Is Valheim a dead game?
A: Valheim has been one of the most popular and successful video games since its release in 2021. In 2023, it is still going strong and is widely played by gamers worldwide.
A: Valheim is not free. It is available to purchase on Steam.
Q: Is The Forest ok for a 12-year-old?
A: The Forest is rated PEGI 18, which restricts availability to ADULTS ONLY.
Q: Is the Forest a horror game?
A: The Forest is an open-world survival horror game that puts you in the shoes of a survivor who must fight for his life against an array of terrifying creatures. As you explore the forest’s depths, you’ll discover new secrets and challenges that will test your will to survive.
