Best survival games The links below will each send you down the pipes to the entry you're after, or you can scroll through the post and have a little sniff at them all. And if you get to the end with nothing but a sense of bilious fury that we ommitted the best survival game of all time from the list, rest assured that it's right there at. Valheim is an easy contender for one of the best survival games of the decade. It’s a masterclass in game design, stripping back the intensive graphics, doing away with the expansive planet-hopping scope of recent survival titles, and instead focusing on core gameplay and how to make it fun.
Sometimes you just need an escape. For some, this might mean a good movie or visiting with friends. I’ve always enjoyed video games, and there’s something even more enjoyable about games that feature open landscape and with challenge of surviving against the elements.
So, I’ve made a list of the best games I’ve found that are either straight-up wilderness survival, or at the very least, invoke that special feeling of being alone in the great outdoors.
Let’s get right to it.
The Forest
First up on the list is The Forest, a game that pits you not only against the elements, but also a tribe of mutant cannibals that are intent on getting you out of their territory–one way or another.
After your plane crashes on a remote peninsula, you’re forced to immediately get to work crafting shelter, finding food, and getting a fire going. If that weren’t enough, your son is abducted by the cannibals, and so begins the journey of getting him back.
With fantastic graphics and a compelling story, The Forest is equal parts survival game and slow-burn horror. There are no outright scares, per se, but it can be very unsettling at times. Having to survive hunger and thirst as well as the raging cannibals makes for a very good game.
Metacritic score: 83
The Long Dark
Unlike The Forest, The Long Dark is more straightforward survival. Rather than a tribe of cannibals, your greatest enemies are the biting cold, starvation, and ravenous wolves.
You begin the game in an airplane, which, of course, crashes. A global event has essentially destroyed all electronics, and the game wastes no time. You have to crawl out of the wreckage and get shelter, or you freeze to death. But shelter is nothing without fire–at least, not in a blizzard. Eventually, you’ll need to find civilization. That is, if the wolves don’t get you first.
The game has a story mode as well, but where it really shines is in its sandbox approach. Your only task is to stay alive for as long as you can. Suffice to say, that’s much easier said than done.
Metacritic score: 75
State of Decay 2
The first on our list to feature zombies, State of Decay 2 is a game that wastes no time. There is a faint storyline, but the focus is put squarely on surviving an onslaught of walking dead. Your goal is to scavenge supplies and build up your base, and eventually strike back at the zombie hordes by attacking their “bases.”
Resources are limited, so ammunition and even gasoline must be rationed.
One neat feature of the game is that you play as one of four characters, each with their own abilities and stats. But if one of them dies, they’re gone forever–including all the work you put into leveling them up. This gives the game some nice added tension.
There are some bugs to worry about, but overall, the State of Decay 2 is worth your time.
Metacritic score: 66
The Last of Us
The Last of Us is a game that needs little introduction; it’s one of the best games of all time–zombie survival or otherwise.
You play as Joel, a man who’s lost everything he ever cared for. He is soon reluctantly tasked with transporting a girl who appears to be immune to the zombie virus across the country, where her unique ability might be the key to saving humanity.
Joel is no superhuman, either. You need to avoid or sneak up on the zombies because if you go in guns blazing, you’ll get mobbed and eaten pretty quickly. It doesn’t help that ammo is hard to come by, so stealth and strategy are critical.
The gameplay is fantastic, the graphics are great, but it’s the story that really hits home. If you don’t finish the game having shed a few tears, you just might be a zombie yourself.
Metacritic score: 95
The Last of Us 2
Of course, this is the sequel to the very popular The Last of Us. Still a Playstation exclusive, The Last of Us 2 takes place years after the events of the first game.
Things are grittier, darker, and for the characters, even more brutal. In this outing, surviving the zombies is the easy part. It’s the living that pose the greatest threat.
You can buy it here.
Metacritic score: 93
Days Gone
In Days Gone, you play as a grizzled ex-biker in a post-apocalyptic world, filled with–you guessed it–zombies. What sets this game apart isn’t necessarily its setting, but the gameplay. The zombies in this game can be truly overwhelming: they’re fast and they move in huge numbers. Unlike The Last of Us, the guns-blazing technique might work–but only if you’re lucky.
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The game is fully open-world, so missions and progression are left up to the player. Do what you want, but be careful. Of course, as with any post-apocalypse narrative, the real antagonists of Days Gone aren’t the zombies. They’re the people you encounter.
You can order it here, but keep in mind it’s only available for the PS4.
Metacritic score: 71
Rust
In Rust, there is no story. You’re dropped into a world with nothing, naked, and your only purpose is to not die. This is, of course, easier said than done. Get food, get fire, and build a shelter.
What sets Rust apart is its community aspect. You can build up your own dwelling, or you can do it with friends and make a whole town. You can even raid other players’ bases and take their supplies for yourself. In fact, one of the hardest things in the game is leaving your base and coming back only to find it ransacked.
That’s what makes Rust so compelling. It’s a true survival scenario, in a way. But it can also be very frustrating. Play at your own risk.
Metacritic score: 69
Minecraft
The cultural phenomenon that is Minecraft needs no introduction. Even if you haven’t played it, you know exactly what it is. But for all its popularity, the game is still a fun way to pass the time.
At its core, Minecraft is indeed a survival game. You’re dropped into a randomly-generated world. There are things in that world that will kill you quickly. Shelter has to be built quickly.
Of course, beyond the survival elements and the world-exploration, Minecraft is essentially a sandbox to build whatever you want. Once you’ve built enough to not have to worry about dying (as much), you can be truly creative. Honestly, it’s a great way to relax. If you haven’t played it yet, don’t let the graphics put you off. After all, it’s popular for a reason.
Metacritic score: 88
Stranded Deep
Imagine this: you’re flying in an airplane over the ocean when your plane goes down (a very familiar premise by now). You end up stranded on a raft, which you can paddle to a nearby island. From there, your job is to find resources, craft items, fish for food, and explore your surroundings. Once your island runs out of resources, you can raft over to another island and start again. But watch out for sharks!
There isn’t a whole lot else to it, but if tropical scenery is more your style, Stranded Deep may be worth a look. As with a couple of others on this list, the game is in early access, so there may still be some lingering bugs.
Metacritic score: TBD
ARK
ARK, like Rust, has no story–at least, not at first. You’re dropped onto the beaches of a giant island with nothing. You craft items and build your shelter, and even play with other people online. Those other players can be your allies or enemies. Again, you could easily find your entire base destroyed by a rival group. So far, it sounds a lot like Rust.
What makes ARKdifferent are the dinosaurs and dragons. Yeah, that’s right. You get all of the survival elements from other games, but the added benefit of being able to tame and ride velociraptors. So that’s cool.
There is a lot of grinding in this game, which can be boring, and there are some bugs to deal with. But overall, it’s pretty clear why the game is so popular. Definitely give it a try.
Metacritic score: 70
Raft
Amongst all the games on this list, Raftis probably the most unique. The premise is simple: you’re stranded on a raft in the middle of the ocean, and you have to survive. Resources are simply the debris that might float by, which you can obtain by throwing a hook out and pulling them in. You can dive down and find certain resources as well, but you’d better watch out for sharks.
What you do with these resources is, of course, up to you. You can build up your raft quite a bit, making it a veritable floating fortress, even make fires and multiple stories.
There isn’t a whole lot else to this game, but it’s pretty fun while it lasts. The game is still in early access, so it’s also fairly inexpensive.
Metacritic score: TBD
Don’t Starve
At first glance, Don’t Starve seems like a cartoonish kids’ game (maybe not more so than Minecraft, but still). In reality, it’s a pretty challenging and unforgiving game. As with many survival games on this list, you spawn in a world that basically wants you dead.
Unlike the others, Don’t Starve has a more whimsical feel to it–both in art style and in the monsters that are always ready to eat you.
It is a survival game, but much more stylized. You need resources like food and shelter, and you can even farm. But once those monsters come, your death means that you have to start all the way over. That can be pretty frustrating, but that’s all part of the challenge. As long as you have some patience, this is a game worth playing.
Metacritic score: 79
Best Survival Game On Steam
Honorable Mentions:
These next games are “survival” in the loosest sense of the word. Really, I guess most games are survival-based, in that you try to not die. The real reason these games get mentioned is because they take place in the wilderness.
Firewatch
One of my all-time favorite games. Set in 1998 and featuring some of the most gorgeous scenery in a video game, Firewatchtells the story of Henry, a man who takes a summer job watching for fires in Wyoming. There’s a lot more to it than that, but I wouldn’t want to spoil anything.
The game is, admittedly, a walking simulator. It’s pretty linear and there’s no big challenge to it, but the story and the scenery are what make the game great.
If you’re craving an outing in nature and can’t get there soon enough, this game can help scratch the itch. For an added bonus, check out the fantastic soundtrack.
Metacritic score: 85
Far Cry: Primal
This one’s a bit of a stretch, I know. Essentially, it’s a Far Cry game set in the stone age. That’s underselling it a bit, but as it pertains to this list, it’ll do.
Best Survival Games Ps4
You play as a neanderthal(?) named Takkar, whose tribe is threatened by several others who want to rule the land.
Since it’s set in the stone age, you’re always surrounded by beautiful mountain landscapes and lush green forests. This is why this game is on the list. It’s a very fun game to play, and as it progresses, you become friends with saber-toothed tigers and mammoths. But I loved playing it because I felt like I was in Glacier National Park the whole time. For that reason alone, it’s worth checking out.
Metacritic score: 76