Best Survival Game

Dwarf Fortress is a freeware construction and management simulation game developed by Bay 12 Games since 2002. The initial alpha version, launched in 2006, was created by a two-person team supported through donations. It presents players with complex challenges involving the survival of subterranean...

Oxygen Not Included is a challenging strategy video game where players manage a group of colonists inhabiting an underground asteroid base. Success depends on carefully balancing resource production like oxygen and food while mitigating hazards such as equipment malfunctions and psychological distre...

Valheim is a survival sandbox game developed by Iron Gate Studio and published by Coffee Stain Publishing. Initial releases occurred in early access for PC platforms in 2021, followed by a release on Xbox One and Series X/S in 2023. The complete version of the game is scheduled for release with vers...

V Rising is a multiplayer action role-playing survival game set in a dark fantasy rendition of Sweden. Players assume the roles of vampires battling for dominance and resources. The game’s notable features include deep combat mechanics, intricate base building, and evolving vampire abilities. It app...

Grounded is a tactical survival simulation game set in rural America during the 2020s. Players assume the role of teenagers who suddenly lose all technology, thrusting them into a world where they must scavenge for resources and contend with dangerous wildlife and other survivors. Developed by Obsid...

Rain World is a survival-platform game where the player controls a slugcat navigating a ruined industrial world. The slugcat seeks its family while contending with dangerous predators and frequent, devastating rainfall. Gameplay involves scavenging for resources and utilizing debris as defensive too...

The Evil Within 2 is a single-player action-adventure survival horror game developed by Tango Gameworks and published by Bethesda Softworks. It continues the story begun in *The Evil Within*, presenting a psychological horror experience set within a shifting, surreal world. The game’s intricate narr...

Pathologic is a survival game created by Ice-Pick Lodge, initially launched in Russia in 2005 and later localized for international audiences. Subsequent releases included updated versions like Pathologic Classic HD and remakes of both the Haruspex and Bachelor routes, with Pathologic 3 completing t...

Scrap Mechanic is a sandbox video game created by Axolot Games for Windows. The initial release offered unlimited building options, achieving top sales and reaching approximately 1–2 million units sold. A subsequent update in 2020 introduced survival mechanics including wildlife and underwater eleme...

Tokyo Jungle is an action survival game set in a post-apocalyptic version of Tokyo. The city has become overrun with wild animals following a transformation into a dangerous wilderness environment. Developed by Crispy's! and Japan Studio, it was released for the PlayStation 3.

In this survival game set on Earth's ocean, players begin on a small raft surrounded by sharks. They must manage basic needs while collecting floating debris to expand their base and craft necessary items. Crafting equipment allows exploration of islands with a narrative element concerning freed sur...

State of Decay is a 2013 action-adventure game where players explore and scavenge for resources to survive against hordes of undead. The gameplay focuses on managing group dynamics – including dwindling supplies, morale, and defense strategies – while combating the zombie threat. It blends elements...

Green Hell is a survival video game set within the Amazon rainforest, initially released in 2019. Subsequent versions were developed for Nintendo Switch (2020), PlayStation 4 and Xbox One (2021), and PlayStation 5/Xbox Series X/S (2024). The final update concluded development in September 2024 with...

Minicraft is a pixelated action-adventure video game created in 2011 as part of Ludum Dare. It offers a simple sandbox survival experience with top-down gameplay reminiscent of classic arcade titles. The game’s rapid development by Markus Persson, the creator of Minecraft, established core mechanics...

Identity V is a mobile strategy video game where players engage in an asymmetrical battle for survival. One player assumes the role of a relentless hunter pursuing five victims. The game’s notable design emphasizes strategic deception and skillful execution. It's primarily enjoyed by players who app...

Don’t Starve is a survival video game created by Klei Entertainment and initially released in 2013 across multiple platforms including Windows, OS X, and Linux. Subsequent versions for PlayStation 4, iOS, Android, Nintendo Switch, and a multiplayer expansion were later developed and released. Downlo...

This looter shooter survival title from Epic Games features cooperative and sandbox gameplay incorporating tower defense elements. It was initially available for purchase on several platforms before shifting to a free-to-play model. The game has been associated with hybrid-third-person perspectives.

Ark: Survival Evolved is a 2017 action-adventure survival game created by Studio Wildcard. Players are stranded on various maps populated with dinosaurs, fantastical creatures, and hazardous environments. The gameplay focuses on resource management and overcoming threats from both wildlife and other...

Conan Exiles is a multiplayer survival game set in a brutal Norse-inspired world based on the Conan the Barbarian stories. Players build bases, craft weapons and armor, and engage in combat within an expansive sandbox environment. It’s designed for players who enjoy challenging survival experiences...

Stranded Deep is a first-person survival adventure game set in post-WWII Australia. Players must navigate treacherous waters and islands following a devastating shipwreck. The game emphasizes realistic resource management including crafting, fishing, hunting, and building shelter. It’s designed for...

Ancestors: The Humankind Odyssey simulates human evolution across vast prehistoric landscapes. Players guide hominin species through millennia, adapting to changing environments and managing survival needs in Africa and beyond. This game offers a unique perspective on early human development suitabl...

Scum is a multiplayer online survival game developed by Gamepires and published by Jagex for Windows. Initially released through Devolver Digital’s Steam Early Access program in August 2018, the title features an open world setting. A full release of the game occurred on June 17, 2025, utilizing Unr...

We Happy Few is an action-adventure game created by Compulsion Games and published by Gearbox Publishing. An initial accessible version debuted in 2016, followed by a full release across PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One in 2018. The title’s development concluded with widespread availability on these...

Just Survive is a survival massively multiplayer online game set during a zombie apocalypse in the United States. Players contend with environmental hazards and other survivors while scavenging for resources and constructing shelters to endure. The game launched in early access in 2015, achieving si...

Metal Gear Survive is a 2018 survival game set between *Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes* and *The Phantom Pain*. The game centers on an MSF soldier establishing a base in a parallel dimension to investigate a viral outbreak transforming humans. It represents the first Metal Gear title developed wi...