Survival games are one of the most immersive genres in gaming. Whether it’s surviving the grim reality of war, the bloodthirsty rage of zombies, or simply battles with neighboring communities, survival games will test all your nerves as you struggle to stay alive.
These games have come a long way since the first video game of its kind, Survival Island, released in 1982. How do you choose between new games and well-known survival game franchises?
The answer will vary from gamer to gamer. We are going to discover the best survival games on PC, as well as the top single and multiplayer survival games on next-gen consoles.
What is a survival RPG game?
Survival games are a subset of action-adventure games. They usually take place in dark, atmospheric, open worlds, and are designed to create a sense of helplessness.
Like an RPG , a survival game features a character that you control and develop as the plot unfolds.
What is the best free survival game?
Currently, the most popular of all free survival games is PUBG: Battlegrounds. Although some consider it a shooter, it requires you to survive to win the battle royale game .
PUBG: Battlegrounds was inspired by the Japanese film Battle Royale and is one of the most popular survival games of all time, with $13 billion in worldwide revenue and over 75 million units sold. This title is chosen as much by fans of casual games as by fans of the genre.
1.Minecraft
Minecraft sandbox game is hands down one of the most popular PC survival games online.
Developed and released by Mojang Studios in November 2011, few could have predicted that this Java-based game would become one of the best- selling downloadable games of all time, proving that video game trends never change . not overnight.
As of 2021, Minecraft has around 140 million monthly active players and has been successfully ported to many platforms. It is also one of the most beloved free games, with an easily accessible browser version.
There are two game modes: creative mode and survival mode, the latter obviously being the reason why this title is considered a survival game.
You have to rely on natural resources to build shelter against monsters that appear in random areas of the game map.
You can craft armor and weapons to protect yourself and kill attackers faster. There is even a multiplayer mode that allows combat between players.
2. Rust
Facepunch Studios’ multiplayer video game Rust first made waves as a PC survival game for Windows and macOS, before releasing three years later on the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. So it’s a cross platform game .
Rust’s concept was initially to act as an imitation of DayZ, which was a successful mod for the ARMA 2 game.
The game has similar features to Minecraft and is all about surviving in nature using the resources you can harvest. Being based on the multiplayer regime, you will also find other human participants in the wild.
These will be your main threats, as they may seek to kill you with weapons. Also beware of wild animals and non-player characters that roam this open-world environment. Rust is a game that will require you to be energized from the first minute to the last.
3. The Forest
The Forest is one of the most talked about new free games in recent years. Released in 2018, it’s one of those enduring horror survival games that sticks in the memory. Endnight Games did an amazing job with this one, transporting you deep into the forest on a remote peninsula.
You take control of the protagonist, Eric LeBlanc, and valiantly attempt to fend off flesh-and-blood-thirsty cannibalistic monsters. At the same time, you are desperately looking for Timmy, Eric’s son, who disappeared after the plane crash.
Nothing will prepare you for the first time you face a real cannibal in the forest. It’s an adrenaline-pumping game that forces you to enter dark and mysterious environments.
4. Subnautica
Head to the depths of the water in the action-adventure game Subnautica from Unknown Worlds Entertainment.
Best PC survival game of the 2010s, it was nominated for the BAFTA Games Award for Original Property, due to its unique concept.
It earned and maintained a 10/10 rating on Steam, which is quite an achievement.
In this single-player game , you play as Ryley Robinson, the sole survivor of a crashed spaceship. The Aurora spacecraft has landed on unknown planet 4546B.
Your mission is to survive and explore the underwater world of 4546B, engaging with its wildlife and building ways to thrive and protect yourself.
In survival mode, you’ll need to maintain vital levels of health, water, food, and oxygen.
5. This War of Mine
This 2014 PC survival game from Polish studio 11 Bit Studios takes a unique twist on the wargame genre by distinctly focusing on civilian life as opposed to life on the front line.
This War of Mine has sold over 7 million copies worldwide and is now among the best games on PC , macOS and consoles, including PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S.
This single player masterpiece has a distinct strategy element, but it retains all the hallmarks of the main survival games.
Unlike most survival games, you lead a group of people rather than an individual. These civilians are fighting to stay alive in the war-ravaged town of Pogoren.
With little or no military skills or experience, these survivors must muster all their strength and courage to stay alive until the ceasefire comes.
6. Valheim
Iron Gate Studio launched sandbox survival game Valheim in early access for Windows and Linux gaming enthusiasts in February 2021. It has since achieved significant critical and commercial success, selling over 5 million units. It’s also one of the most popular survival games on Steam.
This month, Valheim also releases on Xbox One and Series X/S, bringing the fictional Nordic world of Valheim to life on console.
Valheim takes place in an open environment, and you take control of a fallen Viking who ventures into Valheim to prove his worth in the halls of Valhalla. Once your Viking character has been created, you can explore a random world made up of different “biomes”.
Each biome has its own bosses, enemies, and resources. So consider increasing the skill level of your game character to improve their combat and kill the six bosses in the biomes of your world.
7.State of Decay 2
The 2018 release of State of Decay 2 received acclaim after the success of the first State of Decay. Like its predecessor, the sequel tasks players with building a stable community, mining natural resources and weapons to stay alive against the threat of cannibalistic zombies.
As of August 2021, this title which is also part of the mobile games had more than 10 million active participants, making it one of the most popular survival games of the modern era.
This is one of the best zombie-themed survival games, especially among third-person games. Set in an open environment, State of Decay 2 is also part of the multiplayer games and offers cooperative work, with up to three additional players.
You can invite friends to reach the objectives and progress together.
Advice to continue
Get your hands dirty with one of these PC or console survival games and you’ll soon realize how easy it is to waste six hours of an evening playing these types of video games !