The best survival games on PC

Survival games are a genre that will always be popular. Players love to challenge themselves. Developers understand these motivations perfectly. Indeed, sitting in a cozy chair in front of a computer, we can feel as if we are in harsh conditions, try things we can't experience in real life.

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As a result, we get adrenaline, excitement, and a wealth of impressions without leaving the monitor. Some survival stories will be remembered for years! This experience is invaluable, so we offer a look at the best survival projects. The list includes both current new releases + veterans of the genre. Gather stones, branches, grab an axe, and get ready — we're starting!

Sons Of The Forest

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Remember the popular TV series Lost? A mystical island, the struggle for survival, and eerie laboratories — all of this glued us to the screen, making us watch every episode without a break. Sons Of The Forest will give you the same effect, but here, you’re the hero of the events.

Hunger is just the initial challenge, as players soon discover other inhabitants who are not happy with guests. Diplomacy won't help, as the hero will face cannibal mutants. The need for a well-fortified camp will arise quickly, aided by an excellent building system.

Players can craft everything: various structures, tools, weapons, medicines, food. This kit will help not only to survive but also to uncover the island's secrets. Where did these creepy mutants come from? How did the network of tunnels, laboratories appear? You'll find answers to these questions.

The Long Dark

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There are no monsters, ghosts, or zombies here. There is only the cold. The inexorable forces of nature are scarier than any creature because the icy wind cannot be defeated. All that remains is to run from shelter to shelter and rejoice at every dim fire that can be lit. If you can't, there will be no salvation. The Long Dark offers a unique opportunity to face real survival in the wild.

The action takes place not on a distant icy planet but on the northern shores of Canada. After a plane crash, the player is left to fend for themselves, with the main tasks throughout the game being not to die from hunger or cold. However, this is not an easy task. Fuel for a fire or stove may not be at hand, and food can be genuinely poisonous.

An extensive crafting system will help the gamer get warm clothing, but here, hunters are more dangerous than humans. Survival, exploration of locations are closely intertwined with the plot, which can keep you engaged until the end. Fans love this project. The title consistently receives updates, remains relevant to this day.

7 Days to Die

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After many years in early access, 7 Days to Die is finally being released in 2024. This unique project offers an incredible survival experience in a zombie apocalypse. Why unique? It’s all about the bloody number "seven". Every seventh day of survival, a horde of zombies descends on the player, and with each week, the monsters become stronger.

There is no storyline yet, the sole objective is survival. This factor doesn't spoil the game, as there is plenty to do. The vast open world is entirely at the players' disposal. Crafting requires a lot of materials, the list of items you can create is enormous. Users can even make transportation!

To defend against the horde, you can build a real fortress with traps, turrets because, besides regular zombies, more terrifying creatures will appear in the world. For instance, a monster that summons other undead or a giant that can withstand a rocket launcher shot. For hardcore enthusiasts, this is the perfect game.

Grounded

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Survival can be quite charming, as seen in Grounded. However, for those afraid of insects, it might be hard to adjust because the character shrinks to incredibly small sizes. Every bug here seems like a giant. All the action takes place in the backyard of a house, but for such tiny characters, it’s a vast territory!

The lawn becomes a forest, puddles turn into seas, and insects transform into the most dangerous monsters. Surviving here is incredibly interesting because there have been no similar games. Players have access to an excellent crafting system, building, technology exploration, room for adventures.

What could be cooler? Co-op mode! With friends, Grounded is an excellent adventure for hundreds of hours. The project continues to develop and receive updates.

Pacific Drive

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Want another unique project in the Survival genre? Then definitely check out the 2024 release, Pacific Drive. At the moment, this is perhaps one of the most atmospheric games. If you enjoy solitude, constant danger, cars, then you simply cannot miss it!

The action takes place in The Olympic Exclusion Zone. For hardcore fans, we’ll say right away that there will be many difficulties. But for those who don’t like to suffer, there’s good news. Users can progress gradually by visiting easier zones to level up. Most locations are generated automatically, making each trip unforgettable and dangerous.

So, the main task is to get out alive. The car, which is closely tied to the player, helps with this. Gamers travel through locations, escape anomalies, and transport loot in it. You need to take care of the car more than yourself, as it will save a life many times. Of course, most of the crafting is centered around the car, resulting in a lot of tuning options!

Enshrouded

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Another 2024 release excellently combines elements of survival/RPG. In the storyline, a mystical mist envelops the world, infecting and deforming all living things. The main character + their allies are chosen bearers of the flame, capable of resisting evil. This reminds one of a well-known game series with hardcore bosses, ash.

There are also challenging bosses, the combat system is generally interesting, varied. Players choose their development path and can become a warrior, an archer ranger, or a mage. In this hostile world, survival is essential, not just fighting. The character needs rest, food, and a safe place. The latter is especially important, so we recommend reading our article on the best base locations here.

Enshrouded features a very cool building system. There are no templates, so you can build anything you want! It also includes landscape design + crafting. You can create weapons, food, equipment, consumables, spells, potions, and much more. This project will appeal to those seeking a great single-player RPG with survival elements.

Medieval Dynasty

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Those who appreciate realism, the medieval era should definitely play Medieval Dynasty. There are no monsters, elves, or dwarves here, but there is beautiful nature, seasons, and the ability to build your own village! On a vast map, the player is free to choose where to establish their settlement. Then begins an exciting survival experience with elements of settlement management.

At first, the character has to build their first house and not die of hunger. The game includes hunting, fishing, gathering, farming, so this task is manageable. But don’t forget that settlers also need food. The village should have everything necessary for a comfortable life, including housing, clothing.

Soon, other houses will appear next to the player's house, as well as production facilities, retail outlets, fields, gardens, walls, cattle pens. Watching the village grow is a real pleasure, especially in cooperative mode. By the way, this project is part of our selection of the best simulators, which you can read here.

Bellwright

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Medieval Dynasty is a meditative title. If you want the same experience but with epic battles, a deeper crafting system, and world exploration, then you should pay attention to this new release. Here, RPG/survival elements are combined again, making the project extremely diverse. As in the previous game, players create settlement, where residents can work and handle routine tasks. However, it’s not that simple.

The player needs to protect the settlement because the world in Bellwright is much more dangerous. To defend against bandits, they must gather an army. To prepare fighters, they need to be hired, equipped, trained. RPG elements are useful here. Skills are upgraded through books obtained by completing quests or purchased. Both the character, the settlement with NPCs level up!

It all starts with tents made of branches, leaves and ends with full-fledged houses, workshops, warehouses, extensive fields. Every parameter can be finely tuned, and resource logistics will keep you engaged. Of course, all this is even more exciting in cooperative mode.

Palworld

Image: Steam

Everyone interested in new games has heard about this one. The much-talked-about Palworld has soared to the top of Steam charts thanks to its incredible combination of survival RPG and a significant nod to the Pokémon universe. Players must survive in a vast, colorful world inhabited by magical creatures, each of which can be caught, tamed, and used for various purposes.

Pals are the main feature. There are many of them, they are diverse, and they are very useful. Some fight alongside the gamer, while others take care of the settlement. Some pets can even be ridden or flown! There are also rare boss creatures, which are hard to obtain but worth the effort.

Interest in the project has waned a bit, but on June 27, 2024, a long-awaited major update will be released, likely bringing Palworld back to the top of Steam. The update will add new Pals, fortresses, arenas, raids, crafting, a new region! You can dive into this new world in either single-player or multiplayer mode. Moreover, anyone can do this with mods, a list of which we have compiled specifically for our readers here.

Soulmask

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Noticed that 2024 has given users many survival games? This isn't all! The very fresh Soulmask has gathered thousands of positive reviews in just a few days. The project is in early access, but it already has enough content to last hundreds of hours. Survival takes place in jungles, mountains on a vast map, with a style that fully reflects the spirit of ancient Mayan, Sumerian tribes.

The world of Soulmask is dangerous, but the player is not defenseless. It features an interesting combat system dependent on the currently equipped weapon. There is also leveling up and crafting of more advanced armor + weapons, with a chance to create legendary items.

For survival, everything you need is provided. You can obtain hides and meat from animals, food from plants. There is ample space for building a settlement where NPCs will join. Players can assign tasks to bots to relieve themselves from routine work. Additionally, you can invite real friends to join you.

Valheim

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It’s impossible to ignore one of the most popular survival project. Especially since a major update was recently released, which is a compelling reason to try the role of a tough Viking. Valkyries transport our Viking to the world of Valheim, divided into vast biomes by Odin’s decree.

Each biome contains a boss, and players must collect a trophy from each. Naturally, they are divided by difficulty level, so the journey will be long, interesting, dangerous. Seriously, even a falling tree can kill the player here! In terms of survival mechanics, the title is excellent. The building system has its own physics, so you'll need to construct in a way that prevents buildings from collapsing.

A fortified camp is indeed necessary, as there will be many workbenches, furnaces, storages. In other aspects, it follows classic survival game mechanics: players explore the world, discover new materials, craft more powerful equipment, defeat bosses. The cooking system deserves special mention — it's so good it makes your mouth water! We highly recommend trying the cooperative mode, as it really brings out the best in the game.

V Rising

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Let's move from the classics to a unique title. V Rising has finally been released, where the player becomes the monster. Surviving as a vampire is not easy. The fang-loving bloodsucker has been lying in a coffin for hundreds of years and is quite decrepit, so early in the title, you'll need to fear every opponent.

At the start, the player will have to drink blood from rats, deer, avoid powerful monsters, and stay out of the sun. Yes, sunlight remains the main enemy until the very end. You can wait out the day in a cozy coffin, but you need a base to place it. Here, the excellent building system comes into play, where a modest camp will eventually transform into a vampire castle!

V Rising includes RPG elements. The vampire has various skills, allowing the player to create a comfortable build. This will be useful as stronger enemies, bosses appear over time. It's best for gamers to play in co-op, as the project is more geared towards joint play.

Project Zomboid

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If you love the TV series The Walking Dead as much as the author of this article does, then Project Zomboid will be the perfect game. Don't judge the project by its graphics, because the atmosphere of a zombie apocalypse is unmatched. Every day survived here is an achievement.

The virtual world is harsh, unforgiving. The developers don't give any concessions. Zombies have excellent hearing, so everything must be done very quietly. Trying to break into a house will make so much noise that it's better not to risk it. Every resource for crafting is hard to come by, food, water will become the player's dream. Everything here is soaked in realism! For example, the character doesn't have a map. There are two options: find a rare GPS or draw a map yourself, but for that, you'll need paper, a pencil.

Over time, the world changes. Electricity is cut off, and food in stores, houses spoils. The player will have to build shelters, farm, keep moving further away from the ever-growing horde. Project Zomboid is frequently updated and is perfect for playing solo or in co-op.

Infection Free Zone

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Think the new releases are over? No! We have another unique 2024 project that will delight players with an interesting feature. A zombie invasion is nothing new, but what if the events take place in your own neighborhood? Infection Free Zone uses special services to build locations based on satellite images!

Familiar houses, landmarks, shops, squares make the gameplay incredibly engaging. Turning the neighborhood into a fortress, you’ll gradually capture, develop buildings, establish fields for farming, and set up infrastructure. Construction, looting, and vehicle repair happen during the day, but at night...

Zombies come out to hunt. They are fast, smart, dangerous. These undead creatures hide in buildings, can climb walls, storm houses, and set up ambushes. With each sunset, the game turns into a tense horror!

RimWorld

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If you're ever asked which title you would take to a deserted island, confidently say RimWorld. This project is so good it will steal thousands of hours from the player! Survival, life simulation, base building, adventures are just the tip of the iceberg. Each game session will be unique!

There are many starting scenarios, but the core is the same — a small group of people finds themselves on an alien planet and tries to survive. Each person (pawn) has not only skill stats but also a personality. A pacifist won't shoot at marauders, while a psychopath might kill a neighbor over a disagreement. You'll have to maintain a delicate balance in the settlement every day.

The world's conditions are harsh. Forest fires, droughts, blizzards, hurricanes won't let anyone relax. The longer the project goes, the harder it gets. However, the balance is maintained. From primitive structures, tools, settlers advance to high technology to fight hunger, enemies, the environment. Recently, RimWorld received a major update.

SCUM

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Would you like to participate in the Hunger Games? Thanks to the multiplayer project SCUM, you can. Players are dropped onto an island filled with cameras. You suffer + survive while viewers on the other side of the screen enjoy the show. It might seem like a classic survival project, but this project has its unique features.

The focus is on hardcore realism. If a user needs to cross a river on a journey, they can't just ford it. No, it’ll have realistic consequences. For example, you'll have to dry clothes, or you'll die of hypothermia. Here, players even need to monitor the pulse! Nobody wants their heart to give out during a fight, right?

Exploring the world and admiring the local scenery is not an option. Behind every bush or stone could be another player, and they certainly won't be friendly because everyone is striving to be the last one standing.

Rust

Image: Steam

Another online title that has been delighting, frustrating players worldwide for many years. Rust is both beautiful, ruthless, as surviving here is very difficult. Hunger + the local wildlife are minor problems. The most dangerous threat is the one who thinks just like you — a fellow human.

A kind and responsive stranger is rarer than legendary loot. Most likely, you'll be killed for resources or just for fun. However, the virtual world is full of communities that players can join for safety, development. It's much safer to live in a hut behind strong walls than in the open field.

If a player manages to survive, there's plenty to do in the game. The building system allows users to construct not only primitive barns but also full-fledged bunkers with turrets, traps. Over time, a stick in hand will be replaced by a machine gun, and a loincloth by a cool armored suit.

DayZ

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DayZ is filled with harsh realism. We can boldly call it a survival simulator in a zombie apocalypse. This unique multiplayer project will provide so many experiences that they could be made into a TV series.

The uniqueness is not in the gameplay — it's quite standard. Players need to find food, water, medicine, and ammunition, stay quiet, avoid angering zombies, and not trust other players. The main feature lies in social interaction. Often, people play their roles. They might help users, lure them into a trap, rob but not kill.

Some servers turn into full-fledged RPGs. Players create communities where everyone has their role. Don't like shooting? You can become a driver, medic, or gatherer. Meanwhile, community members constantly interact, make friends, argue, and even form couples!

No Man's Sky

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In the distant year of 2016, it was hard to imagine that this game would become so popular. The developers not only revived the project but continually update it. With new DLCs, the possibilities expand, and online expeditions with rare rewards are added. The recent update is called Adrift!

The features 18 quintillion planets, each of which the player can land on. How are these numbers possible? The worlds are procedurally generated, as is their content. However, don't expect each one to be unique. The set of tools for the generator is not vast, so you'll soon notice repetitions with slight differences.

Planets differ in their conditions, valuable resources. Survival involves maintaining your spacesuit's life support, gathering resources, crafting new structures, tools, weapons, ships! Additionally, players can fight robots, pirates, and tame alien creatures.

Subnautica

Image: Steam

Rounding out the list is a project that offers a unique underwater survival experience. Subnautica boasts an incredible atmosphere. The deeper the player dives, the more the survival simulator turns into a horror.

The character finds themself alone on a huge planet covered with oceans. No one will come to help. No one will come to aid. Only the remains of those who arrived on the planet before you’re left. Users can escape, but it’ll require a challenging yet very engaging journey.

Subnautica includes all the elements for full-fledged survival. The hero needs food + water, and the world is inhabited by dangerous predators, some of which are too formidable to fight. Add to this a cool base-building system, equipment crafting, and vehicle creation. The result is a stunning game with a unique setting, adventures, an interesting storyline.

We've listed the best survival games to suit any taste so you can find the perfect title. Which of these projects did you like? Share impressions in the comments!

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