Survival video games are a genre of games in which players gather resources and fend off dangers in order to survive. These games often take place in a post-apocalyptic or wilderness setting, and may involve crafting, building shelters, and scavenging for food and supplies. Players may face challenges such as hunger, thirst, and exposure to the elements, and must make strategic decisions in order to stay alive. Survival games often have an element of resource management and require players to think creatively in order to overcome obstacles.
- Frostpunk: Console Edition
- Fallout 4
- Terraria
- The Long Dark
- How To Survive 2
- How to Survive: Storm Warning Edition
- Stranded Deep
- ADR1FT
- Fade to Silence
- Fallout 76
- Unturned
1. Frostpunk: Console Edition (2019)
Frostpunk: Console Edition is a survival strategy game set in a dystopian world where a global ice age has left humanity on the brink of extinction. Players must manage a colony of survivors and make difficult decisions to ensure their survival in the harsh winter environment. The game features a dynamic narrative system that reacts to the player’s choices, leading to multiple branching storylines.
Players must also manage resources, build and upgrade structures, and lead their citizens through the challenges of living in a frozen world. The game’s visual and audio design create a tense and immersive atmosphere, and the console edition includes all of the content from the original PC version, as well as new features such as a shorter main campaign and a new tutorial system for console players.
Metacritic Score | 87 |
Subscription | Extra |
Game Length | 23 hours |
ESRB Rating | Mature |
Theme | Steampunk, Post-apocalypse |
2. Fallout 4 (2015)
Fallout 4 is an action role-playing game set in a post-apocalyptic world. Players assume the role of a survivor who is searching for their missing child in the ruins of Boston, Massachusetts. The game features a vast open-world environment, allowing players to explore and interact with a variety of non-playable characters and factions.
The game also has a focus on crafting and building, allowing players to create and customize their own settlements. Players must navigate a world filled with mutated creatures and radiation, and make difficult moral choices that affect the outcome of the game. Fallout 4 also features a deep character progression system, allowing players to tailor their character’s skills and abilities to their playstyle.
Metacritic Score | 87 |
Subscription | Essential, Extra |
Game Length | 81 hours |
ESRB Rating | Mature |
Theme | Post-apocalypse |
3. Terraria (2014)
Terraria is a 2D sandbox adventure game developed by Re-Logic. It was initially released in 2011 and has since been made available on various platforms, including PC, console, and mobile. In the game, players are able to explore, build, and survive in a variety of biomes and environments.
The game has both single player and multiplayer modes, and players can customize their own characters and choose from a variety of items and equipment to aid them in their adventures. Players can also craft and build their own structures and items, and they can battle against a variety of enemies and bosses.
Terraria has received praise for its expansive world, creative building mechanics, and engaging gameplay. It has a strong community of players and modders, and the game has received numerous updates and expansions since its initial release.
Metacritic Score | 83 |
Subscription | Extra |
Game Length | 95.5 hours |
ESRB Rating | Teen |
Theme | Fantasy, Sci-fi |
4. The Long Dark (2017)
The Long Dark is a survival game set in the Northern wilderness after a global disaster has knocked out all power and communication. The player takes on the role of a pilot who must navigate the harsh wilderness and find a way to survive. The game features a wide variety of challenges, including hunting, scavenging for resources, and building shelter.
The player must also keep an eye on their health, hunger, and fatigue levels as they try to stay alive. The game has a realistic and atmospheric feel, with beautiful graphics and immersive gameplay. It has received praise for its challenging gameplay and attention to detail, with players saying that it truly feels like they are fighting to survive in the wilderness.
Metacritic Score | 75 |
Subscription | Extra |
Game Length | 49 hours |
ESRB Rating | Teen |
Theme | Post-apocalypse |
5. How To Survive 2 (2017)
How To Survive 2 is a survival action-RPG video game set in a post-apocalyptic world. Players must navigate and survive through a hostile environment filled with zombies, mutated creatures, and other dangers. The game features a crafting system that allows players to create weapons, tools, and other items to help them survive.
Players can also choose to play as one of four different characters, each with their own unique abilities and skills. The game also includes a multiplayer mode, where players can team up with friends and work together to overcome challenges. Overall, How To Survive 2 offers an immersive and challenging gameplay experience for players looking to test their survival skills.
Metacritic Score | 67 |
Subscription | Extra |
Game Length | 30 hours |
ESRB Rating | Mature |
Theme | Horror, Post-apocalypse |
6. How to Survive: Storm Warning Edition (2017)
How to Survive: Storm Warning Edition is a survival horror video game set on a fictional archipelago called Los Riscos. The player is stranded on the island after their plane crashes and must navigate their way through various challenges and dangers, such as raging storms and zombie-like creatures known as “the Infected.”
The player must scavenge for resources and craft weapons and tools to defend themselves and survive on the island. The game features a dynamic weather system that affects gameplay and can cause issues such as flooding and lightning strikes. There are also various mini-games and quests to complete, as well as the option to play with up to three other players in cooperative multiplayer mode.
Metacritic Score | 65 |
Subscription | Extra |
Game Length | 17.5 hours |
ESRB Rating | Mature |
Theme | Horror, Post-apocalypse |
7. Stranded Deep (2017)
Stranded Deep is a survival game developed by Beam Team Games. It is set in an open-world environment where players are stranded on a deserted island in the Pacific Ocean. The game allows players to explore the island, gather resources, and build shelters to survive harsh conditions.
Players must also fend off dangerous wildlife and avoid potential dangers such as shark attacks and storms. The game features a day and night cycle, which affects gameplay and adds a sense of realism. Players can also dive into the ocean and explore the coral reefs and shipwrecks to find resources and uncover secrets.
Metacritic Score | 64 |
Subscription | Extra |
Game Length | 34.5 hours |
ESRB Rating | Mature |
8. ADR1FT (2016)
ADR1FT is set in a destroyed space station orbiting Earth. Players assume the role of an astronaut who must navigate the wreckage and find a way to return to Earth. To survive, players must manage their oxygen levels and repair systems on the station.
The game features a first-person perspective and includes tasks such as solving puzzles and repairing damaged equipment. The game also has a narrative element, with players uncovering clues about the disaster that caused the destruction of the space station.
ADR1FT offers a unique and immersive experience, as players must use their skills and resourcefulness to survive in a harsh and dangerous environment.
Metacritic Score | 56 |
Subscription | Extra |
Game Length | 6 hours |
ESRB Rating | Teen |
Theme | Sci-fi |
9. Fade to Silence (2019)
Fade to Silence is a survival game set in a post-apocalyptic world where players must brave the harsh winter elements and fight off various creatures. Gameplay involves scavenging for resources, building and upgrading shelters, and crafting weapons and tools. Players can also recruit and manage a team of followers, each with their own skills and personalities.
The game features a dynamic weather system and a day/night cycle that affects gameplay and enemy behavior. The lore of the game revolves around a mysterious figure known as the Ash King, who is said to have caused the apocalypse and now haunts the world as a supernatural force.
Metacritic Score | 55 |
Subscription | Extra |
Game Length | 38 hours |
ESRB Rating | Mature |
Theme | Post-apocalypse |
10. Fallout 76 (2018)
Fallout 76 is an online multiplayer action role-playing game set in a post-apocalyptic wasteland. Players must navigate the dangers of the wasteland and fight against mutated creatures and other players in order to survive. The game includes survival elements such as scavenging for resources, building shelter, and managing hunger and thirst.
The setting is based on West Virginia and includes references to real-life locations and events. The gameplay includes both first-person combat and base-building elements, as well as a variety of quests and objectives to complete. The game also includes a significant amount of lore and storytelling, with players able to discover and explore the history of the wasteland and the events leading up to the apocalypse.
Metacritic Score | 53 |
Subscription | Extra |
Game Length | 110 hours |
ESRB Rating | Mature |
Theme | Post-apocalypse |
11. Unturned (2020)
Unturned is a survival game set in a post-apocalyptic world where players must scavenge for resources, craft items, and fend off zombie hordes in order to survive. The gameplay involves exploring various locations, including cities, forests, and military bases, and interacting with other players online.
Players can choose to play as different characters and customize their appearance and skills. In addition to zombies, players must also beware of other dangers such as wild animals and environmental hazards.
The game features a variety of weapons and vehicles, including cars, boats, and planes, to help players navigate the world. There is also a rich lore within the game, including different factions and storylines that players can discover as they progress.
Metacritic Score | No score |
Subscription | Extra |
Game Length | 48.5 hours |
ESRB Rating | Teen |
Theme | Post-apocalypse |