They don’t get as much attention as Grand Theft Auto or God of War, but the survival genre is one of the most popular in video games. From Minecraft to Valheim, survival games consistently attract large and passionate fanbases dedicated to building their own unique worlds. They’re driven by rough challenges, an endless amount of content, and the pure satisfaction of building from an axe and a campfire to town, settlements, and even entire cities.
Every entry is unique, but they all share the common element of inviting you to craft your own survival in a hostile world, whether it be filled with monsters, dinosaurs, or giant ants. We picked up our tools and crafted our own list of the best survival games, picking the ones that have the most vibrant communities; the most interesting mechanics, and the most exciting worlds. Here’s our list of the top 10 survival games.
10. Rust
If you have a high pain tolerance, then Rust might be right up your alley! That said, if you're looking for a survival game that will keep you on your toes, Rust is equal parts exhilarating and very difficult. Have we underlined enough that this game is not easy? Rust advertises itself as having only one main objective: survive in a place where everything wants to kill you – the terrain, wildlife, weather, and oh yes, other players.
The game is multiplayer only, so if you thought you were going to build your rustic abode in peace, you thought wrong. At first glance, this game bears a strong resemblance to Ark: Survival Evolved, but the open-world and FPS elements are entirely different. With factions, raids, an electricity system, a huge variety of vehicles including hot air balloons and a massive network of trains, several kinds of highly moddable servers, a robust player base, and fairly frequent improvements and updates, Rust goes well past the "you wake up naked and alone in a deserted area" concept. Bring a friend, or several, if you want to make the most of it. Rust will consume a lot of your time and you will get wrecked.
Read our review of Rust.
9. Grounded
When Grounded released into Early Access back in 2020, it was a concept we couldn’t believe hadn’t already existed. The movie “Honey, I Shrunk the Kids” had already established that there’s a whole tiny world our normal human eyes could never grasp, so it only makes sense that that idea would make its way into a video game. Grounded took that and built a fully-realized survival game around it. Let’s face it, if you suddenly were reduced to insect size and thrown into a backyard, you’d be keen on surviving that ordeal as well.
The bones that Obsidian built Grounded on are typical, but solid, for a survival game. The enemies are all sorts of creepy crawling creatures, and everything else is used to keep yourself alive.
You’ll build clubs from sticks, construct bases using blades of grass, and even wear armor made from the cacasses of the slain. Grounded has a lot going for it, and it’s only in early access. We can’t wait to see what Obsidian cooks up when this micro-size beast of a game hits its full release.
Read our review of Grounded.
8. Valheim
Valheim's semi-impressionist aesthetic and diverse biomes give players plenty to explore and plunder in the 10th world of the Yggdrasil. Contrasting calm and idyllic base-building in early biomes, with heart-thumping battles against giant Trolls and deadly Mosquitos as you depart from the world's center; Valheim gives hours of entertainment for warriors, farmers, and architects alike. Progression in this game hinges on defeating the bosses found in each biome, which in turn increases the diversity of resources you get access to, crafting recipes, and special abilities like reduced damage or increased stamina.
If you've got the warrior spirit, Valheim is the perfect game to fight as Odin's champion and claim your place in Valhalla.
Read our review of Valheim.
7. This War of Mine
This War of Mine is a survival game that stays with you long after you finish its campaign. From its gritty, down-to-earth wartorn setting, its diverse and fleshed-out characters, and a story that pulls no punches. This War of Mine is one of the most heartfelt depictions of what it's like to be a civilian trying to survive in the middle of a brutal and unforgiving civil war.
Its intuitive gameplay makes it easy to get lost in its morally ambiguous narrative and the tough decisions you will need to make to ensure your party's survival. Whether you want to play as an emphatic leader or a ruthless survivor, This War of Mine is a game you can come back to many times over and still find something new.
Read our review of This War of Mine.
6. No Man's Sky
In 2016 there was no game more hyped than No Man's Sky, even crossing over from gaming spaces into the mainstream with developers going on late night talk shows to talk about the game before its release. It all seemed to come crashing down when it was released in August, lacking features that people assumed would be included and offering very little in terms of gameplay to the point where massive amounts of people demanded refunds.
However, if 2016 was the last time you thought about No Man's Sky, then you're doing yourself a disservice. In the years since, No Man's Sky has continued to update and not only is it now the game that so many of us thought we were getting in 2016, it's so much more. You can choose between focusing on scientific research, studying cultures and languages, hunting down Sentinels, categorizing plant and animal life, or a combination of all of it. The game is massive and a completely different journey to every single person who boots it up.
And, yes, you not only can now find strangers in the game — though really only in the mysterious Anomaly — you can also have your friends join you on your adventure. The game is entirely what you make of it, which makes it one of the most exciting survival games on this list.
Read our review of No Man’s Sky.
5. Subnautica
Few survival games capture the terror and isolation of its environment as well as Subnautica. Featuring a lone survivor marooned on an alien world, it journeys deep into extraterrestrial waters filled with monsters large and small (but mostly large, and sometimes absolutely gigantic). Along the way you'll build submarines, undersea bases, and other equipment en route to unraveling the planet's mysteries.
First released in 2016, Subnautica is available on virtually every major platform now, and also supports VR headsets. Despite its stage, its haunting underwater visuals still hold up very well, and few survival games match the anxiety of watching your depleting food and oxygen gauges as you delve into deep trenches and underwater caves. When you finally return to the safety of the Cyclops, it's almost always with a sharp sigh of relief -- the ideal survival game experience.