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• Best Survival Games On Steam
• Best Survival Games Xbox One
• Best Survival Games 2021
• Best Survival Games
• Best Survival Games 2020
• Best Survival Games Xbox One

The game’s survival difficulty is the best way to experience Starbound with a ready and willing space buddy at your side. ‘The Wild Eight’. The rise of the survival game is probably the most significant new gaming trend of the 2010s. Popularised by games like Minecraft and DayZ, survival games see players pitched against the.

It’s certainly hard out here in these digital streets, forests, and other locales that forces one to fight for their very lives.

Your chances of making it out of a dangerous situation with all your limbs intact increases when you have a friend or two close by. That same sentiment applies to the fun factor that’s present in many of the finest survival games on the market today. The titles we’ve compiled for this list of recommendable games will push you to your very limits as you fight alongside your friends to emerge as the last team standing. There’s danger around every corner in all of these enjoyable releases, which means you’ll have to rely on your know-how and the knowledge of your local/online buddies in order to stay alive for as long as possible.

These are 25 of the best multiplayer survival games that you definitely want to take for a spin.

1. ‘Among Us’

There’s a super sus imposter on the loose. And it’s up to you and your trusted crewmates to sniff them out and vote them off the ship if/when you catch them in the act of murder. As the imposter, your duty entails sabotaging everyone else’s ship tasks and eliminating whoever’s left alive. Among Us has transformed from a little known indie gem into a mega-popular online multiplayer social deduction game that shows no signs of slowing down.

2. ‘Left 4 Dead’ (Series)

Blasting zombies with your friends is considered top-tier entertainment. The series that replicates that experience so well is Valve’s Left 4 Dead, which challenges four players to fight for their survival while contending with an undead menace. Both games offer up varied campaigns that present its survivors with different circumstances to overcome and a whole lot of brain-eaters to mow down. Make sure you give both of these classic FPS games a spin before you move onto their spiritual successor, Back 4 Blood.

3. ‘Second Extinction’

Planet Earth now belongs to the dinos. And what makes this development even worse is the fact that those massive creatures have mutated into something far more sinister. Second Extinction is all about teaming up with two other allies in an effort to take back their home planet. And the best method towards reaching that objective is by using a huge assortment of firearms to blast those dino hordes to bits. It’s time to join the war effort against Earth’s new ruling class and give humanity the upper hand it so desperately needs.

4. ‘Dead by Daylight’

Dead by Daylight is a terrifying game of cat and mouse. As one of four survivors, you’ll need to band together to escape the wrath of a crazed killer who’s out to sacrifice you to an evil entity. If you’re in the mood to play the villain, then go on ahead and choose that option if you’d like. Dead by Daylight has maintained its popularity since launching thanks to the inclusion of recognizable horror icons, such as Leatherface, Freddy Krueger, and Ghostface.

5. ‘Rust’

Rust throws you and a vast community of other survivors onto a map with one aim in mind – survive. You’ll need to brave the dangers of the wild as you hunt animals for food, build yourself a home, and keep the elements at bay that can lead to your demise. You’ll need to arm yourself well if you have any hopes of killing other players and coming out of the winning end of raids. Rust is a kill or be killed type of game that tests your survival skills to the fullest.

6. ‘Raft’

Living out the rest of your days on a hastily put together raft doesn’t have to suck. Raft gives you the opportunity to link up with a few other drifters for some island exploring and other fun endeavors at sea. You’ll help out your seafaring buds as everyone gathers a bevy of useful goods, fends off hungry sharks, and builds their raft into something a bit more grandiose. Raft is all about making the best of you and your online buddies’ perilous sea voyage.

7. ‘ARK: Survival Evolved’

Waking up in your birthday suit on an island full of domineering creatures is pretty damned frightening. But once you get over that initial fear and come to grips with your current situation, you’ll gradually morph into a courageous survivor. ARK: Survival Evolved follows a massive community of male and female avatars that do their best to survive. And that entails killing or taming feral animals, developing a tribe with your friends, using crafting essentials to produce the items you and your people need, etc.

8. ‘Don’t Starve Together’

The multiplayer component to the hit survival game Don’t Starve encapsulates everything that made that title grab a whole lot of people’s attention. You and another miniature avatar must work as a unit in order to stay alive within the unfriendly wilderness. Don’t Starve Together’s Tim Burton inspired art style will most certainly attract you, while its harsh survival gameplay will force you to adapt and use teamwork to thrive in an uncompromising world.

9. ‘Hunt: Showdown’

Hunt: Showdown makes everyone that plays it a cunning bounty hunter who’s out to capture the biggest targets. It just so happens that those targets are supernatural monsters that take a strong concerted effort to catch. You and your two fellow hunters will battle it out on spacious maps containing other fervent hunters who also want to cash in on the current bounty. Solo players and teams can tap into a myriad of guns, crossbows, melee weapons, and traps in order to capture the mythical creature and make it to the extraction point in one piece. Plus you’ll need to keep an eye out for players looking to steal your prize and cut off your great escape at all times.

10. ‘Dying Light’

Techland’s zombie survival classic actually isn’t the most obvious pick (we’re alluding to Dead Island for those not in the know). That honor goes to Dying Light, which mixes in first-person parkour platforming and intense zombie combat encounters. Dying Light’s multiplayer components come in the form of a four-player co-op mode that lets everyone tackle the main campaign together and a mode that lets you take on the role of a bloodthirsty zombie. Tearing up the human population as an undead killer is cool and all, but hopping around the game’s open-world expanse of Harran is where the survival fun truly lies.

11. ‘7 Days to Die’

Zombies rule the world in this one. You can choose to take a stand against them and thrive in it via the main campaign or multiplayer portion. 7 Days to Die’s multiplayer setup flings you and your friends into a randomly generated expanse. And in order to make the best of a bad situation, you and your crew will have to explore, craft, build, and do so much more. Raiding other players’ bases can be accomplished, as well as getting into bloody skirmishes with a slew of rabid zombies. 7 Days to Die’s focus on zombies may not be wholly original, but it manages to make that gameplay concept an interesting one.

12. ‘Killing Floor 2’

Those crazed Zeds from the first Killing Floor have now gone global. Due to their aggressive nature, they’ve caused an international outbreak that has spread beyond Europe. It’s up to you and five other players to bring down the Zeds’ growing numbers simply by shooting them down with some of the most inventive weapons you’ll ever see. Killing Floor 2 is an incredibly satisfying co-op shooter that makes you take on hordes of rabid baddies and even lets you become one of those ferocious Zeds yourself.

13. ‘PLAYERUNKNOWN’S BATTLEGROUNDS’

The battle royale shooter that dominated Twitch before Fortnite hit the scene is still kicking to this very day. Thanks to the game’s additional DLC seasons, PUBG has expanded by featuring new maps, gameplay changes, and rewards. The basis for PUBG revolves around 100 players being dropped on a huge space and fighting it out until there’s only one survivor left standing. You won’t get to rely on building up structures to block incoming shots here – relying on your wits, gathered materials, and careful aim are PUBG’s most essential roads to victory.

14. ‘Conan Exiles’

At the very beginning of Conan Exiles, Conan the Barbarian himself saves you from certain doom. After regaining your freedom, you take your custom character out into a harsh open-world sandbox and attempt to build yourself into someone with great importance. Aligning yourself with other players’ means you’ll be embroiled in all sorts of activities, such as base building/defending, bloody combat encounters, animal capturing, etc. Conan Exiles’ survival mechanics make total sense when paired with the mythical locale of the game’s Exiled Lands. Be sure to take a side tour to the Frozen North for an extra chilly challenge, too.

15. ‘Grounded’

What if you were shrunk down to a microscopic size and were forced to live a new life in your own backyard? That’s the loaded question that Grounded asks of its player base. And the answers delivered thus far have been fascinating. The miniature youngsters running around this fun take on survival games must carefully manage their hunger/dehydration levels, steer clear of dangerous insects, and uncover new sections of their new home. Crafting essential weapons/traps out of the resources you’ll gather and developing a mini fortress is that much more fun with three friends close by.

16. ‘SCUM’

SCUM is a self-described “prison riot survival game.” If that description entices you, then keep on reading. Up to 100 players are set upon a private island centered in Croatia. Those players are set up as prisoners who are forced to fight for their lives and freedom while competing on a twisted game show. The fame you earn from certain actions can better your progress as it goes towards beneficial items. SCUM features deep character customization, crafting, and combat systems that make every moment within it feel as close to real-life as possible. Did you just drop a butt nugget somewhere on the map? Whoever finds it can use it to track you and kill you, so poop wisely.

17. ‘DayZ’

DayZ is another one of those survival games that tests your will as you struggle to hold on during a zombie apocalypse. Not only do you have to defend yourself from the infected, but you’ll also need to steer clear of shady survivors. The rest of the player population is filled with folks who are out to get you and take all of your supplies, but there are also trustworthy players who can help you survive a bit longer than usual. Gather your goods, build yourself a home, and fend off debilitating diseases if you have any hopes of thriving in DayZ’s perilous world.

18. ‘Outward’

The vast landscape within Outward presents a myriad of threats that you must overcome. Besides vile creatures, your character also has to contend with harsh temperatures, sickness, hunger, and other familiar survival game elements. Outward presents all of its survival mechanics within a fantasy RPG shell and lets you enjoy all of its magic-infused combat with a friend. Be wary of the decisions you make in this game – its constant auto-saving feature means you’ll have to live with every decision (good or bad) you make during your arduous co-op excursion.

19. ‘Terraria’

If your favorite Metroidvania game had a baby with Minecraft, Terraria would be the end result. It’s a 2D sprite based sandbox game that incorporates building, exploring, mining, fighting, etc. All of those survival game characteristics are all the more fun when you choose to enjoy them with a bite-sized buddy. Terraria’s multiplayer also features PvP elements that let you battle it out with other players and even teams that are out for blood. Dig as deep as you can in Terraria and see how far you can go.

20. ‘Starbound’

Starbound is pretty much a rendition of Terraria that delves into space travel and planetary discovery. The game’s procedurally generated quests give your bounty hunter a wealth of intriguing missions to complete. You can even ignore that profession altogether and live out your days as an outer space farmer, intergalactic landlord, creature collector, or whatever else tickles your fancy. The game’s survival difficulty is the best way to experience Starbound with a ready and willing space buddy at your side.

21. ‘The Wild Eight’

Ask anyone if they’d be willing to live in Alaska and they’d most likely answer with a definite no. But we’re sure those very same folks would be a lot more open to braving Alaska’s frigid temperatures in video game form. The Wild Eight is one of those games. Up to eight players will have to embark on a dangerous trek after surviving a mysterious plane crash. You’ll need all the help you can get since blizzards and beasts can kill you in an instant. The Wild Eight’s stirring plot and well-tuned gameplay are definitely worth the price of admission.

22. ‘Minecraft’

Best Survival Games On Steam

Crafting and building in peace are at the forefront of one of the world’s most beloved games known as Minecraft. But its multiplayer survival mode presents a more worthwhile challenge for players looking to push their limits to the extreme. You and your blocky buds need to eat good, build homes, and craft battle-ready gear in an effort to stay alive for as long as possible. Ready yourself for battle against zombies, spiders, the dreaded Enderman, and more as you maneuver through Minecraft’s addictive survival mode.

23. ‘State of Decay 2: Juggernaut Edition’

When State of Decay 2 first launched, it wasn’t without its fair share of glitches and bugs. The retooled Juggernaut Edition does away with those nagging issues while also remastering the game’s visuals and featuring all of its engrossing DLC. You and three additional post-apocalyptic remnants must band together to deal with incoming zombie hordes as a part of the game’s Daybreak Pack. Plus you can choose to play State of Decay 2’s main campaign with three extra survivors for even more zombified multiplayer thrills.

24. ‘No Man’s Sky’

The redemption arc tied to No Man’s Sky is nothing short of remarkable. It went from an utter disappointment to a space exploration epic that finally realized its full potential. The most current iteration of the game looks, sounds, and plays a lot better than its original incarnation. Up to 32 players can hop into the same session and take on the game’s survival mode difficulty. Enemies are harsher, resources are scarcer, and hazards are far more plentiful (unfortunately) in No Man’s Sky’s tougher gameplay setup.

25. ‘No More Room in Hell’

As one of eight survivors, you’ll need to defend yourself from the shambling (and always hungry) undead menace in No More Room in Hell. This mission is all the more arduous since weapons and ammo are a lot harder to come by, which means your encounters with waves of zombies can be nail-bitingly hard if you’re not properly prepared. Keep in mind that the farther you are from your friends, the harder it is for them to hear you over their headsets. Defend your shelter, shoot down the zombie opposition, and hold on long enough so everyone can get extracted from their harrowing circumstances in No More Room in Hell.

Sometimes you just need an escape. For some, this might mean a good movie or visiting with friends. I’ve always enjoyed video games, and there’s something even more enjoyable about games that feature open landscape and with challenge of surviving against the elements.

So, I’ve made a list of the best games I’ve found that are either straight-up wilderness survival, or at the very least, invoke that special feeling of being alone in the great outdoors.

Let’s get right to it.

The Forest

First up on the list is The Forest, a game that pits you not only against the elements, but also a tribe of mutant cannibals that are intent on getting you out of their territory–one way or another.

After your plane crashes on a remote peninsula, you’re forced to immediately get to work crafting shelter, finding food, and getting a fire going. If that weren’t enough, your son is abducted by the cannibals, and so begins the journey of getting him back.

With fantastic graphics and a compelling story, The Forest is equal parts survival game and slow-burn horror. There are no outright scares, per se, but it can be very unsettling at times. Having to survive hunger and thirst as well as the raging cannibals makes for a very good game.

Metacritic score: 83

The Long Dark

Unlike The Forest, The Long Dark is more straightforward survival. Rather than a tribe of cannibals, your greatest enemies are the biting cold, starvation, and ravenous wolves.

You begin the game in an airplane, which, of course, crashes. A global event has essentially destroyed all electronics, and the game wastes no time. You have to crawl out of the wreckage and get shelter, or you freeze to death. But shelter is nothing without fire–at least, not in a blizzard. Eventually, you’ll need to find civilization. That is, if the wolves don’t get you first.

The game has a story mode as well, but where it really shines is in its sandbox approach. Your only task is to stay alive for as long as you can. Suffice to say, that’s much easier said than done.

Metacritic score: 75

State of Decay 2

The first on our list to feature zombies, State of Decay 2 is a game that wastes no time. There is a faint storyline, but the focus is put squarely on surviving an onslaught of walking dead. Your goal is to scavenge supplies and build up your base, and eventually strike back at the zombie hordes by attacking their “bases.”

Resources are limited, so ammunition and even gasoline must be rationed.

One neat feature of the game is that you play as one of four characters, each with their own abilities and stats. But if one of them dies, they’re gone forever–including all the work you put into leveling them up. This gives the game some nice added tension.

There are some bugs to worry about, but overall, the State of Decay 2 is worth your time.

Metacritic score: 66

The Last of Us

The Last of Us is a game that needs little introduction; it’s one of the best games of all time–zombie survival or otherwise.

You play as Joel, a man who’s lost everything he ever cared for. He is soon reluctantly tasked with transporting a girl who appears to be immune to the zombie virus across the country, where her unique ability might be the key to saving humanity.

Joel is no superhuman, either. You need to avoid or sneak up on the zombies because if you go in guns blazing, you’ll get mobbed and eaten pretty quickly. It doesn’t help that ammo is hard to come by, so stealth and strategy are critical.

The gameplay is fantastic, the graphics are great, but it’s the story that really hits home. If you don’t finish the game having shed a few tears, you just might be a zombie yourself.

Metacritic score: 95

The Last of Us 2

Of course, this is the sequel to the very popular The Last of Us. Still a Playstation exclusive, The Last of Us 2 takes place years after the events of the first game.

Things are grittier, darker, and for the characters, even more brutal. In this outing, surviving the zombies is the easy part. It’s the living that pose the greatest threat.

You can buy it here.

Metacritic score: 93

Days Gone

In Days Gone, you play as a grizzled ex-biker in a post-apocalyptic world, filled with–you guessed it–zombies. What sets this game apart isn’t necessarily its setting, but the gameplay. The zombies in this game can be truly overwhelming: they’re fast and they move in huge numbers. Unlike The Last of Us, the guns-blazing technique might work–but only if you’re lucky.

The game is fully open-world, so missions and progression are left up to the player. Do what you want, but be careful. Of course, as with any post-apocalypse narrative, the real antagonists of Days Gone aren’t the zombies. They’re the people you encounter.

You can order it here, but keep in mind it’s only available for the PS4.

Metacritic score: 71

Rust

In Rust, there is no story. You’re dropped into a world with nothing, naked, and your only purpose is to not die. This is, of course, easier said than done. Get food, get fire, and build a shelter.

What sets Rust apart is its community aspect. You can build up your own dwelling, or you can do it with friends and make a whole town. You can even raid other players’ bases and take their supplies for yourself. In fact, one of the hardest things in the game is leaving your base and coming back only to find it ransacked.

That’s what makes Rust so compelling. It’s a true survival scenario, in a way. But it can also be very frustrating. Play at your own risk.

Metacritic score: 69

Minecraft

The cultural phenomenon that is Minecraft needs no introduction. Even if you haven’t played it, you know exactly what it is. But for all its popularity, the game is still a fun way to pass the time.

At its core, Minecraft is indeed a survival game. You’re dropped into a randomly-generated world. There are things in that world that will kill you quickly. Shelter has to be built quickly.

Of course, beyond the survival elements and the world-exploration, Minecraft is essentially a sandbox to build whatever you want. Once you’ve built enough to not have to worry about dying (as much), you can be truly creative. Honestly, it’s a great way to relax. If you haven’t played it yet, don’t let the graphics put you off. After all, it’s popular for a reason.

Metacritic score: 88

Stranded Deep

Imagine this: you’re flying in an airplane over the ocean when your plane goes down (a very familiar premise by now). You end up stranded on a raft, which you can paddle to a nearby island. From there, your job is to find resources, craft items, fish for food, and explore your surroundings. Once your island runs out of resources, you can raft over to another island and start again. But watch out for sharks!

There isn’t a whole lot else to it, but if tropical scenery is more your style, Stranded Deep may be worth a look. As with a couple of others on this list, the game is in early access, so there may still be some lingering bugs.

Best Survival Games Xbox One

Metacritic score: TBD

ARK

ARK, like Rust, has no story–at least, not at first. You’re dropped onto the beaches of a giant island with nothing. You craft items and build your shelter, and even play with other people online. Those other players can be your allies or enemies. Again, you could easily find your entire base destroyed by a rival group. So far, it sounds a lot like Rust.

What makes ARKdifferent are the dinosaurs and dragons. Yeah, that’s right. You get all of the survival elements from other games, but the added benefit of being able to tame and ride velociraptors. So that’s cool.

There is a lot of grinding in this game, which can be boring, and there are some bugs to deal with. But overall, it’s pretty clear why the game is so popular. Definitely give it a try.

Metacritic score: 70

Raft

Amongst all the games on this list, Raftis probably the most unique. The premise is simple: you’re stranded on a raft in the middle of the ocean, and you have to survive. Resources are simply the debris that might float by, which you can obtain by throwing a hook out and pulling them in. You can dive down and find certain resources as well, but you’d better watch out for sharks.

What you do with these resources is, of course, up to you. You can build up your raft quite a bit, making it a veritable floating fortress, even make fires and multiple stories.

There isn’t a whole lot else to this game, but it’s pretty fun while it lasts. The game is still in early access, so it’s also fairly inexpensive.

Metacritic score: TBD

Don’t Starve

Best Survival Games 2021

At first glance, Don’t Starve seems like a cartoonish kids’ game (maybe not more so than Minecraft, but still). In reality, it’s a pretty challenging and unforgiving game. As with many survival games on this list, you spawn in a world that basically wants you dead.

Unlike the others, Don’t Starve has a more whimsical feel to it–both in art style and in the monsters that are always ready to eat you.

It is a survival game, but much more stylized. You need resources like food and shelter, and you can even farm. But once those monsters come, your death means that you have to start all the way over. That can be pretty frustrating, but that’s all part of the challenge. As long as you have some patience, this is a game worth playing.

Best Survival Games

Metacritic score: 79

Honorable Mentions:

These next games are “survival” in the loosest sense of the word. Really, I guess most games are survival-based, in that you try to not die. The real reason these games get mentioned is because they take place in the wilderness.

Firewatch

One of my all-time favorite games. Set in 1998 and featuring some of the most gorgeous scenery in a video game, Firewatchtells the story of Henry, a man who takes a summer job watching for fires in Wyoming. There’s a lot more to it than that, but I wouldn’t want to spoil anything.

The game is, admittedly, a walking simulator. It’s pretty linear and there’s no big challenge to it, but the story and the scenery are what make the game great.

If you’re craving an outing in nature and can’t get there soon enough, this game can help scratch the itch. For an added bonus, check out the fantastic soundtrack.

Metacritic score: 85

Best Survival Games 2020

Far Cry: Primal

This one’s a bit of a stretch, I know. Essentially, it’s a Far Cry game set in the stone age. That’s underselling it a bit, but as it pertains to this list, it’ll do.

Best Survival Games Xbox One

You play as a neanderthal(?) named Takkar, whose tribe is threatened by several others who want to rule the land.

Since it’s set in the stone age, you’re always surrounded by beautiful mountain landscapes and lush green forests. This is why this game is on the list. It’s a very fun game to play, and as it progresses, you become friends with saber-toothed tigers and mammoths. But I loved playing it because I felt like I was in Glacier National Park the whole time. For that reason alone, it’s worth checking out.

Metacritic score: 76