Surviving the harsh world against all odds has been a popular trend in gaming in recent times. Day in and day out, the player fight against all odds has inspired many games to be created. From apocalyptic landscapes to entire new planets to be colonized, here are 20 of the best survival game that is amazing.

 

20) Mist Survival

Mist Survival - Early Access Trailer

Mist Survival is an Early Access game by Dimension 32 Entertainment. Mist Survival is a survival stealth sandbox that brings survival elements with base building to survive against the pandemic that has ravaged the world.

What Makes Mist Survival Amazing:

• Base building mechanics allow you to create your own unique base to hold you and your allies in
• Active development and dev team working on improvements and additions
• Manage your hunger, thirst, sleep, and allies to survive and thrive

One of the NPC’s that you can manage and work with. A Friendly NPC you can talk to and equip items you want them to have.

Is anybody there? The world is desolate and quite since now, the dead roam for brains!

You can buy the game from: https://store.steampowered.com/app/914620/Mist_Survival/

 

19) Barotrauma

Barotrauma Pre Early Access Trailer (Alpha Footage)

Our next entry, Barotrauma, is a refreshing new concept for the genre. You take control of a ship on Jupiter, fighting for survival and aliens. This Early Access game shows great promise as development continues!

What Makes Barotrauma Amazing:

• Intense gameplay as  you pilot through the cold, dark depths of Jupiter and hope the leviathan of aliens don't get you
• Edit your submarines, procedural animations and characters to your liking with a robust system
• Explore the depths of Jupiter to find alien ruins, wrecks of other submarines, and more! 

One of the many enemies you will face, do not let the darkness of Jupiter consume you… 

Example of the UI and one of your crewmates that you have for the expedition.

You can get the game here: https://store.steampowered.com/app/602960/Barotrauma/

 

18) RimWorld

RimWorld Launch Trailer

RimWorld is a survival game that takes place on distant planets as your little contingent of colonists fights to strive. RimWorld offers a great sci-fi theme for an amazing survival game that will test you and your colonists.

What Makes RimWorld Amazing:

•  Lead a group of colonist in survival in a foreign planet against hostile animals, volatile weather conditions and other humans
•  Choose your colony site wisely, as certain regions had certain advantages and disadvantages
•  A strong modding community to expand the base game to your catering!

Create your own base to shelter your colonists from the elements and dangers of the world.

Who left the campfire lit? In Rimworld, a fire will spread and burn off oxygen, so be mindful!

Get the game here: https://store.steampowered.com/app/294100/RimWorld/

 

17) Raft

Raft - Launch Trailer

Raft has the player try to survive on a raft lost deep in the sea. Raft is an Early Access game that offers a cool spin on the survival genre. How long can you stay afloat before disaster?

What Makes Raft Amazing:

•  Multiplayer to play with your friends and survive on a raft together 
•  Still in active development with new content being created and added to the game
•  A crafting system that improves your raft and increases survival odds.

Sharks seem to like the taste of plywood…. and you! 

This is your home for the time being. Patched work raft needs some upgrades, so get to fishing that plywood! 

Get the game here: https://store.steampowered.com/app/648800/Raft/

 

16) No Man’s Sky

No Man’s Sky - Launch Trailer|PS4

Our next entry is No Man’s Sky, a game that has heavily improved since release. No Man’s Sky offers hundreds of planets to explore, alien civilizations to interact with and alien lifeforms to record and observe. No Man’s Sky is a great game for those who like the exploration of a vast universe.

What Makes No Man’s Sky Amazing:

• It offers a large, vast universe to explore endlessly with friends!
• Massive new update (Beyond) adds much more to the game with more to come!
• Collect resources and technology to upgrade your ship and tools to assist you in the exploration of the universe  

Collecting resources to upgrade yourself is only part of the job. 

The vivid imagery this game provides is massive! Creating a base on a planet has never been as immersive! 

Get the game here: https://store.steampowered.com/app/275850/No_Mans_Sky/

 

15) Banished

Banished Gameplay Trailer

Banished is a city-building strategy game with the main objective is to keep your citizens alive and well. Build a thriving society or perish in the unrelenting game that is Banished

What Makes Banished Amazing:

• Build your own city from the ground up, manage things like how will you citizens eat and how much wood to chop
• Manage your own citizen personally as you give them commands to chop wood, hunt deer, plant crops, etc.
• Appropriate resources properly or your city will crumble! An example is that if you decide to chop too much forest, then deer and potential medicine will die out!

City on the rise! But you need to be ready by winter!

The UI of the game is very detailed! Many options you can pick to make sure everything goes as planned.  

Get the game here: https://store.steampowered.com/app/242920/Banished/

 

14) This War of Mine

This War of Mine- Gameplay Trailer

The next entry, This War of Mine, takes the perspective of leading a band of war survivors as the surrounding landscape is ravaged by war. This War of Mine focuses on making hard decisions and the potential to lose vital members of your band.

What Makes This War of Mine Amazing:

• Lead a group of survivors against all odds of a war-torn nation to see if you all can make it to the next day
• Manage resources and survivors to make it to the end of the war
• Make hard decisions that may cost your group or influence future events that can change the situation of survival

A picture of the bleak setting of This War of Mine. 

War is not a fun game when you are the survivor of such calamity.

Get the game here: https://store.steampowered.com/app/282070/This_War_of_Mine/

 

13) Stranded Deep

Stranded Deep - Official Trailer

Stranded Deep is an Early Access game where you are a survivor of a plane crash and now have to survive stranded on an island. The game implements random generation so that every instance of a new game feels new and different from the last.

What Makes Stranded Deep Amazing:

• Each game brings something new, as you will never expect the same thing to happen twice
• Early Access game that still in development and getting new content patches
• Crafting system to create new tools and items to survive on this island

Does place a crab on the end of a spear makes the weapon better? 

The ship may have tools or treasures for the taking! But...that shark looks hungry… 

Get the game here: https://store.steampowered.com/app/313120/Stranded_Deep/

 

12) Shadow of the Tomb Raider

Shadow of the Tomb Raider - Official Gameplay Trailer| E3 2018

Shadow of the Tomb Raider is a classic video that has been revamped and revived by Eidos Montreal. Still retaining some of the classic action that the Tomb Raider series is known for, Shadow of the Tomb Raider adds survival elements to bring a new breath to the series

What Makes Shadow of the Tomb Raider Amazing:

• Plays as the legendary Lara Croft in her next adventure in the series in the jungles of Mexico
• Stealth and survival is key in surviving against all odds in Shadow of the Tomb Raider
• Great graphics and art designing, bringing Lara into the current generation of games with style

Stunning ancient Mayan underground temple for you to raid! 

One of the many denizens of the jungle you will face in Shadow of the Tomb Raider. 

Get the game here: https://store.steampowered.com/app/750920/Shadow_of_the_Tomb_Raider/

 

11) Kenshi

Kenshi - (Uncut) Launch Trailer Full Length

The next game on this list is Kenshi. A squad-based survival with a good sandbox core, Kenshi is a recent release that offers great emergent gameplay. Manage your squad and resources and try to survive the harsh world of Kenshi.

What Makes Kenshi Awesome:

• Squad based system that allows you to control multiple unique characters in your adventures
• Build bases and factions that can wage war against other factions in the world!
• You never know what will happen next in Kenshi, as the game is not linear at all and is always changing with factions fighting each other

Those guards don't take too kindly to thieves, so make sure you can get away with it! 

One of the 4 races you can play in Kenshi. 

Get the game here: https://store.steampowered.com/app/233860/Kenshi/

 

10) Don't Starve Together

Don’t Starve Together Launch Trailer

Don’t Starve Together is a multiplayer expansion of the original Don’t Starve. Outside the many monsters that love to take a bite out of you, the most important thing at the end of the day is to not starve…

What Makes Don’t Starve Together Amazing:

• Now play with your friends to survive and not starving out by whatever means necessary
• A cross-platform game so you can team up with your friends on different systems
• Don’t Starve Together has a modding community to download and expand the game

Guessing those penguin tastes great when you are starving and all… 

Nice and toasty around the campfire with friends!

Get the game here: https://store.steampowered.com/app/322330/Dont_Starve_Together/

 

9) Cataclysm: Dark Days Ahead

Cataclysm: Dark Days Ahead

Cataclysm: Dark Days Ahead is a rouge-like that takes place in an apocalypse that has all but wiped out humanity. But it more than just your common zombies. Mutant bugs, failed cyborgs, a large variety of zombie types, and more horrors. The only thing worse than any of those monsters are at times the humans themselves, so watch out!

What Makes Cataclysm: Dark Days Ahead Amazing:

• It’s a free game available to everyone for download!
• One of the most extensive crafting systems in gaming, allowing you to craft things like makeshift bows or parts for a vehicle.
• The mobile version is available for download too with all functionality of the original game!

If doing the ASCII graphics not your thing, you can use a pre-installed texture pack!

Just a small chunk of the massive world of Cataclysm: Dark Days Ahead. Me and my two companions made a base from an old house

Get the game here: https://cataclysmdda.org/releases/

 

8) Conan Exiles

Conan Exiles-Official 2019 Trailer

Our next title is Conan Exiles, a game that takes place in the world of Conan, The Barbarian. Conan Exiles' world is as harsh and barbaric as the original series, so piling a bunch of players into such an environment is always fun.

What Makes Conan Exiles Amazing:

• Play in the lands that the Conan series is based on!
• Large player servers of populations of up to 70 players to roam around
• Gather resources to build up your very own kingdom

Fight for survival in this harsh lands of Conan Exiles! 

Build the foundations for your own kingdom that will rule the world! 

Get the game here: https://store.steampowered.com/app/440900/Conan_Exiles/

 

7) Ark: Survival Evolved

Ark: Survival Evolved Official Launch Trailer

Ark: Survival Evolved is a survival game that has dinosaurs. Do I need to say more? Team up with friends and fight against both the wildlife or other players to thrive in Ark: Survival Evolved.

What Makes Ark: Survival Evolved Amazing:

• Tame and breed animals to use in your adventures... or for food
• Build a base to have a place to hold all those animals and weapons you going to have to pile up soon enough
• 100+ player servers for large fun stories to be made of your grand adventures!

What a cool looking mount! One of the many animals you can tame in this game 

Jurassic Park Anyone? Fighting against giant dinosaurs has never been as fun until now! 

Buy the game here: https://store.steampowered.com/app/346110/ARK_Survival_Evolved/

 

6) Starbound

Starbound 1.0 Launch Trailer

Starbound is like a space Minecraft for anyone interested in that concept. You can colonize planets or you can explore space searching for alien civilizations. With the universe and your imagination being the only limitation, what will you do in the vast world of Starbound?

What Makes Starbound Amazing:

• Great sprite artwork that is colored nicely and expressively for all audiences
• Multiplayer is available so you can play with your friends; Even if they on a different operating system!
• Modding community to find new content to expand the already expansive game of Starbound even further beyond

An extensive underground base you can make! Helps if the surface is inhospitable to living creatures. 

Ships are very customizable by the player with many options that can change how the ship performs or looks. 

Get the game here: https://store.steampowered.com/app/211820/Starbound/

 

5) The Long Dark

The Long Dark -- “Make it Right” -- WINTERMUTE Launch Trailer

Explore a large arctic landscape as you struggle to survive in frigid conditions. It comes with a story mode and a survival mode that is not linear and has you face the harsh cold arctic for yourself.

What Makes The Long Dark Amazing:

• Manage more than just hunger and thirst; Heat and calories matter in this game
• Explore a large arctic world with dangerous wildlife and bone-chilling climates
• Play either a story mode or a survival mode

Bears are included in this game… Hope that gun is powerful enough!

A reminder that the frigid cold is unrelenting and unforgiving for those who do not pay attention.

Get the game here: https://store.steampowered.com/app/305620/The_Long_Dark/

 

4) Green Hell

Green Hell - Official Steam Early Access Launch Trailer

So… have you ever wonder what would happen if you got lost in the Amazon rainforest with hostile tribals, man-eating animals, and tropical diseases? Green Hell is about just that, as you struggle to survive in the Amazonian hell.

What Makes Green Hell Amazing:

• Green Hell is in Early Access, meaning that the game will get new updates and content
• Fight to keep your sanity from being too low, so you must manage not just your hunger and thirst!
• Large lush jungle to explore with less than friend foes to face like the local tribal group that has no problem roasting you or whatever they feel like doing that day

In Green Hell, you can examine your whole body for wounds. 

Explore the lush jungle with a handy bow, only one of the many weapons you can find! 

Get the game here: https://store.steampowered.com/app/815370/Green_Hell/ 

 

3) Rust

Rust Trailer- 2017(Official)

Rust is a popular multiplayer game about finding resources and weapons to fight against other players for survival. Build a base to store all you loot and raid other players for theirs! 

What Makes Rust Amazing:

• Survive in a mass multiplayer world where players are often most hostile than anything in the game
• Team up with your friends to survive the harsh world of Rust and defeat anyone who tries to take your loot!
• Large community to engage with if you looking to join or even make a large clan

Heavily armed players you don't want to run into without some heavy firepower. 

Example of the base you can build in-game with the proper resources and time. 

Get the game here: https://store.steampowered.com/app/252490/Rust/

 

2) Astroneer

Astroneer- Official Launch Trailer

Our next entry, Astroneer, is a game about exploring planets and the molding those planets to your liking. While not infinite worlds to explore, Astroneer handcrafted planets are detailed and lush with things to do!

What Makes Astroneer Amazing:

• Astroneer offers a multiplayer mode so you can team up with your friends in exploring the galaxy!
• Allows for a lot of creativity with how players are able to mold the world to their liking with terraforming whole planets
• Explore 7 unique planets all with  unique interesting climates and resources

Team up with you and your friends on a grand adventure! 

The visuals are stunning of one of the many planets you can explore! 

Get the game here: https://store.steampowered.com/app/361420/ASTRONEER/

 

1) 7 Days to Die

7 Days to Die Trailer

7 Days to Die takes place in a zombie apocalypse and has the players and friends tasked with surviving. Gather weapons, resources, and the nerve to survive the coming nights!

What Makes 7 Days to Die Amazing:

• Multiplayer so you can play with your friends against the hordes of zombies!
• Tense gameplay as you try and prepare for every night against the undead hordes by gathering resources like food or ammo
• The game is still in Early Access, so new content is being created for the game by the developers

I hope you got enough ammo to push-back against the undead… 

Take to the roads with your own personal vehicle as you roam around the apocalypse. 

Get the game here: https://store.steampowered.com/app/251570/7_Days_to_Die/

You may also be interested in: 

• The Top 10 Multiplayer Survival Games for PC

• The 21 Best Post Apocalypse Games to Play Today

• Post-Apocalyptic Movies Worth Watching