From the vast reaches of space to the ocean depths, thesurvivalgenre can take players anywhere. Whether it’s the wilderness, a warzone, or an apocalypse, it’s all about trying to last so you’re able to see the next day. Along with such a heavy tone comes gameplay mechanics that can range from the easy to understand to needing a manual and a college degree.
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When you’re a newcomer to a whole other genre, it’s no fun having to manage and micromanage so many mechanics. It’s enough to turn any player away. Well, if you’re a beginner survivalist who’s interested in the genre but haven’t been able to find the right game to start with, you’ll find everything you need here.
87 Days to Die
What’s Survival Without Zombies?
7 Days to Die
If you’re more of afirst-person shooterplayer who wants an easy-to-understand survival game, then set your sights on7 Days to Die. The apocalypse is here, the country is in ruins, and zombies are everywhere. Scavenge the ruins for whatever you may get your hands on and fight to survive for as long as you can.
With hundreds of recipes, craft gear, weapons, and even vehicles, just make sure you have the right materials. Build a base, fortify it for when the zombie horde comes, and defend yourself with whatever you’ve got. And if you’re scared to go at it alone, 7 Days to Die features onlinemultiplayerso you’re able to survive with friends.
7No Man’s Sky
Trailblazing in Space
No Man’s Sky
Have you ever wanted to have a survival adventure in space? Well, this might be for you. If you’ve heard ofNo Man’s Sky, you’ve probably heard of itsrocky beginnings. Though its overhyped launch went poorly, years of patches and updates have turned this once barren game into an open-world sandbox within a massive galaxy full of worlds and opportunities.
Mine for elements and resources on planets, or in space, and use them however you wish. Build the spaceship of your dreams. Create a space station to store them. Construct bases and settle on the world of your choosing. Make money selling materials to vendors or even undertake quests as you fly out into ship-on-ship combat. In No Man’s Sky, it’s your adventure.
6This War of Mine
Intriguing Yet Depressing
This War of Mine
War, what is it good for? Absolutely nothing! Though it does make for a strong setting in This War of Mine. In a city that’s been besieged by war, a handful of survivors are holding up in a ruined building, and your job is to make sure they survive until a ceasefire is declared. Despite the morbid setting, the intriguing gameplay is easy to understand once you get into it.
Your survivors will need to eat, sleep, and have proper medication to endure the hardships ahead. Construct defenses, craft useful items, cook, and guard your home from raids. You can also send people out to scavenge for better gear and materials, but watch out for other scavengers in the ruins. Some will be hostile, while some are just looking to survive as well, and you’re free to trade, steal, or kill if you must, assuming your character can live with the consequences.
5Frostpunk
Your City, Your People, Your Choices
Frostpunkis not only an addictive survival game to get into, but also a funstrategygame to boot. In a world that’s been devastated by the never-ending winter known as the Great Frost, you lead a group of survivors as you work together to construct a new city. With a massive generator keeping your people warm and alive, how your settlement grows and prospers will be up to you.
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Though it’s a city-builder set in the apocalypse, Frostpunk is a great game that’s hard to put down. You send your citizens to mine for materials like coal, wood, and steel. Using your resources, you’ll add new homes and locations to keep the people comfortable and happy, all while upgrading your city to prepare for the frigid weather ahead. As the leader, however, you’ll decide the rules that’ll dictate how your society will shape moving forward.
Craft, Survive, and Thrive Like a King
Terrariais often considered the 2D side-scroller version of Minecraft. Just because it bears similarities doesn’t mean its content isn’t enough to stand on its own two feet. Released back in 2011, Terraria is receiving updates with new content and continues to have a dedicated fanbase. With a sprawling world made of multiple biomes, you mine resources you’ll use to build… well, practically anything you want.
Equipment, furniture, treehouses, shelters, cities, elaborate castles. But remember, the world of Terraria is populated with legions of enemies, along with dozens of bosses. So, make sure your gear is ready, and your weapons are sharp. Also, for those playing onPC, be sure to check out themany amazing modsthat turn this adventure into an even grander experience.
3Astroneer
Become a True Space-Mole
Though it may look like another survival base builder set in space, Astroneer stands out for its imaginative presentation and easy-to-understand gameplay. You drop on an alien world and start mining and building bases. Unlike other space-themed survival games, you see the impact as you terraform the planet. Because you aren’t just digging chunks of rock from dirt, you’re changing the environment.
You can turn a mountain into a pebble or dig a massive hole all the way into the planet’s core. Even the buildings and tools for survival feel vibrant and unique. You can attach useful items to your backpack, including augmentations for upgrades, all while constructing a network for your base made up of power cables and oxygen tethers. All in all, Astroneer is one of the more cozy survival games.
2Subnautica
You’re Gonna Need a Bigger Sub
Subnautica
Subnautica is a game that will probably scare the living daylights out of you at first. Once you understand the basic mechanics and get a feel for the world, you’ll come to understand why it’s hailed as thebest survival game in the genre. After crash landing on an ocean planet, you start with nothing but a few items and have to scavenge the water for food and resources.
The ocean is teeming with many forms of alien undersea life, and not all of them are friendly. Unlike some survival games where it’s only about surviving for as long as you can, Subnautica does have a story as you explore the mysteries of the planet to find a means of escape. There’s a satisfying feeling of progression as you acquire better equipment, build bases, and undersea vehicles. In Subnautica, you’ll start scared but grow into a fearless explorer.
1Minecraft
Fun For All Ages
It’sMinecraft. The whole list can stop here. However, if you need more reasons why it’s the perfect starting survival game, here you go. With a simple yet flawless visual design, calming music, and memorable sound effects, it should come as no surprise that Minecraft is consideredone of the best games of all time. You drop into a randomly generated world of blocks and resources with the freedom to build anything and anywhere.
The only limit is your imagination. Mine, farm, explore, but remember to eat to keep your strength up and have a means to defend yourself. Because when night comes, so will the monsters. You can hide or fight, just do whatever it takes to make it to the next day. Minecraft is not only about building but also about surviving. Unless you play in Creative Mode, but then where’s the fun in that?
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