The Best Survival Video Games

Survival video games have become very popular. They challenge players to survive in a hostile world – bring the thrill of real life survival without the actual danger. Many games over the years have been centred around survival, while others have introduced survival modes. But just what are the best survival video games that you can play in 2023? This post lists a few examples that every gamer should check out. 

Minecraft

Some people forget that Minecraft is a survival game at its core. While its ‘create’ mode has captured the imagination of players and resulted in the reconstruction of entire cities and even working computers made out of blocks, the Minecraft survival servers still remain popular for those looking for combat and exploration. Players must survive against evil ‘mobs’ in a blocky world by foraging for materials and building bases. At the same time, you can play with or against other players. With a vast world three times the size of the Earth to explore, you’ll never feel constricted in this game. 

Don’t Starve

As the name of the game suggests, the objective of Don’t Starve is to not starve. You must attempt to do this in an uncompromisingly hostile world full of supernatural evil monsters, drawn in a charming Tim-Burton-esque style to distract from just how brutal the game is. The original game challenges you to try and make it on your own, however there is a multiplayer version called Don’t Starve Together that you can also try. 

Rust

Rust challenges players to survive in a chaotic wilderness where they must manage their hunger and thirst – while also fending off wild animals, natural disasters and other players. Players can craft weapons and tools by harvesting natural resources, or get lucky by stumbling across items dispersed across the map. Some of these items that you can find lying around include advanced weapons and a range of ‘rusty’ vehicles (some of which you have to repair before you can drive). 

Subnautica

Subnautica submerges you in an underwater world full of marine monsters in which you play as the lone survivor of a crashed spaceship. On top of fighting hunger, you must make sure that you do not run out of oxygen as you explore underwater caves and trenches. Some of the underwater creatures you encounter are absolutely huge and terrifying. For those with a phobia of the deep, this game is certain to provide many thrills. 

The Forest

This storyline-centred survival game is arguably one of the most terrifying and eerily realistic examples of its genre. Playing as the lone survivor of a crashed jet in a mysterious forest, you must forage for food. But you are not alone in the forest – roaming the forest are cannibal creatures powered by advanced AI that makes them behave incredibly erratically. Sometimes they will attack. Other times they will keep their distance. There are also wild animals, as well as some more unusual and unsettling mutants found in the forest’s caves. Play if you dare – this game is not for the faint-hearted.