Download cooperative survival games. The best survival simulators on PC

The player and a team of other similar volunteers go to the abandoned island of Granichny, filled with dangers and secrets. The fact is that secret experiments were carried out on the island, financed and supervised by the organization “ New World" However, after major disaster on the island, the surviving personnel and security were evacuated, and all research was curtailed. Those unlucky enough to remain were transformed into bloodthirsty monsters. And now, in order to deal with the situation on the island, “New World” resorts to the services of random seekers of adventure and profit.

9. Dead Island Series

Dead Island is a unique experience of surviving on an island after a zombie apocalypse. Since the developers from Techland chose tropical Banoi in Papua New Guinea as the island - incredible a nice place, embodying all existing ideas about Heaven on Earth. But instead of relaxing on the beach and cocktail parties the player will have to crush the skulls and chop off the limbs of the zombies occupying this wonderful place. Fortunately, for this, a huge arsenal of melee weapons, a crafting and upgrade system, as well as an exciting combat system with gradually unlocking passive and active skills were added to the game. It’s just that normal parkour is lacking here, but Techland completely corrected this omission in their other zombie survival game - Dying Light.

8. The Forest

A game about survival on a desert island, where, apart from the eternally hungry cannibal aborigines with pronounced mutations, you cannot meet a single living soul. The player takes on the role of a passenger on a crashed airliner, who ends up here with his son, whom the aforementioned lovers of human flesh dragged into their caves. Of course, rescuing your son is a task of paramount importance, but first you need to properly prepare: collect useful junk from the plane, arrange reliable housing, fencing it with traps for uninvited guests, accumulate resources, stockpile food and water, craft yourself reliable weapons and tools. And only after that go to explore the creepy cave tunnels.

7.Raft

A project from the early access of the Steam service, which can easily be classified as a game about survival on an island for PC, although technically you will have to survive here on a raft. The man-made platform will have to be constantly improved and strengthened so that it can withstand a long journey across the sea, full of a variety of dangers. For example, the player may encounter a shark attack or a sudden storm. Crafting, construction, resource gathering, research underwater depths– all this is present in Raft. The game also features multiplayer, giving you a unique chance to take part in an unforgettable sea adventure with your friends.

6. How to Survive

Another game on our list is about survival on a desert island filled with flesh-eating undead. In order not to become their victim, the player must carefully and carefully explore the open territory of the island, collect useful resources and things, save food and drink, and promptly find shelter for the night. In total, the game provides more than a hundred crafting recipes. There are also three unique characters available for play, each with their own set of characteristics. In addition to the campaign, there is also a multiplayer mode.

5. PUBG

PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds is one of the most popular online games on PC, belonging to the Battle Royale category. A hundred players find themselves on a large abandoned island, left to their own devices, and only one of these hundred will be able to survive. To do this, you will have to show all your agility and resourcefulness, getting to valuable equipment before other players and powerful weapons. However, valuable loot is not the only success factor. The ability to choose positions wisely and shoot accurately is also critically important here. As well as the ability to run fast, hide and predict the actions of opponents.

4. ARK: Survival Evolved

Naked and helpless, players find themselves washed ashore on a mysterious island inhabited by dinosaurs and many other fantastic creatures. In addition to the standard elements for a multiplayer survival game (collecting, crafting, building), the game provides the possibility of taming the local fauna - almost a hundred unique creatures in total. The better the player cares for and trains their pet, the more important functions he can do it.

3.Fortnite

We complete the list with the popular survival game from Epic Games, which also features the ever-popular “Battle Royale” mode. Fortnite is distinguished from other similar projects by its unusual graphics, excellent optimization, proven balance and convenient construction system.

2. Rust

Survive on a desert island full of desperate thugs, overcome numerous hardships, thirst, hunger and cold, be prepared for a hundred different dangers. Fight for your life or die a weak-willed weakling. Without a doubt, the best project among multiplayer survival games, both in quality and variety gameplay, and in terms of the atmosphere.

Going to a desert island or finding yourself in the middle of a ruthless apocalypse is possible with the help of video games. Survival games for PC are in huge demand and are a mixture of almost every other category in general.

Survival games

The best survival games are rooted in, or take root in, simulation games. The subsequent new generation brings the gameplay closer to more advanced and realistic projects. A habitat without obstacles and completely unlimited for the developer’s imagination. For example, there are single-player games, online multiplayer games, and online mode.

Survival elements are based on finding food, fighting enemies of different origins, be it humans or animals, in other cases there are zombies and other representatives of the dark race. Popular open world locations such as forest, wild jungle, abandoned city, islands remain a frequently used choice of players. It is worth mentioning the possibility of building your own home to shelter from unfriendly inhabitants. Crafting is an important core, and the lion's share of games are excellent sandbox games for PC.

Download survival games

After all the goodies described above, a certain group of people wanted to download survival games via torrent for free to their computer. Of course, this is a great reason to spend time with interest and learn interesting facts. Yes, they can present an informational surprise. Survival games are a full-fledged simulator.

Essentially, any game in which the player feels threatened by some external forces, can be called a game of “survival”. After all, if a character dies, you lose, right? However, no one would dare to classify shooters or even roguelikes into this category. The key word in this collection is not so much “survival” as “simulators”. Their main feature is that the player must take care of his condition: build a shelter, dress warmly, get food, and the like. There may not even be external threats (conditional monsters), but usually they are still added to spice up the gameplay. Thus, survival simulators often contain elements of sandbox, but, as you will see, not always. Finally, you will encounter both offline and online projects in which the threat also comes from other players. We present to you a selection of the best survival simulators on PC, and may food be with you.

10. The Black Death

Although this game starts from the end in our top, it should be given its due: its setting is unique in its own way. There are many “sandboxes” and “survival games” in a medieval setting, but only The Black Death exploits a theme that for some reason everyone else ignores – the plague. You can encounter as many zombie infections as you like, and these are, of course, terrible diseases, but they are fictional, while the REAL terrible disease remains unattended. Surviving a plague epidemic was certainly more difficult than surviving a zombie apocalypse, if only because people had no idea how to treat it.

But, as often happens, good idea I came across an average implementation. Yes, the threat of infection in The Black Death is great, but not that deadly; It seems that the characters have an undeservedly increased immunity (there is no magic in the game). Yes, you can become a plague doctor in that very mask and try to treat the sick, but this makes little sense, because the game - and therefore the epidemic in it - is endless. Finally, sick NPCs suspiciously resemble ordinary living dead. The Black Death could have become a much more interesting and hardcore game, but as a result, the plague is present in it more nominally than in reality.

9. Rust

A short, sonorous, succinct name is sometimes enough for the game to receive the attention it deserves. Even if this name is translated as “rust”. Of course, this motive can be seen in Rust, but only with a fair stretch: in the game you can mine metal, and the metal becomes covered with rust. But this is not a gameplay aspect, but simply an encyclopedic fact. You can get a lot of other things, and you can also create, and do things in general.

It is curious that over the four years of its existence, Rust became famous more for its bugs and wipes, rather than for its gameplay itself. The fact is that all this time the project has existed in early access... and, it seems, is not going to get out of there. Well, at least not in the next year ( UPD: While the article was being prepared for publication, news appeared about the game's imminent release from Early Access). Players initially reacted to the constant reset of progress, but then they got used to it, and some even kindly (or with kind irony) fell in love with this feature. If even despite this they continue to log into Rust and survive, then the game itself will survive. And then, you see, a release will do. ARK: Survival Evolved was released, after all.

8. The Wild Eight

Do you know the story about athletes who crashed in the mountains and were forced to eat human flesh to survive? So, The Wild Eight is only partly similar to this story: you need to survive after a plane crash, but you can’t eat your own kind. It's a shame, because the game has co-op. What could be more pleasant than in a desperate situation to enter into a battle not to the stomach, but to the death. Although, it turns out, on the stomach too. Fortunately for some and unfortunately for others, the environment in The Wild Eight contains plenty of resources. You just need to get them, trying very hard not to freeze.

The Wild Eight came quite close to maximum realism: such nonsense can really happen to anyone (who flies by plane, of course). However, the developers still decided to add a little mysticism. Some of the creatures lurking in the forest are a little stranger and much more dangerous than the animals we're used to. But you can take a risk: in the depths where they live, you can find objects that will make survival much more comfortable. However, what would be the point of survival then?

7. The Forest

A forest survival simulator is an extremely rare (it sounds odd) subspecies. Of course, wooded areas are present in almost any setting, but The Forest takes place entirely under the canopy of trees. And this is not the only “feature” of the game: since the project is single-player, the developers were able to pay more attention to artificial intelligence. Of course, over time they plan to add cooperative multiplayer, but for now they will have to survive in splendid isolation.

As a result, the monsters that the main character confronts turned out to be quite smart. Over time, hiding from them becomes more and more difficult, and surviving their attacks becomes more and more scary. At first, there can be no question of meddling in their lair... But when the player acquires normal equipment and strengthens the rear, the foray will become possible. In the caves of the mutants, you will discover that they are a highly organized society with their own customs and families. Like in the movie (actually book) “I Am Legend”: all this time they were just like us...

6. The Long Dark

If games have convinced you that only monsters and other players interfere with survival, then The Long Dark will remind you how wrong you are. Being left alone with wildlife can be a much greater challenge. By the way, one on one is literal: there is no multiplayer here. But connoisseurs don’t need this, since they are able to enjoy the test of will, silence and contemplation. It won't work separately, only all together.

The Long Dark is a setting immersed in darkness and cold. Animals have generally adapted, but can you? Actually easy level complexity - for sure, and you can build, hunt and craft ad infinitum; dying from cold, hunger or sharp teeth is minimal. However, not everyone survives at level four. What can I say, even experienced craftsmen They cannot survive long in the hellish cold and on an empty stomach. Death in the game, by the way, is permanent, but this is only in survival mode. Separately, you can go through the campaign, from which you will find out why The world Long Dark has become so unfriendly.

5. Hellion

Roughly speaking, there are two types of survival games in a space setting: in outer space itself and on planets. Hellion in our selection is a representative of the first type. You start life on a station with a ship and live it out by building stations and ships. It may sound boring, and the setting is indeed a bit monotonous, but humanity really does take a pragmatic approach to space. The main thing is that it works, but what it looks like is secondary.

Hellion managed to convey this approach and offer something interesting in terms of gameplay. In particular, players are forced to keep track of things that don't matter in other survival sandboxes. For example, always remember the dangers of depressurization, fire and radiation, and also remember the oxygen level when going into outer space. Add to this the threat of other players who benefit from all your troubles... if, of course, they themselves have kept track of their performance.

4.ROKH

And here is the second representative, who could easily have been swapped with the previous one - the essence would not have changed. ROKH was announced in the wake of the popularity of the film “The Martian,” but was released in early access when this interest had waned. As a result, Survival on Mars didn't attract as many players as the developers might have hoped. Meanwhile, this project deserves mention, if only because it is the first survival sandbox on Mars.

It is curious that games about survival on Earth do not use a high-tech setting: players need to find a bow and arrow, build a hut, fry a squirrel, and only after some time, perhaps they will get some kind of gun (or rather, they will also find it) . In the case of ROKH, there are so many technologies that there are even heaps of them... but you need to be able to organize them correctly. Every square meter of shelter is worth its weight in gold, not a single block should be left without energy, oxygen and water, everything again must be airtight. It is perhaps not surprising to come to the conclusion that survival is difficult for the average person in both primitive and ultra-modern conditions.

3. Conan Exiles

The Conan the Barbarian series is one of the most famous sagas in the fantasy genre, and also one of the very first. Huge world full of wonders and colorful characters, I simply could not help but appear in computer games... but for some reason none of them had major success. This is especially true for online games, in which Conan himself has a very limited presence. This includes Conan Exiles - a relatively new contender for the title of game that, despite a certain amount of doubt, can bring this setting out of oblivion.

The ambitions of Conan Exiles are great: this game doesn't just want you to survive. You can, of course, live in a shack, eat and drink to your heart's content, but who would do that when there are so many interesting things around? Enslaving unfortunate NPCs, making sacrifices to the gods and controlling their avatars, building and besieging fortresses are just a small part of the harsh barbaric entertainment. However, you should forget about thirst and cold, heat and hunger... in general, you either bring the replenishment of supplies to the point of automaticity, or at the decisive moment you discover that all your dreams have been ruined due to banal inattention.

2. ARK: Survival Evolved

Finally, at least one game has our keyword in the title! It's immediately obvious: an open world game about survival. It is curious that ARK: Survival Evolved does not introduce anything new into the very concept of survival - eat and drink, dress and hide from the weather. However, the developers managed to create such an interesting and unique setting that players poured in like a stormy river. At first, dinosaurs were a key element of the project, and this even gave rise to a wave of imitators: mediocre “sandboxes” with ancient lizards. But these copycats haven't budged, while ARK: Survival Evolved continues to evolve.

In particular, the game managed not only not to get stuck in early access, but also to release a collector's edition with a bunch of cool trinkets in honor of the release. The world of ARK: Survival Evolved has received two major expansions, and technology has developed to cutting-edge heights. Laser guns on the heads of dinosaurs - only the crazy movie “Kung Fury” thought of this! The authors of ARK are not going to stop; who knows, maybe in the future we will have space flights... or at least flights into orbit. As they say, when there is nowhere to develop on earth, you need to rush into space.

1. This War of Mine

All the games in this collection can be called games about survival, and only This War of Mine is a game about the survival of PEOPLE. The human factor is practically not taken into account in any of the projects listed above, except that Conan Exiles has a slightly extended insanity scale. This War of Mine reaches a new level in this aspect: a severe psychological state can ruin even a well-fed and warm character. Not to mention that it is incredibly difficult to keep everyone fed and warm in this game: the number of characters increases, but their needs do not decrease. Brace yourself: This War of Mine tells the story of the Civil War, with the lion's share of the gaming experience based on the memories of real people.

Yes, compared to open world survival, This War of Mine offers rather limited, in other words - scripted options. Each playthrough of this game is a little different, but some motifs are still repeated over and over again. However, all this is compensated by how poignant the atmosphere and plot are. In the reviews, many admit that the game caused real emotions or even tears. No other game in this top can boast of the same.

Finally, This War of Mine is the only game in this top based on board game. This means that its cultural influence has extended beyond the gaming industry. It's strange that there haven't been any films or TV series based on This War of Mine yet, but this can be explained by the fact that the theme of the civil war in Yugoslavia (on which it is based) is still very sensitive.

Conclusion

Based on this selection, we can conclude that the developers are trying not to offer purely hardcore survival. Imagine a game in which your resources are initially limited, in which you need to stretch one can of canned food for three days and save one bullet for yourself, since leaving the shelter is simply unrealistic, and your opponents threaten not just death, but a slow and painful death. Yes, such a game is possible, but has not yet been created: the authors prefer to give players space for exploration, construction and resource extraction. Active gameplay will always outperform passive gameplay, and this is not good or bad, but simply a fact.

Hi all! I've collected the top best survival games on PC. The selection includes games of different genres and in different conditions, such as zombies, islands, forests, etc. I constantly monitor new products and add new games that come out here.

Survival: The Ultimate Challenge

release date: 2001

Genre: RPG, survival simulator, survival horror

After a plane crash far from civilization, the player must take control of a group of survivors and help them survive until the rescue team arrives. In addition to maintaining natural needs such as sleep, food, and health, you need to pay attention to the normal psychological state of the entire team so that people do not fall into deep depression, which significantly reduces the chances of salvation.

Each of the characters has their own set of skills. One survivor is better at building, another is good at cooking, and the third is good at medicine. The player must clearly distribute the team’s activities in order to quickly find the necessary resources and build a shelter. An important factor will be the creation of weapons for hunting and protection from wild animals. After this, you need to start sending signals for the arrival of rescuers.

Cryptography: Sleep of the Mind

release date: 2008

A terrible disaster occurred in the peaceful Knox County, infecting the entire population with a dangerous virus. Now all the inhabitants have turned into the living dead, wanting only one thing - to wipe out all humanity from the face of the Earth. The player plays the role of a survivor who must cope with the first and most difficult days of infection. To do this, you can team up with other people or go alone.

When you first log in, the player must create his character, choose his race and gender, background, and also decide on his skills. The first thing you need to do is choose negative sides character, and then positive ones, this allows you to create a unique hero who has pronounced positive traits. After this, the player enters open world a real zombie apocalypse. From this moment on, the hero can do whatever he wants. For example, loot and rob other survivors, or join a group and try to build protective barricades. Among the main features of the project, it is worth noting the constantly increasing complexity of the game and the strength of the zombies, as well as the great potential for research and crafting.

DayZ

release date: 2013

Genre: zombies, survival horror, shooter, open world, multiplayer

The events of the game will tell about Chernarussia - a fictional state located in the post-Soviet space. As a result of an unknown disaster, all residents of the country were infected and turned into bloodthirsty zombies. The player finds himself in the role of a survivor who must explore the area in search of food, weapons, spare parts and transport.

The game is multiplayer, so in addition to the player, other gamers will act in the location. There is freedom of action in the project. Everyone can behave as they please. For example, to survive, you can join a group, or remain alone. The tense atmosphere and the possibility of getting a bullet in the back from any “comrade” add interest to what is happening. Among the main advantages of the project, it is worth noting big choice weapons, a huge open world, familiar post-Soviet architecture, the ability to use various equipment. Because of its merits, DayZ has become one of the most popular survival games.

State of Decay

release date: 2013

Genre: zombies, open world, third person shooter, survival horror

An unknown infection has spread throughout the state, turning most of the residents into bloodthirsty dead. The player controls a group of survivors who must escape at any cost in huge world, filled with zombies, looters, bandits and other dangers. But in order to survive, you will have to make certain sacrifices and decide who will live and who will be left to die.

The game features a system of positive and negative skills. Each team member has a set of unique talents that allows them to cope with most problems. During the passage, the player will constantly be faced with a choice on which the further passage and life of the group depends. The project will appeal to all fans of games about survival in the zombie apocalypse.

Rust

release date: 2018

Genre: First-person shooter, craft, open world, sandbox, construction, survival horror

The player gets into wild world, which is filled with other players. To survive, the hero must build a home, stock up on food that can be obtained through hunting and gathering, and acquire weapons and clothing. The game is a classic sandbox, in which there is absolute freedom actions limited only by the player’s imagination.

There are no specific tasks or goals in the game; the player must simply survive by any means necessary. To do this, you can cooperate with other survivors or become a real marauder who robs other people's houses and takes away valuables from the weak. The key point of the project was crafting; the game has a wide variety of recipes for creating firearms and bladed weapons, as well as a large number of types of ammunition, clothing, etc. It is worth noting that the developers continue to work on the game, adding new features such as weather conditions, costumes and drawings.

Under The Ocean

release date: 2013

Genre: Sandbox, survival horror, RPG, side-scroller

The player will be able to feel like a lone survivor who finds himself on a desert island filled with wild animals. The main goal of the game is to provide yourself with food and a roof over your head, as well as create weapons for hunting and try to survive.

The first step is to provide your character with food and basic tools. To do this, you should examine the island and find valuable items. For example, the player will be able to create a spear from a stick and stone. With its help you can catch fish or small animals. During the game, the gamer will be able to create various items, and also build beautiful buildings. The project has a beautiful graphic design and excellent musical accompaniment.

Shelter

release date: 2013

The plot of the game closely intersects with the series of the same name and allows you to plunge deeper into the events that take place in the popular universe. The player plays the role of one of the survivors who is trying to escape along with other people. Around them there is chaos and complete devastation caused by the zombie apocalypse. To survive, the player must distribute resources and try to avoid direct confrontation with the infected.

The project is hardcore, since even one dead man can quickly deal with the hero. Therefore, most of the time, the player must sneak around unnoticed and quietly look for useful items and resources. In the game, you can create a squad and send members to search for objects. The project will appeal to all fans of the television series, as well as fans of zombie horror.

The Stomping Land

release date: 2014

Genre: Sandbox, third-person survival horror, pro

The player will be able to feel like a resident of an ancient tribe that exists next to huge prehistoric dinosaurs. The main goal of the game is survival in difficult conditions. To do this, players can join groups or act alone.

The game has complete freedom of action. Each player can suddenly attack the other or survive together. Each character is subject to hunger, disease, need for sleep, etc. Therefore, the player must monitor the indicators and keep them normal. The main food source in the project are dinosaurs. But their extraction will require collective efforts and the creation of powerful weapons.

Unturned

release date: 2014

Genre: First-person shooter, survival, open world, zombies, sandbox, RPG

The player finds himself in a post-apocalyptic world that has survived an unknown disaster, infecting most people with a dangerous disease. The main goal of the game is to survive in conditions of constant shortage of weapons, food, ammunition, as well as constant attacks from zombies and hostile players.

In the first stages of the game, you need to settle down and start collecting valuable resources that will help create weapons and other means of defense. The project has a pumping system - each active action gives experience points. They can be spent on researching skills that can make survival easier. Also in the game there is complete freedom of action, the player can become a bandit, or join groups with other survivors. The project will appeal to all fans of sandboxes like Minecraft and Rust, as well as fans of online survival shooters.

Alien: Isolation

release date: 2014

Genre: Stealth, first person, science fiction, survival horror,

According to the plot, the daughter of the main character Ellen Ripley goes in search of her mother, who has disappeared. In the process of her search, the girl ends up at the abandoned Sevastopol space station. Almost the entire base personnel was destroyed, and the last survivors completely lost their minds. Amanda's main task is to get out of the station and escape from.

The game is a horror game with survival elements, so the player will not be able to kill someone else in open combat. The only chance of salvation is to move around the station secretly and use tricks. The game contains many mysteries related to the repair of the crumbling Sevastopol, and the constant presence of a dangerous monster adds to the eerie atmosphere. The game will appeal to all fans of the film “Alien”, as well as fans of dark horror.

Subnautica

release date: 2018

Genre: Open world, survival horror, first person, crafting, exploration, science fiction, diving

A research spaceship crashes near an uninhabited distant planet and falls onto it. The main character turns out to be the only survivor, and the planet looks like a huge bottomless ocean without a single piece of land. Survival in such a place is a difficult task, which can be achieved with the help of futuristic equipment and exploration of the deep ocean.

The gameplay is a mixture of carding and exploration. The player will be able to collect various resources such as sand, coral, ship parts and minerals. From them you can create weapons, build a base and provide yourself with everything you need to survive. In the game you can craft a bathyscaphe and explore the most deep places. But it’s worth remembering about the air supply, pressure and dangerous residents who want to eat the uninvited guest.

Banished

release date: 2014

Genre: city planning simulator,

The player will be able to feel like the ruler of a medieval city that is constantly developing. The game is focused on a thorough resource and economic management system, so any wrong actions could lead to the complete extinction of an entire city. The main task of the game is to build a medieval city of your dreams and try to survive cold winter with minimal losses.

The project is hardcore, because for the survival of the city, the player must take into account many factors. For example, severe deforestation for the construction of buildings will reduce the animal population, which in turn will lead to hunger and death. At the same time, if the forest is not cut down, the city will not have enough resources to build buildings to shelter from the cold and bad weather. The game has worked out in detail many options that will have unique consequences.

The Long Dark

release date: 2014

Genre: survival horror, first person, open world, survival simulator

A passenger plane crashes in the vast forests of Canada; the only survivors are the pilot, who will be controlled by the player. The game is a survival simulator in wildlife, so the hero must monitor all vital signs and try to escape in the cold forests filled with wild animals.

Since the hero finds himself in very cold conditions, the first thing he needs to do is get warm clothes. This can be achieved through hunting, skinning and tailoring. The player must explore the area in search of useful items to create weapons, ammunition and other means of survival. The hero can get sick, freeze and die from dehydration, so you need to monitor the quality of food, clothing and the amount of water. The project has an interesting graphic style and realistic hunting and fishing processes.

Salt

release date: 2014

Genre: First person action, survival horror, open world,

The player will be able to play the role of a sea wolf who plows the seas and oceans in search of gold and treasures. In addition to a profitable business, the hero is engaged in survival, which is not so easy in conditions without fresh water and food.

The game provides freedom of action. The player will be able to land on various archipelagos, complete tasks, craft useful items and weapons, fight fantasy creatures and earn profit in the form of gold, treasures, and new recipes. The game features a realistic compass navigation system, as well as fishing, hunting, etc. The main goal of the game is sea exploration in an endless open world.

Stranded Deep

release date Date: 2015

Genre: craft, open world, first-person survival horror, survival simulator,

The player will be able to feel like a survivor who survived a plane crash and ended up on the uninhabited islands of the Pacific Ocean. From this moment on, the hero's life completely depends on the ability to survive. The player must get food, build a shelter for the night, and also collect weapons from improvised means and airplane wreckage.

The game implements procedural world generation, which means that each new game will take place in unique locations. There is also a degree of realism in the project, raw meat and water can lead to illness, and a sick character moves slowly and wants to eat and drink more. Among the key points of the project, we can note the crafting system, in which there are no recipes. The player himself must combine spare parts and assemble the necessary devices.

Empyrion - Galactic Survival

release date Date: 2015

The combat system, in which the target is not captured at the press of a button, deserves special mention. Those. The direction of hits and blocks is indicated by the players themselves. Basic movements combined with deadly targeted attacks allow players to create truly unique combinations.

7 days to die

release date: 2016

Genre: survival horror, open world, multiplayer, sandbox, first-person shooter

How long can you survive in a real zombie apocalypse, when the only weapons you have are a pistol that always jams and a few cartridges, and the only food you have is spoiled dog stew. Survival in such a place is a difficult task, especially considering the fact that every comrade can shoot you in the back.

The game has a day and night cycle, which greatly influences the gameplay. During daylight hours, the infected are weak and slow, which allows you to freely search for weapons, craft items, build barricades and shelters, and also get food. At night everything changes. Zombies become aggressive and very strong, and the constant lack of ammo will not allow you to fight off even a small group. The main features of the project were complete destructibility, construction based on a physical model, as well as many factors influencing the character’s condition.

The Flame in the Flood

release date: 2016

Genre: survival, action-adventure, girl main character, craft, indie, roguelike

The player will be able to play the role of a girl who is fleeing a terrible disaster that is consuming civilization. For some reason, the whole world began to be flooded with a huge amount of water, and the heroine decided to take refuge in the mountains, but to get there, she needed to sail a huge route on a homemade raft.

From the first minutes of the game, the project captivates with its music and atmosphere of hopelessness. The gameplay is presented in the form of a chain of tasks that need to be completed. At the same time collecting useful items, food and other things. To survive, the heroine needs a raft that will constantly break down, and to repair it, the player will have to look for the necessary tools and spare parts. The project will appeal to all fans of atmospheric and hardcore roguelike games.

Starbound

release date: 2016

Genre: Indie, survival, adventure, 2D, sandbox, sci-fi, RPG

The main character is a space explorer who escapes from an Earth destroyed by an unknown monster. The character flies to an inhabited planet and begins his journey there, engaged in survival, construction and performing various tasks. Since the hero’s home planet was destroyed, he is driven by the desire to restore the former power of humanity.

The project features procedural generation of planets, firearms and bladed weapons, alien inhabitants, etc. This means that the player will fall into unique worlds, which have their own weather conditions, resources, gravity levels and inhabitants. During the research process, the player will come across story missions and side quests, the completion of which will help to find out the reasons for the destruction of the Earth.

This War of Mine

release date: 2016

Genre: Side-scroller, stealth action, survival simulator, strategy, craft

The player will be able to feel like the leader of a small detachment of people who are hiding from a military conflict taking place in their city. To survive, people need to equip their shelter, obtain useful resources in the form of food, medicine and protective equipment. It is worth understanding that civilians do not take part in war, but are simply trying to save their lives.

The project features procedural generation of events, so each new playthrough will be different from the previous one. The project also includes a division into classes. Some characters are great at finding resources, others are good at healing, and still others are good at cooking. Also, all the heroes have their own shortcomings, such as sickness, short temper and addiction to cigarettes or coffee. During the passage, the player will constantly be faced with a choice that affects the group and its psychological state. Due to its high-quality graphics and overall dark atmosphere, the game received high reviews from critics.

RESIDENT EVIL 7 biohazard

release date: 2017

Genre: Survival-horror, zombies, first-person shooter

The plot of the game tells about Ethan, an ordinary guy who lost his beloved Mia about three years ago. A sudden message from a missing girl forces the hero to go on a search. During the investigation, Ethan ends up in an old house where he finds his wife, but instead of a warm welcome, the girl turns into a monster and tries to kill the hero. Now Iatan's only task is to rescue and survive in a house filled with infected people.

Playing is a first-person shooter, which is made according to the canons of the classic Resident Evil parts. The hero is an ordinary untrained person, he has a small inventory with a small selection of weapons and a meager supply of ammunition, and the character dies from several blows. From the old parts, logic puzzles and narrow locations that cause a claustrophobic effect were inherited. The depressing atmosphere of hopelessness is achieved through the actual immortality of enemies (damage can only delay the enemy), as well as constant persecution. The project received high marks from gaming journalists and critics, and the gaming community positively accepted the return of the beloved series to the roots of the survival-horror genre.

Many people believe that survival games gained their popularity for some inexplicable reason. There seems to be no plot, most projects never do, and those that come out look very far from ideal. However, the demand for the “survival” genre is quite justified - users want to give up comfort and try themselves in the role of a lone hero, a chosen inhabitant of our planet. IN real life you definitely wouldn’t want to hide from the frost in ruins, build a fire and fight with wolves for a piece of meat. In the virtual world it is a completely different matter.

In addition, a huge part of survival games are equipped with an advanced crafting and building system. Each of us wanted a tree house or our own personal bunker, and if for this you only need to carry a virtual hammer in your hands and collect stones, then construction takes on a different meaning. You are given the opportunity to collect wood, build your own small cozy house from it, and then protect it from other survivors in all possible ways, enjoying the “fortress”.

Plus, there are some small details that you don’t immediately notice. In this kind of games, in 95% of cases there is no plot, no cut scenes and no need to study the history, characters and other things that are boring for some. Not everyone likes projects with a complex plot; some just want to play and act. Add here the ability to play with friends in co-op or multiplayer and we get the perfect option for spending time.

Of course, not all survival products are worth your attention - some have nothing at all besides boring game mechanics and bugs, and some are so “alpha” versions that you don’t even want to download them. I decided to select the most exciting versions of survival games, which a connoisseur of the genre should definitely pay attention to. And, of course, be sure to write about your favorite projects - we will expand each other’s horizons.

Rust

At the time of the announcement of the Rust simulator, many were sure that this game would be a real breakthrough in the gaming industry. The creators promised us a huge virtual world, a variety of activities and the need to survive in harsh conditions. After the product entered the early access stage, it became clear that nothing like that would happen - a lot of bugs and cheaters prevented the project from becoming a masterpiece in the genre, but somehow the new product hooked users. On this moment Rust has sold 5.5 million copies, there are a lot of user servers, modifications and a responsive community ready to help you in any matter.

As with all games in this genre, you need to fight for survival. However, the virtual world itself does not annoy gamers as much as other players and a small number of bugs. Of course, there is a problem with thirst and food for the character, he may suffer due to low temperatures and attacks from wild animals. But much more problems are caused by users who have already managed to “upgrade” and are now preventing others from recognizing this virtual world. But here you can build houses and craft clothes with weapons! In terms of game mechanics, Rust was implemented very coolly; there are really a lot of interesting processes.

The creators of the project were inspired by Minecraft and DayZ. At the initial stage, the project was more reminiscent of DayZ, but then, gradually, the developers turned towards crafting, buildings and things like that. You need to get wood and stones, build a house out of it, then fill it with different objects and furniture in order to go for the next portion of resources and create something cooler. You can play in the company of friends, then it’s even more fun and exciting. And it’s much easier to defend against dangerous opponents. Despite a lot of bugs and some shortcomings, the game is one of the best in its genre.

Peculiarities:
  • you can build houses;
  • there is craft;
  • there is a huge variety of weapons;
  • you can have fun in the company of friends.
May not like:
  • enemies run naked;
  • cheaters;
  • costs $35.

Subnautica

When the first screenshots and trailer of Subnautica appeared online, fans of survival games took to Steam and added the product to their wishlist. The developers were able to explain the essence of the gameplay in just a couple of pictures, which looked much more interesting compared to competitors in the genre. If you look at modern popular projects in the survival genre, you will see a lot of similar implementations. You get wood with stones, build a building from this, fight with other players and enjoy this process while the development team fixes bugs and adds content.

With Subnautica, things turned out completely differently. This is a full-fledged game with a plot and a unique virtual world. Our hero crashes on his huge spaceship. Instead of getting to the planet he needs, he finds himself in a small lifeboat in the middle of the water. There is nothing here but water. In any case, no land is visible on the horizon. The entire planet is covered with water. What to do and how to proceed? If you imbue yourself with the situation and imagine yourself in the place of this character, you will immediately get a shiver - there is water everywhere, unknown creatures are swimming in it and there is no chance of survival at all. Or is there?

In addition to the non-standard virtual world, we are also given the opportunity to try cool mechanics that were previously poorly implemented in other projects, even outside the “survival” genre. You need to dive underwater and control the supply of oxygen, catch small fish and filter the water, look for resources to collect the most necessary tools. At the same time, be sure to avoid all large predators, try to make your way deep into the planet, look for a platform to build a base. A lot of tools, weapons and a variety of inhabitants of the “water” planet make the game one of the best in the genre.

Peculiarities:
  • a planet without land;
  • survival takes on a completely different look;
  • mass of underwater inhabitants;
  • crafting with elements of logic;
  • there is a plot component.
May not like:
  • at the beginning of the game it is very scary to dive into the ocean;
  • they do not allow you to swim into a huge ship;
  • sorry for the fish.

The Long Dark

Game The Long Dark was very popular among players and specialized media for its extremely realistic gameplay. The creators of the virtual world put survival in the first place, and not crafting and painting weapons in a new color. Our hero can die if he goes to bed with an empty stomach, because there is a calorie mechanic - they are consumed even if you are resting on the bed. The character may freeze, go out into the blizzard in a torn down jacket and without gloves, or be eaten by more cunning people wild animals who are not as afraid of cold and snow as to an ordinary person. Danger comes from everywhere, but we need not to lose heart and move on.


The developers even added a storyline to give you an understanding of the purpose of survival. Not to say that we have a direct dramaturgy planned and the character will strive for something specific, but the hero has a story. Canada, in a parallel universe, died from the economic crisis and came under the wing of the United States. However, America decided not to help the injured party, but to suck out all natural resources and leave the country in ruins. Gradually everything was covered with snow, people either left here or died without food. Our pilot ends up here by the will of fate, trying to find a friend of his youth. Interesting, isn't it?

The project attracts primarily with its complexity and attention to detail. Your character will freeze, you need to constantly find shelter and make fires, you need to get food and sleep. Plus, clothes here wear out and tear, they need to be patched, otherwise you won’t be able to escape the cold. There is only snow, ice and destroyed houses around, no one is waiting for you with open arms, and there are also angry wolves running around. And not only wolves. Considering the presence of a plot and such a realistic survival model, the game has fully deserved its place in the top of the best games in the survival genre. True, it’s solitary and you can’t run on the ice with friends.


Peculiarities:
  • there is a plot;
  • beautiful graphics and clear interface;
  • realistic survival;
  • a lot of enemies.
May not like:
  • too boring training;
  • The plot cannot be called complete.

ARK: Survival Evolved

I saw it back when the project entered early access mode. Even then it was clear that this was a game with an amazing virtual world and an idea that had not been implemented anywhere else. We need to survive together with dinosaurs in the vastness of some fictional location, where modern technologies and the extraction of stones and wood in the most primitive way are succinctly included. Here you can build houses and surf the waters, you can fly on a tamed dinosaur and fight in your free time. Isn't this what we dreamed about?


At the time the game appeared on my computer, I received 13 FPS on low settings and saw stones only at the moment when I approached them almost point-blank. Now the product has been optimized and brought to life, you can play with pleasure and comfort. We begin our journey to the coast, without food, water or any items for survival. You need to cut down trees with your fists and collect stones, then build tools from all this in order to cut down forests again. Depending on the multiplier on the server, you will either constantly build and fight, or be engaged in resource extraction day and night. I definitely recommend trying both options, just for contrast.

Thanks to the setting with dinosaurs, the virtual world looks very exciting and unusual. You can tame almost any dinosaur and fly over your enemies, showering them with bombs. You can build a huge fort and store resources there, build stoves and houses to live with friends and defend yourself from other people. A huge set of items for crafting, character improvement and learning recipes require a lot of time to master all the mechanics. And, most importantly, you won’t be bored all this time, especially if you play with friends. Although, at low rates you can easily build houses alone while enjoying the scenery.

Peculiarities:
  • world with dinosaurs;
  • cool construction system;
  • fighting is very exciting;
  • many user servers.
May not like:
  • a lot of mechanics need to be learned independently, without training;
  • strangers have no plans to coexist peacefully.

State of Decay

Microsoft Company decided to amaze Xbox One owners with the second exclusive game this year - first Sea of ​​Thieves was released, and now State of Decay was shown. Both projects turned out to be quite controversial and cannot be called masterpieces, but the efforts of the developers to come up with something interesting cannot be ignored. If in the saga about sea adventures we were shown a lot of new mechanics, then State of Decay gives the user the opportunity to visit the world of “ Walking Dead”, only in the role of the main character, and not the viewer of the series. I think you have already guessed what we are talking about.

We will play for a character who survived the apocalypse. The majority of the planet's population was not so lucky - they either died or turned into zombies. Now dead enemies are walking the streets, there are a lot of dangers around, and we need to survive all this and gain resources to move on. The idea of ​​​​a zombie invasion is far from new, but recently almost no one has used it (ha ha), so there is no feeling of the same type. We have an open world, a lot of weapons and equipment. Even the vehicles are promised to be cool, with tuning and all the goodies.

It’s worth saying right away that there is no multiplayer here, the product was created for single play. This, on the one hand, is cool, because you can play for fun and not worry that real players will put a bullet in the back of your head. On the other hand, sometimes in such a harsh world you want to meet real people, communicate with them, or at least fight. Of course, there is a co-op mode, but you can only play it with friends, otherwise there is no point, and finding a team of friends to play State of Decay will be problematic. Otherwise, the game is very well thought out, well implemented and will be interesting to play, even without a crowd of real users around.

Peculiarities:
  • open world;
  • zombie;
  • transport with tuning;
  • character customization.
May not like:
  • no multiplayer;
  • The zombie theme is not new at all.

DayZ

In 2013, when the game was just released as a beta with early access, gaming market analysts predicted huge profits for the project and millions of fans around the world. However, the developers decided not to rush too much and lost all their advantages. Products based on the features of DayZ game mechanics were released in 2015-2017 and have already gathered their base of gamers, and the “discoverer” has not yet left beta. However, the old-timer makes it into this roundup of the best survival franchises. Why? It's simple - soon the slightly forgotten product will be completely remade for a new game engine.


The creators of DayZ reported that they plan to transfer their brainchild to their own engine in the very near future. In version 0.63, gamers will be given a completely new game, which will be noticeably different in its mechanics from the original project. In addition, the creators promised that they would pay attention exclusively to bugs and shortcomings, while new features will appear after the official release. Of course, with such development experience, it’s generally not very decent to talk about the presence of bugs, but we will hope that the final version will really be polished to a shine.

This game was included in the selection in advance. For now, it’s impossible to say with certainty about DayZ’s popularity after the patch. Fans have already forgotten what this virtual world looks like and went to conquer PUBG with others. Of course, I would really like to see the good old DayZ with new mechanics and stable work, which streamers and ordinary users will play again. Let's wait and hope that the developers will be able to realize their idea and the new game engine will really help the project gain momentum.

Peculiarities:
  • a pioneer in the genre;
  • new game engine;
  • a huge army of fans.
May not like:
  • is not very popular at the moment.

Stranded Deep

The creators of this project decided to take the plot seriously - we have a full-fledged story of how the main character got to the place where he is now destined to survive. We are flying in a comfortable private jet, but something happens and we crash. Half of the plane is torn off right in the air, but we survive and our character wakes up already in a lifeboat. There is an oar in your hands, there is only water around and nothing else, but in the distance you can see land. Well, let's swim in that direction before the sharks find us. However, getting to the island is not difficult, especially if you compare this with the further process of survival.


Traditionally for games of this genre, we need to look for food and other supplies for life. To do this, you can pick up various devices that you will assemble in advance from scrap materials. You can hunt crabs, fish and other underwater inhabitants. The main thing, I repeat, is not to catch the eye of the sharks, otherwise we ourselves will become food. In addition to hunting, you also need to build a house for yourself, maybe even a two-story one, and accumulate resources for additional luxury items. In general, ahead of the player lies the path from a starving guy with an oar to a prosperous resident of his own island.

The gameplay will appeal to connoisseurs of conventional realism. There is no special attention to detail here and there is no need to make sure that your skin does not get sunburned. You won't freeze at night either. You just need to eat periodically, work on improving your island, sometimes go deep into the ocean for the necessary items and fight with local underwater predators. Thanks to a greater emphasis on casualness, the game will suit a wider range of users. Actually, there are already quite a lot of Stranded Deep fans, the game is gradually acquiring new functions and crafting elements, so no one will be bored.


Peculiarities:
  • survival on the island;
  • crab hunting;
  • war with sharks;
  • presence of a plot;
  • quite an interesting system of buildings and crafting.
May not like:
  • casual survival;
  • Single playthrough only.

The Forest

Majority modern games Survival games are built around resource extraction, crafting and construction. The danger is presented in the form of nature, which mercilessly punishes everyone who is not prepared for disasters and living conditions. In some places the frost does not allow you to relax, in others you have to deal with the lack of food water. Only a few projects in our selection today pose a serious danger from opponents, be they AI or real players. That’s why The Forest is interesting - here it’s equally important for you to get food and defend yourself from mutant cannibals.


Combining horror with the survival genre is quite difficult, but the developers of this game did it very well. Since the release of the project into early access on Steam, 3.8 million copies have been sold, which is a dizzying result for such a non-standard implementation. After four years of development, The Forest still made it to release - they promise in April, after which the creators of The Forest will begin porting their brainchild to the PlayStation 4 platform. I think the owners of the Japanese console will appreciate this desire of the Endnight Games Ltd team to conquer console players.

IN this project our hero finds himself in a forest inhabited by cannibals. They are some kind of mutated form of a person and are very dangerous for you and me. The difficulty of survival is that there is a thicket around you, there is no way to get out somewhere or climb into a cave and spend the night. You need to survive taking into account the fact that at any moment a couple of aborigines can run out from behind a tree. Your task is to build a shelter for yourself during the day, and at night to protect it from attacks by predators and mutants. It will be difficult, the enemies will amaze you with their variety and bloodthirstiness.


Peculiarities:
  • open world in the form of a forest;
  • advanced construction;
  • character crafting and customization;
  • a wide range of predators;
  • enemies are cannibals;
  • Quite a depressing horror atmosphere.
May not like:
  • It's really scary to play;
  • It requires strong nerves and a stable psyche.

Hurtworld

Many users compare this game to Rust due to its fairly similar mechanics and visuals, but they are very different. At the beginning of the game, your character also has nothing with him - you literally wake up in the middle of the desert, where there is nothing edible and no shelter from the wind, sun and heat. Our character will need to survive in these harsh conditions by collecting local fruits and thereby satisfying his hunger. By the way, if long time your hero will be malnourished, then he will quite calmly throw away his skates, figuratively speaking. So don't waste your time, try to find fruits or wild animals to get meat.

In addition to basic survival parameters, such as water and food, our hero also needs to light fires so as not to freeze at night, plus hide from the heat, and so on. This makes us think about our own home, which can protect the gamer from all bad weather. Of course, no one will let you build a mansion, resources are very limited here, but you will always have the opportunity to collect wood and build yourself a small shack. Luxury is not needed for this area, and a roof over your head is quite appropriate and necessary. True, other players may envy you and try to take the house for themselves.

Yes, the game is multiplayer, which means there is no need to run around alone in a huge open world. You won’t constantly bump into living users either; the world is designed in such a way that you don’t come across other surviving characters very often. If you want and have transport, you can, of course, find a couple of players who are tired of life, but you won’t be able to fight right away. Yes, and transport, even if it can be customized, also falls into hands after a long process of accumulating resources. An excellent example of a survival project with nice colors and visuals.

Peculiarities:
  • craft is well thought out;
  • good construction system;
  • there are weapons and vehicles;
  • multiplayer game.
May not like:
  • players do not want to make friends and build common houses.

H1Z1: Just Survive

Many played a “battle royale” game called , which was released quite a long time ago, but was not in such demand as PUBG is now. At the same time, the developers also created a survival project called H1Z1: Just Survive. Although it did not become the best-selling title in the genre, it gained some popularity among gamers. The open virtual world survived the zombie apocalypse (those zombies again!), after which humanity was left with minimal resources for survival. Your task is to collect enough provisions to live in this dangerous new world.


The creators of the project stated that they developed their project with an emphasis on game mechanics, where zombies are only a secondary problem. This is a multiplayer game, where each of the residents is very tight with food, water and supplies. Accordingly, living players will bring much more problems - outside the safe zone, other inhabitants of the new planet will be waiting for you, wanting to kill your hero and take all his belongings. You need to have a weapon and the ability to shoot, plus you will have to adhere to certain banal rules of survival - do not run in open areas, do not light fires at night, do not make noise.

H1Z1: Just Survive looks quite nice and runs smoothly, even if you don't have the most powerful computer. This is a big plus, since most competitors in the genre have not yet left early access mode and everything is very bad there with the stability of frames per second. In addition, although the product is not in great demand among gamers, it has its own established community and there will be people to make friends with. There is an open world, the opportunity to fight or secretly explore locations, tasks and battles with zombies are well implemented. All this is already waiting for a fan of the genre who is not averse to trying his luck in a world ruled by zombies.

Peculiarities:
  • big dangerous virtual world;
  • We’re not just fighting zombies;
  • weak, but still a plot.
May not like:
  • this zombie apocalypse again;
  • physics needs improvement.

Raft

Cool games are obtained when they are done with soul and without the goal of making money. Raft was created by students as a project for a university; they developed a small virtual world with a boy on a raft. When this product was put online, gamers really liked the idea and implementation of survival on the open ocean, they downloaded the “demo version” 7 million times, and a small team of developers decided to develop their student project into a full-fledged game. Very soon, but already now we can say that this is one of the best survival games.

The theme itself, as you may have noticed, has previously been used by game developers of this genre. But, if in Subnautica the setting takes us to the future with innovative technologies, then here we have nothing like that. We found ourselves in the middle of the ocean on a small wooden raft, sharks were swimming around, we were hungry and thirsty, but there was nowhere to wait for rescue. Well, we will survive on our own - get food, collect debris in the ocean, accumulate resources to build a larger raft and additional buildings on our sea house. There are plenty of options for the development of events, it all depends only on your imagination and desire to create.
It is worth noting that the creators of the product decided to move away from realistic survival. You can build a raft that is larger than a football field, build trees (trees!), multi-story buildings there, install a stove, make a fire, and so on. All this, naturally, was done for the sake of a more interesting gameplay, although the realism is lost. Our hero has enemies under water, but the greater threat is hunger, thirst and the scorching sun. So you won’t be fighting with underwater inhabitants very often, although sooner or later you’ll have to fight a toothy predator.

Peculiarities:
  • very nice graphics;
  • interesting game mechanics;
  • one of the best implementations of life on a raft;
  • unlimited possibilities for buildings;
  • realism was killed for the sake of fascination.
May not like:
  • 100 m² raft;
  • lighting a fire on a wooden raft;
  • You can beat a shark to death with a sharpened stick.

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