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Survival games have experienced a tremendous surge in popularity in recent years, evident by the multitude of titles dominating the Steam charts. There are many different kinds of games in this set, from basic survival horror to hard survival simulations. We made a list of the best survival games on PC to help people who feel confused by the number of options. Whether you want stories that change as you play or adventures that you didn’t expect, our list will help you find the right game.
If you’re determined enough to beat scary games like The Long Dark or the awe-inspiring depths of Subnautica, our suggestions will lead you to the most exciting PC games that make you fight for your life. Whether you like games about surviving the horrors of war or the new genre of games about managing hunger and disease, you should be ready for a lot of hard work and fight in these interesting survival games.
Best Survival Games on PC Comparison Table
| Game | Features | Platforms | Download Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| Don’t Starve | Survival, crafting, exploration, roguelike gameplay | PC, Mac, Linux, iOS, Android | Download Now |
| State Of Decay 2 | Zombie survival, base building, open-world, cooperative play | PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S | Download Now |
| Ark: Survival Evolved | Dinosaur taming, crafting, exploration, multiplayer | PC, Mac, Linux, Xbox One, PS4, Android, iOS | Download Now |
| Valheim | Viking-themed survival, crafting, exploration, cooperative play | PC | Download Now |
| Subnautica | Underwater survival, exploration, story-driven | PC, Mac, Linux, Xbox One, PS4, PS5 | Download Now |
| NEO Scavenger | Post-apocalyptic survival, turn-based gameplay | PC, Mac, Linux, Android | Download Now |
| Conan Exiles | Open-world survival, crafting, multiplayer | PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5 | Download Now |
Don’t Starve
| Minimum | Recommended |
|---|---|
| OS: Windows XP/Vista/7/8/10 | OS: Windows 7/8/10 |
| Processor: 1.7+ GHz or better | Processor: 2.2+ GHz or better |
| Memory: 1 GB RAM | Memory: 2 GB RAM |
| Graphics: Radeon HD5450 or better | Graphics: Radeon HD6450 or better |
| DirectX: Version 9.0c | DirectX: Version 9.0c |
| Storage: 750 MB available space | Storage: 1 GB available space |
Having to do it all by yourself is the scariest part of the thought of real survival. That’s what you have to do in Don’t Starve, which is a completely solo experience. The scary idea of having to survive on your own in the wild is made less scary by the beautiful Tim Burton-style 2D art and the strange creatures that live in this sepia-toned world. Werepigs, Beargers, Deerclopses, and a lot of other strange monsters are out there trying to make your life hard.
In Don’t Starve, making is a big part of your life, and just like in other crafting games, you spend a lot of time gathering raw materials. But instead of making houses like in Rust and Minecraft, this small game is all about making tools and other things. Before old wonders and the art of magic take over, the Science Machine and Alchemy Engine will become your best friends.
The Good
- Survival games that are hard to play
- Unique art style
- There are many ways to craft and explore.
The Bad
- The learning curve is steep
- Can be boring after a while
State Of Decay 2
| Minimum | Recommended |
|---|---|
| OS: Windows 10 | OS: Windows 10 |
| Processor: Intel i5-2500 @2.7GHz | Processor: Intel i5 4570 @3.2GHz |
| Memory: 8 GB RAM | Memory: 16 GB RAM |
| Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 760 | Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 960 |
| DirectX: Version 11 | DirectX: Version 11 |
| Storage: 30 GB available space | Storage: 30 GB available space |
In his assessment of State of Decay 2 the Best Survival Games on PC, Brendy states that he believes it to be an ever-expanding to-do list, which is a perfect description of what it actually is. But hey, if you don’t mind that, then you and your friends may have a great time playing this game together as you defend yourselves from flesh-eating monsters coming from all directions.
Hayden believes that the game’s usage of permadeath not only makes it the story of survival, but also the story of community, as repetitive activities frequently lead to interactions that have the potential to lead to the most memorable encounters.
The Good
- Open-world zombie survival
- Pay attention to managing the community
- Working together to play a game
The Bad
- Tech problems and bugs
Ark: Survival Evolved
| Minimum | Recommended |
|---|---|
| OS: Windows 7/8.1/10 (64-bit) | OS: Windows 10 (64-bit) |
| Processor: Intel Core i5-2400/AMD FX-8320 | Processor: Intel Core i7-6700K/AMD Ryzen 5 1600X |
| Memory: 8 GB RAM | Memory: 16 GB RAM |
| Graphics: NVIDIA GTX 670 2GB/AMD Radeon HD 7870 2GB | Graphics: NVIDIA GTX 1070 8GB/AMD Radeon RX Vega 56 8GB |
| DirectX: Version 10 | DirectX: Version 11 |
| Storage: 60 GB available space | Storage: 60 GB available space |
Ark: Survival Evolved’s Best Survival Games on PC is how you slowly go from being a broke cave dweller to a legendary dinosaur tamer. If you like dinosaurs, this game has a lot to offer you. Eventually, you’ll be able to ride them and use them like combine harvesters. And if you like the classic first-person survival games, there’s a lot to like here as well.
Expect to spend a lot of time gathering fibers and fur to make boots and maybe a spear to defend yourself or your friends from other players. There are also a huge number of changes and add-ons for the game, so you shouldn’t run out of things to do. David Tennant is in it the last time I checked.
The Good
- A huge world full of dinosaurs
- Many options for crafting and building
- Exciting PvP fights
The Bad
- Problems with the way lower-end systems work
Valheim
| Minimum | Recommended |
|---|---|
| OS: Windows 7/8/10 (64-bit) | OS: Windows 7/8/10 (64-bit) |
| Processor: 2.6 GHz Dual Core | Processor: Intel Core i5-8400 @2.8 GHz or AMD Ryzen 5 1600 @3.2 GHz |
| Memory: 4 GB RAM | Memory: 8 GB RAM |
| Graphics: GeForce GTX 500 Series/AMD Radeon HD 7000 Series | Graphics: GeForce GTX 970/AMD Radeon RX 580 |
| DirectX: Version 11 | DirectX: Version 11 |
| Storage: 1 GB available space | Storage: 1 GB available space |
It didn’t take the Early Access co-op Viking survival game long to start attracting players, and it’s not hard to understand why. The game features a large area that is generated randomly, challenging boss battles, and fantastic base-building mechanisms, all of which integrate nicely with survival components such as crafting and cooking.
The game is enjoyable when played solo, but it really comes into its own when played with other people in cooperative mode. Players may keep themselves occupied by building bases or venturing out on daring excursions over the ocean to discover terrifying new worlds.
The Good
- Atmospheric survival game with a Viking theme
- Working together to play a game
- World creation that is both dynamic and procedural
The Bad
- Limited enemy variety
Subnautica
| Minimum | Recommended |
|---|---|
| OS: Windows Vista SP2 or later, 64-bit | OS: Windows 7/8/8.1/10, 64-bit |
| Processor: Intel Haswell 2 cores/4 threads @2.5GHz or equivalent | Processor: Intel Core i5 Haswell 4 cores/4 threads @3.2GHz or equivalent |
| Memory: 4 GB RAM | Memory: 8 GB RAM |
| Graphics: Intel HD 4600 or equivalent | Graphics: Nvidia GTX 550 Ti or equivalent |
| DirectX: Version 11 | DirectX: Version 11 |
| Storage: 20 GB available space | Storage: 20 GB available space |
Discover a strange new world beneath the ocean’s surface as you navigate a hand-built submarine over uncharted terrain below the water’s surface. You will have to collect resources and food, construct shelters and a fleet of submarines, and develop new technology in order to make it through the treacherous depths of the ocean.
Beautiful coral reefs and deep-sea caves and trenches are some of the environments you will explore. It’s difficult to avoid drawing comparisons to Minecraft, but the developer, Unknown Worlds, has put their own distinctive spin on the survival genre.
The Good
- Immersive exploration of the seabed
- Story and setting are very interesting.
- Beautiful graphics and sound design
The Bad
- Can be scary for people who are afraid of water.
NEO Scavenger
| Minimum | Recommended |
|---|---|
| OS: Windows XP SP2+ | OS: Windows 7/8/10 |
| Processor: 2 GHz | Processor: 2 GHz |
| Memory: 1 GB RAM | Memory: 2 GB RAM |
| Graphics: Intel 3000 Graphics Card or better | Graphics: Dedicated Graphics Card |
| DirectX: Version 9.0c | DirectX: Version 9.0c |
| Storage: 500 MB available space | Storage: 500 MB available space |
Your relationship with NEO Scavenger the Best Survival Games on PC is binary. It’s either addicting or boring due to its outdated aesthetics, dense writing, and harsh difficulty. After adding personality attributes, your character awakens in a cryo-tube almost naked. Government and humanity won’t help. In post-apocalyptic Michigan, everyone’s desperate.
This game is brutal because you’ll have to kill for a T-shirt, shoes, or human flesh. Though frustrating, permadeath forces you to learn from your mistakes. Keep exploring different attributes and play styles.
The Good
- Hardcore survival after the end of the world
- Deep mechanics based on turns
- Story and choices that are interesting
The Bad
- Graphics that are old
Conan Exiles
| Minimum | Recommended |
|---|---|
| OS: Windows 7 64 Bit/Windows 8 64 Bit/Windows 10 64 Bit | OS: Windows 7 64 bit/Windows 8 64 bit/Windows 10 64 bit |
| Processor: Intel Quad Core i5-2300 or AMD FX-6300 | Processor: Intel Quad Core i7 3770K or AMD Ryzen 7 1600X |
| Memory: 6 GB RAM | Memory: 8 GB RAM |
| Graphics: Nvidia GeForce GTX 560 (1GB) or AMD Radeon HD 7770 (1GB) | Graphics: Nvidia GeForce GTX 780 Ti/970 (High settings) and 1070 (Ultra settings) or AMD R9 290/AMD RX480 (High settings) |
| DirectX: Version 11 | DirectX: Version 11 |
| Storage: 35 GB available space | Storage: 35 GB available space |
In Conan Exiles Best Survival Games on PC, the player takes on the part of an outcast who has been sentenced to wander the dangerous and wild wasteland. The story doesn’t play a big role in the game. But you will be able to find out about the stories hidden in old books and ruins.
In the style of a survival game, you’ll travel through a big, open world. You will see savannahs, deserts, and mountains. You start with nothing, so you have to make your first, weak tools. But as you get better, you can build more complex tools and even houses. Aggressive animals and bandits will try to kill you, but you will have a lot of tools to fight back with.
The Good
- Huge sandbox with no boundaries
- Building and siege mechanics
- Different options for PvP and PvE
The Bad
- Bugs and performance problems crop up often.
FAQs
A: Yes, most of the survival games listed above have modes where you can play with or against other people. The multiplayer parts of Rust, Ark: Survival Evolved, DayZ, Conan Exiles, and 7 Days to Die are especially well-known.
A: Most survival games focus on sandbox gameplay and free exploring, but some do have single-player campaigns or stories. For example, Subnautica is a story-driven experience with a clear story arc and development. There is also a story mode in The Forest. As players discover the island, the story unfolds. But it’s important to remember that survival and exploring are the main goals of these games, not a standard story.
A: Yes, there are games that have hardcore survival features if you want a more realistic or hard survival experience. Games like DayZ and Green Hell, for example, put a lot of focus on actual survival elements like managing hunger, thirst, temperature, and diseases. The Long Dark is another game known for its hard survival tactics. Players have to find their way through a frozen wilderness and deal with harsh weather.