A big world and only what you build yourself: survival games you explore freely.
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How to find games that really suit you:
Select up to 5 games you have played and enjoyed. Playalike compares 36 traits such as combat, story and atmosphere and suggests games that hit exactly the same spot, even across genres.
A near-infinite procedurally generated universe where you hop freely between vivid alien planets, gather resources, build bases and upgrade your ships. Years of free updates have turned it into a relaxed sci-fi sandbox with optional co-op.
The definitive sandbox: mine, craft, survive the nights and build anything you can imagine in an endless procedurally generated block world, solo or with friends on servers. The Java Edition adds a massive modding community on top.
A 2D sandbox adventure where you dig, build and craft while ever-tougher bosses unlock new gear tiers and biomes. Its huge item pool and hidden secrets make it a near-endless experience, especially with friends.
A near-infinite procedurally generated universe where you hop freely between vivid alien planets, gather resources, build bases and upgrade your ships. Years of free updates have turned it into a relaxed sci-fi sandbox with optional co-op.
2016PCPlayStationXboxNintendo SwitchSteam Deck verified−60 %58.99 € 23.59 € 2 days left83 % positive
Very positive, 352,858 reviews on Steam
Sci-fi setting
Distinctive, stylised art style
Sandbox with your own goals
A near-infinite procedurally generated universe where you hop freely between vivid alien planets, gather resources, build bases and upgrade your ships. Years of free updates have turned it into a relaxed sci-fi sandbox with optional co-op.
The definitive sandbox: mine, craft, survive the nights and build anything you can imagine in an endless procedurally generated block world, solo or with friends on servers. The Java Edition adds a massive modding community on top.
The definitive sandbox: mine, craft, survive the nights and build anything you can imagine in an endless procedurally generated block world, solo or with friends on servers. The Java Edition adds a massive modding community on top.
A 2D sandbox adventure where you dig, build and craft while ever-tougher bosses unlock new gear tiers and biomes. Its huge item pool and hidden secrets make it a near-endless experience, especially with friends.
A 2D sandbox adventure where you dig, build and craft while ever-tougher bosses unlock new gear tiers and biomes. Its huge item pool and hidden secrets make it a near-endless experience, especially with friends.
A voxel sandbox adventure that blends block building and exploring a procedurally generated fantasy world with RPG-style combat, dungeons and creatures. Powerful modding and server tools turn it into a platform for custom minigames and worlds.
A voxel sandbox adventure that blends block building and exploring a procedurally generated fantasy world with RPG-style combat, dungeons and creatures. Powerful modding and server tools turn it into a platform for custom minigames and worlds.
Stranded on an ocean planet, you dive ever deeper into a gorgeous yet terrifying alien sea. You build bases and submarines while piecing together the planet's mystery, and the dark depths themselves become the real source of dread.
Stranded on an ocean planet, you dive ever deeper into a gorgeous yet terrifying alien sea. You build bases and submarines while piecing together the planet's mystery, and the dark depths themselves become the real source of dread.
An underwater survival adventure on a new alien ocean world where you gather resources, build bases and push into ever deeper, more dangerous waters. This time you can also dive together in four-player co-op.
An underwater survival adventure on a new alien ocean world where you gather resources, build bases and push into ever deeper, more dangerous waters. This time you can also dive together in four-player co-op.
A Viking survival game set in a procedurally generated Norse afterlife where you explore biomes, build longhouses and ships, and take down massive bosses. It shines in co-op, balancing relaxed base building with tense, dangerous expeditions.
2026PCPlayStationXboxNintendo SwitchSteam Deck verified29.99 €94 % positive
Very positive, 499,828 reviews on Steam
Fantasy setting
Playing together in co-op
Melee combat with weapons or fists
A Viking survival game set in a procedurally generated Norse afterlife where you explore biomes, build longhouses and ships, and take down massive bosses. It shines in co-op, balancing relaxed base building with tense, dangerous expeditions.
An online Fallout set in the irradiated hills of Appalachia, where you explore a huge world solo or with friends, build camps, join public events and shape your character with perk cards. After a rocky launch, NPCs, factions and steady updates turned it into a lively post-apocalyptic sandbox.
An online Fallout set in the irradiated hills of Appalachia, where you explore a huge world solo or with friends, build camps, join public events and shape your character with perk cards. After a rocky launch, NPCs, factions and steady updates turned it into a lively post-apocalyptic sandbox.
A punishing survival shooter set in the Chornobyl Exclusion Zone, where deadly anomalies, mutants and rival factions wait around every corner. You scavenge for gear, hunt rare artifacts and make decisions that shape the story, all wrapped in a thick, oppressive atmosphere.
2024PCPlayStationXbox59.99 €81 % positive
Very positive, 113,346 reviews on Steam
Post-apocalyptic setting
Shooting and gunplay
Dark, serious atmosphere
A punishing survival shooter set in the Chornobyl Exclusion Zone, where deadly anomalies, mutants and rival factions wait around every corner. You scavenge for gear, hunt rare artifacts and make decisions that shape the story, all wrapped in a thick, oppressive atmosphere.
Kenshi is a brutal sandbox RPG set in a vast, harsh wasteland where you decide whether to become a trader, mercenary, slave or warlord. Instead of a scripted story, you build your squad, base and reputation in a world that gives you nothing for free.
Kenshi is a brutal sandbox RPG set in a vast, harsh wasteland where you decide whether to become a trader, mercenary, slave or warlord. Instead of a scripted story, you build your squad, base and reputation in a world that gives you nothing for free.
A merciless survival game with a gothic, Tim Burton-esque hand-drawn style, where you scavenge, craft and fend off hunger, insanity and monsters in a procedurally generated wilderness. Death is permanent, but every run teaches you something new.
A merciless survival game with a gothic, Tim Burton-esque hand-drawn style, where you scavenge, craft and fend off hunger, insanity and monsters in a procedurally generated wilderness. Death is permanent, but every run teaches you something new.
Palworld mashes creature collecting together with survival crafting and base building. Captured Pals fight beside you, carry you across the islands or toil away in your factory while you explore an open world armed with guns. Its cheeky, slightly macabre humor gives the whole thing a flavor of its own.
2026PCPlayStationXboxSteam Deck verified28.99 €94 % positive
Very positive, 380,709 reviews on Steam
Strong character progression
Action-packed real-time combat
Fantasy setting
Palworld mashes creature collecting together with survival crafting and base building. Captured Pals fight beside you, carry you across the islands or toil away in your factory while you explore an open world armed with guns. Its cheeky, slightly macabre humor gives the whole thing a flavor of its own.
Stranded on an island full of dinosaurs, you gather resources, build bases and tame prehistoric beasts to ride and fight alongside you. On multiplayer servers it becomes a harsh, time-hungry struggle of tribes, raids and alliances.
2017PCPlayStationXboxNintendo SwitchSteam Deck verified−34 %14.79 € 9.76 € until tomorrow84 % positive
Very positive, 730,170 reviews on Steam
Sandbox with your own goals
Building and crafting
Co-op or multiplayer
Stranded on an island full of dinosaurs, you gather resources, build bases and tame prehistoric beasts to ride and fight alongside you. On multiplayer servers it becomes a harsh, time-hungry struggle of tribes, raids and alliances.
A colorful 2D sandbox adventure where you hop between procedurally generated planets to mine, build, farm, found colonies and fight, solo or with friends. There is a main quest, but the real draw is the near-endless freedom of roaming the galaxy.
2016PCXboxSteam Deck playable−60 %14.99 € 5.99 € 2 days left92 % positive
Very positive, 164,906 reviews on Steam
Sci-fi setting
Sandbox with your own goals
Distinctive, stylised art style
A colorful 2D sandbox adventure where you hop between procedurally generated planets to mine, build, farm, found colonies and fight, solo or with friends. There is a main quest, but the real draw is the near-endless freedom of roaming the galaxy.
An unforgiving zombie survival sandbox where you loot, build, craft and train skills until your inevitable death. Its deep simulation and highly customisable rules turn every run into a personal survival story, solo or with friends.
2013PCSteam Deck verified25.49 €94 % positive
Very positive, 377,063 reviews on Steam
Post-apocalyptic setting
Sandbox with your own goals
Challenging difficulty
An unforgiving zombie survival sandbox where you loot, build, craft and train skills until your inevitable death. Its deep simulation and highly customisable rules turn every run into a personal survival story, solo or with friends.
A lonely, unforgiving survival experience in the frozen Canadian wilderness after a geomagnetic disaster, where cold, hunger and wolves are your real enemies. Its painterly visuals and quiet atmosphere turn every trek into a tense, often melancholic journey.
2017PCPlayStationXboxNintendo SwitchSteam Deck verified16.99 €90 % positive
Very positive, 112,575 reviews on Steam
Distinctive, stylised art style
Post-apocalyptic setting
Challenging difficulty
A lonely, unforgiving survival experience in the frozen Canadian wilderness after a geomagnetic disaster, where cold, hunger and wolves are your real enemies. Its painterly visuals and quiet atmosphere turn every trek into a tense, often melancholic journey.
Unforgiving multiplayer survival across a vast zombie-infested countryside where hunger, sickness and above all other players are the real threat. Every encounter can turn into an alliance or a betrayal, and death means starting over from nothing.
Unforgiving multiplayer survival across a vast zombie-infested countryside where hunger, sickness and above all other players are the real threat. Every encounter can turn into an alliance or a betrayal, and death means starting over from nothing.
As a brave courier rider you roam 13th-century Mongolia, breeding and training horses with specialized abilities to traverse its vast and varied landscape.
As a brave courier rider you roam 13th-century Mongolia, breeding and training horses with specialized abilities to traverse its vast and varied landscape.
You play an early hominid in the African jungle, figuring out tools, fleeing predators and evolving your clan across generations with almost no hand-holding. An unusual, demanding survival game about human evolution.
You play an early hominid in the African jungle, figuring out tools, fleeing predators and evolving your clan across generations with almost no hand-holding. An unusual, demanding survival game about human evolution.
A survival action RPG set in a vast fantasy realm where you push back a corrupting fog, fight bosses, and build elaborate voxel-based bases, solo or with up to 16 friends.
2026PCPlayStationXboxSteam Deck verified39.99 €86 % positive
Very positive, 78,080 reviews on Steam
Fantasy setting
Playing together in co-op
Lavish presentation
A survival action RPG set in a vast fantasy realm where you push back a corrupting fog, fight bosses, and build elaborate voxel-based bases, solo or with up to 16 friends.
An uncompromising survival sandbox set in a ruined, nature-reclaimed medieval world where you slowly work up through technology tiers, gather resources and prepare for brutal winters. Temporal storms and eerie creatures add an unsettling edge.
An uncompromising survival sandbox set in a ruined, nature-reclaimed medieval world where you slowly work up through technology tiers, gather resources and prepare for brutal winters. Temporal storms and eerie creatures add an unsettling edge.
An atmospheric survival shooter set in the Zone around Pripyat, where you dodge anomalies, hunt artifacts and fight mutants and rival stalker factions. Its open hubs, consequential side quests and oppressive mood make it a cult classic.
An atmospheric survival shooter set in the Zone around Pripyat, where you dodge anomalies, hunt artifacts and fight mutants and rival stalker factions. Its open hubs, consequential side quests and oppressive mood make it a cult classic.
A colorful post-apocalyptic adventure where you can smash almost anything for crafting materials to upgrade yourself. You explore a sprawling island full of secrets, puzzle tombs and undead, with a light-hearted tone instead of punishing survival pressure.
2021PCPlayStationXboxNintendo SwitchSteam Deck verified−65 %19.99 € 6.99 € 2 days left94 % positive
Very positive, 1,746 reviews on Steam
Post-apocalyptic setting
Strong character progression
Distinctive, stylised art style
A colorful post-apocalyptic adventure where you can smash almost anything for crafting materials to upgrade yourself. You explore a sprawling island full of secrets, puzzle tombs and undead, with a light-hearted tone instead of punishing survival pressure.
A cooperative survival adventure where you build your own skyships and sail a shattered world of floating islands, ancient ruins and colossal threats. Designing and piloting your ship is the heart of the experience, solo or with friends.
2025PCPlayStationXbox24.50 €71 % positive
Mostly positive, 1,772 reviews on Steam
Playing together in co-op
Co-op or multiplayer
Distinctive, stylised art style
A cooperative survival adventure where you build your own skyships and sail a shattered world of floating islands, ancient ruins and colossal threats. Designing and piloting your ship is the heart of the experience, solo or with friends.
Parkour across a zombie-infested city where daytime rooftop runs turn into tense nighttime survival against the infected. Brutal melee combat and faction choices that reshape whole districts define the experience.
2022PCPlayStationXboxSteam Deck verified−80 %59.99 € 11.99 € 2 days left79 % positive
Mostly positive, 194,830 reviews on Steam
Melee combat with weapons or fists
Post-apocalyptic setting
Action-packed real-time combat
Parkour across a zombie-infested city where daytime rooftop runs turn into tense nighttime survival against the infected. Brutal melee combat and faction choices that reshape whole districts define the experience.
As an astronaut you explore colorful planets, reshape terrain like clay with your terrain tool, and build bases with automated production chains. A relaxed mix of discovery, gathering and tinkering, solo or in co-op.
2019PCPlayStationXboxNintendo SwitchSteam Deck playable29.99 €92 % positive
Very positive, 128,956 reviews on Steam
Sci-fi setting
Cosy, great for unwinding
Distinctive, stylised art style
As an astronaut you explore colorful planets, reshape terrain like clay with your terrain tool, and build bases with automated production chains. A relaxed mix of discovery, gathering and tinkering, solo or in co-op.
A survival MMO on Arrakis where you battle thirst, sandstorms and sandworms, build bases and fight rival guilds over precious spice. Its draw is a faithful, atmospheric take on the Dune universe, including the lore's Mentat and Bene Gesserit skill paths.
A survival MMO on Arrakis where you battle thirst, sandstorms and sandworms, build bases and fight rival guilds over precious spice. Its draw is a faithful, atmospheric take on the Dune universe, including the lore's Mentat and Bene Gesserit skill paths.
A first-person sandbox MMORPG set in a huge open world where full-loot PvP makes every trip risky. Broad freedom in skills and playstyle meets harsh, unforgiving consequences.
2022PC33.99 €61 % positive
Mixed, 12,943 reviews on Steam
Competing against other players
Fantasy setting
Co-op or multiplayer
A first-person sandbox MMORPG set in a huge open world where full-loot PvP makes every trip risky. Broad freedom in skills and playstyle meets harsh, unforgiving consequences.
A vast, persistent space sandbox MMO where players shape trade, mining, warfare and politics in a fully player-driven economy. The steep learning curve and costly losses give every decision weight.
A vast, persistent space sandbox MMO where players shape trade, mining, warfare and politics in a fully player-driven economy. The steep learning curve and costly losses give every decision weight.
As biker Deacon St. John you roam a Freaker-infested Oregon, maintaining your motorcycle and surviving massive hordes that flood entire valleys. A gritty, emotional story about loss and loyalty set in a tense open world.
2019PCPlayStationSteam Deck verified39.99 €93 % positive
Very positive, 103,143 reviews on Steam
Post-apocalyptic setting
Lavish presentation
Strong, story-driven narrative
As biker Deacon St. John you roam a Freaker-infested Oregon, maintaining your motorcycle and surviving massive hordes that flood entire valleys. A gritty, emotional story about loss and loyalty set in a tense open world.
You play a small slugcat in a decaying, unforgiving ecosystem, hunting for food and evading predators before the deadly rain arrives. The simulated wildlife, enigmatic world and steep difficulty make every escape feel unique.
2017PCPlayStationXboxNintendo SwitchSteam Deck playable23.79 €94 % positive
Very positive, 42,277 reviews on Steam
Post-apocalyptic setting
Challenging difficulty
Jumping and platforming
You play a small slugcat in a decaying, unforgiving ecosystem, hunting for food and evading predators before the deadly rain arrives. The simulated wildlife, enigmatic world and steep difficulty make every escape feel unique.
A huge pirate survival MMO where thousands of players sail a shared globe, explore, build settlements and fight over territory. Its appeal lies in ship building, alliances and the sheer scale of the world.
2018PCXbox24.99 €47 % positive
Mixed, 42,534 reviews on Steam
Co-op or multiplayer
Competing against other players
Sandbox with your own goals
A huge pirate survival MMO where thousands of players sail a shared globe, explore, build settlements and fight over territory. Its appeal lies in ship building, alliances and the sheer scale of the world.
An open-world action game set in a sun-scorched wasteland where you hunt convoys, raid strongholds and brawl with Batman-style counter combat while endlessly upgrading your car, the Magnum Opus. Vehicular combat and the striking desert atmosphere are the highlights.
2015PCPlayStationXboxSteam Deck verified19.99 €92 % positive
Very positive, 82,660 reviews on Steam
Post-apocalyptic setting
Driving or flying
Action-packed real-time combat
An open-world action game set in a sun-scorched wasteland where you hunt convoys, raid strongholds and brawl with Batman-style counter combat while endlessly upgrading your car, the Magnum Opus. Vehicular combat and the striking desert atmosphere are the highlights.
As the captain of a steamship, you sail the dark underground sea of Fallen London, juggling fuel, supplies and your fraying sanity. It thrives on grim, literary storytelling, discovery and the constant risk of death.
2015PCSteam Deck playable18.99 €83 % positive
Very positive, 9,288 reviews on Steam
Strong, story-driven narrative
Choices with consequences
Dark, serious atmosphere
As the captain of a steamship, you sail the dark underground sea of Fallen London, juggling fuel, supplies and your fraying sanity. It thrives on grim, literary storytelling, discovery and the constant risk of death.
An open-world shooter set in 1980s Sweden where you fight huge killer machines alone or with up to three friends. Ammo is scarce, so you mix sneaking, distraction and precise weak-point shots.
An open-world shooter set in 1980s Sweden where you fight huge killer machines alone or with up to three friends. Ammo is scarce, so you mix sneaking, distraction and precise weak-point shots.
A Stone Age spin-off of Far Cry where you roam the untamed Oros valley with spears, clubs and bows, taming sabertooth cats and wolves to fight at your side. Hunting, crafting and growing your tribe replace the series' usual guns and vehicles.
2016PCPlayStationXboxSteam Deck playable29.99 €86 % positive
Very positive, 32,892 reviews on Steam
Action-packed real-time combat
Lavish presentation
Historical setting
A Stone Age spin-off of Far Cry where you roam the untamed Oros valley with spears, clubs and bows, taming sabertooth cats and wolves to fight at your side. Hunting, crafting and growing your tribe replace the series' usual guns and vehicles.
As a plague-stricken scientist stranded on a remote island, you map the land yourself through triangulation, gather plants to craft medicine, and avoid a stalking creature that hunts you.
As a plague-stricken scientist stranded on a remote island, you map the land yourself through triangulation, gather plants to craft medicine, and avoid a stalking creature that hunts you.
Wurm Online is a harsh, player-shaped sandbox MMORPG where you grow skills through crafting, building and survival in a persistent wilderness. Its PvE and PvP server clusters let you choose between peaceful settling and risky confrontation with other players.
2012PCSteam Deck playablefree62 % positive
Mixed, 2,584 reviews on Steam
Sandbox with your own goals
Building and crafting
Co-op or multiplayer
Wurm Online is a harsh, player-shaped sandbox MMORPG where you grow skills through crafting, building and survival in a persistent wilderness. Its PvE and PvP server clusters let you choose between peaceful settling and risky confrontation with other players.
After a plane crash you build shelters and traps in a dense forest while tribes of cannibals stalk and attack you. Creepy mutant-filled caves and the mystery of your missing son drive the exploration, and it's best played with friends in co-op.
After a plane crash you build shelters and traps in a dense forest while tribes of cannibals stalk and attack you. Creepy mutant-filled caves and the mystery of your missing son drive the exploration, and it's best played with friends in co-op.
Hardcore multiplayer survival on a huge prison island with deeply simulated metabolism, injuries and skills. You scavenge, craft and fight puppets, mechs and other players in a brutal reality-show setting.
2025PC44.99 €75 % positive
Mostly positive, 112,115 reviews on Steam
Competing against other players
Co-op or multiplayer
Challenging difficulty
Hardcore multiplayer survival on a huge prison island with deeply simulated metabolism, injuries and skills. You scavenge, craft and fight puppets, mechs and other players in a brutal reality-show setting.
2018PC−50 %39.99 € 19.99 € 2 days left87 % positive
A brutal multiplayer survival sandbox where you spawn with nothing, gather resources, build bases and fight other players to stay alive. Raids, betrayals and clan wars make every wipe unpredictable.
2018PC−50 %39.99 € 19.99 € 2 days left87 % positive
Very positive, 1,227,784 reviews on Steam
Competing against other players
Shooting and gunplay
Co-op or multiplayer
A brutal multiplayer survival sandbox where you spawn with nothing, gather resources, build bases and fight other players to stay alive. Raids, betrayals and clan wars make every wipe unpredictable.
A pirate survival adventure in an endless procedurally generated ocean, where you sail, explore islands, upgrade ships, hunt and craft. Freedom and discovery matter far more than any story.
2018PC14.99 €75 % positive
Mostly positive, 1,959 reviews on Steam
Sandbox with your own goals
Strong character progression
A pirate survival adventure in an endless procedurally generated ocean, where you sail, explore islands, upgrade ships, hunt and craft. Freedom and discovery matter far more than any story.
A zombie survival sandbox built on crafting, looting, base building and skill progression, where every seventh night a massive horde tests your fortifications. Played solo or in co-op, it blends first-person shooting with tower-defense tension.
2024PCPlayStationXboxSteam Deck verified43.99 €89 % positive
Very positive, 370,046 reviews on Steam
Post-apocalyptic setting
Sandbox with your own goals
Building and crafting
A zombie survival sandbox built on crafting, looting, base building and skill progression, where every seventh night a massive horde tests your fortifications. Played solo or in co-op, it blends first-person shooting with tower-defense tension.
You are stranded on islands full of dinosaurs, taming and riding prehistoric beasts, building bases and surviving alone or with tribes of other players. The Unreal Engine 5 remake makes the huge sandbox world look far more impressive.
2023PCPlayStationXboxSteam Deck verified−75 %44.99 € 11.24 € until tomorrow59 % positive
Mixed, 75,995 reviews on Steam
Sandbox with your own goals
Building and crafting
Lavish presentation
You are stranded on islands full of dinosaurs, taming and riding prehistoric beasts, building bases and surviving alone or with tribes of other players. The Unreal Engine 5 remake makes the huge sandbox world look far more impressive.
A free-to-play zombie survival sandbox with blocky low-poly visuals where you scavenge, craft and build bases across large maps, teaming up with or betraying other players. A huge modding and workshop scene keeps it endlessly replayable.
2017PCPlayStationXboxNintendo SwitchSteam Deck playablefree91 % positive
Very positive, 555,368 reviews on Steam
Sandbox with your own goals
Co-op or multiplayer
Distinctive, stylised art style
A free-to-play zombie survival sandbox with blocky low-poly visuals where you scavenge, craft and build bases across large maps, teaming up with or betraying other players. A huge modding and workshop scene keeps it endlessly replayable.
An enormously deep open-source survival roguelike in a post-apocalyptic New England where you juggle hunger, illness and zombies, build vehicles and shelters, and carve out your own goals with no fixed objective.
2013PCSteam Deck playable19.50 €92 % positive
Very positive, 451 reviews on Steam
Post-apocalyptic setting
Deep systems to master
Challenging difficulty
An enormously deep open-source survival roguelike in a post-apocalyptic New England where you juggle hunger, illness and zombies, build vehicles and shelters, and carve out your own goals with no fixed objective.
A quiet exploration and survival game set in an abandoned Western Washington around 2400, where you piece together the story of vanished people from journals and artifacts. It offers little hand-holding, but plenty of atmosphere, nature and curiosity-driven discovery.
2014PC15.00 €73 % positive
Mostly positive, 207 reviews on Steam
Post-apocalyptic setting
A quiet exploration and survival game set in an abandoned Western Washington around 2400, where you piece together the story of vanished people from journals and artifacts. It offers little hand-holding, but plenty of atmosphere, nature and curiosity-driven discovery.
You begin on a tiny raft in the middle of the ocean, collecting debris, expanding your floating home and exploring islands while sharks circle. Solo or in co-op, survival turns into a laid-back crafting and discovery voyage with a mysterious story.
2022PCPlayStationXboxSteam Deck playable20.49 €93 % positive
Very positive, 346,359 reviews on Steam
Playing together in co-op
Building and crafting
Sandbox with your own goals
You begin on a tiny raft in the middle of the ocean, collecting debris, expanding your floating home and exploring islands while sharks circle. Solo or in co-op, survival turns into a laid-back crafting and discovery voyage with a mysterious story.
You build a cozy home on wheels and travel through a colorful open world. Live off-grid with solar, wind and water power, grow crops, and customize your vehicle, alone or with up to three friends.
You build a cozy home on wheels and travel through a colorful open world. Live off-grid with solar, wind and water power, grow crops, and customize your vehicle, alone or with up to three friends.
First-person parkour zombie survival where you free-run across Harran's rooftops by day, scavenging and crafting brutal weapons, then flee terrifying hunters at night. Fluid movement and gritty melee shine even more in co-op.
2015PCPlayStationXbox95 % positive
Overwhelmingly positive, 457,632 reviews on Steam
Post-apocalyptic setting
Jumping and platforming
Action-packed real-time combat
First-person parkour zombie survival where you free-run across Harran's rooftops by day, scavenging and crafting brutal weapons, then flee terrifying hunters at night. Fluid movement and gritty melee shine even more in co-op.
A colorful sandbox survival game about gathering, crafting and building elaborate structures. You explore a procedurally generated voxel world full of caves, biomes and creatures, solo or with friends.
A colorful sandbox survival game about gathering, crafting and building elaborate structures. You explore a procedurally generated voxel world full of caves, biomes and creatures, solo or with friends.
A survival sandbox set in the brutal world of Conan the Barbarian: you build bases and whole cities, endure hunger, cold and enemies, and rise from a lowly exile to a mighty warrior. Playable solo, in co-op, or on persistent online servers with siege warfare.
A survival sandbox set in the brutal world of Conan the Barbarian: you build bases and whole cities, endure hunger, cold and enemies, and rise from a lowly exile to a mighty warrior. Playable solo, in co-op, or on persistent online servers with siege warfare.
Pioner is an open-world first-person survival shooter set on an abandoned, Soviet-flavored post-apocalyptic island. It favors realism over health bars and levels, mixing PvE and PvP encounters in a dangerous, mysterious world.
Pioner is an open-world first-person survival shooter set on an abandoned, Soviet-flavored post-apocalyptic island. It favors realism over health bars and levels, mixing PvE and PvP encounters in a dangerous, mysterious world.
A pirate survival adventure set in the Age of Piracy: build and craft, explore a large open world, fight tough bosses with soulslite combat, and command your own ship, solo or in co-op.
A pirate survival adventure set in the Age of Piracy: build and craft, explore a large open world, fight tough bosses with soulslite combat, and command your own ship, solo or in co-op.
You are shrunk to bug size once more and must survive in an even bigger backyard playground: craft weapons and armor, build bases and ride a buggy across the world, solo or in co-op.
You are shrunk to bug size once more and must survive in an even bigger backyard playground: craft weapons and armor, build bases and ride a buggy across the world, solo or in co-op.
Craftopia blends survival, crafting, farming and action RPG combat in a huge, chaotic sandbox world. You build, fight bosses and unlock ever more items across three eras, solo or in co-op.
Craftopia blends survival, crafting, farming and action RPG combat in a huge, chaotic sandbox world. You build, fight bosses and unlock ever more items across three eras, solo or in co-op.
You play an awakened vampire who hunts for blood, avoids deadly sunlight and builds up your own castle. Fast top-down combat against memorable bosses drives your progression, whether you play solo or with others on online servers.
2024PCPlayStationSteam Deck verified34.99 €89 % positive
Very positive, 119,440 reviews on Steam
Fantasy setting
Action-packed real-time combat
Strong character progression
You play an awakened vampire who hunts for blood, avoids deadly sunlight and builds up your own castle. Fast top-down combat against memorable bosses drives your progression, whether you play solo or with others on online servers.
A harsh open-world shooter set in a war-torn African nation, where guns jam, fire spreads across the savannah and malaria wears you down. Its systemic, unforgiving world makes every firefight unpredictable and paints a bleak picture of war and morality.
A harsh open-world shooter set in a war-torn African nation, where guns jam, fire spreads across the savannah and malaria wears you down. Its systemic, unforgiving world makes every firefight unpredictable and paints a bleak picture of war and morality.
A single-player survival roguelike where you push through a freshly generated wilderness each run, managing weather, cold and terrain. Every journey becomes its own emergent story.
A single-player survival roguelike where you push through a freshly generated wilderness each run, managing weather, cold and terrain. Every journey becomes its own emergent story.
In Aloft you turn floating islands into flying skyships and explore a cloud-filled world solo or in co-op. This survival sandbox focuses on laid-back building, discovery and curing a fungus-ravaged ecosystem.
2025PC24.99 €84 % positive
Very positive, 2,396 reviews on Steam
Cosy, great for unwinding
Playing together in co-op
Distinctive, stylised art style
In Aloft you turn floating islands into flying skyships and explore a cloud-filled world solo or in co-op. This survival sandbox focuses on laid-back building, discovery and curing a fungus-ravaged ecosystem.
Open-world survival games hand you a large map and very little else. You gather resources, build a base, and decide for yourself where to go next. The appeal is the freedom: nobody tells you what to do first, so your own plans and small disasters drive the story. The tone varies a lot, from relaxed building to tense, hostile wilderness.
Start with the mood you want. Subnautica combines survival with atmospheric, sometimes frightening underwater exploration, and it suits players who like a sense of discovery. Minecraft: Java Edition has a relaxing tone and co-op and multiplayer tags, so it works well for building at your own pace or with friends. Don't Starve is tagged Difficult and has a hand-drawn look, which makes it a better fit if you want a real challenge and expect to fail a few times.
Also think about solo versus co-op and about setting. Valheim and No Man's Sky both carry co-op tags, so they are good picks if you want to explore with someone else, in a mythological world or across a sci-fi universe. If you prefer 2D action, Terraria mixes survival with platforming and pixel art. For a grim post-apocalyptic mood with a shooter focus, look at S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl, which is also tagged Horror. Check the platform list on each game, since a few of them are PC only.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best open-world survival game for beginners?
Minecraft: Java Edition is tagged Relaxing and offers co-op, so it is a gentle start on PC. Terraria is another accessible option and is available on PC, PlayStation, Xbox and Nintendo Switch.
Which open-world survival games can you play with friends?
No Man's Sky, Valheim, Minecraft: Java Edition and Palworld all carry co-op tags. Subnautica 2 and Hytale are also tagged Co-op, so they are worth a look if you want to team up.
Which open-world survival games are the most atmospheric or scary?
Subnautica is tagged Atmospheric and Horror, and S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl has the same two tags in a post-apocalyptic setting. No Man's Sky is also tagged Atmospheric if you want a calmer sci-fi mood.
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