The best survival games on PlayStation, Xbox and Nintendo Switch
Gather, build, survive: games where you build something from nothing and have to make it through every day anew.
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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.
Joel and Ellie cross a fungus-ravaged America in a tense survival adventure of scarce resources, brutal stealth-shooter encounters, and one of gaming's most affecting, character-driven stories.
A brutal, emotionally harrowing revenge story in a ruined world that uses two perspectives to question the cycle of violence. Tense stealth-survival combat meets outstanding cinematic presentation and performances.
An episodic narrative adventure where Lee protects young Clementine through a zombie apocalypse, forced into agonizing timed moral decisions. The bond between the two makes it one of the most emotionally powerful games of its kind.
Joel and Ellie cross a fungus-ravaged America in a tense survival adventure of scarce resources, brutal stealth-shooter encounters, and one of gaming's most affecting, character-driven stories.
Joel and Ellie cross a fungus-ravaged America in a tense survival adventure of scarce resources, brutal stealth-shooter encounters, and one of gaming's most affecting, character-driven stories.
A brutal, emotionally harrowing revenge story in a ruined world that uses two perspectives to question the cycle of violence. Tense stealth-survival combat meets outstanding cinematic presentation and performances.
A brutal, emotionally harrowing revenge story in a ruined world that uses two perspectives to question the cycle of violence. Tense stealth-survival combat meets outstanding cinematic presentation and performances.
An episodic narrative adventure where Lee protects young Clementine through a zombie apocalypse, forced into agonizing timed moral decisions. The bond between the two makes it one of the most emotionally powerful games of its kind.
An episodic narrative adventure where Lee protects young Clementine through a zombie apocalypse, forced into agonizing timed moral decisions. The bond between the two makes it one of the most emotionally powerful games of its kind.
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, 108,641 reviews on Steam
Post-apocalyptic setting
Open world
Shooting and gunplay
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.
The ninth mainline Resident Evil switches between vulnerable FBI analyst Grace Ashcroft, whose sections lean on classic survival horror, and the more action-heavy Leon S. Kennedy. Their two storylines weave together into a grim, emotional tale.
The ninth mainline Resident Evil switches between vulnerable FBI analyst Grace Ashcroft, whose sections lean on classic survival horror, and the more action-heavy Leon S. Kennedy. Their two storylines weave together into a grim, emotional tale.
Lara Croft braves the frozen Siberian wilds in search of the mythical city of Kitezh. The adventure blends cinematic gunfights and stealth with optional puzzle tombs, scavenging, crafting and a satisfying skill system.
2015PCPlayStationXboxSteam Deck playable29.99 €94 % positive
Very positive, 128,887 reviews on Steam
Lots to discover
Lavish presentation
Action-packed real-time combat
Lara Croft braves the frozen Siberian wilds in search of the mythical city of Kitezh. The adventure blends cinematic gunfights and stealth with optional puzzle tombs, scavenging, crafting and a satisfying skill system.
Kojima's Cold War stealth masterpiece drops Naked Snake into the Soviet jungle, where camouflage, hunting for food and treating wounds matter as much as the legendary boss fights against the Cobra Unit. An emotional spy drama full of eccentric humor and one of the series' most affecting endings.
Kojima's Cold War stealth masterpiece drops Naked Snake into the Soviet jungle, where camouflage, hunting for food and treating wounds matter as much as the legendary boss fights against the Cobra Unit. An emotional spy drama full of eccentric humor and one of the series' most affecting endings.
As engineer Isaac Clarke, you fight through the derelict mining ship USG Ishimura, strategically dismembering grotesque Necromorphs limb by limb. Its diegetic HUD-free interface, scarce ammo and oppressive sound design make it a landmark of sci-fi horror.
2008PCPlayStationXboxSteam Deck verified19.99 €92 % positive
Very positive, 23,056 reviews on Steam
Sci-fi setting
Dread and tension
Dark, serious atmosphere
As engineer Isaac Clarke, you fight through the derelict mining ship USG Ishimura, strategically dismembering grotesque Necromorphs limb by limb. Its diegetic HUD-free interface, scarce ammo and oppressive sound design make it a landmark of sci-fi horror.
Four survivors battle through swarms of infected as an AI Director keeps every run unpredictable with special zombies and sudden hordes. A timeless co-op shooter with gallows humor and a fierce versus mode.
Four survivors battle through swarms of infected as an AI Director keeps every run unpredictable with special zombies and sudden hordes. A timeless co-op shooter with gallows humor and a fierce versus mode.
A landmark of psychological horror where James's search for his dead wife through fog-shrouded Silent Hill becomes a harrowing confrontation with guilt and grief. Oppressive atmosphere, symbolic monsters and multiple endings make it unforgettable.
A landmark of psychological horror where James's search for his dead wife through fog-shrouded Silent Hill becomes a harrowing confrontation with guilt and grief. Oppressive atmosphere, symbolic monsters and multiple endings make it unforgettable.
A claustrophobic first-person reboot of the series that traps you in the rotting Baker family estate in Louisiana, scraping by on scarce ammo while stalked by relentless hosts and solving puzzles. It trades action spectacle for intimate, grimy dread.
A claustrophobic first-person reboot of the series that traps you in the rotting Baker family estate in Louisiana, scraping by on scarce ammo while stalked by relentless hosts and solving puzzles. It trades action spectacle for intimate, grimy dread.
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 verified58.99 €84 % positive
Very positive, 319,592 reviews on Steam
Sci-fi setting
Open world
Lots to discover
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.
Isaac Clarke carves through a Necromorph-infested space station with strategic dismemberment while battling his own haunting hallucinations. It is a faster, more cinematic sequel that keeps the original's oppressive sci-fi horror intact.
2011PCPlayStationXboxSteam Deck playable19.99 €94 % positive
Very positive, 26,399 reviews on Steam
Sci-fi setting
Dread and tension
Action-packed real-time combat
Isaac Clarke carves through a Necromorph-infested space station with strategic dismemberment while battling his own haunting hallucinations. It is a faster, more cinematic sequel that keeps the original's oppressive sci-fi horror intact.
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
Jumping and platforming
Post-apocalyptic setting
Melee combat with weapons or fists
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 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 free-to-play battle royale with a bright cartoon look, where fast gunfights and optional building decide who survives. Constant new seasons, live events and a huge library of player-made modes keep it fresh.
A free-to-play battle royale with a bright cartoon look, where fast gunfights and optional building decide who survives. Constant new seasons, live events and a huge library of player-made modes keep it fresh.
A claustrophobic first-person shooter set in Moscow's post-nuclear metro tunnels, where scarce ammo, gas mask filters and darkness turn every encounter into a fight for survival. Hidden moral choices quietly shape which ending Artyom reaches.
2010PCXboxSteam Deck playable92 % positive
Very positive, 34,234 reviews on Steam
Post-apocalyptic setting
Dark, serious atmosphere
Shooting and gunplay
A claustrophobic first-person shooter set in Moscow's post-nuclear metro tunnels, where scarce ammo, gas mask filters and darkness turn every encounter into a fight for survival. Hidden moral choices quietly shape which ending Artyom reaches.
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.
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.
This remake of the classic drops you into the 1964 Soviet jungle as Naked Snake, where you sneak, camouflage, hunt and treat your own wounds. It pairs a gripping spy story and memorable boss fights with modern visuals.
2025PCPlayStationXbox49.99 €82 % positive
Very positive, 13,928 reviews on Steam
Sneaking and hiding
Strong, story-driven narrative
Historical setting
This remake of the classic drops you into the 1964 Soviet jungle as Naked Snake, where you sneak, camouflage, hunt and treat your own wounds. It pairs a gripping spy story and memorable boss fights with modern visuals.
An action-heavy co-op shooter where Chris and Sheva battle infected hordes across Africa, sharing ammo and reviving each other. It trades horror for bombastic set pieces, big boss fights and weapon upgrades.
2009PCPlayStationXboxSteam Deck playable19.99 €87 % positive
Very positive, 49,808 reviews on Steam
Shooting and gunplay
Playing together in co-op
Co-op or multiplayer
An action-heavy co-op shooter where Chris and Sheva battle infected hordes across Africa, sharing ammo and reviving each other. It trades horror for bombastic set pieces, big boss fights and weapon upgrades.
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.
Four survivors fight through relentless zombie hordes together, with an AI Director reshaping enemy waves and special infected so every run feels tense and different. Teamwork is essential – stray from the group and you'll be pinned down fast.
Four survivors fight through relentless zombie hordes together, with an AI Director reshaping enemy waves and special infected so every run feels tense and different. Teamwork is essential – stray from the group and you'll be pinned down fast.
A claustrophobic first-person shooter set in the post-nuclear Moscow metro, where scarce ammo, gas mask filters and stealth turn every encounter into a fight for survival. Dense atmosphere and a grim story following Artyom drive the experience.
A claustrophobic first-person shooter set in the post-nuclear Moscow metro, where scarce ammo, gas mask filters and stealth turn every encounter into a fight for survival. Dense atmosphere and a grim story following Artyom drive the experience.
A nerve-shredding survival horror game where, as Amanda Ripley, you are hunted through Sevastopol station by an unpredictable, unkillable Alien. Its faithful lo-fi retro-futurist look from the 1979 film and constant dread make hiding in lockers terrifying.
2014PCPlayStationXboxNintendo SwitchSteam Deck verified39.99 €92 % positive
Very positive, 49,029 reviews on Steam
Sneaking and hiding
Sci-fi setting
Dread and tension
A nerve-shredding survival horror game where, as Amanda Ripley, you are hunted through Sevastopol station by an unpredictable, unkillable Alien. Its faithful lo-fi retro-futurist look from the 1979 film and constant dread make hiding in lockers terrifying.
As a defenseless journalist armed only with a night-vision camcorder, you creep through a nightmarish asylum where hiding and running are your only options. Relentless, unfiltered terror with no way to fight back.
As a defenseless journalist armed only with a night-vision camcorder, you creep through a nightmarish asylum where hiding and running are your only options. Relentless, unfiltered terror with no way to fight back.
Gory first-person melee mayhem across a sun-soaked, zombie-infested Los Angeles, built around a remarkably detailed dismemberment system and crafted weapon mods. Its tone leans toward tongue-in-cheek B-movie satire rather than true horror.
Gory first-person melee mayhem across a sun-soaked, zombie-infested Los Angeles, built around a remarkably detailed dismemberment system and crafted weapon mods. Its tone leans toward tongue-in-cheek B-movie satire rather than true horror.
Artyom and his companions ride the Aurora steam train across an irradiated Russia, travelling through every season of the year. The journey blends scarce ammo, improvised weapons and tense survival horror with wide sandbox areas to explore.
2019PCPlayStationXboxSteam Deck playable29.99 €89 % positive
Very positive, 118,942 reviews on Steam
Post-apocalyptic setting
Strong, story-driven narrative
Shooting and gunplay
Artyom and his companions ride the Aurora steam train across an irradiated Russia, travelling through every season of the year. The journey blends scarce ammo, improvised weapons and tense survival horror with wide sandbox areas to explore.
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 €92 % positive
Very positive, 83,463 reviews on Steam
Post-apocalyptic setting
Open world
Driving or flying
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.
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.
The survival horror classic sends Leon and Claire through zombie-infested Raccoon City, where scarce ammo, inventory management, puzzles and fixed camera angles keep tension high. Two intertwined scenarios reward multiple playthroughs.
1998PCPlayStation9.99 €90 % positive
Very positive, 2,255 reviews on Steam
Dread and tension
Dark, serious atmosphere
Puzzles and brain teasers
The survival horror classic sends Leon and Claire through zombie-infested Raccoon City, where scarce ammo, inventory management, puzzles and fixed camera angles keep tension high. Two intertwined scenarios reward multiple playthroughs.
The battle royale pioneer: 100 players parachute onto a large map, scavenge weapons and fight to survive inside a shrinking zone. Grounded gunplay, vehicles and tactical positioning make every match tense.
2017PCPlayStationXboxfree60 % positive
Mixed, 2,747,182 reviews on Steam
Competing against other players
Co-op or multiplayer
Timing and reflexes matter (parrying, dodging)
The battle royale pioneer: 100 players parachute onto a large map, scavenge weapons and fight to survive inside a shrinking zone. Grounded gunplay, vehicles and tactical positioning make every match tense.
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.
Ethan Winters fights through a snowbound Eastern European village of werewolves, vampire ladies and grotesque lords in first person, blending gothic castle exploration, resource management and punchy gunplay. Each area offers its own flavor of horror, from tense psychological dread to bombastic boss fights.
Ethan Winters fights through a snowbound Eastern European village of werewolves, vampire ladies and grotesque lords in first person, blending gothic castle exploration, resource management and punchy gunplay. Each area offers its own flavor of horror, from tense psychological dread to bombastic boss fights.
This remake sends Jill Valentine through zombie-infested Raccoon City in a short, intense third-person action horror, relentlessly hunted by Nemesis. It emphasizes fast-paced shooting, scarce ammo and cinematic set pieces.
2020PCPlayStationXboxNintendo SwitchSteam Deck playable39.99 €84 % positive
Very positive, 92,127 reviews on Steam
Shooting and gunplay
Lavish presentation
Dread and tension
This remake sends Jill Valentine through zombie-infested Raccoon City in a short, intense third-person action horror, relentlessly hunted by Nemesis. It emphasizes fast-paced shooting, scarce ammo and cinematic set pieces.
As ordinary father Harry Mason, you search a fog-shrouded town for your missing daughter and slip into a nightmarish otherworld. Oppressive fog, unsettling industrial sound design and cryptic puzzles make this a defining psychological horror classic with multiple endings.
As ordinary father Harry Mason, you search a fog-shrouded town for your missing daughter and slip into a nightmarish otherworld. Oppressive fog, unsettling industrial sound design and cryptic puzzles make this a defining psychological horror classic with multiple endings.
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 €91 % positive
Very positive, 58,131 reviews on Steam
Post-apocalyptic setting
Open world
Driving or flying
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.
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.
Silent Hill f moves survival horror to 1960s rural Japan, where young Hinako fights through a town overgrown by crimson flowers. Ryukishi07's story explores social pressure and transformation across multiple endings, backed by melee-heavy combat built on dodges and counters.
2025PCPlayStationXboxSteam Deck playable69.99 €80 % positive
Very positive, 19,612 reviews on Steam
Dread and tension
Dark, serious atmosphere
Strong, story-driven narrative
Silent Hill f moves survival horror to 1960s rural Japan, where young Hinako fights through a town overgrown by crimson flowers. Ryukishi07's story explores social pressure and transformation across multiple endings, backed by melee-heavy combat built on dodges and counters.
Bloober Team's survival horror casts you as a Traveler moving through a retro-futuristic, ruined Poland, from the 1980s to the apocalypse. Scarce ammo, monsters that merge unless you burn their corpses, and a layered time-travel plot keep the tension high.
2025PCPlayStationXboxNintendo SwitchSteam Deck verified59.99 €86 % positive
Very positive, 8,193 reviews on Steam
Dread and tension
Dark, serious atmosphere
Post-apocalyptic setting
Bloober Team's survival horror casts you as a Traveler moving through a retro-futuristic, ruined Poland, from the 1980s to the apocalypse. Scarce ammo, monsters that merge unless you burn their corpses, and a layered time-travel plot keep the tension high.
A tropical holiday resort turns into a zombie nightmare: you brutally melee your way across the open island of Banoi with crafted and modded weapons, level up your survivor, and ideally team up with up to three friends in co-op.
2011PCPlayStationXbox87 % positive
Very positive, 15,328 reviews on Steam
Melee combat with weapons or fists
Co-op or multiplayer
Action-packed real-time combat
A tropical holiday resort turns into a zombie nightmare: you brutally melee your way across the open island of Banoi with crafted and modded weapons, level up your survivor, and ideally team up with up to three friends in co-op.
Defenseless in a gloomy Prussian castle, you hide from monsters, ration lamp oil and fight to keep your sanity instead of fighting back. A genre-defining horror classic built on physics-based puzzles and relentless dread.
Defenseless in a gloomy Prussian castle, you hide from monsters, ration lamp oil and fight to keep your sanity instead of fighting back. A genre-defining horror classic built on physics-based puzzles and relentless dread.
A tense third-person extraction shooter where you scavenge a machine-ruled future Earth for loot. Every other Raider you meet might become an ally or a threat. A striking 70s-inspired retro sci-fi look gives the world a strong atmosphere.
2025PCPlayStationXboxSteam Deck playable39.99 €82 % positive
Very positive, 309,317 reviews on Steam
Co-op or multiplayer
Sci-fi setting
Shooting and gunplay
A tense third-person extraction shooter where you scavenge a machine-ruled future Earth for loot. Every other Raider you meet might become an ally or a threat. A striking 70s-inspired retro sci-fi look gives the world a strong atmosphere.
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, 39,303 reviews on Steam
Open world
Action-packed real-time combat
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.
A bleak survival shooter set in the irradiated Zone around Chernobyl, where anomalies, mutants and rival stalkers make every expedition a gamble. Its oppressive atmosphere and multiple endings have made it a cult classic.
2007PCPlayStationXboxNintendo Switch19.99 €94 % positive
Very positive, 38,069 reviews on Steam
Shooting and gunplay
Lots to discover
Post-apocalyptic setting
A bleak survival shooter set in the irradiated Zone around Chernobyl, where anomalies, mutants and rival stalkers make every expedition a gamble. Its oppressive atmosphere and multiple endings have made it a cult classic.
The survival horror blueprint: scarce ammo, tight inventory and interlocking puzzles in a zombie-infested mansion, with fixed camera angles building constant dread and a campy charm.
1996PlayStationSteam Deck verified19.99 €92 % positive
Very positive, 28,156 reviews on Steam
Dread and tension
Lots to discover
Puzzles and brain teasers
The survival horror blueprint: scarce ammo, tight inventory and interlocking puzzles in a zombie-infested mansion, with fixed camera angles building constant dread and a campy charm.
Shinji Mikami's brutal survival horror sends detective Sebastian Castellanos through a shifting, nightmarish world. Scarce ammo, deadly traps and grotesque monsters keep the tension constantly high.
2014PCPlayStationXboxSteam Deck verified19.99 €84 % positive
Very positive, 21,714 reviews on Steam
Dread and tension
Dark, serious atmosphere
Challenging difficulty
Shinji Mikami's brutal survival horror sends detective Sebastian Castellanos through a shifting, nightmarish world. Scarce ammo, deadly traps and grotesque monsters keep the tension constantly high.
Classic survival horror in which Jill Valentine escapes a collapsing Raccoon City while hunted by the relentless Nemesis. Scarce ammo, puzzles, a dodge move and split-second live choices keep the tension high.
Classic survival horror in which Jill Valentine escapes a collapsing Raccoon City while hunted by the relentless Nemesis. Scarce ammo, puzzles, a dodge move and split-second live choices keep the tension high.
A grim first-person shooter set on a Mars research base where hell breaks loose. Cramped, pitch-black corridors, jump scares and scarce resources make it feel more like survival horror than the fast-paced classic Doom.
2004PCXboxSteam Deck playable89 % positive
Very positive, 8,499 reviews on Steam
Sci-fi setting
Shooting and gunplay
Dread and tension
A grim first-person shooter set on a Mars research base where hell breaks loose. Cramped, pitch-black corridors, jump scares and scarce resources make it feel more like survival horror than the fast-paced classic Doom.
An asymmetrical horror multiplayer game where four survivors repair generators to escape while another player hunts them as the killer. It thrives on tense chases, perk builds and a roster of licensed horror icons.
An asymmetrical horror multiplayer game where four survivors repair generators to escape while another player hunts them as the killer. It thrives on tense chases, perk builds and a roster of licensed horror icons.
Lead the last city on a frozen, steam-powered Earth, juggling heat, coal and food while signing laws that test your morals. A bleak, tense city-builder where survival constantly clashes with humanity.
2018PCPlayStationXboxNintendo SwitchSteam Deck playable−90 %29.99 € 2.99 € 3 days left92 % positive
Very positive, 115,212 reviews on Steam
Economy and management
Tactical depth
Dark, serious atmosphere
Lead the last city on a frozen, steam-powered Earth, juggling heat, coal and food while signing laws that test your morals. A bleak, tense city-builder where survival constantly clashes with humanity.
Heather is dragged into a nightmarish otherworld where a mall, a subway and a hospital rot into rust, flesh and blood. Disturbing imagery, Akira Yamaoka's oppressive soundtrack and cryptic puzzles carry the game, while clumsy, desperate combat keeps every encounter tense.
Heather is dragged into a nightmarish otherworld where a mall, a subway and a hospital rot into rust, flesh and blood. Disturbing imagery, Akira Yamaoka's oppressive soundtrack and cryptic puzzles carry the game, while clumsy, desperate combat keeps every encounter tense.
Stranded worker Jan clones alternate versions of himself, each shaped by a different life choice, and must manage them in a mobile base while racing a lethal sunrise. It's survival management fused with a thoughtful drama about identity and roads not taken.
2025PCPlayStationXboxSteam Deck verified−55 %34.99 € 15.74 € 3 days left90 % positive
Very positive, 15,665 reviews on Steam
Sci-fi setting
Choices with consequences
Strong, story-driven narrative
Stranded worker Jan clones alternate versions of himself, each shaped by a different life choice, and must manage them in a mobile base while racing a lethal sunrise. It's survival management fused with a thoughtful drama about identity and roads not taken.
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.
2026PCXboxSteam Deck verified29.99 €91 % positive
Very positive, 119,245 reviews on Steam
Lots to discover
Sci-fi setting
Open world
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.
Instead of soldiers, you guide a group of civilians through a besieged city, maintaining your shelter by day and scavenging dangerous ruins by night. Harsh moral dilemmas between survival and humanity make it a haunting, unforgettable experience.
2014PCPlayStationXboxSteam Deck playable−90 %18.99 € 1.89 € 3 days left93 % positive
Very positive, 82,102 reviews on Steam
Dark, serious atmosphere
Distinctive, stylised art style
A party of several characters
Instead of soldiers, you guide a group of civilians through a besieged city, maintaining your shelter by day and scavenging dangerous ruins by night. Harsh moral dilemmas between survival and humanity make it a haunting, unforgettable experience.
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.
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.
Kyle Crane returns to hunt for revenge across an open, zombie-infested valley, mixing fluid parkour, brutal melee combat and terrifying nights. His beast powers let him periodically unleash a savage, monstrous fighting mode.
2025PCPlayStationXboxSteam Deck verified59.99 €86 % positive
Very positive, 61,631 reviews on Steam
Melee combat with weapons or fists
Action-packed real-time combat
Post-apocalyptic setting
Kyle Crane returns to hunt for revenge across an open, zombie-infested valley, mixing fluid parkour, brutal melee combat and terrifying nights. His beast powers let him periodically unleash a savage, monstrous fighting mode.
Telltale's third season follows Javier and his family while weaving in Clementine's story, carrying over choices from earlier seasons. It's a cinematic, dialogue-heavy zombie drama built on tough moral decisions and quick-time events.
2016PCPlayStationXboxNintendo SwitchSteam Deck verified14.79 €83 % positive
Very positive, 15,569 reviews on Steam
Strong, story-driven narrative
Post-apocalyptic setting
Dark, serious atmosphere
Telltale's third season follows Javier and his family while weaving in Clementine's story, carrying over choices from earlier seasons. It's a cinematic, dialogue-heavy zombie drama built on tough moral decisions and quick-time events.
This remake of the horror classic follows James through the fog-choked town of Silent Hill as he searches for his dead wife. Oppressive atmosphere, puzzles and scarce resources serve a deep, psychological story.
2024PCPlayStationXbox69.99 €94 % positive
Very positive, 44,645 reviews on Steam
Dread and tension
Strong, story-driven narrative
Dark, serious atmosphere
This remake of the horror classic follows James through the fog-choked town of Silent Hill as he searches for his dead wife. Oppressive atmosphere, puzzles and scarce resources serve a deep, psychological story.
Survival games put pressure on you through scarcity. Ammo runs low, gear can be lost, and every decision about what to carry or when to fight carries weight. This list covers a wide spread, from open-ended sandboxes where you build from nothing to tightly scripted stories where survival is about stealth and rationing. It helps to know which kind you want before picking.
Start with pace and structure. If you want freedom and no fixed ending, Minecraft: Java Edition lets you mine, craft and survive the nights at your own speed, solo or on servers, with a huge modding community behind it. If you prefer a story, The Last of Us pairs scarce resources and tense stealth encounters with a character-driven journey that many consider one of gaming's best. For a bleaker, more punishing open world, S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl has you scavenging gear and hunting artifacts among anomalies and mutants.
Also think about difficulty and company. Arena Breakout: Infinite is unforgiving: you keep only what you extract alive, against AI and real players. Left 4 Dead 2 is the pick for a group, with four-player co-op and an AI Director that keeps every run unpredictable. If you want close-quarters dread instead, Resident Evil 7: Biohazard traps you in the Baker estate with very little ammo.
Frequently asked questions
What are the best survival games to play with friends?
Minecraft: Java Edition is ideal for building and surviving together on servers, while Left 4 Dead 2 offers four-player co-op against zombie hordes. Arena Breakout: Infinite suits squads who want tense, high-stakes extraction raids.
Which survival games have the best story?
The Last of Us and The Last of Us Part II are known for powerful, character-driven narratives built around scarce resources and stealth. The Walking Dead focuses on emotional choices as Lee protects Clementine, and Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater adds survival mechanics like hunting and treating wounds to a memorable spy drama.
What is a good survival horror game for beginners?
Resident Evil 7: Biohazard is a focused, self-contained horror experience with puzzles and limited ammo that teaches resource management well. Rise of the Tomb Raider is a gentler option, blending scavenging and crafting with action and exploration rather than pure horror.
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