I love good survival games, but it seems like they’re hard to come by. There are so many on Steam that it’s hard to weed through all the junky ones.
In order to aid you in your search, I’ve put together a list of my 5 favorite survival games on Steam, and I’ll tell you a little bit about each of them.
1. The Forest
The Forest is a survival horror game where you’re stranded on a cannibal-filled island. At first, the cannibals will simply observe you from the woods, but eventually they’ll start to attack you and your bases.
A massive cave system runs underneath the map, along with mutants and plenty of other mysteries to solve. This is an amazing game to play with friends, and is actually pretty terrifying to play solo.
It’s one of the most polished survival games I’ve played, and there’s tons of places to explore and things to craft. If you don’t mind the threat of being stalked by cannibals, then I’m sure you’ll enjoy The Forest.
2. Rust
Rust is honestly one of the most hardcore games I’ve ever played. Every gunshot that rings out from nearby players will get your adrenaline pumping, and nothing beats the feeling of getting a ton of loot from a successful raid.
It has the ability to draw you in and suck up all of your time, making it insanely addicting. There are tons of different ways to play, from solo to clans. Unofficial or modded servers allow you to find a playstyle you enjoy the most.
Rust has changed a lot over the years, and a lot of players aren’t happy with the current state of the game.
3. Subnautica
When I first played Subnautica, it was in early access. It’s only improved since then, and is definitely one of the most unique survival games out there. The underwater environment is incredibly fun to explore, and the creatures give life to the hostile alien planet.
There’s a pretty interesting story to follow too, giving you a motive for each expedition you take. There's also a bunch of really cool vehicles to explore the world with, and there’s a ton of gameplay
4. Ark
If you have a decent computer, then Ark Survival Evolved is a game worth checking out. The premise of the game is surviving in a world of dinosaurs by taming them and building up a dino army.
There are many huge maps and expansions that result in thousands of hours of gameplay. Official servers can be a huge grind, but you can make the game infinitely more fun by playing on unofficial servers.
There are PvE servers, PvP servers, and a single player mode you can play offline. It’s basically a futuristic version of Jurassic Park, and it’s definitely worth playing if you have extra time.
5. Deadside
Deadside is the newest game on this list, and it’s basically a better version on H1Z1. It’s currently still in early access, but the devs have a lot of items planned in the roadmap.
The graphics are amazing and it’s probably the most optimized early access game I’ve ever played. The gunplay is really impressive and feels realistic.
There is a base building mechanic that’s a bit clunky at the moment, but I’m sure it’ll improve in the future. I’m really excited to see the future of Deadside, and I highly recommend trying it out.