We’ve gathered best survival games for PC so that all you fans of the said genre can relish the coolest names out there. These worthy mentions have all the elements to keep you constantly on your toes while you foray across the virtual terrain.
Here you’ll have to do everything in your power to live through the whole ordeal you’re about to be thrown into. Scavenge around for food and water, dabble in makeshift weapons and even turn on your close buddy if you have to.
You’ll also be happy to see a couple of fresh indie titles in the mix too. Be prepared to tackle challenging quests and situations that will test your endurance to its very limits.
1 – Minecraft:
The survival game that kick starts the party is definitely no stranger to this particular genre. Minecraft is noted to be the best sandbox indie game.
Here you’ll have to place different sorts of virtual blocks strategically across the plane and build a variety of structures. Besides simply erecting safe houses to protect yourself against nocturnal monsters, you can also craft other wonderful things.
Within these confines, you’ll be able to create just about anything your imagination can conjure up. Go ahead and visit The Nether realm if you’re feeling a little brave or stride across to the land of mushrooms for some toadstool fun.
And besides PC, the delight also extends its grasp across other platforms such as the Xbox and PlayStation consoles, as well as Android and iOS devices.
2 – Don’t Starve:
In Don’t Starve you take on the role of an intrepid gentleman scientist called Wilson who finds himself in the midst of a mysterious wilderness realm that’s filled with magic and science.
Now in order to escape this scary scenario, he must take complete advantage of his surroundings and even the indigenous beings found there. You’ll be bombarded with plenty of perils, surprises, 2D characters and strange creatures along the way.
You’re also called on to create different structures and items as well as hunt, farm, conduct research and fight to survive so that you can make it back home safely.
Another interesting feature is that you can generate a new living world which can be as dangerous as the one provided.
Don’t Starve Together is the standalone multiplayer expansion of the game which came out in 2016.
3 – S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Call of Pripyat:
This entrant in our survival games for PC roster is the third iteration in the acclaimed S.T.A.L.K.E.R. series.
Packed with a storyline that closely follows the events of its predecessor – Shadow of Chernobyl, this installment also sees a plethora of unique characters, new monsters like Burer and Chimera, and even an extended system of side quests.
Here you’ll be able to explore new picturesque zones such as the Yanov railway station, Kopachi village, Pripyat town and Jupiter factory.
It further includes a new player interface, an A-Life system and sleep function.
You can step into the shoes of Agent Alexander Degtyarev and dig deeper into the mysterious disappearance of five helicopters.
4 – Stranded II:
Can’t get enough of Robinson Crusoe, Cast Away and Lost? Have you ever wondered what it’s like to be stranded on an island?
Well, you’ll be able to experience the same via this engaging 3D adventure game that’s been developed by Unreal Software.
Your aim in Stranded II is to stay alive by any means possible. You’re required to craft your own makeshift tools and weapons, gather food, build dwelling structures, go on hunting sprees and even tame wild animals you find on the island.
You can also find legendary treasures during your stay here. As the brains behind this endeavor suggests, the sequel is filled with huge islands, over 100 different items, day and night alteration, varied maps and dynamic lighting effects.
There’s even a map editor with various options roped in here.
5 – UnReal World:
This interesting inclusion in our survival games for PC array is looked upon as a unique graphical rogue-like RPG.
The environment featured here has been inspired by ancient Finland in the later Iron Age.
Beaming with a rich, historical atmosphere, UnReal World (which should have been on our list of games similar to Kenshi, now that we think about it) lets you take on the role of a hero from any one of the 9 different cultures.
You’ll have to brave through the harsh, unforgiving wilderness and complete a variety of tasks.
It even comes complete with a skill-based system that includes hide working and cookery.
You can choose to put on the guise of a peace-loving hermit, a fisherman, an adventurer, a tradesman or a hunter.
The game is available for different platforms such as Windows, Linux and Mac OS X.
6 – Project Zomboid:
If you’re an ardent RPG fan, then you’ll surely like what this retro-isometric styled contender in our survival games for PC roundup has in store for you.
And as the name reveals, you’ll come face to face with loads of undead beings. However, besides just concentrating on annihilating the mindless menace, Project Zomboid also pays attention to other aspects like depression, starvation, trust issues, loneliness, insanity and illness.
What’s more, you can also pick up different skills from your mates such as cooking, carpentry and medical training. The maker has also infused the title with a cooperative multiplayer mode.
Eventually, everyone here is bound to get infected and perish at some point or the other. What counts is how you live through the entire episode.
So will you end up being a hero or turn on your friends and make a tasty meal out of them.
Ark: Survival Evolved offers an immersive gameplay experience, blending elements of survival, crafting, and exploration within a world populated by prehistoric creatures.
In it, you begin with nothing, gradually gathering resources to craft tools, weapons, and clothing essential for survival.
Taming and breeding dinosaurs is a core gameplay feature, allowing you to create loyal companions and powerful assets for exploration and combat.
The extensive crafting system enables the construction of diverse structures, from basic shelters to elaborate, fortified compounds.
The fact that you can play Ark cross platform with friends on only select devices is a shame since its multiplayer component which fosters a dynamic environment where players can cooperate, trade, or engage in fierce PvP battles, is really neat.
8 – Raft:
Raft is a PC-exclusive title as of 2024. It takes place in a world where the polar ice caps have melted and led to global flooding.
Rafts and floating islands means of survival for the people who’re still alive.
From your floating home in the middle of the ocean, you must gather resources, craft items and look for islands from which you can salvage precious materials.
All the while, you have to manage your hunger as well as thirst, and be wary of potential threats from the ocean and the skies.
Although Raft cross-platform support obviously does not exist due to its limitation to PC users, you can play it with up to 8 friends in multiplayer mode.
Conclusion:
We had earlier put a large smile on the faces of fans by listing out Minecraft maps that are sprinkled with elements of the genre in the spotlight.
More recently, we also revealed some pretty juicy titles that explored the zombie side of the category in question. And since these few topics were covered, we figured it was time to shed some light on survival games for PC.
So did we cover all your favorites? Do leave us your comments about the same in the box below.
