Out of the many genres you can possibly explore in the vast world of video games, many players get their needle stuck on playing through every single survival title the world has to offer. There is just another level of thrill that is only achieved as you manage to make your character survive through the toughest of conditions, doesn’t matter if the in-game world is even based on real life or not.
Most importantly, in this genre, there are consequences to nearly every action of yours, and it’s about time you checked out these 10 most realistic survival games this year before the year ends.
10. Green Hell
Green Hell | Credit: Creepy Jar
Green Hell is one of the best examples of a survival game done right. In this one, survival mechanics are treated as more than just an afterthought, and with the game set deep in the Amazon rainforest, the player is forced to monitor every vital, including nutrition, hydration, injuries, infections, and mental condition.
What makes this one particularly convincing is how small problems can quickly become serious. A wound cannot simply be ignored, and food has different nutritional values that affect how you maintain your character.
9. 7 Days to Die
7 Days to Die | Credit: The Fun Pimps
Imagine a well-done mix of survival, crafting, shooting, and base building all built into one package that is made complete with an open-world setting; that is 7 Days to Die for you.
This title features a mechanic called the Blood Moon, which arrives every seven days and makes players gather resources and secure their base as they anticipate increasingly dangerous zombie attacks. The game’s open world doesn’t help either, as it means you are always at risk as you are out exploring for supplies.
8. Subnautica
Subnautica | Credit: Unknown Worlds
After crash-landing on an ocean-covered planet, players must find food, water, and better equipment while exploring the bottom of an alien ocean in Subnautica. In a sense, this game is truly out of this world.
The impressive part is how well the survival mechanics end up connecting with exploration. As you go deeper in the ocean, you are met with more valuable resources, but at the same time become exposed to greater dangers and even greater predators.
7. The Long Dark
The Long Dark | Credit: Hinterland Studio Inc.
The Long Dark boils down the element of survival to one problem, which is staying alive in otherwise extremely hostile surroundings. Set in the frozen Canadian wilderness, the game puts an extra emphasis on the basics such as temperature, calories, and even hydration and fatigue, with nature itself becoming the biggest threat to the player.
A poorly planned run in this game means your character gets left freezing or exhausted miles away from safety.
6. DayZ
DayZ | Credit: Bohemia Interactive
DayZ arguably delivers one of the most unpredictable survival experiences because its biggest threat is often another human being.
This one makes the player search abandoned buildings for the most basic essentials and other supplies while dealing with zombies and environmental dangers at the same time. There is no traditional campaign to follow, and instead, survival itself becomes the objective.
5. Rust
Rust | Credit: Facepunch Studios
You know what is worse than barely surviving? It’s doing it as you exist in an unforgiving player-versus-player ecosystem. Starting with almost nothing, players must gather resources and gradually establish a stronger base in Rust. The catch is that other players can seriously mess you up by completely destroying whatever progress you might have made so far.
4. The Forest
The Forest | Credits: Endnight Games Ltd.
The Forest combines wilderness survival with psychological horror. After becoming stranded on a mysterious peninsula, you are supposed to collect food and build shelter as fast as you can while uncovering what happened to the missing passengers.
The environment itself feels important because gathering resources and constructing a home are essential to surviving the increasingly aggressive enemies.
3. Sons of Valhalla
Sons of Valhalla | Credit: Pixel Chest
Many would not count Sons of Valhalla as a conventional survival game, but its focus on resource management and maintaining a warband gives it a survival-oriented angle that you are bound to fall in love with. Set during the Viking Age, players go ahead and build fortifications as well as recruit warriors while managing limited resources at the same time, fighting their way across England.
2. Sons of the Forest
Sons of the Forest | Credit: Image via Youtube/Sons Of The Forest Channel
Sons of the Forest expands almost every survival mechanic that was introduced by its predecessor.
The plot is rather simple. Players are stranded on a dangerous island where they must do the basics, like finding food and gathering materials, while also exploring caves and dealing with hostile inhabitants. The most impressive part about this one is its building system, and the game becomes even more compelling thanks to companions such as Kevin, who add another layer of managing life on the island.
1. The Last of Us Part II
The Last of Us Part 2 | Credit: Naughty Dog
The Last of Us Part II takes the top spot because only a few games make survival feel as grounded and physically convincing as it does.
Unlike traditional survival-crafting games, this one does not solely revolve around maintaining hunger or thirst meters. Instead, the player is delivered realism on a silver platter through the movement, stealth, combat, injuries, and most importantly, the detailed behavior of its characters and environments.
Every encounter in The Last of Us Part 2 is dangerous in its own right, with players forced to carefully consider everything from ammo and positioning to whether a confrontation is worth the risk.
The definition of a realistic survival game is subjective, and it would be completely alright if you end up not agreeing with some of the entries that made it into this list. However, if that’s the case, make sure to let us know in the comments below what your favorite survival titles are.
This post belongs to FandomWire and first appeared on FandomWire
