Survival games are known for their appeal and the thrill that anything and anyone can kill you. But sometimes you just want to enjoy the game. MeinMMO presents 7 titles in the genre where you can play peacefully.
What does “peaceful” mean here? The struggle for survival is at the core of every survival game – this excitement is what makes the genre. So you won’t find purely pacifistic games like Harvest Moon or Animal Crossing here, but you will have to fight from time to time.
However, we mark how intense the survival and combat aspect is in each game. When selecting, we made sure to present games where fighting against other players plays no role or is not even possible.
It is important that other players cannot destroy anything or “grief” you in any of the games. In the peaceful survival games shown here, the focus is on taking your time and exploring everything at your own pace.
What kind of games can I find here? We have selected a range of survival games, including both single-player and co-op titles for PC, PlayStation, and Xbox. The only important thing is that they can do without PvP and do not force you to defend yourself against other players.
What you won’t find here is a top list of the best games, but a selection of recommended games based on the author’s personal assessment. If you’re instead looking for a larger selection, you can find the 25 best survival games of 2021 for PlayStation, Xbox, and PC here on MeinMMO.
His most played modern survival titles include Fallout 76 and Conan Exiles, in which he has probably invested around 600 hours together. He also enjoys trying out new titles and indie games in the genre to look for hidden gems and insider tips. He especially values a beautiful environment where exploration is rewarding and a refined crafting system.
1. Raft
Developer: Redbeet Interactive | Platform: PC | Release: May 23, 2018 | Players: Solo or Co-op | Combat/Action: low to medium
What is Raft? In Raft, you play alone or with friends on a raft of the same name. Instead of building a base and exploring the world from there, you explore the world with your base.
You continually expand the raft with debris you fish from the sea or with resources you find while diving or on islands. Your most important tool is a hook on a rope, which you cast out to pull floating objects to you.
Your raft becomes larger and over time turns into a real floating city with houses, crafting stations, and even gardens. The comic style and bright environment give the whole game a friendly, playful atmosphere.
How peaceful is Raft? Raft does not put you under pressure in combat, but the story can become quite dangerous. During the story quests, you encounter mysterious places that tell a story and might occasionally unleash a bear on you. A hungry shark is also a threat to your raft – but not one that constantly puts you under pressure.
Exploration and the collective building of your raft are clearly in the foreground. The story islands also tell a great story about life on the vast, endless sea.
How hard is survival? Even though Raft mainly focuses on exploration, you must pay attention to food and water, which are not always easy to come by due to your situation on a raft. When you die, what happens depends on the difficulty:
- Peaceful/Easy: You respawn without penalties.
- Normal: Respawn and lose your items or get revived by friends.
- Hard Mode: Friends must pick you up and carry you to a bed.
2. Subnautica
Developer: Unknown Worlds | Platform: PC, Mac, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch | Release: January 23, 2018 | Players: Single player | Combat/Action: low
What is Subnautica? After a crash landing on an alien ocean planet, you must somehow survive in the completely alien environment. The goal is to get everything running again and escape the planet.
In the process, you explore the underwater areas and with the “Below Zero” DLC even frozen lakes and ice biomes in search of resources. You will encounter unknown and alien creatures in the picturesque world on your journeys.
How peaceful is Subnautica? Basically, you don’t have to fight in Subnautica. You will occasionally encounter more dangerous deep-sea inhabitants, but you generally flee from them rather than confront them.
Subnautica focuses fully on the beautiful world and detailed backdrop – so much so that it is now known for its environments and considered one of the most beautiful games ever.
How hard is survival? Especially at the beginning, it can be a bit challenging to get used to the mechanics and build the right tools for underwater exploration. However, you will quickly come across necessary resources. Just always watch your oxygen – that is the most important thing for survival in Subnautica.
3. Stranded Deep
Developer: Beam Team | Platform: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S | Release: January 23, 2015 | Players: Solo or Co-op in split-screen (PC only) | Combat/Action: low to medium
What is Stranded Deep? Your plane crashes and you find yourself alone on a deserted island in the Pacific – the classic “Robinson Crusoe” experience in modern guise. This is exactly the story that Stranded Deep is based on.
You must find your way on the island, find water and food, and somehow survive with whatever you have on hand. Vehicles and skills are also available.
Build yourself a small house in the middle of the ocean and make the best of what you have – who wouldn’t want an island in the middle of the Pacific all to themselves?
How peaceful is Stranded Deep? You will primarily be busy chopping down palm trees, sipping coconuts, and building tools and huts from found wood and stone. Still, the island is dangerous.
You will eventually have to hunt to survive, and as you venture deeper into the island or the sea, predators wait there that want to harm you. The further you go, the more you will have to fight.
There are even boss fights in Stranded Deep, so you will have to fight for one of the core features. While you could also just drift along, you would likely miss an important part of the game.
How hard is survival? In addition to hunger, thirst, and health, you also have to pay attention to overheating in Stranded Deep. Since an island in the Pacific isn’t equipped with air conditioning, sunburn is a real danger. So survival is already a challenge – but also the core of the game.
4. Wolf Quest
Developer: eduweb | Platform: PC (Steam) | Release: July 26, 2019 | Players: Solo or Co-op | Combat/Action: low to medium
What is Wolf Quest? In Wolf Quest, as the name suggests, you play as a wolf in Yellowstone National Park – either alone, in public games, or privately with friends. You start as a young gray wolf, exploring the world, maturing, and eventually founding your own pack.
Throughout your life, you constantly improve your hunting skills and find new friends and even mates for breeding. And yes, there are cute little wolf pups frolicking around you.
How peaceful is Wolf Quest? The game mainly revolves around exploring the natural environment and serves to get to know the wildlife of wolves. However, this natural life also includes hunting.
Consequently, as a wolf, you rely on hunting and killing prey, as it is your main food source. At the same time, you must contend with other predators like bears and cougars and be careful not to get torn apart in the territories of other packs.
How hard is survival? Wolf Quest uses a realistic model, which makes it difficult to assess how hard survival really is. The law of the stronger applies: The superior wins the fight. A mistake can mean your death.
If you want a particularly tough challenge, you can play in “Iron Wolf” mode: as soon as you die, the game is over.
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