MeinMMO presents 8 new titles from the survival genre that will be released in 2022. You are on page 2 and here you can return to page 1.
Pioner
Developer/Publisher: GFA Games | Release: 2024 | Model: likely Buy2Play | Platforms: PC, PS5, Xbox | Players: Multiplayer/MMO
This is Pioner: In principle, Pioner is STALKER, but as an MMO. The Russian indie studio has taken the popular, dystopian exploration survival shooter as a model from the outset and mixed it with MMO elements.
The focus of the game is on PvE: You are supposed to explore a Soviet island where secret experiments have reportedly gone wrong. It is now teeming with anomalies that pose a danger.
Pioner mixes survival features with MMORPG elements by having various factions on the island for which you can complete missions and earn reputation. You can also join with other players in clans.
The struggle for survival: It depends on how you play. The focus of the game is on PvE, but the map is divided into zones with different danger levels. Roughly, it can be said: the farther you venture out, the more dangerous it gets.
We haven’t seen mechanics like hunger or thirst yet, but dangers from monsters and even other players loom. Certain zones are PvEvP areas, where you can find both raid bosses and other players to fight over loot.
This is what we expect from the game:
- A gloomy, post-apocalyptic atmosphere like in STALKER.
- A mix of post-apocalypse and fantasy in the form of strange anomalies.
- Crafting and weapon modifications for at least basic shooter gameplay.
- Much exploration with hidden research facilities and various territories.
When and where is Pioner being released? Pioner is supposed to be released in 2024 and will come to both PC and PlayStation and Xbox. A specific date is still pending.
Coreborn: Nations of the Ultracore
Developer/Publisher: Blankhans | Release: TBA; Early Access already playable | Model: Buy2Play | Platforms: PC (Steam) | Players: Multiplayer/MMO
This is Coreborn: Based on the pen & paper system Ultracore, creator Hauke Gerdes (ex-Rocket Beans) with a small team has created Coreborn. You play as a resident of the world Tormentosa, which is being attacked by the extraterrestrial villain Sorgoth.
You play as one of the various peoples in the universe and ally against Sorgoth, who has already occupied large parts of the world. You are supposed to act from the safe “Ultracore” and gradually re-conquer the world.
Coreborn relies heavily on multiplayer mechanics, where upon entering a game world, you are assigned a “layer” shared with other players. There you can build, craft, and explore.
You can also play Coreborn with friends, though you may have to change layers and possibly lose your progress. So either invite newcomers to you or start together.
While playing, we had a great time with Coreborn, even though the ratings on Steam are currently only “mixed.” You can find a play report here:
The struggle for survival: Coreborn features a basic hunger and thirst system, as well as weather, but does not include extensive survival elements like radiation and co. The core is more exploration and building. However, the game becomes quite challenging quickly.
You fight enemies with an active combat system, and if you’re not careful, you can die quickly. Especially since you need better materials early in the game, you have to venture deeper into the world and face new and tougher foes.
Overall, Coreborn is considered one of the easier survival games and is especially suitable for beginners. Veterans should not have much trouble.
We spoke with the developers about their plans:
This is what the game offers:
- Co-op gameplay where you can build houses and villages together
- NPCs with stories around the world of Ultracore
- Focus on PvE and exploration
- Character development with RPG elements through various peoples/nations with synergies between the nations
- A skill system for specializations in professions
When and where is the release? Coreborn is already playable in early access on Steam, but still in a fairly raw state. Development is still ongoing. When the 1.0 release will take place is still unknown.
Reka
Developer/Publisher: Emberstone Entertainment/Fireshine Games | Release: by mid-2024 | Model: likely Buy2Play | Platforms: PC (Steam) | Players: Singleplayer
This is Reka: In Reka, you play as the apprentice of a witch in Slavic folklore, a Baba Yaga. These beings are known as friendly or unfriendly creatures who are strongly connected to the forest and nature.
This is where Reka comes in: You have your own witch’s house on chicken legs and wander through a mixed forest. Along the way, you encounter wild animals that you can tame and settlements full of people. Whether you help the residents or harm them is up to you.
The studio behind the game is Emberstone Entertainment from Berlin. After the first looks, Reka received several nominations.
The struggle for survival: Probably not very hard. Classic survival mechanics like eating and warmth are not known at all. Instead, Reka seems to be more story-driven. The focus is on exploration and crafting.
Reka primarily focuses on sandbox gameplay and allows you to design and expand your own house. You are also supposed to explore the forest, gather herbs, and talk to animals and forest spirits. Rather a game for leisurely, mystical exploration.
This is what we expect from Reka:
- A somewhat mysterious atmosphere and fewer dangers.
- Different play styles as a good or evil witch.
- Themes surrounding nature, nature magic, and the environment.
- Strong connection to Slavic folklore, which is still underutilized for survival settings.
- An ideal game for beginners.
When and where is Reka being released? Reka is supposed to be released by the end of the second quarter of 2024 on Steam, so by June 30th. However, the game will only be in early access at that time, and you will only be able to play the first chapter and prologue. Subsequent updates will bring new maps, recipes, and more to explore.
Dune: Awakening
Developer/Publisher: Funcom | Release: Expected in 2024 | Model: likely Buy2Play | Platforms: PC, PS5, Xbox | Players: Multiplayer/MMO
This is Dune: Awakening: With the new survival MMO, developer Funcom aims to wrap the famous Dune universe into a new game. Dune: Awakening was presented at GamesCom 2022 and received well by fans.
You will start somewhere in the desert with thousands of other players, searching for shelter and food, gradually getting stronger – ideally together. Dune: Awakening strongly emphasizes social aspects.
In fact, the survival game takes many aspects from the MMO genre. For example, you are supposed to influence the economy around the coveted “Spice” with guilds by waging wars with heavy equipment such as tanks.
For former MeinMMO editor Maik Schneider, Dune: Awakening is the next evolutionary step in the survival and MMO genre:
The struggle for survival: Currently, only core elements of survival are known, that you need to take care of food. Whether temperatures or other factors also play a role is still unknown.
Crafting and building, however, will be a core theme of Dune: Awakening. You should be able to build your own bases and equipment. Developer Funcom has already gained much experience in this with Conan Exiles.
Other than that, Dune: Awakening seems more like a survival light
with a greater focus on MMO elements and story. Nevertheless, water is expected to be a scarce resource. How tough survival will be is currently hard to estimate.
This is what we expect from the game:
- 3rd-person gameplay
- Dune as an unused, fresh setting for a game with characters from book and film
- High PvP factor due to the battle for Spice
- A skill system that improves abilities with use
- Fights with melee and ranged weapons, as well as battles with tanks, infantry, and aircraft
- Guilds
- Crafting of weapons, attachments, modifications, armor
When and where is the release? There is still no concrete release date for Dune: Awakening, only that it will be coming soon
. The release is expected to happen in 2024.
Dune: Awakening will be released for PC on Steam, for PS5 and Xbox.
Bonus: Outpost: Glacier
Developer/Publisher: Doomlord Interactive | Release: TBA; Alpha already playable | Model: TBA | Platforms: PC | Players: Multiplayer/Co-op
This is the game: Outpost: Glacier plays, similar to Valheim, in a frozen wasteland full of snow and ice. You manage an outpost in this world and try to withstand the harsh conditions.
According to the indie developers from Sweden, it’s mainly about being able to provide for yourself with what the environment offers. Hunting, building, and exploration are important aspects. From the gameplay, Outpost: Glacier is reminiscent of Factorio or Satisfactory, but with a stronger emphasis on survival.
Much about the story of the game is still unknown. Currently, Outpost: Glacier is in an early version of Alpha, where the main focus is learning the survival mechanics and building your base.
The struggle for survival: In addition to classic factors like food, drinking, and warmth, Outpost: Glacier faces dangers from the environment. This includes not only enemies but also avalanches and snowstorms, which were already seen in the trailer.
Players apparently need to work together or warm each other to survive some of these dangers. Especially alone, Outpost: Glacier could present a great challenge.
This is what we expect from the game:
- A unique cold mechanic that may require player interactions
- Exploration with snowmobiles and other methods of transportation
- A strategy and organization aspect through building and managing buildings like in Satisfactory
- Snowball fights
When and where is the release? Outpost: Glacier is already in a playable alpha version that can be downloaded for free on itch.io. So far, there is only a version for PC (Windows) with no information on a console version.
Outpost: Glacier is a tiny project from Sweden. Did you know that the worldwide hit Minecraft started out similarly?
Bonus: Towers of Aghasba
Developer/Publisher: Dreamlit | Release: 2024 | Model: TBA | Platforms: PC, consoles hopefully shortly thereafter
| Players: Multiplayer/Co-op
This is the game: Towers of Aghasba is a completely new approach to modern survival games. You find yourself in a world strongly reminiscent of the Zelda series, abandoned by your ancestors for unknown reasons. Your journey is based around the namesake tower, which you continually expand and use as a stronghold.
After Towers had its last activity on social channels in July 2019, a new post with further information suddenly appeared at the end of 2020. At the end of October 2021, a new website for the game was launched, and the developers were looking for new staff. The development is ongoing but progressing.
The struggle for survival: Instead of fighting for your survival in the classic sense, you should live in harmony with your environment. To do this, you need to ensure that the ecosystem is somewhat balanced, that the animals feel comfortable there, and that you can use them for your sustenance. Inspiration was drawn from Minecraft, Don’t Starve Together, Shadow of the Colossus, and Harvest Moon, as well as other genres like Bloodborne.
This is what we expect from the game:
- A unique approach to the genre
- A lot of exploration of the vast surroundings
- An elaborate system for interacting with nature
When and where is the release? According to the official Discord, Towers of Aghasba is expected to start in 2024, but likely only in Early Access. It is supposed to be released first on PC and hopefully shortly thereafter
on consoles.
As some games from our list show, such as Towers of Aghasba, not every survival game has to revolve around fighting for survival with others. It can also be peaceful – at least more or less: 7 peaceful survival games that get by without PvP – for Steam, PlayStation, and Xbox.
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