We at MeinMMO take a look at which survival games will be released in 2024 for PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, or PC. These upcoming games should be on your watchlist if you enjoy survival, horror, or that special thrill.
In this list, we take a look at various representatives of the survival genre that are set to be released in 2024. Included are multiplayer games for PC, PlayStation 4 and 5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S, as well as exclusive titles and single-player games.
The selection is a personal assessment by the author, featuring promising titles or survival games with unique ideas. You might also find a hidden gem or two that you wouldn’t have considered otherwise.
Where the games will ultimately rank can only be definitively said after their release. In the meantime, you can find the best survival games for PlayStation, Xbox, and PC here on MeinMMO.
Update from January 16, 2024: S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 has been postponed again. The game is now set to be released in September 2024.
ARK 2
Developer/Publisher: Studio Wildcard | Release: 2024 | Model: likely Buy2Play | Platforms: PC, Xbox Series X|S | Players: Multiplayer
This is ARK 2: ARK 2 continues ARK: Survival Evolved. So far, not much is known about the game, but gameplay and content are expected to differ little from its predecessor.
The core feature of ARK is various dinosaurs that you can tame and train as working animals. They serve as labor, mounts, or even as a base to build on.
ARK is a survival game in the classic sense. You start almost naked, have to gather your equipment laboriously, and progress steadily. On your journey through the world, you uncover secrets and backgrounds and eventually reach a point where you can fight with futuristic weapons and armor.
According to the first images, ARK 2 will strongly orient itself to the first part. The first dinosaurs have already been seen, and the world resembles the jungle-like biomes of the first part quite closely.
The struggle for survival: Basically, you need to pay attention to water, food, and your health. At least your needs can be easily satisfied with a little searching, but you should prepare well for fights.
Especially for encounters with large dinosaurs or bosses, you need the right equipment or support in the form of tamed dinosaurs.
Protection is primarily provided by a clan. You can play ARK together with friends, build a base, and establish defenses. You will retreat there whenever you need to recover.
In the video, you will find everything you need to know about the predecessor ARK: Survival Evolved in 2 minutes:
This is what we expect from the game:
- A colorful world with various biomes
- All kinds of dinosaurs and creatures to fight and tame
- A hidden story that can be revealed through secrets and discoveries
- High replay value and years of support with DLCs and updates
When and where is the release? There is no specific date yet, but ARK 2 is supposed to be released in 2024. ARK 2 is coming for PC and Xbox Series X|S. A release for PS4, PS5, and Xbox One is currently not planned.
You can find all the info about the ARK 2 release in our info hub.
S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl
Developer/Publisher: GSC Game Worlds | Release: September 5, 2024 | Model: Buy2Play | Platforms: PC, Xbox Series X|S | Players: likely only single-player
This is S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: The latest entry in the famous S.T.A.L.K.E.R. series. You find yourself in Chernobyl, several years after the disaster, following another catastrophe that has created strange anomalies. Flora and fauna have mutated, and Pripyat is an absolute military exclusion zone.
You still wander as a stalker through the area, searching for particularly valuable “artifacts,” strange items created by the anomalies. Radiation and mutants are constant dangers you must face.
S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 is gameplay-wise a first-person shooter with strong elements of survival, horror, and RPG. At E3 2021, there was first gameplay. You will have access to over 30 weapons with modifications. In a non-linear story where you encounter different factions, you are supposed to decide the fate of the exclusion zone.
The struggle for survival: Hunger, sleep, injuries, and radiation are the main survival elements in S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2. However, the greatest danger to survival remains enemies and anomalies that lurk everywhere in the game world.
Since S.T.A.L.K.E.R. is primarily an RPG, you will probably not face impossible challenges. Fun and story have been the focus so far, and it is likely to be the same in S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2. Even survival beginners will find joy here, even if they are not familiar with the other entries in the series.
This is what we expect from the game:
- Gloomy, oppressive atmosphere
- Game with dangerous radiation and bizarre mutations
- Interesting and diverse weapons
- Gripping story
- Various factions where you can earn reputation or eliminate
- Full mod support
When and where is the release: After several delays, S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 is now set to release on September 5, 2024, for PC and Xbox, as a Microsoft exclusive. It will also be available on Xbox Game Pass at launch. According to rumors, exclusivity is expected to last only 3 months.
S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 will cost between €59.99 and €109.99, depending on the version you purchase.
At least there are signs of life from the studio. In January 2023, the developers showed new images of S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 in Unreal Engine 5, which delighted many fans with its stunning visuals.
Nightingale
Developer/Publisher: Inflexion Games | Release: February 22, 2024 | Model/Price: TBA | Platforms: PC | Players: Multiplayer
This is Nightingale: Nightingale takes place in a Victorian fantasy setting, called Gaslamp fantasy. It is being developed by Inflexion Games, comprised of veterans from the legendary RPG studio BioWare.
You play as a realm traveler who visits different worlds in search of a new home for humanity. A magical catastrophe threatens to destroy their old home.
However, these new worlds are already inhabited by wondrous Fae creatures that may not be friendly. You should be able to defend yourself with various tools and weapons to establish a foothold for humanity.
The struggle for survival: Currently, we do not know if there will be classic survival elements like hunger and thirst. However, since you can grow fruit and vegetables, that suggests such mechanics.
Moreover, crafting and building play a significant role. You can build your own houses and settlements, farm fields, and erect defense lines against the Fae with other players. Nightingale also features various biomes like forests, swamps, and deserts.
You will wander through different, increasingly dangerous worlds. The biggest survival factor will likely be the enemies you must fend off. There is no PvP.
You can see the latest gameplay of Nightingale here:
This is what we expect from the game:
- A unique “Gaslight” setting with corresponding visuals
- Strange, fairy-like monsters as enemies
- Much co-op gameplay with PvE and community building
- Support for NPC workers
- Hopefully RPG elements that live up to BioWare’s legacy
- Complete abstention from PvP
When and where is the release? After several delays, Nightingale is set to be released on February 22, 2024, and will only be in Early Access. Over 12,000 players have already participated in the first tests.
If you want to check out the game, you can register for playtests on the official page.
Under A Rock
Developer/Publisher: Gameforge 4D/Nordic Trolls | Release: TBA | Model: likely Buy2Play | Platforms: PC (Steam, Epic), PS5, Xbox | Players: Multiplayer/Co-op for up to 10 players
This is Under A Rock: You can imagine this survival game a bit like ARK, if it were made by Disney. You play as an explorer who lands on an island, roughly at the beginning of the 19th century.
On the island, you will find exotic creatures in a jungle, but also natives who want to get rid of you. The world is procedurally generated.
The biggest difference is the playful look in comic style. However, this is a bit deceptive, as even though Under A Rock looks like a survival game for kids, the features sound quite tough.
The struggle for survival: So far, the mechanics sound roughly similar to those of ARK. You need to eat and need shelter. You can farm resources, craft, and build structures. Protection against nature in battles is particularly important.
To help, you can tame the island’s creatures, just like in ARK. There are also technical aids like grappling hooks and gliders for movement.
This is what we expect from the game:
- A mix of a cute exterior and tough mechanics.
- A variety of creatures that can be tamed and hunted.
- Lots of exploration to make use of gliders and grappling hooks.
- Strong co-op gameplay for up to 10 players with joint hunts and base building.
When and where is Under A Rock being released? A date for the release is still pending. In the Epic Store, it says that the game will be released soon
, but there is no hint. The game is coming to PC, Xbox, and PS5.
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