The 31 best survival games 2025 for PS5, Steam, and Xbox

The 31 best survival games 2025 for PS5, Steam, and Xbox

11. SCUM

Developer: Gamepires, Croteam | Publisher: Devolver Digital | Release: August 29, 2018 (Early Access) | Model: Buy-2-Play | Platforms: PC | Shop: Steam

Recommended editorial content

At this point you will find external content from YouTube that complements the article.

I consent to external content being displayed to me. Personal data can be transmitted to third party platforms. Read more about our privacy policy.
Link to the YouTube content

What is SCUM? SCUM is a virtual game show where convicted criminals are packed onto a zombie-infested island for the entertainment of viewers to see what might happen.

SCUM plays out like a type of simulation where you are stranded as a prisoner on an island to survive – or not. You land with nothing but a device that constantly measures your bodily functions.

What SCUM does well:

  • Realistic needs create a much more nerve-wracking survival feeling. You have to pay attention to your energy and nutrient balance
  • A fame system indicates how high your esteem among the audience is and gives you access to certain abilities (like spawn points)
  • Physical fitness is a key feature in SCUM. Those who eat poorly and move little are at a disadvantage compared to other players

Who is SCUM for? SCUM is a game for ambitious players seeking tough challenges. Surviving is hard, making progress even harder, and it takes a while to reach a relatively safe status.

SCUM is best suited for small groups of players who really like it tough. SCUM is extremely challenging and requires good teamwork. A high tolerance for frustration is also necessary. Solo players, on the other hand, are pretty much at a disadvantage in SCUM.

12. Minecraft

Developer/Publisher: Mojang | Release: May 17, 2009 | Model: Buy-2-Play | Platforms: PC (Windows, Linux), Mac, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, iOS, Android | Shop: Minecraft

What is Minecraft? Minecraft is a creative building and crafting game with voxel graphics. It offers almost unlimited creative possibilities to shape your own world and create unique gaming experiences with mods.

Minecraft also features a survival mode where you fight for your survival in addition to building. It is considered by many players to be one of the founding fathers of the modern survival genre.

What Minecraft does well:

  • Unique terraforming through blocks that you can mine and place elsewhere
  • A friendly, bright world that stands in contrast to the often dark and barren environments of other survival games
  • A special crafting system where the arrangement of materials in certain ways is crucial to creating specific items
  • A loving, vast world that offers many hours of exploration
  • Simple graphics and an easy gameplay principle that makes getting started a breeze

Who is Minecraft for? Minecraft is aimed at players of all ages with an interest in creativity and exploration due to its friendly look. Especially children and teenagers can enjoy it.

Especially creative minds and builders will be happy with Minecraft, whether alone or in a group. Minecraft offers a building and crafting experience with few restrictions. If you want to build your own home completely without predefined structures, you should check out Minecraft.

13. Subnautica

Developer/Publisher: Unknown Worlds | Release: January 23, 2018 | Model: Buy-2-Play | Platforms: PC, Mac, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch | Shop: Steam

What is Subnautica? Subnautica is a survival game primarily set underwater. You are stranded on an ocean planet with a spaceship and are trying to repair the ship.

Your goal is to escape from the planet. However, you first need to survive and craft properly, which often takes you into the underwater areas of the planet to search for new materials.

How you proceed is largely up to you. The unique underwater world also allows you to easily get lost in the surroundings and forget the goal or find new resources that open up entirely new paths.

Preview Product Rating Price
Subnautica PS4 [ Subnautica PS4 [* No ratings yet

*Affiliate-Links. Wir erhalten bei einem Kauf eine kleine Provision von Amazon. Vielen Dank für Eure Unterstützung!

Preview Product Rating Price
Subnautica + Subnautica: Below Zero [Nintendo Switch] Subnautica + Subnautica: Below Zero [Nintendo Switch]* No ratings yet

*Affiliate-Links. Wir erhalten bei einem Kauf eine kleine Provision von Amazon. Vielen Dank für Eure Unterstützung!

What makes Subnautica so good?

  • A unique underwater setting with picturesque surroundings
  • Accordingly unique mechanics like underwater habitats that no other survival game offers to this extent
  • A simple entry point and a sandbox experience where everyone can play at their own pace and pleasure
  • Various modes (Survival, Hardcore, Free Play, and Creative) to control the difficulty

Who is Subnautica suitable for? Players who enjoy getting lost in beautiful environments and prefer exploring rather than fighting will find a unique opportunity in Subnautica. Those who can delight in colorful visuals, exotic creatures, and marine life will find joy in Subnautica.

14. V Rising

Developer/Publisher: Stunlock Studios | Release: May 8, 2024 (Version 1.0) | Model: Buy-2-Play | Platforms: PC (Steam), PS5

What is V Rising about? Vampires were once the rulers of the world in V Rising. You are one of them – but you were overthrown and stripped of your power. Now you must try to regain your strength. To do this, you need to build your own castle, acquire servants, and defeat bosses.

And the most important thing of course: you need blood. Instead of relying on familiar survival mechanics, you only need blood to fuel your health and production. An interesting system, mainly because different blood types and qualities can strengthen you.

Stunlock Studios is already known for action games like Bloodline Champions and Battlerite. Accordingly, the combat system in V Rising is well-developed. In isometric perspective, you slash through hordes of enemies with weapons and spells, on foot or on horseback.

What makes V Rising so good?

  • A unique system with 6 blood types to enhance your own playstyle
  • Private games for single players and friends, servers for up to 60 players in multiplayer
  • The action-packed combat system, where even tanking is a lot of fun
  • Easy entry, whether in private games solo, with friends, or on large servers with dozens of other players

With update 1.1 “Invaders of Oakveil”, V Rising has also received a big update, with 3 new weapons, 7 new spells, and numerous new enemies.

Who is V Rising suitable for? Since you can choose whether to play solo or publicly, PvE or PvP, V Rising appeals to almost every player group. The only requirement: you have to like vampires and at least have a certain fondness for the Gothic look, as the entire aesthetics and world of V Rising are based on that. Thanks to the easy entry, V Rising is even excellent for survival beginners.

More on the topic
Can I still start with the new Steam hit V Rising or will everyone beat me up?
von Benedict Grothaus

15. Don’t Starve

Developer/Publisher: Klei Entertainment | Release: April 23, 2013 | Model: Buy-2-Play | Platforms: PC, Mac, PS3, PS4, PS5, PlayStation Vita, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Wii U, iOS, Android, Nintendo Switch | Shop: Steam | PS Store | Microsoft Store | Nintendo Store | Apple App Store | Google Play Store

What is Don’t Starve about? In Don’t Starve, you find yourself in the hand-drawn world of the antagonist Maxwell, and you have one task: Don’t starve. However, this is not easy at the beginning.

The bizarre surroundings present you with some challenges and require you to build a small shelter and explore more and more to eventually find a way out or bite the dust.

Don’t Starve features a “rogue-like” development, where longer survival in the world helps you unlock new characters to play, each with unique abilities and traits.

What makes Don’t Starve so good?

  • A hand-drawn, timeless graphic style
  • All characters are “voiced” by brass instruments, giving it a unique charm
  • Easy entry and high replay value
  • Multiplayer option with “Don’t Starve Together” (available for purchase)
  • Diverse dangers, enemies, and playable characters
More on the topic
The 9 best mobile survival games for Android and iOS
von Benedict Grothaus

Who is Don’t Starve suitable for? Especially fans of point-and-click adventures who want to try their hand at the survival genre will find Don’t Starve an ideal entry point. Those who enjoy roguelike, survival, indie games, or casual games can’t go wrong with Don’t Starve. As Don’t Starve is also available as a mobile version, it is suitable for players who want to game on the go.

Deine Meinung? Diskutiere mit uns!
425
I like it!
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Lost Password

Please enter your username or email address. You will receive a link to create a new password via email.