11. SCUM
Developer: Gamepires, Croteam | Publisher: Devolver Digital | Release: August 29, 2018 (Early Access) | Model: Buy-2-Play | Platforms: PC | Shop: Steam
What is SCUM? SCUM is a virtual game show where convicted criminals are placed on a zombie-infested island for the entertainment of the audience to see what happens.
SCUM plays like a simulation where you are a prisoner stranded on an island to survive – or not at all. You start with nothing but a device that constantly monitors your bodily functions.
What SCUM does well:
- Realistic needs create a much more tense survival feeling. You must pay attention to your energy and nutrient balance
- A fame system indicates how much reputation you have with the audience 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 suitable for? SCUM is a game for ambitious players looking for tough challenges. Surviving is hard, making progress is even harder, and it takes a while to get to a somewhat safe position.
SCUM is best suited for small groups of players who like it really tough. SCUM is brutally hard and requires good teamwork. A high tolerance for frustration is also necessary. Solo players are usually 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 nearly limitless creative possibilities to design your own world and create unique gaming experiences with mods.
Minecraft also has a survival mode where you have to fight to survive in addition to building. It is considered one of the founding fathers of the modern survival genre by many players.
What Minecraft does well:
- Unique terraforming through blocks that you can mine and place elsewhere
- A friendly, bright world that stands in stark contrast to the often dark and barren environments of other survival games
- A special crafting system where the arrangement of materials is key to crafting items
- A lovingly crafted, vast world that offers hours of exploration
- Simple graphics and gameplay make the entry super easy
Who is Minecraft suitable for? Minecraft is aimed at players of all ages with an interest in creativity and exploration, particularly children and teenagers who can really let loose here.
With Minecraft, especially creative minds and builders will be happy, whether alone or in a group. Minecraft offers a building and crafting experience with few restrictions. Those who want to build their own home without preset structures 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 that primarily takes place underwater. You are stranded on an ocean planet with a spaceship and are now trying to repair the ship.
Your goal is to escape from the planet. However, you first need to survive and craft properly, which repeatedly takes you into the underwater areas of the planet to search for new materials.
How you go about it is largely up to you. The unique underwater world allows you to easily lose yourself in the surroundings, forgetting the goal or discovering new resources that open up entirely new paths.
What makes Subnautica so good?
- A unique underwater setting with a picturesque environment
- Correspondingly unique mechanics like underwater dwellings that no other survival game offers on this scale
- A simple entrance and a sandbox experience where everyone can play at their own pace and preferences
- Various modes (Survival, Hardcore, Free Play, and Creative) to control the difficulty
Who is Subnautica suitable for? Players who love to lose themselves in beautiful environments and prefer exploring to fighting will find a unique opportunity in Subnautica. Anyone who delights in colorful colors, exotic creatures, and marine life will enjoy themselves in Subnautica.
Alternative: Subnautica 2
Developer/Publisher: Unknown Worlds | Release: May 14, 2026 (Early Access) | Model: Buy-2-Play | Platforms: PC, Xbox Series X|S, Game Pass | Shop: Steam
What is Subnautica 2? Subnautica 2 is a survival game that, like its predecessor, primarily takes place underwater. The game has now officially entered early access and already offers some content to explore. You can explore the game world either alone or with up to three friends in co-op.
The gameplay is heavily oriented towards the predecessor: You build a base underwater and explore the game world from there.
Who is Subnautica 2 suitable for? Players who have already spent a lot of time with the predecessor will feel at home in the sequel. The sequel builds on the strengths of the predecessor and gradually expands on them with new features.
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 have been overthrown and robbed of your power. Now you are trying to regain your strength. To do this, you must build your own castle, recruit servants, and defeat bosses.
And of course, the most important thing: you need blood. Instead of relying on familiar survival mechanics, you simply need blood to fuel your life energy and production. An interesting system, mainly because different blood types and qualities can enhance you.
Stunlock Studios is already known for action games like Bloodline Champions and Battlerite. Accordingly, the combat system in V Rising is well-developed. From an isometric perspective, you slay enemies with weapons and spells, either 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 solo players and friends, servers for up to 60 players in multiplayer
- The action-packed combat system, where even tanking is very 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 also received a major 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 just about every player group. The only requirement: you need to be into vampires and have at least a certain penchant for a gothic look, as the entire aesthetic and world of V Rising is based on it. Due to the easy entry, V Rising is even excellent for survival beginners.
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 land in the hand-drawn world of the antagonist Maxwell and have only one task: Don’t starve. However, this is not so easy at the beginning.
The bizarre environment presents you with several challenges and requires that you build a small shelter and explore more and more to eventually find a way out or end up dead.
Don’t Starve features a “roguelike” development where surviving longer 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 wind instruments, which gives it a unique charm
- Easy entry and high replay value
- Multiplayer option with “Don’t Starve Together” (additional purchase required)
- Diverse dangers, enemies, and playable characters
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. If you enjoy roguelike, survival, indie games, or casual games, you can’t go wrong with Don’t Starve. Since Don’t Starve is also available as a mobile version, it is also suitable for players who want to game on the go.
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