Facebook
Reddit
Email
Any good survival game provides a nice balance of danger and comfort. This guide will rank the Best 5 Survival games you can try in 2025.
The survival genre is stacked with many amazing games, and it isn’t easy to choose the best ones. Whether you are new to this genre or a hardcore fan, you might be confused about where to start or what to play next. But don’t worry—we have done all the heavy lifting and pulled from the entire genre and its sub-genres to present you with the best options. We believe that the games on this list represent the essence of the survival genre the best, and we cannot wait to share our picks for the top five survival games you should try in 2025.
5 Best Survival Games You Can Try in 2025
So let’s start with the basics: food, building, resources, combat, and enemies. A good survival game excels in all of these areas. They strike the perfect balance between having a fun time and being scared for your life. If you have the resolve to fight, survive, and endure agony and pain, this list will help you find exactly what you want. So without further delay, let’s take a look.
5. Subnautica
Coming in at number five on our list is Subnautica. The game shines with its vibrant and lively underwater setting, which already makes it a unique experience. At the beginning of the game, your spaceship crashes into an oceanic world, and you must survive until help arrives. During that time, you must build a base, look for resources to survive, and craft underwater suits and vehicles to explore the depths while scrambling for oxygen.
The art direction is also a noteworthy aspect of Subnautica. From its beautiful underwater world and creatures to its bright technologies and terrifying sea monsters, the game is a visual treat. Additionally, many consider Subnautica to be one of the best exploration survival games out there, and we do not disagree.
4. Project Zomboid
The first thing we must admit is that Project Zomboid is not the prettiest survival game available. You might at first dismiss the game for its isometric perspective and unappealing design compared to the graphically superior worlds of its peers. But the game is nothing short of a masterpiece in the survival genre. If you want a survival game with an incredibly detailed and realistic world that will punish you for every carefree step, Project Zomboid is the game for you.
The game is as comprehensive as it gets and provides an authentic zombie apocalypse experience. Once you create your character with the huge number of buffs and debuffs the game offers and jump into the zombified city, every house, road, and building is your playground. From stealing gas from other cars for your own to breaking into stores for much-needed supplies, the developers give you the utmost freedom to do anything you want in Project Zomboid.
3. Don’t Starve
Survival games are always easier when you can play them with your friends. But what if a game takes that away from you and throws you into a world full of danger on your own? Don’t Starve does exactly that. In the game, you must survive and fend for yourself in a world that looks like it came straight out of a Tim Burton movie. It is full of bizarre and eerie creatures such as Beargers, Werepigs, Deerclopses, and many more absurd monsters that will make living a bit more difficult for you.
Don’t Starve primarily focuses on crafting—you could say that it is the core of the gameplay. You will spend most of your time gathering resources in the game. But unlike other crafting games where you build houses, in Don’t Starve, you must build tools and contraptions to make things easier for yourself. Additionally, the developers doubled down on the mystical world of the game, which makes it even more fun. But if you still want to enjoy the game with a friend, you should check out Don’t Starve Together.
2. Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl
Stalker 2 was one of the most anticipated games of 2024, and despite some technical issues, the game did not disappoint fans. It has captured the hearts and imaginations of many with its brutal, weird, and horrifyingly beautiful world. The developers improved upon the endearing aspects of its much-beloved predecessor and did not hold back at all.
They ensured that your sole focus in the game remains on surviving the harsh environment—to the point where every decision you make could be the line between life and death. The game is a first-person shooter that takes you to Chornobyl after the nuclear disaster. You play as a stalker, scavenging the land for resources and fighting many enemies to stay alive. So, if you want to fight for survival every day in a post-apocalyptic world, then Stalker 2 is for you.
1. Valheim
In Valheim, the developers throw you into a Norse mythology-inspired world with nothing but a piece of cloth and your wits right at the beginning of the game. You and nine other players can play together. After entering the beautiful purgatory of Valheim, you must build shelter, find food, and battle various enemies to survive. The game has many different biomes, all of which are procedurally generated.
You will start your journey to Valhalla in the Meadows, one of the nine biomes in the game. Each biome has its own resources, enemies, and bosses for you to tackle. You must summon and defeat each boss to get the necessary items for the next region. As you get stronger, the game will also throw more and more raids at your shelter, so make sure to strengthen your home as you progress. Additionally, Valheim also works on LAN, so you don’t always need the internet to enjoy the game.
Looking For More?
Thank you for reading the article. We provide the latest news and create guides for Baldur’s Gate 3, Starfield, ARK Survival Ascended, and more. Also, watch Deltia play games on Twitch or visit his YouTube channel!
