Open-World Games With The Best Survival Gameplay

Open-world games are often a blast to play through, as long as they do just enough to separate themselves from other titles in the genre. Any sandbox title that feels too generic is bound to become an afterthought, which is the last thing any gamer wants.

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An easy way to help these games stand out is by integrating elements of the survival genre into the mix, which adds to the tension and can give players a reason to engage with the game world. Open-world titles with great survival gameplay can often end up being notable and worth checking out for fans of both genres.

8

Palworld

A Promising Survival Game With A Fun Take On The Monster-Catching Mechanic

Systems

Released

January 19, 2024

Developer(s)

Pocket Pair, Inc.

OpenCritic Rating

Fair

Palworld may be facing its fair share of legal issues right now, but that has no impact on the title’s engaging gameplay. It may still be rough around the edges, but those who enjoy less intense survival mechanics and some old-fashioned monster catching will have a great time with this game.

Hopefully, Palworld won’t be forced to cease operations, which would allow it to continue to build on its gameplay elements. Its unique combination of multiple genres resulted in it becoming incredibly popular, and it has the potential to get even more engaging if its vision is achieved.

7

7 Days To Die

An Open-World Survival Game Full Of Aggressive Zombies

Systems

Released

December 13, 2013

Developer(s)

The Fun Pimps

Those who want to check out a hard-as-nails survival game with intense shooting action and relentless zombies will love what 7 Days to Die brings to the table. Struggling to survive and build up a base that will be stormed by the undead at the end of every week makes for an incredibly exciting experience.

It’s important to acquire the best weapons and gather as many resources as possible to survive at the end of every week. This title may seem unfairly punishing at times, but players willing to get through the struggles of the early game will find themselves enjoying one of the scariest and most engaging open-world survival experiences available.

6

Rust

The Multiplayer Element Adds A Ton Of Depth To This Survival Game

Systems

Released

February 8, 2018

Rust has become a huge survival hit, courtesy of its fun multiplayer gameplay that leads to several organic scenarios. Players must either avoid other players or form uneasy alliances if they don’t want to be shot down and have all their hard work ruined by others.

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The thrilling action and fun survival elements of this game will keep players in a constant state of desperation. Thankfully, if players manage to form a group, then survival becomes easier. That said, one must always be wary of a knife being jammed in their back.

5

STALKER 2: Heart Of Chornobyl

A Much-Awaited Sequel With An Atmospheric World And Hardcore Gameplay

Systems

Released

November 20, 2024

Heart of Chornobyl is a game that fans were waiting for with bated breath. The technical issues have hampered the game’s launch, but it’s clear that there’s something special underneath all these bugs and glitches that will keep fans coming back for more.

Exploration is rewarding and haunting at the same time, with many players struggling early on when they’re trying to understand how this game works. Eventually, after getting some powerful equipment and becoming more accustomed to the game, players should be able to explore most areas in the Exclusion Zone without dying. Still, the sight of a powerful mutant may still cause them to panic.

4

Project Zomboid

The Gameplay Is Hard Yet Captivating As Players Learn How To Survive In This Hostile Sandbox

Project Zomboid is one of the most hardcore survival games that gamers can check out, and it just continues to get better. Every playthrough feels like a fresh adventure, with players leveling up the stats they want to focus on while using their knowledge from previous failures to slowly get better.

The simplest actions in the game boast some impressive depth and force players to think about every action while trying to stock up on resources and survive waves of zombies. It’s easy to become a meal for the undead with a single mistake, but those who give Project Zomboid the time of day will be enamored by one of the best open-world survival games they can get their hands on.

3

Subnautica

An Atmospheric Title With Fun Survival Gameplay And A World That Is Both Beautiful And Terrifying

The large and expansive world of Subnautica is haunting to explore when players have limited resources. The horrors of the sea can be daunting to deal with, which is why most players would prefer to just build up their base and explore until a certain point.

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However, as resources start dwindling and costs rise, players must brave the dangers of the ocean and try to defend themselves against the various aquatic monsters that can end their lives in a flash. The compelling and engaging survival gameplay of Subnautica make it a fan-favorite that is still infinitely playable to this day.

2

Valheim

The Innovative Take On Survival Mechanics With Varied Biomes That Are Only Going To Get Bigger

Systems

Released

February 2, 2021

Developer(s)

Iron Gate AB

OpenCritic Rating

Mighty

Valheim has turned into one of the biggest upcoming releases in the survival genre after players saw how impressive this title was in Early Access. The varied biomes, unique progression structure, and innovative takes on existing survival mechanics have endeared themselves to countless fans.

Most gamers can’t wait to explore all nine biomes in the game’s final release. Everything from cooking food to fighting enemies feels great in this amazing survival game, and it only seems to be continuing to improve with each update.

1

Terraria

The Developer’s Constant Support Ensures That Players Will Find Something New And Interesting

The fact that Terraria is still getting regular updates to this day is a testament to the respect the developer has for its fans. The 2D open-world survival gameplay is full of everything players want, ranging from compelling base-building options to engaging exploration.

Every zone in Terraria features a bunch of secrets and some powerful foes that players will love to take on in Terraria. The sheer amount of content in this game is so immense that players can spend hours upon hours in it and still find new things to do.

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