One of the more challenging genres out there is survival games. These tend to put players in the middle of nowhere with nothing on them, and they must scour to collect as many resources as possible to stay alive for an extended period of time. Sometimes, there is even a competitive aspect to it with the threat of being killed by another player.
There are a ton of great offerings for those who are interested in survival games, but there are many that need to be paid for. Luckily, Steam has an entire section dedicated to free games that players can pick up and jump right into. Among the many free survival games on Steam, there are a handful of solid entries.
The focus will be on somewhat traditional survival games (with one exception). Survival horror and battle royales will not be included since those are separate things.
Updated on February 17, 2025, by Mark Sammut: Free survival games on Steam are quite rare, and new projects are not released frequently. As the platform only has so many options, an additional section covering great survival games that are less than $20 has been added. Click below to jump to this part of the article.
Once Human
Steam User Rating: 73%
Survival
Shooter
Open-World
- Released
-
July 9, 2024
- Developer(s)
-
Starry Studio
- Multiplayer
-
Online Multiplayer, Online Co-Op
In terms of scale, Once Human is arguably the most impressive free survival game. Starry Studio put together a multiplayer open-world project that emphasizes its survival elements, with players finding themselves stranded in a version of Earth that has been morphed courtesy of an alien entity. While a storyline exists to provide context to the situation, Once Human is mainly about the daily loop, which involves building and managing a base while heading out into the unknown to explore, farm, and shoot.
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Now, the game incorporates elements that are standard for both the survival and open-world genres, and it will likely not hold too many surprises for veterans; that said, Once Human is ridiculously good considering its price tag. It is generally kind to free players, at least more so than most of its contemporaries. The battle pass has two tiers that provide some items and perks that can be collected during each season, but players can still have fun without engaging in this content.
In terms of survival mechanics, Once Human gets the fundamentals right. Most of the progression loop revolves around base building, although loot is relatively common as well. Players will also need to manage their physical body through things like sleep and eating, and there is even a sanity meter. The combat is fairly typical for the third-person shooter genre, and it works well in a vacuum. That said, most enemies (called deviants) are quite easy, which does somewhat hurt the survival aspect since they don’t come across as threats during the early hours.
Mitos.Is
Steam User Rating: 80%
Mitos.is: The Game
- Released
-
July 29, 2015
- Developer(s)
-
Freakinware Studios
Once an addicting browser game, Mitos.Is became such a hit that it moved to multiple platforms. While it is still available to play on almost any browser, it can also be downloaded on mobile through iOS or Android. In addition, the team added the molecular survival game on Steam.
The main premise of the game is that players take on the role of a small cell, consuming other cells to become larger. Meanwhile, other cells controlled by other individuals will attempt to consume the player and anything smaller than them. Along with the original premise, there are numerous variants of the original idea implemented in the Steam version of the game.
Mitos.Is is not a conventional survival game, but its premise shares enough in common with the genre to warrant an honorable mention.
No More Room In Hell (Survival Mode)
Steam User Rating: 89%
- Released
-
October 31, 2011
- Multiplayer
-
Local Multiplayer, Online Multiplayer
Survival horror games are their own thing separate from the survival genre, but there can be some overlap between the two genres. A standout in this category is the free Steam game No More Room In Hell.
This Source Engine experience is a co-op game that can have up to eight people fighting zombies together. Along with the usual survival elements, the objectives vary depending on the session. This means that each playthrough is different, with new goals to complete. More importantly, the game includes a survival mode that refocuses the gameplay toward base protection, with players having to withstand the zombie threat while waiting for extraction.
Fallout Shelter
Steam User Rating: 88%
Sometimes, survival isn’t about the player trying to stay alive. Instead, it’s about the player trying to keep others alive. That is the premise of Fallout Shelter, a mobile spin-off of the Fallout franchise that later came to the Steam platform as a free-to-play game.
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A base-building game, Fallout Shelter tasks the player with taking charge of a vault. The goal is to build a vault that is sustainable for Dwellers to live in while keeping them out of danger from the outside world or from within the vault. Players can also interact with individual Dwellers to customize their looks or control their lives.
Fistful Of Frags
Steam User Rating: 91%
Fistful of Frags
- Released
-
May 9, 2014
- Multiplayer
-
Online Multiplayer, Local Multiplayer
A delightful shooter that made a name for itself in the last decade and a free survival game on Steam is Fistful of Frags. Set in the Wild West, players will have plenty of weapons in their arsenal as they learn to take on other players in first-person combat.
There are both PvE and PvP modes to choose from, ranging from deathmatch to co-op. There is also a single-player mission structure that challenges the player to get a hang of the various tools available to them and get better at the game in the process. It is yet another game that uses Source, Valve’s signature game engine.
Unturned
Steam User Rating: 91%
- Released
-
July 7, 2014
- Developer(s)
-
Smartly Dressed Games
- Multiplayer
-
Online Multiplayer, Local Multiplayer
Zombie apocalypses tend to be the go-to setting for a handful of survival games. However, those looking for something a bit more lighthearted should turn to Unturned, a voxel zombie survival game that is played almost entirely online.
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Along with the usual survival elements across the massive maps, there are also NPCs that players can interact with to take on quests and receive necessary items. There is a massive community scene for Unturned, with plenty of maps and items available on the Steam Workshop for people to download.
Muck
Steam User Rating: 94%
Adventure
Roguelike
Survival
- Released
-
June 5, 2021
- Developer(s)
-
Daniel Mullins Games
- Multiplayer
-
Local Co-Op
It makes sense for developers to create survival games that double as roguelikes. Muck is exactly that, where players can work solo or with friends as they attempt to survive as long as possible on a procedurally-generated island.
The gameplay is similar to others in the genre. Once landed on the island, the player can go and collect resources that they can use to craft necessary tools. They also can build a base to try to be safe. While the day doesn’t pose many dangers, nighttime is when the enemies come out and challenge players to stay alive as long as possible.
Great Survival Steam Games That Are Relatively Cheap
As there are only so many free survival games on Steam, players will eventually run out of options, especially if they only end up enjoying one or two of the titles. Consequently, there will come a time when most people will likely have to turn to priced projects to get their fill of survival content; however, that does not mean they have to spend $60. Fortunately, Steam is packed with great survival games that are relatively affordable. Let’s list some of these options in the form of a table.
|
Game |
Developer |
Price (No Sale) |
Steam User Rating |
General Information |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Project Zomboid |
The Indie Stone |
$19.99 |
94% |
An early-access post-apocalyptic survival game that pulls very few punches, all the while providing an in-depth and addictive experience. |
|
Terraria |
Re-Logic |
$9.99 |
97% |
An all-time classic that uses procedural generation to craft a brilliant sandbox survival adventure. Crafting is the main focus here, although the game also offers combat and great exploration. |
|
Raft |
Redbeet Interactive |
$19.99 |
93% |
Try to survive while lost at sea. Raft is well-established as a popular co-op survival game that is also a lot of fun solo. Along with basic survival mechanics, Raft also prioritizes crafting and building. |
|
Valheim |
Iron Gate AB |
$19.99 |
94% |
Another early-access open-world survival game, Valheim is for anybody craving a Viking-themed experience. While containing OK combat, the game shines in its exploration, crafting, and survival mechanics. Supports co-op. |
|
Stranded Deep |
Beam Team Games |
$19.99 |
75% |
A bit divisive, Stranded Deep is still worth consideration, particularly for those crafting a more single-player alternative to Raft (although, Stranded Deep supports multiplayer as well). |
|
The Forest |
Endnight Games Ltd |
$19.99 |
95% |
While overshadowed by its successor, Sons of the Forest, the original game is still a fantastic survival experience that also leans quite heavily into horror, without becoming just survival horror. |
|
Don’t Starve |
Klei Entertainment |
$9.99 |
96% |
With awesome art, addictive gameplay with high replayability, and surprisingly difficult, Don’t Starve is a survival masterpiece. The base version is for solo players, while people looking for a multiplayer experience should pick up Don’t Starve Together. |
|
Core Keeper |
Pugstorm |
$19.99 |
92% |
Drops players into an underground cavern and challenges them to make the most of it. The sky is the limit. |
|
The Long Dark |
Hinterland Studio Inc. |
$19.99 |
91% |
One of the better single-player survival games, The Long Dark is atmospheric, isolating, and oddly beautiful. |
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