Best Survival games on Steam
Unlike generic lists, our strategy game recommendations use a rigorous analysis of Steam user reviews to identify and feature only the best, community-validated survival games. For those who prefer not to search, lists of the most played, top deals and best free survival games are available at the bottom of the page.
Filters & Lists
Shadows Peak
Shadows Peak is an atmospheric, open-world horror game focused on exploration that doesn't hold your hand. You play as a writer who has decided to visit a mysterious place called Shadows Peak to gather materials for a new book about legends.
Dreadhalls
You are trapped deep inside a massive dungeon. Explore it, survive it and find a way to escape. Your only weapons will be stealth, your own courage, and a faint light. Dreadhalls is an intense and scary experience, not for the faint of heart. You have been warned!
Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon® Wildlands
Create a team with up to 3 friends in Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon® Wildlands and enjoy the ultimate military shooter experience set in a massive, dangerous, and responsive open world.
Deceit
Test your instincts at trust and deception in an action-filled, multiplayer first-person shooter. You wake up in unknown surroundings to the sound of the Game Master’s unfamiliar voice, surrounded by five others. A third of your group have been infected with a virus, but who will escape?
Furious Angels
Furious Angels is a brutal score attack shooter with different waves each day. Compete on the leaderboards, transform into a flying tank and shred the skies to pieces!
BRAIN / OUT
Brain / Out is a multiplayer shooter with a nostalgic post-Soviet feel. Experience dynamic battles and exterminate your enemies with a large arsenal of modern weaponry. Lock'n'load!
CPU Invaders
Invaders are living inside your computer. You shouldn't let that happen! Interact with your desktop while playing, watch Youtube videos, chat with your friends and more! CPU Invaders overlaps the game itself with your computer screen.
theHunter: Call of the Wild™
Discover an atmospheric hunting game like no other in this realistic, stunning open world – regularly updated in collaboration with the community. Immerse yourself in the single player campaign, or share the ultimate hunting experience with friends.
Soul Searching
Soul Searching is a narrative survival game about sailing away from your homeland.
Holy Potatoes! We’re in Space?!
Holy Potatoes! We’re in Space?! is a whacky space exploration game where you manage your very own spaceship, craft hundreds of weapons, and explore the vastness of a veggie-filled universe.
Phoning Home
A tale of survival about two shipwrecked robots - ION and ANI - on their life-defining journey in this unique genre-mix of exploration, puzzle and survival.
Boogeyman 2
Awoken in the night by your doll. Speaking as if it possesses a mind of its own. The doll warns you of a monster that has come to take you away.
Diluvion: Resubmerged
Diluvion is a 3D deep sea, Jules Verne inspired, exploration game with RPG elements and thrilling submarine combat. As the Captain of your own vessel, you must grow and manage your crew as you search for the secrets of the past in a hauntingly beautiful flooded world.
Midas Gold Plus
Discover Midas Gold Plus, an engaging idle clicker set in a mythical world! Harness King Midas' golden touch, build a legendary city, and unlock powerful champions. Master unique gameplay styles, explore pet battles, and conquer rival cities. Delve into this ancient tycoon adventure today!
Resident Evil 7 Biohazard
Fear and isolation seep through the walls of an abandoned southern farmhouse. "7" marks a new beginning for survival horror with the “Isolated View” of the visceral new first-person perspective.
Alien Shooter TD
Innovative Tower Defense inspired by legendary Alien Shooter series! The game was created in keeping with the best traditions of Sigma`s games, no concessions of any kind - everything is just like in real life!
Tattletail
It’s Christmas 1998. The world’s most annoying toy just came out, and yours won’t stay in his box. Can you stop Tattletail from getting you in trouble before the bloodthirsty Mama Tattletail hunts you down? Story-driven first person horror. New DLC Included!
Art of War: Red Tides
Art of War: Red Tides is a fair multiplayer strategy game that allows different teams on the same platform (e.g. smartphones, PC, etc.) to battle against each other. You will encounter players around the world!
Castle of no Escape 2
Explore 6 x 6 x 6 = 216 rooms of randomly generated hazards and enemies while collecting the necessary artefacts. Hundreds of monsters are roaming inside, guarding the sword shards — the last known thing to be capable of defeating the demonic castle owner.
The Walking Dead: A New Frontier
After society was ripped apart by undead hands, pockets of civilization emerge from the chaos. But at what cost? Can the living be trusted on this new frontier?
Force of Nature
Force of Nature is a Sandbox game that combines Action, Adventure, RPG, Strategy and Management genresMost played survival games on Steam
Take a look at the top survival games that are currently attracting the largest player bases on the Steam platform, as of April 15th 2025.
1. Rust
The only aim in Rust is to survive. Everything wants you to die - the island’s wildlife, other inhabitants, the environment, and other survivors. Do whatever it takes to last another night. Rust is a survival, crafting and multiplayer game developed and published by Facepunch Studios. Released on February 08th 2018 has received 1,210,131 reviews of which 1,055,970 were positive and 154,161 were negative resulting in a rating of 8.7 out of 10. The game has hit the top spot as the #1 most played survival game, thanks to its 158,276 peak concurrent players over the last day.
8.7
1,055,970
154,161
158,276
players
2. Don't Starve Together
Fight, Farm, Build and Explore Together in the standalone multiplayer expansion to the uncompromising wilderness survival game, Don't Starve. Don't Starve Together is a survival, open world survival craft and multiplayer game developed and published by Klei Entertainment. Released on April 21st 2016 has received 493,660 reviews of which 470,616 were positive and 23,044 were negative resulting in an impressive rating of 9.5 out of 10. While seeing 67,245 players online at once in the last 24 hours, this game is currently ranked #2 among survival games based on player count.
9.5
470,616
23,044
67,245
players
3. DayZ
How long can you survive a post-apocalyptic world? A land overrun with an infected "zombie" population, where you compete with other survivors for limited resources. Will you team up with strangers and stay strong together? Or play as a lone wolf to avoid betrayal? This is DayZ – this is your story. DayZ is a survival, open world and online co-op game developed and published by Bohemia Interactive. Released on December 13th 2018 has received 424,833 reviews of which 325,442 were positive and 99,391 were negative resulting in a rating of 7.6 out of 10. While seeing 50,753 players online at once in the last 24 hours, this game is currently ranked #3 among survival games based on player count.
7.6
325,442
99,391
50,753
players
4. Terraria
Dig, fight, explore, build! Nothing is impossible in this action-packed adventure game. Four Pack also available! Terraria is a open world survival craft, sandbox and survival game developed and published by Re-Logic. Released on May 16th 2011 has received 1,394,254 reviews of which 1,359,264 were positive and 34,990 were negative resulting in an impressive rating of 9.7 out of 10. With 49,797 concurrent players in the last 24 hours, the game currently holds the #4 spot among the most played survival games.
9.7
1,359,264
34,990
49,797
players
5. Palworld
Fight, farm, build and work alongside mysterious creatures called "Pals" in this completely new multiplayer, open world survival and crafting game! Palworld is a open world, survival and multiplayer game developed and published by Pocketpair. Released on January 18th 2024 has received 376,422 reviews of which 354,339 were positive and 22,083 were negative resulting in an impressive rating of 9.3 out of 10. With 43,254 concurrent players in the last 24 hours, the game currently holds the #5 spot among the most played survival games.
9.3
354,339
22,083
43,254
players
6. Sons Of The Forest
Sent to find a missing billionaire on a remote island, you find yourself in a cannibal-infested hellscape. Craft, build, and struggle to survive, alone or with friends, in this terrifying new open-world survival horror simulator. Sons Of The Forest is a survival, open world and multiplayer game developed by Endnight Games Ltd and published by Newnight . Released on February 22nd 2024 has received 248,117 reviews of which 217,551 were positive and 30,566 were negative resulting in a rating of 8.7 out of 10. With 37,536 concurrent players in the last 24 hours, the game currently holds the #6 spot among the most played survival games.
8.7
217,551
30,566
37,536
players
7. 7 Days to Die
7 Days to Die is an open-world game that is a unique combination of first-person shooter, survival horror, tower defense, and role-playing games. Play the definitive zombie survival sandbox RPG that came first. Navezgane awaits! 7 Days to Die is a survival, zombies and multiplayer game developed by The Fun Pimps and published by The Fun Pimps Entertainment LLC. Released on July 25th 2024 has received 366,213 reviews of which 324,486 were positive and 41,727 were negative resulting in a rating of 8.8 out of 10. With 37,431 concurrent players in the last 24 hours, the game currently holds the #7 spot among the most played survival games.
8.8
324,486
41,727
37,431
players
8. ARK: Survival Evolved
Stranded on the shores of a mysterious island, you must learn to survive. Use your cunning to kill or tame the primeval creatures roaming the land, and encounter other players to survive, dominate... and escape! ARK: Survival Evolved is a open world survival craft, survival and multiplayer game developed by Studio Wildcard, Instinct Games, Efecto Studios and Virtual Basement LLC and published by Studio Wildcard and Snail Games USA. Released on August 27th 2017 has received 724,811 reviews of which 607,154 were positive and 117,657 were negative resulting in a rating of 8.3 out of 10. With 37,430 concurrent players in the last 24 hours, the game currently holds the #8 spot among the most played survival games.
8.3
607,154
117,657
37,430
players
9. RimWorld
A sci-fi colony sim driven by an intelligent AI storyteller. Generates stories by simulating psychology, ecology, gunplay, melee combat, climate, biomes, diplomacy, interpersonal relationships, art, medicine, trade, and more. RimWorld is a colony sim, base-building and survival game developed and published by Ludeon Studios. Released on October 17th 2018 has received 207,285 reviews of which 203,071 were positive and 4,214 were negative resulting in an impressive rating of 9.7 out of 10. With 35,684 concurrent players in the last 24 hours, the game currently holds the #9 spot among the most played survival games.
9.7
203,071
4,214
35,684
players
10. Valheim
A brutal exploration and survival game for 1-10 players, set in a procedurally-generated purgatory inspired by viking culture. Battle, build, and conquer your way to a saga worthy of Odin’s patronage! Valheim is a open world survival craft, survival and online co-op game developed by Iron Gate AB and published by Coffee Stain Publishing. Released on February 02nd 2021 has received 494,961 reviews of which 467,117 were positive and 27,844 were negative resulting in an impressive rating of 9.4 out of 10. With 32,984 concurrent players in the last 24 hours, the game currently holds the #10 spot among the most played survival games.
9.4
467,117
27,844
32,984
players
Best deals on survival games on Steam
Discover fantastic savings with the best discounts on a variety of survival games available on Steam right now, updated on April 15th 2025. Looking for even more deals? Use the search filters to explore a wider range of discounted survival games.
1. The Pale Beyond
You didn’t ask to lead this expedition, but here you are. Stuck in the ice, Captain missing, miles from civilisation. Someone has to take charge. Manage your meagre resources, balance safety and morale, make the hard calls, and head in the only direction you can - through The Pale Beyond. The Pale Beyond is a resource management, survival and choices matter game developed by Bellular Studios and published by Fellow Traveller. Released on February 24th 2023 has received 1,808 reviews of which 1,609 were positive and 199 were negative resulting in a rating of 8.5 out of 10. Featuring a massive 95% discount, this game currently holds the #1 spot in the best deals for survival category.
8.5
1,609
199
-95%
20.00€
1.00€
2. This Means Warp
It’s co-op space survival fun, Jim, but not as we know it. This Means Warp is an intense spaceship management roguelite experience for 1-4 players. Explore a procedurally generated universe, upgrade your ship, battle dangerous enemies and adapt your strategies to survive in a hostile galaxy. This Means Warp is a survival, online co-op and space game developed by Outlier and published by Jagex Ltd. Released on May 04th 2023 has received 620 reviews of which 445 were positive and 175 were negative resulting in a rating of 6.9 out of 10. Thanks to its incredible 95% discount, this game is now the #2 best deal in survival games.
6.9
445
175
-95%
20.00€
1.00€
3. Tin Can
You've barely managed to escape your exploding spaceship. Now in an old escape pod, you hurtle through space at the mercy of the cosmos. With no knowledge of the pod’s complex systems, your life depends on a technical manual and your own wits. How long can you survive? Tin Can is a simulation, space and survival game developed by Tin Can Studio and published by Tin Can Studio and IndieArk. Released on May 12th 2022 has received 1,167 reviews of which 990 were positive and 177 were negative resulting in a rating of 8.1 out of 10. Thanks to its incredible 94% discount, this game is now the #3 best deal in survival games.
8.1
990
177
-94%
16.67€
1.00€
4. Help Will Come Tomorrow
In an uninhabitable Siberian wilderness, in a wake of October Revolution, a group of passengers survives the mysterious catastrophe of Trans-Siberian railway train. They must endure in a harsh ice-clad climate until rescue arrives. Facing many dangers, their own weaknesses and, their own prejudice. Help Will Come Tomorrow is a survival, adventure and resource management game developed by Arclight Creations and published by Klabater. Released on April 21st 2020 has received 884 reviews of which 708 were positive and 176 were negative resulting in a rating of 7.6 out of 10. Currently offered at a significant 94% discount, this title has earned the #4 position in the best deals for survival games.
7.6
708
176
-94%
19.67€
1.18€
5. Dead Age
Survive the zombie apocalypse with a “Final Fantasy” turn-based combat and permanent death! Manage survivors, craft materials, and make difficult decisions. Defend your camp against hordes of the undead to prevail in this non-linear rogue-lite (comparable to FTL). Innovative Indie Survival-RPG! Dead Age is a rpg, zombies and strategy game developed by Silent Dreams and published by Headup. Released on November 04th 2016 has received 5,457 reviews of which 4,457 were positive and 1,000 were negative resulting in a rating of 7.9 out of 10. Currently offered at a significant 93% discount, this title has earned the #5 position in the best deals for survival games.
7.9
4,457
1,000
-93%
14.29€
1.00€
6. The Flame in the Flood
A rogue-like river journey through the backwaters of a forgotten post-societal America. Forage, craft, evade predators. The Flame in the Flood is a survival, adventure and action roguelike game developed by The Molasses Flood and published by The Molasses Flood and Curve Games. Released on February 24th 2016 has received 7,140 reviews of which 5,423 were positive and 1,717 were negative resulting in a rating of 7.4 out of 10. Currently offered at a significant 93% discount, this title has earned the #6 position in the best deals for survival games.
7.4
5,423
1,717
-93%
15.14€
1.06€
7. Garbage
Experience the struggle which a homeless man goes through in a humorous manner. Primitive elements of contemporary life that we take for granted, such as staying warm, well-nourished, and hygienic, will become an issue. Garbage is a simulation, management and strategy game developed by Homebased and published by GrabTheGames and UpgradePoint. Released on June 04th 2021 has received 1,109 reviews of which 741 were positive and 368 were negative resulting in a rating of 6.5 out of 10. Currently offered at a significant 93% discount, this title has earned the #7 position in the best deals for survival games.
6.5
741
368
-93%
14.29€
1.00€
8. Frostpunk
Frostpunk is the first society survival game. As the ruler of the last city on Earth, it is your duty to manage both its citizens and infrastructure. What decisions will you make to ensure your society's survival? What will you do when pushed to breaking point? Who will you become in the process? Frostpunk is a city builder, survival and resource management game developed and published by 11 bit studios. Released on April 24th 2018 has received 121,609 reviews of which 112,488 were positive and 9,121 were negative resulting in an impressive rating of 9.1 out of 10. Currently offered at a significant 91% discount, this title has earned the #8 position in the best deals for survival games.
9.1
112,488
9,121
-91%
30.00€
2.70€
9. Conan Exiles
An online multiplayer survival game, now with sorcery, set in the lands of Conan the Barbarian. Survive in a vast open world sandbox, build your home into a kingdom, and dominate your enemies in single or multiplayer. Conan Exiles is a survival and open world game developed and published by Funcom. Released on May 08th 2018 has received 106,283 reviews of which 83,576 were positive and 22,707 were negative resulting in a rating of 7.8 out of 10. Currently offered at a significant 91% discount, this title has earned the #9 position in the best deals for survival games.
7.8
83,576
22,707
-91%
41.89€
3.77€
10. Siege Survival: Gloria Victis
A medieval city under siege and a handful of civilians are all that keep the walls from falling. Mixing survival strategy and resource management, build your camp, craft supplies, and scavenge the occupied city to supply the last troops holding back the invaders. Siege Survival: Gloria Victis is a singleplayer, city builder and immersive sim game developed by Black Eye Games and published by Ravenscourt. Released on May 18th 2021 has received 1,627 reviews of which 1,283 were positive and 344 were negative resulting in a rating of 7.6 out of 10. Currently offered at a significant 91% discount, this title has earned the #10 position in the best deals for survival games.
7.6
1,283
344
-91%
25.11€
2.26€
Free survival games on Steam
Check out this fantastic list of free-to-play survival games you can enjoy on Steam right now, updated on April 15th 2025. Looking for even more free titles? Use the search filters to explore a wider range of free to play survival games.
1. Eternal Return
Eternal Return is a free-to-play, 2.5D perspective Battle Royale game. Search, Craft, Hunt, and Fight using a variety of characters. Plan your strategy and become the last survivor on this eternal experiment. Eternal Return is a free to play, anime and multiplayer game developed by Nimble Neuron and published by Nimble Neuron and SapStaR Games. Released on July 19th 2023 has received 64,273 reviews of which 51,171 were positive and 13,102 were negative resulting in a rating of 7.9 out of 10. With 20,832 active players enjoying it for free, this strategy game has reached the #1 spot among the top free survival games on Steam.
7.9
51,171
13,102
20,832
players
2. Unturned
You're a survivor in the zombie infested ruins of society, and must work with your friends and forge alliances to remain among the living. Unturned is a free to play, survival and zombies game developed and published by Smartly Dressed Games. Released on July 07th 2017 has received 553,929 reviews of which 505,358 were positive and 48,571 were negative resulting in an impressive rating of 9.1 out of 10. Thanks to its free to play tag and a daily player base of 20,587, this survival game has secured the #2 spot in the ranking of free survival games on Steam.
9.1
505,358
48,571
20,587
players
3. Once Human
Once Human is a multiplayer open-world survival game set in a strange, post-apocalyptic future. Unite with friends to fight monstrous enemies, uncover secret plots, compete for resources, and build your own territory. Once, you were merely human. Now, you have the power to remake the world. Once Human is a multiplayer, free to play and open world survival craft game developed and published by Starry Studio. Released on July 09th 2024 has received 124,888 reviews of which 92,215 were positive and 32,673 were negative resulting in a rating of 7.3 out of 10. Thanks to its free to play tag and a daily player base of 16,371, this survival game has secured the #3 spot in the ranking of free survival games on Steam.
7.3
92,215
32,673
16,371
players
4. Stay Out
Stay Out - is a MMORPG with shooter elements, based on spirit of “stalking” - an urban exploration, searching and exploring mysterious, abandoned and forgotten by humanity pieces of our planet. Stay Out is a free to play, survival and multiplayer game developed and published by MOBITECH LLC. Released on November 27th 2019 has received 25,115 reviews of which 16,289 were positive and 8,826 were negative resulting in a rating of 6.4 out of 10. Attracting a solid base of 2,149 players due to its free access, this strategy game has achieved the #4 position in the best free survival games on Steam.
6.4
16,289
8,826
2,149
players
5. Fallout Shelter
Fallout Shelter puts you in control of a state-of-the-art underground Vault from Vault-Tec. Build the perfect Vault, keep your Dwellers happy, and protect them from the dangers of the Wasteland. Fallout Shelter is a free to play, base-building and survival game developed by Bethesda Game Studios and published by Bethesda Softworks. Released on March 29th 2017 has received 73,710 reviews of which 65,209 were positive and 8,501 were negative resulting in a rating of 8.7 out of 10. Attracting a solid base of 1,524 players due to its free access, this strategy game has achieved the #5 position in the best free survival games on Steam.
8.7
65,209
8,501
1,524
players
6. Will To Live Online
Will To Live is a MMORPG-shooter whose action takes place in a severe post-apocalyptic world. Explore the world, engage in fights with mutants and other survivors, join the clans in the struggle for existence and prove your right to Live. Will To Live Online is a survival, free to play and multiplayer game developed and published by AlphaSoft LLC. Released on April 05th 2018 has received 17,454 reviews of which 12,204 were positive and 5,250 were negative resulting in a rating of 6.9 out of 10. Attracting a solid base of 1,125 players due to its free access, this strategy game has achieved the #6 position in the best free survival games on Steam.
6.9
12,204
5,250
1,125
players
7. Muck
Muck is a survival-roguelike. Collect resources, find items & build a base to survive for as long as you can. Muck is a survival, multiplayer and crafting game developed and published by Dani. Released on June 05th 2021 has received 174,482 reviews of which 163,372 were positive and 11,110 were negative resulting in an impressive rating of 9.3 out of 10. Attracting a solid base of 1,089 players due to its free access, this strategy game has achieved the #7 position in the best free survival games on Steam.
9.3
163,372
11,110
1,089
players
8. No More Room in Hell
The chances of you surviving this all out war of society and the undead are slim to none. Already, there are millions of the walking dead shambling about, searching for food to eat. There's no known cure. One bite can possibly end it all for you. However, you aren't alone in this nightmare. No More Room in Hell is a free to play, zombies and multiplayer game developed by No More Room in Hell Team and published by Lever Games. Released on October 31st 2013 has received 73,867 reviews of which 66,402 were positive and 7,465 were negative resulting in a rating of 8.9 out of 10. Attracting a solid base of 898 players due to its free access, this strategy game has achieved the #8 position in the best free survival games on Steam.
8.9
66,402
7,465
898
players
9. Fear Surrounds
Fear Surrounds is a horror-tinged take on the werewolf-style social subterfuge genre, where two evil spirits hide within a group of players and attempt to sabotage and murder them. Fear Surrounds is a multiplayer, horror and online co-op game developed by SaltyEgg Studio and published by Yooreka Studio. Released on October 19th 2021 has received 10,735 reviews of which 9,259 were positive and 1,476 were negative resulting in a rating of 8.4 out of 10. Attracting a solid base of 488 players due to its free access, this strategy game has achieved the #9 position in the best free survival games on Steam.
8.4
9,259
1,476
488
players
10. CRSED: Cuisine Royale
CRSED: Cuisine Royale – is a brutal MMO last-man-standing shooter with realistic weaponry, elements of lethal mystic forces and incredible superpowers! CRSED: Cuisine Royale is a battle royale, free to play and multiplayer game developed by Darkflow Software and Matter Team and published by Gaijin Network Ltd. Released on June 15th 2018 has received 38,554 reviews of which 30,397 were positive and 8,157 were negative resulting in a rating of 7.8 out of 10. Attracting a solid base of 214 players due to its free access, this strategy game has achieved the #10 position in the best free survival games on Steam.
7.8
30,397
8,157
214
players