10 Best Games Like Rust

Rust is a survival game that offers an authentic experience, and it’s been challenging to find another game that mirrors it precisely. It caters to survival game aficionados with essential features like constructing bases, gathering resources, and engaging in ample amounts of conflict.

What sets Rust apart from other survival games and contributes to its popularity is primarily its vibrant community and the high-intensity player versus player (PVP) combat. Engaging with Rust feels akin to adopting a particular lifestyle, as players often need to commit significant time to it, particularly to secure their base and resources from potential raiders.

As a devoted enthusiast, I’ve noticed that, over time, games resembling the legendary Rust have popped up here and there. However, not all of these titles manage to reach the heights Rust has scaled. Ideally, the games that truly capture the essence of Rust should prioritize Player versus Player (PvP) interactions, if not something equally engaging. Furthermore, they should provide base building opportunities, and incorporate survival aspects such as managing hunger or temperature control.

If you haven’t yet experienced the captivating world of Rust, as a player, you start off completely unarmed and unprotected, naked on the map. Your mission is to gather resources, loot abandoned structures, and engage in combat with various threats that seek to eliminate you. These dangers include wild animals, non-player characters, and other players who are equally determined to survive.

Indeed, this game doesn’t have a complex narrative, and your primary objective is simply surviving another evening. Yet, with numerous competitors all vying for the same resources as you, expect heated battles and plenty of player-versus-player combat.

10.
V Rising

Survive And Fight As A Vampire

V Rising Players Fending Off Attackers on Bridge

In V Rising, players transform into a long-slumbering vampire character rather than ordinary humans as found in Rust. Similar to Rust, the objective is to reclaim and protect territory; however, instead of constructing makeshift forts, players now build grand castles.

Indeed, those who enjoy devoting considerable time to embellishing their bases in Rust, like myself, can find fulfillment in the castle decoration featured in V Rising. Not just do the adornments boost certain crafting workbenches, but they offer players a chance to create their very own enchanting gothic castles.

In V Rising, you’ll find many similar adventures to those found in Rust, including battling against other vampires in PVP combat. Additionally, it offers challenging boss fights that inspire cooperation among players to conquer them effectively.

9.
Escape From Tarkov

Extraction Survival With Punishing PVP

Escape from Tarkov Aiming at White Van

A key aspect of Rust lies in its intense Player vs Player (PVP) interactions, and Escape From Tarkov offers a similar gameplay experience. In this game, players start at various locations across the map, with the objective being to reach an extraction zone. As they progress, players gather quest items and valuable resources scattered throughout the environment.

In Rust, individuals generally play on their own, yet they have the option to band together with friends (provided that your friends don’t abandon you as swiftly as mine did). On the other hand, in Escape From Tarkov, trusting others is rarely advisable; self-reliance is usually the best policy.

In Escape From Tarkov, dying carries a severe consequence, much like in Rust, as players risk losing all their hard-earned loot. If you’re a fan of the intense firefights found in Rust, you’ll find yourself feeling quite comfortable with Escape From Tarkov.

8.
Valheim

Raid Other Players

As a gamer, I’ll confess that while Valheim isn’t primarily about Player versus Player (PVP), you can activate the PVP mode to transform your gaming experience into a Viking-style raid simulation. However, beware! I’ve found out firsthand how easily turning into raiders could escalate a friendly game into a dramatic power play reminiscent of Game of Thrones.

In Valheim, the survival mechanics are distinctively designed, motivating gamers to chase and cultivate resources for cooking meals that enhance particular abilities. These enhancements are desirable as players will encounter formidable bosses scattered across the vast open world.

In essence, Valheim centers around either collaborating with others or growing stronger independently to conquer formidable bosses. This is what essentially categorizes the game as primarily Player vs Environment (PVE) or Player vs Player vs Environment (PVPVE). Given that there are numerous PVE-oriented private servers for Rust, those seeking a PVPVE experience might find Valheim more appealing.

7.
Conan Exiles

Unleash Powerful Gods

Conan Exiles Player Facing Off Against Avatar

As a fan, it feels exhilarating to envision crafting imposing fortresses in the gritty world of Rust, yet having an expansive wasteland at my disposal instead! Conan Exiles offers an enormous map, teeming with additional DLCs that unveil even more territories to conquer. Each new landscape presents distinct biomes and challenges, making every exploration a unique adventure.

As a passionate enthusiast of the thrilling realm of Conan, it’s safe to say that every character I encounter seems bent on my demise, even those within the gaming community. The game offers an engaging blend of Player versus Player (PVP) and Player versus Environment (PVE), catering delightfully to both halves of the dedicated Rust player base.

One thrilling aspect of Conan Exiles lies in witnessing colossal factions clash, deploying their Avatars to bring devastation upon each other. In my role as a mere wanderer in this desolate land, I can’t help but feel exhilarated when two massive deities transform into Avatar form and reduce a tribe’s fortress to rubble. It offers the same level of chaos found in Rust, but with an added layer of Conan’s enigmatic spirituality.

6.
Sons Of The Forest

Fight Other Players And Cannibals

Sons of the Forest holding head in front of cannibals

Among the top-notch survival games from recent years, Sons of the Forest stands out particularly well, primarily due to the exceptional AI developed by its creators, Endnight Games. I’ve often found that the cannibals and demons in this game seem incredibly authentic because of their engaging interactions with players and the environment.

In Survival-only (PVE) gameplay, Rust enthusiasts will find pleasure in Sons of the Forest due to its focus on tough survival and base construction. With its 1.0 launch, the game has additionally offered PVP possibilities for players seeking an even more perilous experience on the cannibal-infested island.

1) In order to survive, players must defend themselves against both the natives and other players, all while battling through winter and searching for an escape from the island. For enthusiasts of Sons of the Forest, this game offers a tougher survival challenge that is reminiscent of Rust’s gameplay.

5.
Deadside

Rust But Better

Deadside Player Aiming at Enemy in Railroad

Initially, when Deadside debuted, many experienced Rust players, including myself, perceived it as a spin-off of Rust. It provides several similar gameplay mechanics such as constructing bases, raiding, and scavenging for loot.

What makes Deadside stand out from other games like Rust is its superior graphical quality and variety of game modes. Since Deadside is a newer game, it benefits from having more refined graphics due to advanced development.

Additionally, it offers various play styles to empower users in deciding their preferred way to engage, such as Player vs. Player (PvP), Player vs. Environment (PvE), pure PvP without raids, and structured PvP with scheduled raids.

One issue I’ve consistently found with Rust’s raid system is that it can be incredibly annoying, especially when a raider wipes out all your progress while you’re not even online.

In comparison to Rust’s raid system, Deadside’s approach is significantly enhanced, and once players experience it, they’re likely to share that positive sentiment.

4.
DayZ

Hello, Zombie Neighbors

DayZ Player Watching Drop in Distance

In the game Rust, players engage with both other players and non-player characters (NPCs). Although players may present a certain level of diversity, they don’t encounter many other challenges to fight against directly.

In DayZ, players encounter a fresh kind of gameplay. Alongside the usual player-versus-player combat, they’ll find themselves battling against infected adversaries as well.

Instead of the usual slow, shambling creatures found in most video games, these “zombies” are quick, aggressive, and determined to rip players limb from limb.

In DayZ, each decision and discovery becomes significantly more nerve-wracking due to the increased tension. It’s just as unpredictable as in Rust – you could just as easily run into a friend or a foe when turning a corner.

In simple terms, DayZ can be seen as a game that follows in the footsteps or even shares some family resemblance with Rust, due to their similar gameplay mechanics and features. Yet, for individuals like me who sometimes find the repetition in Rust a bit monotonous, DayZ’s infected characters could introduce an exciting twist or flavor into the gameplay.

3.
7 Days To Die

Ultimate Survival Sandbox

7 Days to Die Zombie in the Desert

If you prefer a game that offers both Player versus Player (PVP) and Player versus Environment (PVE), then consider giving 7 Days to Die a try. Similar to DayZ, the game features various kinds of undead creatures for players to encounter.

The key feature involves a weekly event called the Blood Moon, during which progressively challenging hordes of zombies emerge to assault players’ bases. This is somewhat reminiscent of the raid system in Rust, except that players receive ample notice to fortify their defenses and strategize accordingly beforehand.

As a gamer, I can tell you that in 7 Days to Die, there’s always something to keep me engaged. Quests from traders in the game world add a layer of excitement, ensuring there’s never a dull moment. Throw in some Player vs Player action, and things get downright intriguing!

It’s true that my partner and I often prioritize constructing our Blood Moon base for battling zombies, leaving us less involved in the local player-versus-player conflicts on our servers. However, if gamers seek an experience similar to Rust’s intense PVP action but with a zombie twist, they should definitely check out 7 Days to Die.

2.
SCUM

Take Survival Mechanics To The Max

SCUM Base Building

Aside from combat elements, Rust can also be considered a survival game since players require resources for sustenance and comfort in order to thrive.

In contrast, the survival aspects in Rust seem less robust when placed beside those in SCUM. Though both games share similar gameplay elements such as combat and base construction, SCUM boasts a more extensive system for survival.

Players can keep track of factors such as their body weight and the amount of macronutrients within their system. These measurements have a direct influence on the character’s attributes and overall performance.

As a gamer, I thoroughly enjoy immersive survival mechanics, and in SCUM, that comes from being mindful about what I eat and when. It adds a layer of realism that keeps me engaged, so for fellow survival enthusiasts, this game delivers a rewarding experience in terms of its food management system.

1.
Ark: Survival Ascended

PVP Action With Dinosaurs

Players fighting a Yuty in Ark: Survival Ascended

Both Ark: Survival Ascended and Ark: Survival Evolved share many features with Rust, including expansive open-world environments and high-intensity player versus player (PVP) combat.

In Ark, instead of conventional weapons, players engage in combat using dinosaurs. Their gameplay involves nurturing and strengthening war dinosaurs for battles, and raiding opponents’ bases to acquire resources and establish themselves as the dominant force within the server.

For gamers seeking a more tranquil Rust experience, there are also PVE servers available. Building bases in Ark can be quite engaging, and I’ve personally crafted some remarkable structures within the game – such as my elaborate pirate ship on Crystal Isles, which took me weeks to construct. Kudos to that endeavor!

If you’re seeking a game that could consume your entire day, much like Rust does, then Ark might just be the one for you.

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2025-04-29 17:41