Best Survival Games For Players Who Love The Long Dark

Key Takeaways

Project Zomboid
&
The Long Dark
share permadeath and character needs management.
Like
The Long Dark
,
Subnautica
offers beautiful but treacherous environments.
7 Days to Die, Grounded
&
ARK: Survival Evolved
put players at the bottom of the food chain.

As a seasoned survivor of the harsh wilderness myself, I can wholeheartedly recommend these games to any fellow adventurer seeking the thrill of survival and exploration in post-apocalyptic or prehistoric landscapes. Each game offers unique challenges, from battling giant spiders in Grounded to taming dinosaurs in ARK: Survival Evolved.

Originating from Hinterland Studio and launched in 2017, “The Long Dark” represents an intense first-person survival adventure game. Being resourceful is crucial, and fast decision-making determines whether one lives or dies. In this title, players face the ruthless and freezing adversary of Mother Nature, where a minor error could lead to their demise. The game’s ending is inescapable – death awaits all players.

Here are some games that have been chosen for their resemblance to The Long Dark in terms of gameplay style, themes, or the feelings they elicit. These can involve aspects such as resource management, surviving in a natural environment, solitude, visually stunning and varied landscapes, and an ever-present danger of death.

8 Project Zomboid

Permadeath, Needs Management

Project Zomboid is a survival game set in a world where civilization has collapsed due to a zombie outbreak. In this desolate landscape, players must adapt to the harsh realities by scavenging resources like food, shelter, and weapons from what’s left of human civilization.

Similar to The Long Dark, Project Zomboid offers permadeath and a gameplay structure where each death serves as a learning experience for the player. Each character’s demise doesn’t equate to wasted effort, but can be prevented with caution. With every fresh start, players delve deeper into an apocalyptic landscape, gaining wisdom and expertise at the cost of losing characters. In addition to exploration, Project Zomboid requires players to manage fundamental needs such as hunger, thirst, and sleep.

7 Subnautica

Beauty, Fear, Isolation

In “Subnautica”, you embark on an immersive adventure as you explore a strange underwater world on an alien planet. Your goal is to scavenge resources, create tools, and advance through the storyline by surviving in this unfamiliar environment.

Enthusiasts of “The Long Dark” will find much to appreciate in “Subnautica,” particularly its shared moody atmospheres. As players explore the ocean’s mysterious depths, they are both amazed by the diverse beauty of “Subnautica’s” underwater landscapes and petrified by the unknown terrors that might lie hidden within the deep, dark waters. The possibility of death could be lurking around every bend.

As a player, I find myself immersed in a similar solo adventure to that of The Long Dark, known as Subnautica. Unlike other games where I encounter living characters, my interactions here are limited to the remnants of humanity left behind, adding an intriguing layer of mystery and exploration to my underwater journey.

6 7 Days To Die

Become The Prey

In simpler terms, “7 Days to Die” is an action-packed survival game played from the first-person perspective. It’s set in a world where a zombie apocalypse has occurred, and you, as the player, must construct a base, gather resources, and battle against relentless zombie attacks that occur every seventh day within the game.

7 Days to Die’s seven-day zombie hordes turn players from hunters into hunted, as swarms of zombies relentlessly try to break into your fortified bases by clawing, punching, and biting. Ignoring the fact that these undead creatures are your predators will result in your downfall. Similarly, even a solitary wolf or bear in The Long Dark can bring about a quick demise for players.

5 Valheim

Diverse And Hostile Environments

In simpler terms, Valheim is an action-packed adventure game played from a third-person perspective, set in a world inspired by Viking mythology and filled with mystical wilderness. Players need to explore, create items, and construct shelters to defend themselves against dangerous creatures while safeguarding their treasures.

Enthusiasts of “The Long Dark” game may find the varied territories of “Valheim” reminiscent yet invigorating. Each biome in “Valheim” presents distinct hurdles and perils that players must adapt to and conquer. Those who prevail will be granted access to additional resources.

In the game Valheim, several biomes can only be reached after a long journey through the wilderness, meaning players must carefully plan and set up multiple bases before embarking. Fans of The Long Dark will appreciate this aspect as it mirrors the constant movement required in The Long Dark.

4 Unturned

The Start Of The Apocalypse

In simpler terms, “Unturned” is a first-person, cartoonish survival game set in a post-zombie apocalypse world. The objective for players is to endure and thrive in a society that has been overrun by the undead.

Similar to The Long Dark, Unturned is a game that delves into the realm of ‘what ifs’. In Unturned’s scenario, we ponder ‘What if overnight humanity was overrun by zombies?’, while in The Long Dark, we consider ‘What if society collapsed, leaving someone stranded in the Canadian wilderness?’ Both games offer a unique and captivating experience as they explore how familiar worlds can suddenly transform into something alien and threatening. When playing Unturned, players are essentially discovering a new world born from catastrophe, much like The Long Dark.

3 Grounded

Violence Is Not Always The Answer

Grounded is a fresh addition to the first-person survival-exploration genre, where players assume the role of children transformed into tiny ants within a garden setting. Unlike conventional games featuring zombies and NPCs, in this game, players must navigate through and survive among insects such as mosquitoes and giant spiders.

Grounded masterfully infuses a sense of awe and detachment into a world that’s recognizable yet strange, much like the praise heaped upon The Long Dark. Adventurers who delight in examining everyday occurrences from a fresh perspective will find plenty to interact with within Grounded. Not unlike The Long Dark, Grounded places players in the precarious position of being both predator and prey, so remember to prepare for the possibility of hunting and being hunted.

2 ARK: Survival Evolved

Fighting Isn’t Always The Answer

In “ARK: Survival Evolved”, you find yourself in a world where you need to construct shelters and cultivate relationships with various dinosaurs, ranging from the colossal to the diminutive, to ensure your survival in this ancient environment.

ARK: Survival Evolved is a game where you don’t get off easy; it throws you against fierce dinosaurs right from the start. You soon realize that surviving isn’t just about being the strongest fighter, but also knowing when to fight and when to retreat. Often, running away or sneaking past unnoticed might be the wiser choice, especially if a T-Rex is involved. Charging into battle recklessly usually leads to disaster.

1 The Forest

Beautiful Environments, Varied AI

In a riveting first-person adventure, the game titled “The Forest” places you on an island teeming with cannibals and lethal mutated beings. Your objective is to find a way off this perilous island, all while ensuring your character’s essential needs are met and constructing a shelter for protection from imminent attacks.

Enthralling yet perilous, The Forest captivates equally with its rich and diverse landscapes while instilling a sense of dread, for one never knows when danger may be lurking just beyond the next corner. Similar to The Long Dark, The Forest boasts top-notch AI that keeps players constantly alert. An encounter with cannibals in this game could mean fighting, fleeing, or even inviting conflict right to the player’s doorstep.

2024-11-13 07:04