Top 8 Survival Games With Easy Mechanics That Even Newbies Can Master Fast!

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Summary

  • Survival games offer a cathartic escape to build a life in exotic and dangerous settings.
  • Subnautica, Starbound, and The Flame in the Flood are simpler, accessible survival games for newcomers.
  • Raft, Grounded, Astroneer, No Man’s Sky, and Minecraft offer unique survival experiences with accessible mechanics.

Building a life from scratch in harsh, unforgiving environments, often characterized by bizarre and alluring landscapes, offers an intriguing sense of release for survival genre enthusiasts. It allows them to escape societal norms and expectations, testing their mettle against the raw power of nature.

In essence, while some survival games may be known for their complexity and steep learning curve, not all are created equal. Some require a significant amount of effort just to survive in the virtual wilderness, with numerous mechanics that need constant monitoring. However, there are also simpler versions of these games that are more beginner-friendly, gradually introducing players to the survival genre without overwhelming them right from the start.

8. Subnautica

The Briny Deep

In a league of its own among survival games, Subnautica offers an extraordinary atmosphere, set on a strange planet primarily composed of vast, endless oceans. Though your character lands in the ocean with no resources, tools, or solid ground to stand on, Subnautica manages to be inviting and engaging. It provides ample tutorial content to assist newcomers, and its survival mechanics are not overly challenging.

As much as I’d love to glide peacefully through the waters of Subnautica, let me tell you, it ain’t always a leisurely dive. The game can ramp up the tension, especially when venturing deeper into its depths. This is mostly because the deep sea’s eerie ambiance and the colossal, terrifying sea creatures that inhabit it create an unsettling atmosphere. Fortunately, us gamers have a stockpile of resources to make the ocean a tad less frightening.

7. Starbound

Wandering the Stars

Starbound is a delightful 2D survival game with strong similarities to Terraria. In this more streamlined adventure, players assume roles as members of an interstellar peacekeeping force forced to abandon Earth after its destruction. The objective is to seek revenge for the planet and protect the universe. The game’s worlds are procedurally generated, ensuring that each planet presents a vast sandbox teeming with possibilities for combat, construction, exploration, and crafting whatever players desire.

In simpler terms, Starbound introduces players with an easy-to-understand tutorial, and its gameplay mechanics are less complex compared to those in Terraria. To assist players even more, their spaceship serves as a base where they can keep their items safe and take breaks during their intergalactic adventures.

6. The Flame In The Flood

On The Road

In an original take on the survival genre, The Flame In The Flood transforms it into a roguelike journey along a river that’s randomly generated. Players scavenge resources and tools throughout their voyage. They need to keep a close eye on the protagonist’s needs such as hunger, thirst, warmth, and fatigue to ensure her survival.

Fortunately, Scout’s pet dog aids her in locating essential supplies such as food, water, and materials for clothing to shield her from harsh weather conditions. The game is user-friendly due to its roguelike format; if players encounter significant setbacks, they can easily reset and commence a new playthrough.

5. Raft

A Wandering Home

In essence, the game titled Raft unfolds primarily on a driftwood platform bobbing across the ocean, carried along by the currents. Although players have the option to dive into the water, it’s important to note that this could lead to being separated from the raft and becoming prey for the aggressive sharks lurking beneath the waves. The game’s enthusiasts are advised to remain on the raft and reel in any resources that float by, which can be used to enhance the raft and ensure their own survival.

Due to limited control over the resources players can gather from the sea, the necessities they require these resources for tend to be quite basic. The gameplay mechanics in Raft are designed to be less complex compared to other survival games, providing a balance as players are primarily subject to the whims of the sea.

4. Grounded

A Bite-Sized Adventure

In the compact backyard of the game ‘Grounded’, a wealth of hidden mysteries and perils awaits exploration. It’s astonishing how the developers managed to inject so much diversity into such a minuscule geographical area. As the diminutive teenage characters traverse this intimidating world in their quest to regain their normal size, they must also learn to survive within this small ecosystem and discover means of staying alive.

Fortunately, the game Grounded manages to stay relatively user-friendly for those new to the genre. With its comprehensive tutorials, players are smoothly introduced to the crafting and upgrading systems, and there aren’t many resources that require extensive searching before they can begin equipping themselves with some powerful gear.

3. Astroneer

Building A Better Galaxy

In essence, Astroneer revolves around venturing into the cosmos for interstellar exploration and sculpting the landscape of various planets. Players have the liberty to shape these celestial bodies according to their preferences, creating an environment tailored to their requirements. Following this, they can construct modular buildings and craft useful tools to support them during their space travels.

The game offers a more relaxed gaming atmosphere compared to many survival games, with resources not needing immediate collection and the danger of exploration significantly reduced. However, remember that space itself poses a risk, so maintaining your oxygen level is crucial for those who wish to embark on a spacewalk.

2. No Man’s Sky

Infinite Resources

Although No Man’s Sky appears complex due to its vast, procedurally generated universe, the fundamentals for survival and success throughout your space voyage are thankfully straightforward. Essential resources like copper and carbon are usually abundant, allowing players to effortlessly collect them using their multi-tool. To aid newcomers, the initial missions serve as valuable tutorials to familiarize yourself with the gameplay mechanics.

Constructing and designing tools and structures is typically straightforward; the game employs a snapping mechanism to aid players in assembling bases. Although there’s considerable complexity in what can be achieved with these systems, they maintain an approachable nature, allowing players to concentrate on the boundless beauty of the cosmos.

1. Minecraft

Limitless Possibility

Minecraft, undoubtedly, is a game well-known to many. In numerous aspects, it paved the way for the survival genre’s popularity and continues to reign supreme due to its extraordinarily diverse gameplay and world creation, coupled with an intuitive building and crafting system. The cubic structure of Minecraft‘s world simplifies construction for everyone, while the crafting system, though it hides some complex layers, maintains a basic simplicity that allows players to efficiently establish strong foundations and acquire decent gear without undue hardship.

Skilled enthusiasts of the game Minecraft have the ability to construct intricate structures and mechanisms, utilizing Redstone for complex programming of computers and devices. However, at its core, Minecraft is a straightforward game that revolves around mining resources and crafting items. After mastering these fundamentals, players can proceed to create whatever they imagine.

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2025-04-28 13:54