Most Brutal Survival Games - Investment Policy

Summary

Survival games simulate ancestral activities for modern players without real-life consequences.
Various survival games offer challenging gameplay mechanics that test players’ skill and resourcefulness.
Playing survival games can make players appreciate modern comforts through brutal digital experiences.

300,000 years of human evolution have brought us to a stage where we no longer need to hunt for food or struggle with stone tools. Yet, our primal instincts are still present, hidden in our ancient reptilian brain. Many people yearn for ancestral activities, but without the harsh realities. A fun and safe way to satisfy this desire is by engaging in the (comparatively) risk-free world of video games.

Survival games have gained immense popularity in the gaming world, with a plentiful selection of both classic and modern survival adventures available. This genre is renowned for its challenging nature, although not every game fully exploits that primal human instinct. However, some games exhibit more leniency and may not convey the vulnerability of human life as powerfully as others do.

Experiencing these games is like stepping into a harsh, unforgiving digital wilderness. As a player, I can tell you firsthand that it’s a journey few will complete. It’s a stark reminder of how luxurious our modern gaming experiences have become.

Regardless of the scenario, the basics – food, housing, and power – are universally vital for survival. However, what makes each gaming adventure distinct is their innovative world construction, engaging game mechanics, and varying levels of challenge.

The fundamental necessities like food, shelter, and energy are common across all survival situations in games. What sets each game apart is its unique blend of creative world-building, intriguing gameplay mechanisms, and differing levels of difficulty.

22. We Happy Few

Roguelike Elements, Disorienting

In this challenging (yet gritty) journey crafted by Compulsion Games, players are pushed to their survival limits. Immersed in a dismal, dystopian alternate reality of post-WWII England under a Fascist regime, players must navigate stealthily and strive to endure in this impoverished, oppressed society.

Apart from this requirement, these characters are compelled to consume a drug that creates a fantastical illusion to conceal their bleak environment, reminiscent of Aldous Huxley’s “Brave New World.” If any of the three main characters fail to adhere to their regular doses of happy delusion, they will be relentlessly chased by swift and ravenous guards patrolling the city. This vibrant, twisted odyssey is both thrilling and infuriating in its intensity.

21. Subnautica

Limited Oxygen, Permadeath (Hardcore Mode)

Developed by Unknown Worlds Entertainment, this underwater expedition offers a harmonious blend of tranquil seclusion and pulse-racing survival mechanics. Players take on the character of Ryley, a spaceship crash survivor who must explore an enormous ocean planet, unaware of the unknown creatures lurking in its depths.

Although it may seem tranquil on the surface, this place hides a menacing side, teeming as it is with treacherous marine life. Meanwhile, adventurers must traverse these strange territories while contending with hunger, dehydration, and running out of oxygen. If an unfortunate demise occurs, some items in their possession will be lost.

In hardcore mode, there are no warnings about low oxygen levels, and players experience permanent death instead.

20. ADOM (Ancient Domains Of Mystery)

Heavy Roguelike Elements, Trial And Error

Release year: 1994 (2015 re-release)
Platforms: Microsoft Windows, Linux, Amiga, MS-DOS, and Mac operating systems

Despite leaning more towards RPG/roguelike genres than survival, the extensive resource management and numerous elements leading to character demise solidify ADOM’s status as a genre trailblazer. Originally a basic ASCII graphics game, the enhanced re-release of this roguelike remains as challenging and enigmatic as before. Even among its peers, ADOM is renowned for its extremely difficult, unpredictable gameplay.

Adventurers should journey across the treacherous terrain of Ancardia, aiming to reach one of several conclusions. These outcomes could involve sealing the “Chaos” gate, achieving demigod status, or offering oneself as a sacrifice to halt the malevolent Chaos forces. The travelers will need to carefully consider and manipulate an almost limitless array of elements, character customizations, and missions – frequently treading on thin ice just to survive.

In the game ADOM, multiple routes can result in victory, but there are significantly more paths that ultimately lead to destruction. Players can encounter permanent death quickly, often due to the use of cursed gear, stumbling upon traps, or failing to employ the correct defense against monsters.

19. Project Zomboid

Punishing AI, Steep Learning Curve

While it may not appear as intense or frightening as first-person zombie games because of its top-down, isometric viewpoint, “Project Zomboid” can still be incredibly nerve-wracking. This game is known for being one of the most challenging survival games available, with a steep learning curve and numerous difficult enemies.

Project Zomboid emphasizes realism and the open-endedness of its game world significantly. Unlike other zombie games, these undead creatures don’t sprint but they do appear in overwhelming hordes that can severely penalize even minor errors or hesitation by the player. Moreover, players must manage not only their physical requirements but also mental health issues like depression and boredom.

18. Stranded Deep

Starting From Scratch, Dangerous Sea Creatures

As a fellow enthusiast, if you’re yearning for a glimpse into the survival struggles reminiscent of Tom Hanks in Cast Away, then Stranded Deep could serve as an immersive simulation. In this game, you find yourself cast away on an island, but unlike the Polynesian natives who thrive in such environments, you’re a stranger struggling to survive. This tropical paradise might as well feel like a personal inferno.

A challenging aspect is that players are motivated to depart from their initial island, as it lacks essential resources. To fulfill their requirements, gamers must explore other islands. However, this task becomes more difficult due to the presence of dangerous marine life such as sharks, which are constantly on the hunt for prey.

17. Green Hell

Realistic Gameplay, Psychological Conditions

In a straightforward and conversational tone: Green Hell immerses players right in the heart of the treacherous Amazon rainforest, where the oppressive humidity and unfriendly inhabitants – be they creatures of nature or people – make survival a constant struggle. The game promises to deliver this message clearly, either way.

This game is famously recognized as a rainforest simulator, particularly when players increase the challenge level to match the developers’ vision. In the story mode, players must deal with insect bites, various types of poison, and other jungle-related illnesses while searching for their lost wife. Alternatively, in sandbox mode, players aim to survive as long as possible against these same challenges.

16. 7 Days To Die

Tough Feral Enemies At Night, Randomly Generated World Makes Planning Difficult

7 Days to Die, similar to Project Zomboid, offers an authentic zombie survival adventure, allowing players to explore and write their unique survival narratives. Remarkably, it debuted on early access concurrently with Project Zomboid.

7 Days to Die offers a closer, more intense perspective on zombie-slaying, which heightens its horror aspects and makes the undead appear more gruesome and unique. Players can create a variety of eccentric melee weapons in an attempt to MacGyver their survival, but this doesn’t lessen the fear factor.

15. Subsistence

Gritty Realism, Lack Of Hand Holding

Release year: 2016
Platforms: Microsoft Windows

For those seeking a straightforward survival experience with a Stone Age vibe yet modern amenities, Subsistence offers just that. In this game, there’s no presence of supernatural entities; instead, it’s all about human dilemmas like doubt and ambition. Players need to protect themselves from wildlife, harsh nature, and fellow AI characters who act much like humans in their behavior.

In this open-ended setup, players can construct their own communities and nurture miniature societies reminiscent of a communal civilization. It’s somewhat like the game Rust, but with less eccentricity and boasting more advanced technology at one’s disposal. This game is renowned for its challenging nature, as it frequently attempts to replicate real-world rules.

14. This War Of Mine

Limited Resources Early On, Must Tend To Other People

Although it takes place in contemporary times, the game “This War of Mine” doesn’t soften its challenging nature, much like survival games that begin in the Stone Age. Fundamentally, “This War of Mine” resembles “The Sims,” but instead of simulating everyday life, this simulation portrays a group of characters in war-ravaged Eastern Europe who are struggling to survive and are just a few missed meals away from starvation and despair.

In “This War of Mine”, players find themselves dealing with a grim scenario as they oversee the survival of civilian refugees trapped within a besieged city. The challenge lies in ensuring every individual survivor’s safety, as their varying abilities and the rampant looting make for a chaotic environment.

13. Ark: Survival Evolved

Gritty Realism, Limited Tools To Start

In this thrilling, primeval survival adventure, it’s every man for himself as you face off against a hostile world filled with danger. Crafted by Studio Wildcard, the game plunges you into an expansive, initially desolate landscape teeming with dinosaurs and other potential threats.

In Ark, survivalists must begin anew, creating fires, shaping tools, and constructing shelters on the spot, all while remaining vigilant against potential dangers. This game stands out among contemporary open-world titles due to its authentic feel, which necessitates significant investment of time, effort, and strategy, as well as its expansive Player versus Player (PvP) environment.

12. Kenshi

Tough, Hostile Environment From The Outset

Kenshi is an unusual, epic post-apocalyptic video game that appears to be the offspring of a bizarre collaboration between Mad Max and anime. It’s an open-ended survival game set in a world where massive storms and colossal anomalies can flatten objects as small as people.

In this sandbox survival title, players are given free rein to do whatever they wish.

Fundamentally, the creators of Kenshi view it as a distinctive, captivating role-playing game (RPG) that also has a brutally realistic edge, which is why many people see it as an authentic addition to the genre. Since the gameplay is open-ended, players can choose to be merchants, traders, slavers, or wanderers. Naturally, in such a ruthless society, survival of the fittest is key and that’s where the core survival aspect of Kenshi lies.

11. Don’t Starve

Punishing Roguelike Gameplay At Night, Many Ways To Perish

Beware, despite its charming, children’s book-like appearance, Don’t Starve can be quite challenging. Players navigate through a dark, Lovecraftian world filled with unknown and alien elements, controlling their chosen character while building defenses for survival and searching for opportunities to thrive.

In “Don’t Starve,” there’s a day-night cycle, with night presenting a significant difficulty due to the increased aggression and hunger of the grotesque creatures. One reason for this game’s challenge is that it’s also a roguelike, meaning death results in having to start anew from the very beginning.

10. Sons Of The Forest

Discovering Dark Mysteries Beneath A Cannibal Island

In my enthusiastic viewpoint as a dedicated fan, I must say that the follow-up to The Forest, titled Sons of the Forest, has truly outdone itself! While retaining the captivating core gameplay loop, it’s elevated the experience with substantial enhancements over its predecessor.

For starters, the map has been expanded exponentially, introducing a variety of intriguing weather styles that breathe fresh life into the survival setting. Additionally, players are blessed with an intelligent companion AI to assist them on their journey. But wait, there’s more! The game also offers exciting new methods for traversal, which not only make exploration faster but also infinitely easier.

The game titled “Sons of the Forest” offers rewards for exploration and is a chilling adventure that features cannibals as primary antagonists. Venturing into the caves inhabited by these cannibals will unveil hidden facilities beneath the island, shedding light on the true malevolence lurking behind the cannibal hordes.

9. The Long Dark

Vast, Hostile Environment, Limited Resources

If you’re among those adventurers seeking a chilling winter apocalypse experience to test your survival skills against frostbite and hypothermia, then The Long Dark, a thrilling post-apocalyptic game, could either entertain or potentially leave you shuddering. The story unfolds in a world turned into an icy wasteland due to a geomagnetic catastrophe.

In The Long Dark, you won’t find any zombies, monsters, or ghosts. Instead, the game’s antagonists are the harshness of nature embodied by Mother Nature herself and her malnourished animal offspring. To survive, players must attend to more than just their physical needs such as fitness, food, sleep, and hydration; they must also manage their clothing and body temperature. The game’s realistic environment is so convincing that players may genuinely experience the frigid perils faced by their character.

8. Frostpunk

A Different Survival Experience With Difficult Decisions To Make

Instead of the majority of survival games listed here which are primarily first-person or third-person perspectives, Frostpunk stands out as a strategic management game, set against a grim backdrop, involving a band of survivors enduring harsh, icy weather conditions.

In Frostpunk, you’ll encounter two modes – campaign and sandbox – each demanding strategic choices to aid survivors endure the bitter cold while pushing them towards hard labor. This game emphasizes the gravity of your decisions, as they could lead to irreversible outcomes, potentially resulting in the demise of all. Therefore, it’s crucial to carefully consider every action you take.

7. Rust

Building And Surviving From Scratch, Threats From Other Players

Rust is one of the oldest and widely-played survival games, initially launched as an early access title. Now at its peak, this game has significantly enhanced its graphics and overall gameplay, but the players, largely unchanged, are a mix of armchair Social Darwinists and Machiavellian strategists. They wouldn’t think twice about betraying a friendly stranger for a slight edge in resources.

For this purpose, Rust encourages and appreciates all playstyles, whether it’s avoiding social interaction to accumulate kills for a power base or embracing the tribal spirit. The game offers a balance between high risk and high reward, with scarce loot adding an exciting dimension. In essence, this aspect of the game contributes significantly to its enjoyment.

6. SCUM

Realistic, Many Conditions Need Tending To

At first glance, SCUM appears similar to a game like DayZ, but it rapidly distinguishes itself by amassing features that transform it into the most intricate simulation of a Hunger Games-style scenario, albeit with zombies and mechs. In this game, players must nurture their characters as if they were caring for newborn infants.

All aspects related to macros and micronutrients, bowel movements and urination, hydration levels, muscle structure, and body fat composition need careful consideration. This array of factors can indeed appear quite overwhelming.

5. Darkwood

Lack Of Hand Holding, Must Fight For Survival In Various Ways

As a fervent admirer, I’d express that Darkwood is an unnerving blend of horror and survival, encapsulated in a chilling experience. It’s not just the fear of hunger that haunts you; it’s also the eerie noises and shadows that lurk at night. The game presents this tense atmosphere from a bird’s-eye view.

Despite the thrill, the tension and panic in this game feel incredibly real as I navigate through the enigmatic world of Darkwood. There are no handy quest markers or maps here; instead, I must rely on my memory to explore and traverse its ever-changing landscapes. During the day, these areas are procedurally generated, so by night, when the initially stationary shadows begin to chase me, I find myself scrambling to recall my safe havens.

4. Outward

Player Is Vulnerable, Many Hostile Threats In A Vast Environment

In my gaming experience, Outward feels like a more casual take on the Dark Souls series. Instead of striving to become a god, I find myself exiled from home due to an unjust eviction by a heartless, money-grubbing landlord. This new world might be vast and beautiful, but it’s also treacherous and unforgiving. There aren’t any handy maps to guide me, my character isn’t much of a fighter, and the creatures and robbers lurking around every corner seem intent on making my journey even more challenging.

These elements form the heart of the game, as Outward centers around a foot-bound journey through a mystical realm where one’s strength is comparable to that of an ordinary NPC character. Unlike conventional RPGs, there’s no linear progression system in place. Instead, players must assess their own advancement based on their growing skill and wit.

3. Neo Scavenger

Starting From Scratch, Few Resources

Release year: 2014
Platforms: Android, iOS, Microsoft Windows, macOS, Linux

Consider Neo Scavenger as a blend of Civilization and Dungeons and Dragons, but set in a desolate city that has devolved into a squalid ghetto. The inhabitants can be likened to either drug addicts or homeless individuals. Some enthusiasts even refer to it as a “hobo simulator”. Contrary to popular belief, this kind of existence is far from easy; there’s a significant risk of being attacked by a random drug abuser during the night.

The game Neo Scavenger successfully evokes this ambiance. However, its challenge lies in the heavy reliance on Random Number Generation (RNG) during encounters, escapes, or various activities. This means that despite players amassing resources such as a weaponized iPad and a makeshift armor from a garbage bag, they can still be easily overwhelmed by the game’s numerous adversaries.

2025-01-08 13:55