The Best Open-World Games If You Want To Live Off The Land

Open-world games aim to create immersive and believable environments, making players feel like they’ve truly entered a fantastical world. Some games take this a step further by adding survival elements, requiring players to actively find food, water, and shelter, which deepens their connection to the game world.

Open-world games where you have to find food, build shelter, and generally survive in the environment are known for being very immersive. Players aren’t just focused on the story; they also need to find resources to stay alive. Here are ten open-world games that include these survival challenges to make gameplay more engaging and difficult.

10. Red Dead Redemption 2

Life On The Frontier

While not as demanding as some survival games, Red Dead Redemption 2 still includes realistic details that players should be aware of. To keep Arthur Morgan in top condition, pay attention to his hunger and make sure he’s wearing clothes suited to the weather.

Okay, so honestly, while you can ignore things like keeping Arthur fed and warm, it’s not a huge deal like in some other survival games. But trust me, taking care of him actually makes the experience so much better! It really pulls you into Rockstar’s world – it’s already amazing, but paying attention to these details makes it feel even more real and immersive. It’s worth the effort, just to stay connected to that incredible open world.

9. Fallout: New Vegas

The Long Road To Vegas

As a huge Fallout: New Vegas fan, I love how detailed and immersive the desert world is. It’s awesome that you can really live in the wasteland by gathering stuff to make your own healing items – it makes you feel like you’re actually trying to survive! And if you really want a challenge, turning on Hardcore mode makes the Mojave a seriously tough place – it’s not for the faint of heart, but it’s so rewarding when you overcome it.

Hardcore mode adds a new level of difficulty to the game with tougher challenges. Healing items aren’t as powerful, and your companions can die for good. But the biggest change is having to manage your character’s hunger, thirst, and sleep. If you don’t eat, drink, and rest enough, you’ll die quickly. It’s the perfect, most challenging experience for Fallout players who really want to feel like they’re surviving in the wasteland.

8. Palworld

Building A Life For Your Pals

There’s been a lot of discussion about how similar Palworld is to Pokemon, but when you actually play it, Palworld offers a unique experience. It’s an open-world game where you build a base and capture creatures to help you survive.

While training their creatures, players also need to stay fed and prepared to survive in this challenging open world. If you enjoy survival games, you’ll likely have fun keeping both yourself and your Pals alive in this expansive adventure.

7. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

Not About Surviving, But About Making The Most Of Limited Resources

By now, recommending The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild feels almost predictable, as it was a defining open-world game of the 2010s. While Link doesn’t need to gather food, cook meals, find better clothes, collect weapons, or explore Hyrule thoroughly to simply play the game, doing those things is essential if you want to progress and succeed. The game encourages you to live off the land, but it’s not a strict survival experience.

I’ve played a lot of open-world games where you just eat to stay alive, but Breath of the Wild does things differently. The food isn’t about survival, it’s about getting stronger! Recipes give you boosts like extra stamina, more health, or even protection from the cold, which is super helpful when you’re exploring. I’m always collecting ingredients and cooking up meals to keep handy. It’s the same with weapons too – I’m constantly grabbing new swords and clubs because you always need to be prepared for a fight. You can’t get caught with nothing in your hands!

6. Subnautica

Under The Sea

Subnautica is different from most survival games because of where it takes place. Instead of being stranded on land, players find themselves on an alien planet that’s almost entirely underwater, and they must find ways to survive in this vast ocean world.

In Subnautica, players must use everything they discover underwater to survive in a stunning but dangerous alien ocean. Beyond finding food and building shelter, they’ll also have to avoid terrifying, giant creatures while trying to stay alive.

5. Minecraft

The World Is Yours

Minecraft is a hugely popular game that offers players incredible freedom. It features a massive, planet-sized world where you can explore, travel, and build anything you can imagine. Few games offer this level of unrestricted creativity.

To thrive in survival mode, players need to collect resources and become self-sufficient. Experienced players can use Redstone to create automatic farms, providing a steady supply of food and materials. Exploring underground dungeons can also uncover valuable items, like melon seeds, which help players survive the many dangers that appear at night in Minecraft.

Shout out to Vintage Story, which is hardcore Minecraft.

4. Conan Exiles

Heroes Of The Hyborian Age

Conan the Barbarian comes to life in this online survival game where players must brave a harsh and dangerous world. To survive, you’ll need to battle terrifying creatures, fend off other players, and constantly find food and water.

In this harsh world, players who survive will thrive, creating impressive settlements and powerful groups to control the land. A skilled player in Conan Exiles can even become as famous and powerful as Conan himself.

3. Project Zomboid

Life Among The Dead

Project Zomboid puts a unique spin on the classic zombie apocalypse. Instead of just fighting off zombies, the game focuses heavily on realistic survival. Players need to scavenge for supplies, create a safe haven, and even manage their character’s hunger, stress, and boredom to stay alive.

In Project Zomboid, death is unavoidable. The game isn’t about winning so much as seeing how long you can survive in a world overrun by zombies. With strong multiplayer options and lots of customizable settings in sandbox mode, players have plenty of ways to experience the apocalypse and try to last as long as possible.

2. Valheim

A Viking’s Quest

Valheim is a challenging world in the game where Vikings go to prove they’re worthy to enter Odin’s hall. Players must show their courage by defeating powerful, mythical creatures while also finding food and building shelter to survive the dangers around them.

In Valheim, players need to hunt, grow crops, and gather resources just to survive. They also have to defend themselves from dangerous creatures, including the game’s notorious giant trolls. It’s a harsh world, but a rewarding one for anyone who wants to live like a Viking.

1. Green Hell

Hard-As-Nails Survival Game With Constant Environmental Threats

Most survival games involve finding food and shelter in the wilderness, but they vary in how challenging and realistic they are. If you’re looking for a truly difficult experience, Green Hell is top-notch, though it’s probably not the best choice for newcomers to the genre. You’re dropped into the Amazon rainforest and will have to work incredibly hard to survive – nothing is handed to you. Green Hell focuses on realism, meaning you’ll need to gather materials from the environment instead of simply finding pre-made items.

A core idea behind Green Hell is realism, which means you have to carefully manage your basic needs. Unlike many games, you can’t just eat anything to stay alive – food and drink affect you based on things like hydration and protein. Similarly, crafting isn’t simple; it requires practice and isn’t based on a typical menu system.

2025-12-25 02:09