Summary
Survival games provide a very unique blend of experiences, testing one’s knowledge, wits, and creativity. Braving the harsh landscapes and hostile environments can be challenging enough on its own, especially when there are other gameplay elements such as hunger, temperature, and actual stamina.
Adding PvP on top of that suddenly ups the stakes even further, oftentimes making other players even more dangerous than whatever the game has in store. FromOpen World survival gamesto Battle Royales, there is no shortage of games to test oneself and see if one could make it in such an unforgiving scenario.
8Fortnite
Average Daily Player Count: Roughly 30,000,000
Fortnitehas absolutely skyrocketed in popularity since 2017 for many different reasons. Fromfantastic release timingto fun graphic style to unique building mechanics, everything just fell into place for both the game and the company.
Not many even remember that before the game switched its model, it was originally released as a co-op survival game, where players had to look for resources and defend their base against waves of enemies. The game has had multiple versions and additional content since then, but it still remains an incredibly popular title after all these years.
7Conan Exiles
Average Daily Player Count: 7,793
Conan Exileshas taken up quite a unique niche within the survival games scene. Set in a time before history, with elements of fantasy and a clear baseline for lore, the game went in a direction that not many other titles did.
The game offered a plethora of mechanics, builds, and playstyles, giving players almost free reign as to what they did with their characters and their time. The game still holds a sizable community of dedicated players, and there are regular updates being released by the studio. Overall, the game is a fantastic opportunity for players to see if they can make it in the ruthless world ofConan.
6Minecraft PvP servers
Average Daily Player Count: 10,000,000
Minecraftis one of the oldest survival games on the market and haspioneered quite a few mechanics and concepts. The game has allowed custom servers for a long time, and players have come up with all sorts of game modes, challenges, and more.
PvP servers are incredibly popular among players and host countless ways to survive and battle other players. From classic Battle Royales to Bedwars, there is no shortage of ways to try and outlive other players on the map. Even the vanilla experience with PvP turned on can quickly devolve into an all-out war between even the friendliest of players.
Minecraft
Minecraft is a game made up of blocks, creatures, and community. You can survive the night or build a work of art – the choice is all yours. But if the thought of exploring a vast new world all on your own feels overwhelming, then fear not!Minecraft has no set goal and can be played however you’d like! This is why it’s sometimes called a “sandbox game” – there are lots of things for you to do, and lots of ways that you can play. If you like being creative, then you can use the blocks to build things from your imagination. If you’re feeling brave, you can explore the world and face daring challenges. Blocks can be broken, crafted, placed to reshape the landscape, or used to build fantastical creations.Creatures can be battled or befriended, depending on how you play. The world of Minecraft allows for epic adventures, quiet meditations, and everything in between. You can even share your creations with other players, or play in community worlds!
5DayZ
Average Daily Player Count: 40,000
DayZhas an incredible history of its development, rise in popularity, and, in many ways, revolution in survival games. From a mod to a standalone game to branching evolutions of the game, the journey has been incredible to witness.
PvP has always been at the core of the game, compounding the already high risks present in the world. Players could suffer from a basic lack of food or water, get an infection from an unfortunate accident, or get bit by a zombie. With limited resources, players will eventually run into other survivors like them, who could be incredibly helpful or absolutely merciless.
4PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds
Average Daily Player Count: 300,000
PUBGremains one of themost popular Battle Royales, and still stands as one of the originators of the entire scene. The creator, PlayerUnknown, has already created multiple successful Battle Royale mods and games alike, and it was high time for his own project.
The game quickly rose to massive popularity with its realistic combat, sophisticated weapon and item mechanics, and massive map with vehicles. To this day, the game retains a large player base and continues to stay at the top of the Steam online charts. With new maps, weapons, and items, the game does a great job of feeling fresh and exciting every time.
3Escape from Tarkov
Average Daily Player Count: 130,000
Escape from Tarkovtook realism to the next level, with incredible attention to details, especially when it comes to guns and movement. The game is absolutely brutal in terms of difficulty and stakes, with players risking their hard-earned gear in every gunfight.
Players need to carefully manage their resources as well as tactically approach every enemy they encounter. There will be times when it is absolutely best to lie low, avoid fights, and come back to fight another day. Overall, it is a challenging but rewarding experience, making the game extremely popular among hardcore survival fans.
2ARK: Survival Evolved
Average Daily Player Count: 30,000
ARK: Survival Evolvedtook thefamiliar formula of survival gamesand made it their own with the introduction ofdinosaurs. In place of bears and horses, all kinds of prehistoric creatures roam the world, threatening and aiding players alike.
Some are only good for hunting and materials, while others can be used as mounts or pets. With the addition of PvP servers, the game allows for unprecedented levels of dinosaur chaos. Hunting other players with bows and spears can be fun on its own, but it is made 10,000 times better when done on the back of a Rex.
1Rust
Average Daily Player Count: 82,000.
Rustmanaged to strike a great balance between exploration, survival, and PvP. The varied environments require different kinds of clothing and preparation, and there are various builds and loadouts that players can arm themselves with.
Over time, players have made great advancements when it comes to optimal base building and raiding, as well as just as many countermeasures and defenses. With several events that could happen on the map, the chances of encountering another party are greatly increased, and it is unlikely that one will manage to avoid enemies altogether for long.
