#Best 15 Survival Games for PC in 2023 (Guide, System Requirements)

Survival games challenge players to gather resources, build shelter, and defend themselves against a variety of threats in order to survive in a harsh and unforgiving environment. These games often feature open-world or sandbox gameplay, allowing players to explore their environment and make their own decisions about how to survive. In this list, we have compiled some of the best survival games available for PC. From the prehistoric world of Ark: Survival Evolved to the cold and unforgiving wilderness of The Long Dark, these games offer a wide variety of gameplay experiences for players looking to test their survival skills. Whether you prefer to go it alone in single-player mode or team up with others online, there is a survival game on this list that is sure to satisfy your survival instincts.

1. Ark: Survival Evolved
2. The Long Dark
3. Rust
4. Don’t Starve
5. Subnautica
6. 7 Days to Die
7. Minecraft
8. The Forest
9. Terraria
10. DayZ
11. Fallout 4
12. Dark Souls
13. Ark: Survival of the Fittest
14. Conan Exiles
15. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

Ark: Survival Evolved

Ark: Survival Evolved is a survival game developed and published by Studio Wildcard. The game is set in a world overrun by dinosaurs and tasks players with surviving in this harsh environment by gathering resources, building shelter, and defending themselves against the dinosaurs and other dangers. Ark: Survival Evolved features a variety of gameplay elements, including resource management, crafting, building, and combat, as well as the ability to play in single-player or multiplayer modes. The game is available on PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One.

In Ark: Survival Evolved, players find themselves stranded on a mysterious island teeming with prehistoric creatures. To survive, players must gather resources, craft tools and weapons, and build shelter. The game’s open-world sandbox gameplay allows players to explore the island and make their own decisions about how to survive. Players can choose to go it alone in single-player mode or team up with others online in multiplayer mode.

Minimum System Requirements:

• OS: Windows 7, 8, 10
• Processor: Intel Core i5-2400/AMD FX-8320 or better
• Memory: 8 GB RAM
• Graphics: NVIDIA GTX 670 2GB/AMD Radeon HD 7870 2GB or better
• Storage: 60 GB available space

Recommended System Requirements:

• OS: Windows 7, 8, 10
• Processor: Intel Core i7-4790/AMD FX-9590 or better
• Memory: 16 GB RAM
• Graphics: NVIDIA GTX 980 4GB/AMD Radeon R9 390 4GB or better
• Storage: 60 GB available space

The Long Dark

The Long Dark is a survival game developed and published by Hinterland Studios. The game is set in the aftermath of a geomagnetic disaster that has plunged the world into a long winter, and tasks players with surviving in this harsh environment by gathering resources, building shelter, and defending themselves against the cold and other dangers. The Long Dark features a variety of gameplay elements, including resource management, crafting, building, and combat, as well as the ability to play in single-player or multiplayer modes. The game is available on PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One.

In The Long Dark, players must brave the cold and treacherous wilderness of the Canadian North in order to survive. The game’s open-world sandbox gameplay allows players to explore the vast and snowy landscape and make their own decisions about how to survive. Players must gather resources such as food, water, and shelter in order to survive, and must also defend themselves against the cold, wild animals, and other dangers. The game’s single-player mode offers a challenging and immersive survival experience, while the multiplayer mode allows players to team up with others online and work together to survive.

Minimum System Requirements:

• OS: Windows 7 (64-bit)
• Processor: Intel Core i3-530 or AMD FX-6350
• Memory: 4 GB RAM
• Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 460 or AMD Radeon HD 5870 (1 GB VRAM)
• Storage: 8 GB available space

Recommended System Requirements:

• OS: Windows 10 (64-bit)
• Processor: Intel Core i7-4770K or AMD Ryzen 5 1600
• Memory: 8 GB RAM
• Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970 or AMD Radeon RX 480 (4 GB VRAM)
• Storage: 8 GB available space

Rust

Rust is a survival game developed and published by Facepunch Studios. The game is set in a post-apocalyptic world and tasks players with surviving in this harsh environment by gathering resources, building shelter, and defending themselves against other players and the environment. Rust features a variety of gameplay elements, including resource management, crafting, building, and combat, as well as the ability to play in single-player or multiplayer modes. The game is available on PC.

In Rust, players must gather resources, craft tools and weapons, and build shelter in order to survive in a world where danger lurks around every corner. The game’s open-world sandbox gameplay allows players to explore the vast and rugged landscape and make their own decisions about how to survive. Players must also defend themselves against other players, as well as the environment, which can be just as dangerous as other players. The game’s multiplayer mode allows players to team up with others online and work together to survive, or they can choose to go it alone in single-player mode.

Minimum System Requirements:

• OS: Windows 8.1 64 Bit, Windows 8 64 Bit, Windows 7 64 Bit Service Pack 1, Windows Vista 64 Bit Service Pack 2*
• Processor: Intel Core i5 3470 @ 3.2GHZ (4 CPUs) / AMD X8 FX-8350 @ 4GHZ (8 CPUs)
• Memory: 8 GB RAM
• Graphics: NVIDIA GTX 660 2GB / AMD HD7870 2GB
• Storage: 20 GB available space

Recommended System Requirements:

• OS: Windows 10 64 Bit
• Processor: Intel Core i7-3770 @ 3.5 GHz or AMD FX-9590 @ 4.7 GHz
• Memory: 16 GB RAM
• Graphics: NVIDIA GTX 970 4GB / AMD R9 290 4GB
• Storage: 20 GB available space

*Please note that the game is not officially supported on Windows Vista. While the game may run on Vista, it is not guaranteed and may result in performance issues.

Don’t Starve

Don’t Starve is a survival game developed and published by Klei Entertainment. The game is set in a mysterious and surreal world and tasks players with surviving in this harsh environment by gathering resources, building shelter, and defending themselves against the creatures and other dangers that lurk in the darkness. Don’t Starve features a variety of gameplay elements, including resource management, crafting, building, and combat, as well as the ability to play in single-player or multiplayer modes. The game is available on PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One.

In Don’t Starve, players must gather resources, craft tools and weapons, and build shelter in order to survive in a world full of strange and dangerous creatures. The game’s open-world sandbox gameplay allows players to explore the surreal and mysterious landscape and make their own decisions about how to survive. Players must also defend themselves against the creatures that lurk in the darkness, as well as the various dangers of the world. The game’s single-player mode offers a challenging and immersive survival experience, while the multiplayer mode allows players to team up with others online and work together to survive.

Minimum System Requirements:

• OS: Windows XP
• Processor: 1.7 GHz Dual Core
• Memory: 3 GB RAM
• Graphics: Intel HD Graphics (DX9.0c compatible)
• Storage: 500 MB available space

Recommended System Requirements:

• OS: Windows 7, 8, 8.1, 10
• Processor: 2.0 GHz Quad Core
• Memory: 4 GB RAM
• Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GT 750M or equivalent
• Storage: 500 MB available space

Subnautica

Subnautica is a survival game developed and published by Unknown Worlds Entertainment. The game is set on an alien ocean planet and tasks players with surviving in this underwater environment by gathering resources, building shelter, and defending themselves against the various dangers that lurk beneath the surface. Subnautica features a variety of gameplay elements, including resource management, crafting, building, and combat, as well as the ability to play in single-player mode. The game is available on PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One.

In Subnautica, players must explore the vast and mysterious underwater world in order to survive. The game’s open-world sandbox gameplay allows players to explore the depths of the ocean and make their own decisions about how to survive. Players must gather resources, craft tools and weapons, and build shelter in order to survive, and must also defend themselves against the various dangers that lurk beneath the surface, including predators and environmental hazards. The game’s single-player mode offers a challenging and immersive survival experience.

Minimum System Requirements:

• OS: Windows Vista SP2 or newer, 64-bit
• Processor: Intel Haswell 2 cores / 4 threads @ 2.5Ghz or equivalent
• Memory: 4 GB RAM
• Graphics: Intel HD 4600 or equivalent – This includes most GPUs scoring greater than 950 points in the 3DMark Fire Strike benchmark
• Storage: 20 GB available space

Recommended System Requirements:

• OS: Windows 7 SP1 or newer, 64-bit
• Processor: Intel Haswell 4 cores / 4 threads @ 3.2Ghz or equivalent
• Memory: 8 GB RAM
• Graphics: Nvidia GTX 550 ti or equivalent
• Storage: 20 GB available space

7 Days to Die

7 Days to Die is a survival game developed and published by The Fun Pimps. The game is set in a post-apocalyptic world overrun by zombies and tasks players with surviving in this harsh environment by gathering resources, building shelter, and defending themselves against the zombies and other dangers. 7 Days to Die features a variety of gameplay elements, including resource management, crafting, building, and combat, as well as the ability to play in single-player or multiplayer modes. The game is available on PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One.

In 7 Days to Die, players must gather resources, craft tools and weapons, and build shelter in order to survive in a world overrun by zombies. The game’s open-world sandbox gameplay allows players to explore the vast and dangerous landscape and make their own decisions about how to survive. Players must also defend themselves against the hordes of zombies that roam the land, as well as other dangers such as environmental hazards and other players. The game’s single-player mode offers a challenging and immersive survival experience, while the multiplayer mode allows players to team up with others online and work together to survive.

Minimum System Requirements:

• OS: Windows XP
• Processor: 2.0 GHz Dual Core
• Memory: 3 GB RAM
• Graphics: Nvidia 8800 GT or AMD HD 3870 512MB VRAM
• Storage: 6 GB available space

Recommended System Requirements:

• OS: Windows 7, 8, 10
• Processor: 2.5+ GHz Quad Core
• Memory: 8 GB RAM
• Graphics: Nvidia 460 or AMD Radeon 5870 or higher
• Storage: 6 GB available space

Minecraft

Minecraft is a sandbox survival game developed by Mojang Studios and published by Microsoft. The game is set in a procedurally generated world made up of blocks, and tasks players with surviving in this world by gathering resources, building shelter, and defending themselves against the various dangers that lurk in the darkness. Minecraft features a variety of gameplay elements, including resource management, crafting, building, and combat, as well as the ability to play in single-player or multiplayer modes. The game is available on a wide variety of platforms, including PC, consoles, and mobile devices.

In Minecraft, players must gather resources, craft tools and weapons, and build shelter in order to survive in a world filled with dangers. The game’s open-world sandbox gameplay allows players to explore the vast and blocky landscape and make their own decisions about how to survive. Players must also defend themselves against the various dangers that lurk in the darkness, such as monsters and other players. The game’s single-player mode offers a challenging and immersive survival experience, while the multiplayer mode allows players to team up with others online and work together to survive.

Minimum System Requirements:

• OS: Windows 7 or newer
• Processor: Intel Core i3-3210 3.2 GHz / AMD A8-7600 APU 3.1 GHz or equivalent
• Memory: 2 GB RAM
• Graphics: Intel HD Graphics 4000 (Ivy Bridge) or AMD Radeon R5 series (Kaveri line) with OpenGL 4.4*
• Storage: 1 GB available space

Recommended System Requirements:

• OS: Windows 10
• Processor: Intel Core i5-4690 3.5GHz / AMD A10-7800 APU 3.5 GHz or equivalent
• Memory: 4 GB RAM
• Graphics: GeForce 700 Series or AMD Radeon Rx 200 Series (excluding integrated chipsets) with OpenGL 4.5
• Storage: 4 GB available space

*Minecraft requires a graphics card that supports OpenGL 4.5 or higher. If you have an older graphics card that does not support OpenGL 4.5 or higher, you may experience visual issues while playing Minecraft. These issues can usually be resolved by updating the graphics drivers or by using a different graphics card.

The Forest

The Forest is a survival game developed and published by Endnight Games. The game is set on a mysterious island inhabited by a tribe of cannibalistic mutants, and tasks players with surviving in this harsh environment by gathering resources, building shelter, and defending themselves against the mutants and other dangers. The Forest features a variety of gameplay elements, including resource management, crafting, building, and combat, as well as the ability to play in single-player mode. The game is available on PC.

In The Forest, players must gather resources, craft tools and weapons, and build shelter in order to survive on the mysterious island. The game’s open-world sandbox gameplay allows players to explore the vast and dangerous landscape and make their own decisions about how to survive. Players must also defend themselves against the cannibalistic mutants that roam the island, as well as other dangers such as environmental hazards. The game’s single-player mode offers a challenging and immersive survival experience.

Minimum System Requirements:

• OS: Windows 7 or higher
• Processor: Intel Core i5-2500K / AMD FX-6350
• Memory: 8 GB RAM
• Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 660 / Radeon HD 7870
• Storage: 20 GB available space

Recommended System Requirements:

• OS: Windows 7 or higher
• Processor: Intel Core i7-4770K / AMD Ryzen 5 1600
• Memory: 16 GB RAM
• Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970 / Radeon RX 480
• Storage: 20 GB available space

Terraria

Terraria is a survival game developed and published by Re-Logic. The game is set in a procedurally generated world made up of blocks, and tasks players with surviving in this world by gathering resources, building shelter, and defending themselves against the various dangers that lurk in the darkness. Terraria features a variety of gameplay elements, including resource management, crafting, building, and combat, as well as the ability to play in single-player or multiplayer modes. The game is available on a wide variety of platforms, including PC, consoles, and mobile devices.

In Terraria, players must gather resources, craft tools and weapons, and build shelter in order to survive in a world filled with dangers. The game’s open-world sandbox gameplay allows players to explore the vast and blocky landscape and make their own decisions about how to survive. Players must also defend themselves against the various dangers that lurk in the darkness, such as monsters and other players. The game’s single-player mode offers a challenging and immersive survival experience, while the multiplayer mode allows players to team up with others online and work together to survive.

Minimum System Requirements:

• OS: Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8/8.1, 10
• Processor: 2.0 GHz Pentium 4
• Memory: 1 GB RAM
• Graphics: Direct X 9.0c Compatible Video Card with 32 MB, T&L Capability
• Storage: 200 MB available space

Recommended System Requirements:

• OS: Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8/8.1, 10
• Processor: 2.6 GHz Pentium 4
• Memory: 2 GB RAM
• Graphics: Direct X 9.0c Compatible Video Card with 32 MB, T&L Capability
• Storage: 200 MB available space

DayZ

DayZ is a survival game developed and published by Bohemia Interactive. The game is set in a post-apocalyptic world overrun by zombies and tasks players with surviving in this harsh environment by gathering resources, building shelter, and defending themselves against the zombies and other dangers. DayZ features a variety of gameplay elements, including resource management, crafting, building, and combat, as well as the ability to play in multiplayer mode. The game is available on PC.

In DayZ, players must gather resources, craft tools and weapons, and build shelter in order to survive in a world overrun by zombies. The game’s open-world sandbox gameplay allows players to explore the vast and dangerous landscape and make their own decisions about how to survive. Players must also defend themselves against the hordes of zombies that roam the land, as well as other dangers such as environmental hazards and other players. The game’s multiplayer mode allows players to team up with others online and work together to survive.

Minimum System Requirements:

• OS: Windows 7, 8, 10 (64-bit)
• Processor: Intel Core i5-4430 / AMD FX-6300
• Memory: 6 GB RAM
• Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 760 / AMD Radeon R7 260X (2GB VRAM)
• Storage: 30 GB available space

Recommended System Requirements:

• OS: Windows 7, 8, 10 (64-bit)
• Processor: Intel Core i5-6600K / AMD Ryzen 5 1600
• Memory: 8 GB RAM
• Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970 / AMD Radeon R9 390 (4GB VRAM)
• Storage: 30 GB available space

Fallout 4

Fallout 4 is a survival game developed by Bethesda Game Studios and published by Bethesda Softworks. The game is set in a post-apocalyptic world devastated by nuclear war and tasks players with surviving in this harsh environment by gathering resources, building shelter, and defending themselves against the various dangers that lurk in the wasteland. Fallout 4 features a variety of gameplay elements, including resource management, crafting, building, and combat, as well as the ability to play in single-player mode. The game is available on PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One.

In Fallout 4, players must gather resources, craft tools and weapons, and build shelter in order to survive in the post-apocalyptic wasteland. The game’s open-world sandbox gameplay allows players to explore the vast and dangerous landscape and make their own decisions about how to survive. Players must also defend themselves against the various dangers that lurk in the wasteland, such as mutated creatures and hostile human factions. The game’s single-player mode offers a challenging and immersive survival experience.

Minimum System Requirements:

• OS: Windows 7/8/10 (64-bit OS required)
• Processor: Intel Core i5-2300 2.8 GHz/AMD Phenom II X4 945 3.0 GHz or equivalent
• Memory: 8 GB RAM
• Graphics: NVIDIA GTX 550 Ti 2GB/AMD Radeon HD 7870 2GB or equivalent
• Storage: 30 GB available space

Recommended System Requirements:

• OS: Windows 7/8/10 (64-bit OS required)
• Processor: Intel Core i7 4790 3.6 GHz/AMD FX-9590 4.7 GHz or equivalent
• Memory: 8 GB RAM
• Graphics: NVIDIA GTX 780 3GB/AMD Radeon R9 290X 4GB or equivalent
• Storage: 30 GB available space

Dark Souls

Dark Souls is a survival game developed by FromSoftware and published by Bandai Namco Entertainment. The game is set in a dark and atmospheric fantasy world and tasks players with surviving in this harsh environment by gathering resources, building shelter, and defending themselves against the various dangers that lurk in the darkness. Dark Souls features a variety of gameplay elements, including resource management, crafting, building, and combat, as well as the ability to play in single-player mode. The game is available on PC, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, and Xbox One.

In Dark Souls, players must gather resources, craft tools and weapons, and build shelter in order to survive in a world filled with dangers. The game’s open-world sandbox gameplay allows players to explore the vast and dangerous landscape and make their own decisions about how to survive. Players must also defend themselves against the various dangers that lurk in the darkness, such as monsters and other players. The game’s single-player mode offers a challenging and immersive survival experience.

Minimum System Requirements:

• OS: Windows XP , Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8
• Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo E6850 GHz+ / AMD Phenom II X2 545
• Memory: 2 GB RAM
• Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce 9800 GT/AMD Radeon HD 4870
• DirectX: Version 9.0c
• Storage: 4 GB available space

Recommended System Requirements:

• OS: Windows XP , Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8
• Processor: Intel Core i3 2100 3.1 GHz / AMD A8 3870 3.6 GHz
• Memory: 4 GB RAM
• Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 465 / AMD Radeon HD 6870
• DirectX: Version 9.0c
• Storage: 4 GB available space

Ark: Survival of the Fittest

Ark: Survival of the Fittest is a survival game developed and published by Studio Wildcard. The game is set on a mysterious island inhabited by a variety of prehistoric creatures and tasks players with surviving in this harsh environment by gathering resources, building shelter, and defending themselves against the various dangers that lurk on the island. Ark: Survival of the Fittest features a variety of gameplay elements, including resource management, crafting, building, and combat, as well as the ability to play in multiplayer mode. The game is available on PC.

In Ark: Survival of the Fittest, players must gather resources, craft tools and weapons, and build shelter in order to survive on the mysterious island. The game’s open-world sandbox gameplay allows players to explore the vast and dangerous landscape and make their own decisions about how to survive. Players must also defend themselves against the various dangers that lurk on the island, such as prehistoric creatures and other players. The game’s multiplayer mode allows players to team up with others online and work together to survive.

Minimum System Requirements:

• OS: Windows 7/8.1/10 (64-bit versions)
• Processor: Intel Core i5-2400/AMD FX-8320 or better
• Memory: 8 GB RAM
• Graphics: NVIDIA GTX 670 2GB/AMD Radeon HD 7870 2GB or better
• Storage: 20 GB available space

Recommended System Requirements:

• OS: Windows 7/8.1/10 (64-bit versions)
• Processor: Intel Core i7-4770/AMD FX-8350 or better
• Memory: 16 GB RAM
• Graphics: NVIDIA GTX 980 4GB/AMD Radeon R9 390X 4GB or better
• Storage: 20 GB available space

Conan Exiles

Conan Exiles is a survival game developed and published by Funcom. The game is set in the brutal world of Conan the Barbarian and tasks players with surviving in this harsh environment by gathering resources, building shelter, and defending themselves against the various dangers that lurk in the wilderness. Conan Exiles features a variety of gameplay elements, including resource management, crafting, building, and combat, as well as the ability to play in single-player or multiplayer modes. The game is available on PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One.

In Conan Exiles, players must gather resources, craft tools and weapons, and build shelter in order to survive in the brutal world of Conan the Barbarian. The game’s open-world sandbox gameplay allows players to explore the vast and dangerous landscape and make their own decisions about how to survive. Players must also defend themselves against the various dangers that lurk in the wilderness, such as monsters and other players. The game’s single-player and multiplayer modes offer a challenging and immersive survival experience.

Minimum System Requirements:

• OS: Windows 7 64 Bit/ Windows 8 64 Bit/ Windows 10 64 Bit
• Processor: Intel Quad Core i5-2300 or AMD FX-6300
• Memory: 6 GB RAM
• Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 (1GB) or AMD Radeon HD 7770 (1GB)
• Storage: 35 GB available space

Recommended System Requirements:

• OS: Windows 7 64 Bit/ Windows 8 64 Bit/ Windows 10 64 Bit
• Processor: Intel Quad Core i7-6700K or AMD Ryzen 7 1700X
• Memory: 16 GB RAM
• Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970 (4GB) or AMD Radeon R9 390 (4GB)
• Storage: 35 GB available space

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim is a survival game developed by Bethesda Game Studios and published by Bethesda Softworks. The game is set in a fantasy world filled with mythical creatures and tasks players with surviving in this harsh environment by gathering resources, building shelter, and defending themselves against the various dangers that lurk in the wilderness. Skyrim features a variety of gameplay elements, including resource management, crafting, building, and combat, as well as the ability to play in single-player mode. The game is available on PC, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, and Xbox One.

In Skyrim, players must gather resources, craft tools and weapons, and build shelter in order to survive in a world filled with dangers. The game’s open-world sandbox gameplay allows players to explore the vast and dangerous landscape and make their own decisions about how to survive. Players must also defend themselves against the various dangers that lurk in the wilderness, such as monsters and other players. The game’s single-player mode offers a challenging and immersive survival experience.

Minimum System Requirements:

• OS: Windows 7/Vista/XP PC (32 or 64 bit)
• Processor: Dual Core 2.0GHz or equivalent processor
• Memory: 2 GB RAM
• Graphics: Direct X 9.0c compliant video card with 512 MB of RAM
• Storage: 6 GB available space

Recommended System Requirements:

• OS: Windows 7/Vista/XP PC (32 or 64 bit)
• Processor: Quad-core Intel or AMD CPU
• Memory: 4 GB RAM
• Graphics: Direct X 9.0c compliant video card with 1 GB of RAM (Nvidia GeForce GTX 260 or higher; ATI Radeon 4890 or higher)
• Storage: 6 GB available space

FAQs

Here are some common questions about survival games:

Conclusion

In conclusion, survival games are a popular video game genre that tasks players with surviving in a harsh or hostile environment. These games often have open-world sandbox gameplay, which allows players to explore and make their own decisions about how to survive. Survival games can be played in single-player or multiplayer modes, and offer a challenging and immersive experience for players. Whether you’re looking to gather resources, build shelter, or defend yourself against dangers, survival games offer a variety of gameplay elements that will keep you engaged for hours on end.