Summary
Managing health, thirst, hunger, and many other resources are key mechanics in survival games and are what draw fans in. However, there are many survival games that are made tedious by hoards of enemy mobs with non-stop spawning and a sole desire to ruin everything that’s been built.
Survival game developers have taken note of the distain some fans have for combat and have added options to disable combat — and even created full survival games where combat is completely avoidable. So, whether players want to build an awesome base or just enjoy a cozy game with the survival mechanics they are used to in their favorite games, there are plenty of options available to choose from!
Stranded Deephas a fantastic premise, especially for a survival game, since it basically throws the player on an island after a plane crash with nothing but their wits and will to survive.
Stranded Deephas themechanics that players have come to expect from their survival games. Players will need to manage their thirst and even purify water. However,Stranded Deepdoes not force the player into combat like many other games. Combat can be turned off in the main menu and, while there are enemies and sharks present in the world, they will be passive towards the player.
Raft, as the name implies, throws players on a raft in the middle of the oceanwhere they are completely vulnerable and must find a way to surviveand build a better life. Despite the concept,Raftcan actually turn into a very cozy game to play with friends, and players can build very comfortable and fun living spaces!
WhileRaftdoes not have a focus on combat, there is a shark that will follow the player’s raft and try to bite it. This can basically be negated eventually, though, and is barely a distraction from all the exploration and base building available!
6The Planet Crafter
Basic Survival In Space With Enthralling Terraforming
Many fans ofThe Planet Crafterwill compare it toSubnautica,just in space and with a lot less anxiety and fear added into the mix!The Planet Crafterhas no combat and the main goal of the game is to transform a barren planet into a beautiful utopia fit for human survival.
The survival mechanics inThe Planet Crafterare pretty basic (food, water, oxygen), but they’re vital.The base building and terraforming, however, areThe Planet Crafter’sbread and butter, and the lack of combat turns exploring and crafting into a very cozy, space-based experience.
Oxygen Not Includedisn’t a typical survival game, but itdoes have some standardized mechanics of survival games.Oxygen Not Includedsets the player up managing a colony of clones (that are not the smartest).
WhileOxygen Not Includedhas an emphasis on management and base building, players will also need to manage resources like oxygen, food, and water. No enemies will appear to ravage the colony, but that doesn’t meanOxygen Not Includedwill be a walk in the park!
Subnauticahas made waves since its release and has quickly become one of thebest sci-fi survival games of all time. Combat is far from the main focus inSubnauticaand should be avoided as much as possible.
While combat should be avoided and is far from a main mechanic inSubnautica, there are plenty of absolutely terrifying enemies willing to give chase and make players' nightmares come to life, but killing them doesn’t actually provide any real benefit — you’re encouraged more so toward avoidance, rather than direct conflict.
Sons Of The Forest, like its predecessor, is the typical base-building survival game with all the mechanics that fans of the genre fell in love with.It has a weird story to progress through during the game, but a lot of time will be spent exploring, finding resources to survive, and building a base for protection from the elements.
Sons Of The Forestis also packed with some vicious cannibals and mutants, but the game has a peaceful mode that can be turned on, which will completely remove enemies from the game. This allows players to experience pure survival, exploration, and base building without having to worry about base destruction or death.
The Long Darkis one of the most isolating survival games that fans of the genre can experience. Thegame is set in a post-apocalyptic wilderness— a frozen wasteland that pits its players against nature itself.
The Long Darkis extremely difficult, no matter how it’s looked at. However, players can turn on easy mode for passive wildlife that won’t attack (unless the player attacks first), and custom settings can be turned on to allow for passive wildlife — along with a more difficult experience in general.
Green Hellis one of the most in-depth and realistic survival games available, and — while in easy mode — players don’t have to worry about randomly being attacked by enemies or wildlife (unless they accidentally step on a rattlesnake).
Green Helladds a ton of depth to typical survival mechanics. Players don’t simply manage hunger; they manage protein, carb, fat, and water intake. They must manage each pouch of their backpack, from tools to food. Overall,Green Hellis a game about hardcore survival and exploration, so even with combat turned off in easy mode, the game feels very immersive and deeply rewarding.
