The Greatest Survival Games On Xbox Game Pass
Survival games are a divisive genre. While there are certainly some lukewarm fans, most people either love or hate this gaming experience. The mixed reactions come from the features that define these titles. Huge open worlds, a little direction, lack of a proper goal, logical crafting, hard-to-find resources, and most importantly, the risk that you could lose it all isn’t appealing to everyone. Others love the rush it provides, though.
RELATED: Minecraft: Top Survival Games Servers
Fortunately for fans of this genre, there’s more and more innovation in this style, so now there are hybrid versions that try to take what’s best about survival games and graft it onto other game styles. With the variety in this genre, players with Xbox Game Pass have access to some great survival games, including a few of the best.
Updated January 28, 2023, By Ben Jessey: Xbox Game Pass is a service containing a litany of impressive games from all genres. For example, there is a bunch of fantastic titles for fans of survival games. And we put plenty of great ones on this list.
However, Xbox Game Pass is in a constant state of flux, meaning its collection of titles is constantly changing. As a result, this list can sometimes become out-of-date. This is why we did this update to add a few new titles and get rid of the ones that left the service.
18 Vampire Survivors
Vampire Survivors is an original and simple survival game. You’re placed onto a plot of land, and a ridiculous number of enemies are thrown at you. So much so that it’s also considered a bullet hell game. Your only goal is to survive the onslaught as long as you can.
It doesn’t have an array of deep mechanics like many other survival titles, but it doesn’t need them. The various weapons and upgrades, along with the pure fun of surviving, are enough to keep the game interesting for many hours.
17 Stranded Deep
Things start badly for the playable character in Stranded Deep as they get into a plane crash.
They manage to survive, but they’re now stranded in the middle of the Pacific Ocean with very few supplies. So, it’s the perfect beginning to a survival game.
To stay alive, you need to manage your hunger, thirst, and general well-being. While doing that, you must gather resources to build rafts, tools, and shelters. Therefore, it’s a very pure survival title. The way it separates itself from others in the genre is by putting a lot of focus on traveling across the ocean. This comes with its own dangers, as several deadly creatures are swimming around.
16 Maneater
In Maneater, you play as a shark swimming around the ocean. Your goal is to get bigger and more deadly by hunting down other aquatic creatures. You can also mess with some humans in the process. From that premise, it doesn’t really sound like a survival game since you are controlling a ruthless predator.
However, you aren’t the biggest and meanest creature in the ocean. There are also several apex predators in the water, ready to kill you on sight.
On top of that, if you anger the humans too much, some of them will attack. Thus, you’re both predator and prey in this game.
15 Dead By Daylight
Whether or not Dead By Daylight is a survival game depends on what team you’re on. After all, this is an asymmetric multiplayer game where one person plays as the killer while everyone else controls the survivors.
As their name suggests, the role of the killer is to go around murdering everyone. If they all die, the killer wins. As the survivors, you aim to open up the exit or find another way to escape. It is essentially a highly violent game of cat-and-mouse.
14 This War Of Mine: Final Cut
This War of Mine is a unique war-themed game because you don’t play as a soldier on the front lines or a special ops member. Instead, you control a group of civilians who are trying to survive during this difficult time.
They’re all hiding inside a damaged building, hoping to avoid the conflict. You must keep them safe by maintaining their hunger and health while keeping their mood as high as possible.
To do that, you need to scavenge for items and supplies, making the stakes of your survival just as high as theirs.
13 7 Days To Die
There are many ways to perish in 7 Days To Die, such as through starvation or dying of thirst. Not to mention, multiple things can make your downfall quicker, like harsh weather, dysentery, and injury.
RELATED: 7 Days To Die: Pro Tips And Tricks
However, the biggest threat to your health in this title is, of course, the zombies. These monsters continually roam the game’s open world and will attack you on sight. To make matters worse, they get stronger with each passing day. But you can craft bases to hide in and tools to help defend yourself. Plus, you can bring in some friends to help out, as the game supports multiplayer.
12 The Long Dark
In The Long Dark, you must survive the harsh Canadian wilderness. So, that means withstanding freezing temperatures and plenty of wolf attacks. On top of that, you must try to avoid starving to death.
These things are present in both the story mode and the separate sandbox survival mode.
Speaking of the story, it’s a surprisingly well-told multi-episode narrative. The plot isn’t usually the focus of these types of games, but this one is compelling, mainly due to the stellar voice-acting and beautiful art style. As for the sandbox mode, it provides more of a traditional survival game experience.
11 Conan Exiles
As you may expect from its title, Conan Exiles takes place in the Conan The Barbarian world. You don’t play as the titular character, though. Instead, you control an exile who begins with nothing.
You must use what resources you can gather to avoid dying of hunger or thirst. To make matters worse, the open world is filled with dangerous creatures that will kill you if they get the chance. Plus, if you’re playing on an online server, you must watch out for bloodthirsty players. So, there are dangers all around, which is what you expect with a survival game.
10 Grounded
Have you ever wondered what it’s like to be the size of an ant? Well, Grounded helps feed that curiosity. You play as a shrunken human who must survive in a backyard with plenty of bugs and other creatures. They all share their own purpose, with some being more useful than others.
The spiders, for instance, are definitely not helpful as their goal is to kill you. And if you aren’t fond of spiders, don’t worry, as the game includes an Arachnophobia Safe Mode, where you can change how the creatures look. While dealing with those beasts, you must eat and drink to stay alive.
9 No Man’s Sky
It’s fair to say that No Man’s Sky had a difficult launch. But after several updates, the game has become a more polished and fascinating adventure. In it, you get the freedom to explore a bunch of procedurally generated planets, where you find materials that help you build up your gear.
RELATED: The Best City Building Games Of All Time
However, it’s not as peaceful as it sounds, as these planets aren’t all devoid of life.
There is usually something around that’s trying to kill you. And it would be best if you used your wits and whatever equipment you have to survive the attacks while making the planet as habitable as possible.
8 Frostpunk
Frostpunk differs from many other games in the genre because you’re not just looking after yourself or a small team. Instead, you must manage an entire city of people whose world has been destroyed due to global cooling.
Along with being a survival game, it’s a city simulator where you have to manage resources and your people. In the process, you must make some difficult judgment calls that aren’t always going to make you well-liked among the population. But sometimes, the unpopular choice will help keep people alive in the long run.
7 Minecraft
While Minecraft is certainly not the first entry into the genre, it led the charge for the current generation of survival games. Here you have all the elements you expect of this sort of title in their starkest, blockiest form.
With no real goal and virtually unlimited space and resources, you can build whatever you want, assuming you can survive the hazards of wandering Mobs, including the iconic creepers.
Many Minecraft players get trauma flashbacks at the sound of sizzling bacon, thanks to those stealthy, exploding beasts. The game has limitations, but it’s still amusing and perfect for family time with your little crafters.
6 Terraria
Terraria grew directly out of the excitement for Minecraft, making some similar concessions in terms of a block universe. However, Terraria limits the world significantly by making it a two-dimensional, pixelated setup.
It makes up for this limitation by giving you an even more comprehensive array of monsters to fight. There are several epic bosses and powerful waves of outrageous enemies you can summon by crafting magic items. There are also plenty of well-developed NPCs that you can trade with. They also sometimes give you scraps of information and quests—another very fun one for family play.
5 Medieval Dynasty
Medieval Dynasty is a fantastic blend of multiple genres, bringing aspects of survival, simulation, and strategy under one roof, making for unique and interesting gameplay. While not perfect, Medieval Dynasty delivers an unforgettable experience, placing you directly in the middle ages, forcing you to hunt, farm, and maintain a village for survival.
If you’re looking for something that shakes up the survival formula, this may be what you’re looking for, as it has enough of the survival identity present but stretches its legs far beyond what you would expect. Living your day-to-day life out will be tense, rewarding, and exhilarating, but it can also be frustrating if you don’t know what you’re getting yourself into.
4 Astroneer
Astroneer is a very pure survival game. With neither time limits nor set goals, you wander the worlds of your solar system, collecting resources that enable you to research and build ever more complex technologies.
While there are no animals in this game, only plants, that doesn’t mean you’re free from threats. Not only can the flora kill you with poison, explosions, and impaling spines, but it’s easy to get lost, especially if you wander into caves. And a missing Astroneer usually runs out of air and dies.
State of Decay 2 is a post-apocalyptic zombie horror survival game. What makes it different from many others is that you are not a lone survivor. Instead, you have to work together with other people who have managed to avoid being eaten by the undead (not other players, but NPCs in the game). You must utilize their skills and build your own base to hold against the onslaught of the wandering zombie hordes.
RELATED: State Of Decay 2: The Best Skills
This game can be bloody, but it’s bloody fun, too. And the team-based ethos gives this game an uplifting core that contrasts sharply with the gruesome setting and grueling challenges.
2 Ark: Survival Evolved
Ark’s subtitle is not just a sales conceit.
It accurately describes what this game did to the survival genre. Plopped down nearly naked in a world full of dinosaurs, it’s tough to hold your own. Dilophosaurs may be small, but they are vicious, and you’ll die many times before you learn how to craft the weapons and tools necessary to fend them off.
As you gain skills, though, the challenge makes this game very satisfying when you start learning to construct shelters, transportation, and train dinosaurs. You can really rule the land from the back of a Baryonyx.
1 DayZ
Unlike most games on this list, DayZ is a survival game that is online only, forcing you to explore the world with the hopes, or fear, of running into other players trying to survive. The rush of running into someone and not knowing their plans can be incredibly daunting to many, which is understandable, but we strongly urge fans of the genre to attempt this unique experience at least once.
Additionally, DayZ has a relatively robust modding community, and a large gathering in general, allowing you to easily meet like-minded players, setting you up for nearly endless hours of enjoyment.
There’s nothing like DayZ out there, and there’s no questioning where its success game from, as trying to survive amongst zombies and real players is inherently terrifying and engaging.
NEXT: Best Split-Screen Multiplayer Games On Xbox One, Ranked
21 Best Xbox One Survival Games
Table of Contents[Hide][Show]
- #21 Endling: Extinction is Forever
- #20 Valheim
- #19 Grounded
- #18 We Happy Few
- #17 Fallout 4 Survival Mode
- #16 DayZ
- #15 ARK: Survival Evolved
- #14 Chernobylite
- #13 State of Decay 2
- #12 Conan Exiles
- #11 The Flame in the Flood
- #10 7 Days to Die
- #9 Don’t Starve
- #8 Green Hell
- #7 The Long Dark
- #6 Astroneer
- #5 This War of Mine
- #4 No Man’s Sky
- #3 Minecraft
- #2 Subnautica
- #1 Subnautica: Below Zero
Looking for a challenge? Survival games will task you with gathering resources, maintaining your vital signs, crafting useful items, and attempting to survive the elements.
The survival genre is constantly growing, and if you own an Xbox One, there are plenty of excellent titles to grab today. We’ve chosen some of our picks for the best Xbox One survival games, spanning different difficulties and genres. There’s something for every kind of fan below.
#21 Endling: Extinction is Forever
Release Date: 19 Jul 2022 | Platform: PC, PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Switch
Camera: Third Person
Multiplayer: No
Co-op: (Local: No | Online: No)
Genre: Adventure, Atmospheric, Indie, Survival, Exploration
Steam | Playstation | Xbox | Nintendo
Endling: Extinction is Forever is an indie survival game that puts players into the role of a young mother fox. In this game, the Earth is filled with the hostilities of humankind. With resources dwindling down and forests being cleared for new construction, animals are in grave danger. Here players are controlling a mother fox as she takes care of her litter. Use stealth to sneak around the environments, make use of shelters to rest, and teach your pups how to survive when they take off on their own.
#20 Valheim
Release Date: February 02, 2021 | Platform: PC
Camera: Third Person
Multiplayer: Yes
Co-op: (Local: No | Online: 10)
Genre: Sandbox, survival
Steam
Valheim is a survival game that gained massive praise from fans upon release. Players are taking the role of a recently deceased Viking tossed into Valheim. This is where Vikings venture into hopes of proving themselves fit to enter Valhalla. Since this is a survival game, a focus here is gathering resources, crafting weapons, and tools, building bases and crafting up farms. Meanwhile, you’ll find Odin’s sworn enemies lurking around the world, seeking your demise. Currently, this game is available to pick up right now through early access on Steam or as a game preview through Xbox Game Pass. But we can expect this game to launch on Xbox console platforms within 2023, so keep an eye out for this survival title.
#19 Grounded
Release Date: 27 Sep 2022 | Platform: PC, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One
Camera: First Person
Multiplayer: No
Co-op: (Local: No | Online: 4)
Genre: Survival, Base Building, Open World, Crafting, Adventure
Steam | Xbox
Grounded is a game that many will love…not only is this world a dangerous place but you are now the size of an ant.
A tiny ant. It is now up to you to try and survive this land in the backyard…be careful and see how long you can survive.
#18 We Happy Few
Release Date: 10 Aug 2018 | Platform: PC, PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One
Camera: First Person
Multiplayer: No
Co-op: (Local: No | Online: No)
Genre: Adventure, Open World, Action, Survival, Indie
PC | Xbox | PlayStation
We Happy Few places players in an alternative timeline in Europe where citizens are forced to consume a daily drug, blinding them from the harsh realities of the world. The game’s narrative follows protagonists who have refused to take the drug, allowing them to see the corruption and horror surrounding them. As they venture out to solve their own mysteries, they’ll have to carefully stay under the radar to avoid bringing unwanted attention.
Going about this game will require players to avoid battles when possible–otherwise, there’s a chance of being overrun and in a need of a quick way to remove yourself from the public eye.
Likewise, you’ll need to keep your vitals up along the way which could mean finding something to feast on when possible.
#17 Fallout 4 Survival Mode
Release Date: 10 Nov 2015 | Platform: PC, PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One
Camera: First Person
Multiplayer: No
Co-op: (Local: No | Online: No)
Genre: Open World, Post Apocalyptic, RPG, Adventure, Shooter
PC | Xbox | PlayStation
A game that you might have missed out on for its survival gameplay is Fallout 4. While the main game also features some of these aspects, there’s a dedicated Survival mode featured within the game that provides a real challenge. This mode can be triggered before starting a new game and can’t be toggled within the settings after already starting a new game. There are several changes that make the game a bit more difficult, whether it’s adding weight to ammunition, no fast traveling, more damage, being subject to fatigue, and having no option to quick save. Instead, the only way to save the game is to sleep in a bed.
#16 DayZ
Release Date: 13 Dec 2018 | Platform: PC, PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One
Camera: First Person
Multiplayer: Yes
Co-op: (Local: No | Online: 4)
Genre: Survival, Zombies, Open World, FPS, Action
PC | Xbox | PlayStation
DayZ first started as a mod for the ARMA 2: Operation Arrowhead, which later inspired developers to give it a standalone release. Players are tasked with surviving a fictional post-Soviet Republic during the zombie pandemic.
Starting out, players have practically nothing and it’s up to them to scavenge items from around the map. The game focuses on human interaction, and players can either join forces or attempt to kill each other. (The fun part is trying to figure out whether you’re in danger before it’s too late.) DayZ had a bit of a rocky release but it’s managed to make a decent comeback.
#15 ARK: Survival Evolved
Release Date: 27 Aug 2017 | Platform: PC, PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Switch
Camera: First Person
Multiplayer: No
Co-op: (Local: No | Online: 4)
Genre: Open World, Survival, Crafting, Adventure, Action
PC | Xbox | PlayStation | Nintendo
ARK: Survival Evolved might offer the most unique spin on dinosaurs in this entire list, with the game taking place in a breathtaking original universe with harsh environments and even harsher wildlife.
It’s easy to compare Studio Wildcard’s survival game gameplay to Minecraft, as players learn to hunt and gather the resources necessary to deal with the world around them. While Ark: Survival Evolved does share much in common when it comes to its systems and crafting mechanics, the playground it takes place in couldn’t be more different. What Ark lacks in polish it makes up for with interesting creatures, interactivity, and a foundation that encourages experimentation.
#14 Chernobylite
Release Date: 28 Jul 2021 | Platform: PC, PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One
Camera: First Person
Multiplayer: No
Co-op: (Local: No | Online: No)
Genre: Post Apocalyptic, Horror, Survival, RPG, Sci-Fi
PC | Xbox | PlayStation
Chernobylite might just be the most immersive entry on this list. The Farm 51’s first-person survival game is dripping with tension and horror, taking place in a 3D-scanned version of Chornobyl’s Exclusion Zone.
If walking through a twisted version of an infamous nuclear powerplant doesn’t pull you in, maybe the game’s RPG elements and the non-linear story will. Either way, there’s not much like being dropped into the world of Chernobylite.
Release Date: 13 Mar 2020 | Platform: PC, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One
Camera: Third Person
Multiplayer: No
Co-op: (Local: No | Online: 4)
Genre: Survival, Open World, Zombies, Base Building, Action
PC | Xbox
State of Decay mixes everything we love about survival horror with the realism of having to travel with chaotic people that you can’t control. The game is set in an open-world environment and allows you to play as different characters in order to take advantage of their different characteristics and skills in order to survive. You can play cooperatively with your friends to build shelters and gather resources to fight against hoards of zombies through the unique day and night cycles. There are also vehicles you could drive but it’s important to note that they do require gas and can be damaged when running over zombies or smashing into obstacles.
#12 Conan Exiles
Release Date: 8 May 2018 | Platform: PC, PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One
Camera: Third Person
Multiplayer: Yes
Co-op: (Local: No | Online: 10)
Genre: Survival, Open World, Building, Crafting, RPG
PC | Xbox | PlayStation
Conan Exiles is an open-world survival game set within the world of Conan the Barbarian, but the story won’t follow the title character himself. instead, players will create their own unique protagonist. From the start of the game, players will find that their character has been sentenced to death by crucifixion under the blazing sun. As you lay waiting for death, Conan comes by and rescues your character leaving players to navigate the harsh and unforgiving world.
Now labeled as an outcast, players will have to roam the wasteland where the weak are killed. You’ll find that in order to stay alive, you’ll need to gather resources, craft goods, and dominate fights in a world filled with enemies.
You’ll learn early on that players will have the stamina to watch out for along with thirst and hunger.
#11 The Flame in the Flood
Release Date: 24 Feb 2016 | Platform: PC, PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Switch
Camera: Third Person
Multiplayer: No
Co-op: (Local: No | Online: No)
Genre: Survival, Adventure, Indie, Open World, Strategy
PC | Xbox | PlayStation | Nintendo
The Flame in the Flood is a roguelike survival adventure game that follows a young girl named Scout who is traveling down a river after a flood destroys most of humanity. Being a roguelike survival game, players will want to aim for progressing through the game without dying–otherwise, they will lose precious equipment and valuables. However, there is a checkpoint system, so instead of starting completely over and attempting to regain resources, players can choose to start from a previous checkpoint.
#10 7 Days to Die
Release Date: 14 Dec 2013 | Platform: PC, PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One
Camera: First Person
Multiplayer: Yes
Co-op: (Local: No | Online: 8)
Genre: Survival, Zombies, Open World, Sandbox, FPS
PC | Xbox | PlayStation
7 Days to Die is a popular zombie game from developers The Fun Pimps.
The game takes place after a world war that caused much of the planet to be wiped out due to nuclear weaponry. Exposed to the radiation, a large majority of humans became mindless zombies leaving the remaining few survivors to scavenge for survival. Much like other zombie survival games, this is a wave-based title where players will need to seek out shelter, food, and water.
There’s quite a bit of crafting in this game and as the title suggests, players only have a week to prepare their settlement. At the end of the week, a horde of zombies will come to raid your area. If you survive the night, you’re able to once again go out and gather supplies, refortify your base, and even make some useful upgrades. This game also comes with the added benefit of cooperative gameplay, allowing players to build a base up with friends and prepare for the fight ahead. It may seem like a theme for this list, but players will once again find that this title is also stuck in early access.
#9 Don’t Starve
Release Date: 23 Apr 2013 | Platform: PC, PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Switch
Camera: Third Person
Multiplayer: No
Co-op: (Local: No | Online: No)
Genre: Survival, Open World, Crafting, 2D, Sandbox
PC | Xbox | PlayStation | Nintendo
In Don’t Starve, players are dropped into a dark and dreary world with little instruction about what to do.
Players control a scientist named Wilson as he survives through the night with monsters and supernatural enemies hot on his tail. Throughout the game, players will have to search and scavenge the world during the day to gather supplies from firewood to food to survive nightfall. This survival game received a standalone expansion called Don’t Starve Together not long after the game was released. The gameplay remains the same, but multiplayer support has been added. Have fun with a friend or a random player online!
#8 Green Hell
Release Date: 5 Sep 2019 | Platform: PC, PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Switch
Camera: First Person
Multiplayer: No
Co-op: (Local: No | Online: 4)
Genre: Open World, Survival, Crafting, Adventure, Exploration
PC | Xbox | PlayStation | Nintendo
Green Hell is a survival game set in the Amazon rainforest. Players take the role of Jake Higgins, an anthropologist that awakens on the Amazon River. Knowing that his wife, Mia, had gone missing when attempting to contact the indigenous people, Jake seeks answers.
However, being alone in the Amazon Rainforest is extremely dangerous. You’ll have to work on navigating through the forest, gathering details, and ensuring your vitals are up. You may not only deal with a lack of food and water, but being in the Rainforest could mean stumbling upon poisonous animals. Likewise, if you’re not addressing your wounds or getting enough sleep, it’s easy for Jake to start hallucinating.
#7 The Long Dark
Release Date: 1 Aug 2017 | Platform: PC, PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Switch
Camera: First Person
Multiplayer: No
Co-op: (Local: No | Online: No)
Genre: Survival, Open World, Survival, Adventure, Horror
PC | Xbox | PlayStation | Nintendo
The Long Dark is unlike any other game on this list. Drenched in atmosphere and an overwhelming feeling of isolation, Hinterland Studios’ first-person exploration game puts the player against the cold, asking them to do whatever it takes to survive. Living with the aftermath of a geomagnetic disaster is only half the battle, as you’ll soon learn the importance of endurance in an environment that’s truly out to get you.
#6 Astroneer
Release Date: 16 Decc 2016 | Platform: PC, PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Switch
Camera: Third Person
Multiplayer: No
Co-op: (Local: No | Online: 4)
Genre: Open World, Survival, Crafting, Exploration, Sandbox
PC | Xbox | PlayStation | Nintendo
Within Astroneer, there’s no storyline or set end goal. Instead, the game asks players to build, craft, and simply survive the harsh elements of the world. Players take on the role of an astronaut who navigates a world that can be shared freely. The game allows crafting and exploration through the use of various vehicles. However, the open-world environment can be troublesome for our protagonist which ultimately means players will need to keep a sharp eye on their surroundings. To keep your protagonist alive, players will need to gather resources such as fuel to power the spacecraft along with a healthy stockpile of oxygen reserve tanks.
#5 This War of Mine
Release Date: 14 Nov 2014 | Platform: PC, PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Switch
Camera: Third Person
Multiplayer: No
Co-op: (Local: No | Online: No)
Genre: Survival, Crafting, War, Atmospheric, Indie
PC | Xbox | PlayStation | Nintendo
This War of Mine is a very different game compared to the other titles on this list.
In this game, players control a group of survivors caught in a city under siege. When we think of war games, we’re usually in the perspective of a soldier going into battle against evil forces. In this game, players are not soldiers, but everyday individuals who are attempting to survive the harsh realities of wartime.
Players will find that it’s too dangerous to leave their building during the day. This means going out at night to find resources. Overall, you’re attempting to keep your group alive and well, but you’ll soon find out that there will be some extremely difficult decisions that you’ll have to make. Morals will be put in question as you seek out goods and keep those in your care safe.
#4 No Man’s Sky
Release Date: 12 Aug 2016 | Platform: PC, PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Switch
Camera: First Person, Third Person
Multiplayer: Yes
Co-op: (Local: No | Online: 32)
Genre: Open World, Survival, Crafting, Space, Exploration
PC | Xbox | PlayStation | Nintendo
One of the “it got better over time” games on this list, No Man’s Sky is a fine example of a team making good on its promise.
What started off as a relatively simple and bare-bones space sim has finally gone on to be something much, much bigger.
Cruising through space, building your own spaceport, or leading expositions on different planets have never been more seamless, thanks to massively improved loading times. Heaps of content, including mech suits and more ship options, not to mention multiplayer, make No Man’s Sky a much more improved experience than its hollow launch in 2016.
#3 Minecraft
Release Date: | Platform: PC, PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Switch
Camera: First Person
Multiplayer: No
Co-op: (Local: No | Online: 8)
Genre: Sandbox, First Person, MMO, Adventure, Crafting
PC | Xbox | PlayStation | Nintendo
You’ve heard of Minecraft. A global phenomenon, endless worlds can be created and explored, making for quite a fun and relaxing gameplay experience. The main focus of this game is to explore and thrive in a world filled with friendly critters, NPCs, and monsters.
When you start a game, you’ll need to build, harvest, hunt, and maintain your health along with your hunger. Meanwhile, you’ll have the ability to explore and find great spots to start building up a base.
It’s all about progression, getting a system established to keep resources up, improving your base, and obtaining better tools to make the overall experience a bit more seamless. Of course, if you don’t want to go through the game as a survival experience, there is a creative mode option that gives players the ability to freely create without the fear of losing a life, progression, or precious items. This game does offer the ability to allow up to four players in a local co-op. Online, you can work with up to eight players.
#2 Subnautica
Release Date: 23 Jan 2018 | Platform: PC, PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Switch
Camera: First Person
Multiplayer: No
Co-op: (Local: No | Online: No)
Genre: Open World, Survival, Crafting, Horror, Adventure
PC | Xbox | PlayStation | Nintendo
Subnautica is an alien ocean survival game full of beautiful (and sometimes dangerous) alien wildlife to interact with.
The playable character’s ship is shot out of orbit by a mysterious pulse gun. As the only survivor of the crash, he has to explore and survive his new underwater environment. Meanwhile, there is a larger plot taking place. Another alien race is attempting to cure a plague in their community by harvesting the eggs of a huge and ancient alien creature called the Sea Emperor. Communicating telepathically with her, he attempts to find her and set her free.
This first-person perspective survival game has multiple modes of difficulty. In survival mode, you have to manage your thirst, hunger, oxygen, and health, but if you die, you respawn. However, in hardcore mode, there’s no coming back, and in creative mode, life is an absolute breeze! You can just build things and explore without worrying about health and thirst, etc. The open-world format is really cool too. While there is an overarching plotline, most of the game is you exploring and gathering resources. Considering the beautiful underwater world, there is so much to explore.
Plus, you get to catalog and interact with the alien wildlife!
#1 Subnautica: Below Zero
Release Date: 14 May 2021 | Platform: PC, PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Switch
Camera: First Person
Multiplayer: No
Co-op: (Local: No | Online: No)
Genre: Open World, Survival, Underwater, Exploration. Horror
PC | Xbox | PlayStation | Nintendo
Open-world and survival games go hand in hand, and while there are many to pick from, Subnautica: Below Zero easily takes a spot on our list. What better way to show off the depth of the Xbox’s power than by showing off the depth of the sea?
Subnautica: Below Zero, a sequel to 2018’s debut, is more of the same–but better. Stranded on another planet, players will have to build bases and scavenge resources to survive both harsh climates and harsher monsters. There’s a lot to take in, as you start off with very little, but in time, you’ll be building Seaquest-worthy operating bases. It’s tough, like the weather conditions you face, but so worth it when it all comes together.
Best Xbox One Survival Games — Top Survival Games List on Xbox One
46
According to playing rating
from high to low to high
on the release date of
, at first, the old
rating
from high to low
in alphabetical
A-ZZZ -A
Maid of Sker
Nintendo Switch, PC, PS4, Xbox One
Adventure, Survival, Horror
Daymare 1994: Sandcastle
PC, PS4, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series
TPS, Survival, Horror
Onimusha PS: Warlords
, Nintendo, PS, Switch4 Xbox, Xbox One
TPS, Action, Survival, Hack And Slash
Tormented Souls
Nintendo Switch, PC, PS4, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series
Survival, Horror
The Walking Dead: The Final Season
Nintendo Switch , PC, PS4, Xbox One
Adventure, Action, Survival, Interactive
Outlast: Whistleblower
PC, PS4, Xbox One
FPS, Adventure, Action, Survival, Horror
Sheltered
Android, Linux, Mac, Nintendo Switch, PC , PS4, Xbox One
RPG, Strategy, Action, Survival
The Long Dark
Linux, Mac, PC, PS4, Xbox One
Adventure, Action, Simulation, Survival
The Final Station
Linux, Mac, Nintendo Switch, PC, PS4, Xbox One
Adventure, action, platformer, survival
Subterran
PC, PS4, Xbox One
FPS, Action, Survival, Arcade, Horror
Dinos Reborn
PS4, Xbox One
Advent Kona II: Brume
Nintendo Switch, PC, PS4, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series
Adventure, Survival
Resident Evil: Revelations 2 — Episode 1: Penal Colony
PC, PS3, PS4, Xbox One
TPS, Action, Survival
Arctic Awakening
PC, PS4, Xbox One
Adventure, Survival
Path of Titans
Android, iOS, PC, PS4, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series
RPG, MMO, Survival
1
2
.
..
4
more
TOP 11 best survival games for Xbox One
Have you ever wondered how long you will last in the desert without everything?
A survival game is a game in which the player must stay alive for as long as possible in unpredictable conditions. Everything that is available is used — food, housing and the creation of the necessary tools. «Staying Alive» is not just a BeeGees song. The night is full of darkness and terror, so stay close to the light as we round up the best survival games currently on Xbox One.
11. Resident Evil 7: Biohazard
Resounding success, Resident Evil returns to Xbox One, this time set in the fictional town of Dalvey, Louisiana. Moving away from the events of the global infection, Biohazard is transferred back to the house, as it was in the first part of the game Resident Evil from Capcom.
The player acts in first person. Lurking around an abandoned plantation house, will you live long enough to solve the mystery of the twisted Baker family?
Near the hostile bio-organic creature Ooze, the most eagle-eyed players can find things that can shake off a broken shotgun. Those who are less curious may well find themselves in a situation where ammo and heals are scarce and item combos are an absolute must.
First-person view makes you squirm in your chair and tremble in fear as the action takes place right in front of your face. Moments of temporary inactivity are perfect for calming nerves before the next big fight. Everything you loved about the original series is back in the modern era for current generation consoles. Featuring incredible photorealistic graphical environments and a storyline that sees concepts from some of the Resident Evil offshoots making their way into the main series.
10. Astroneer
Set during the space gold rush, you will land on procedurally generated planets and suck the earth dry for valuables.
Changing the climatic conditions of the landscape and using the materials you find will allow your little astronaut to build his base on the planet. And then dismantle it to sell rare materials.
Vibrant, random worlds have their own biomes and areas with their own resources and are littered with research opportunities. There are few monsters and they are far apart, which makes Astroneer is an adorable survival exploration game where low oxygen levels will be the only threat. Updates are made constantly, the team is actively working on developing and adding new content and game mechanics. If you’ve been looking for something like No Man’s Sky for Xbox One, then this game should be your first choice. Astroneer is available on Xbox Play Anywhere, allowing you to purchase it once and play it on any compatible Microsoft device.
9. ARK: Survival Evolved
In most survival games, there is always some kind of aggressor that you must defend against.
Regardless, the giant, carnivorous dinosaurs of ARK: Survival Evolved will pit you against prehistoric, and your own, horror. If you are not yet suffering from hunger or broken bones, perhaps a pervasive and persistent illness will hinder your efforts? By the way, the only way to recover is to go to the northern part of the island and fight incredibly strong and hostile animals. Good luck with this.
Survive with your friends — create or join clans that can help you build bases to work with, shared clan XP helps you level up so you have access to better items. Or go solo, leaving safety behind, and discover the secrets of the island on your own. Updates have fixed framerate lag, and the Scorched Earth DLC will add more monsters and areas to survive.
8. Don’t Starve: Giant Edition
If Tim Burton’s hand-drawn style and slowing down the loss of your sanity are high on your «things to like» list, then » Do not Starve » prepared a treat for you.
Unlock many characters with their unique skills to explore and survive the coming night. Will you be the Zombie Pigmen on a full moon, or would you rather take your chances with the giant Deerclops? Build Doo-dads and Whatsits, create the most fashionable mustache and stay alive while nibbling on the petals. Who would have thought going crazy would be so…dark?
The Shipwrecked DLC offers additional content: monsters, crafting items, places to go and things to ward off hunger — all on a deserted island. Have you ever eaten slime from a rock? It’s really good this time of year. The problems grow as you try to survive, perhaps by the end you will be begging for madness. The game is available as a bundle with DLC, or they can be purchased separately through the Xbox Store.
7. The Flame in the Flood
On foot or on a raft, you and your dog embark on a perilous journey together through the desolate American wilderness.
Thermally processed areas contain precious resources that can be found for the production of food, tools and medicines. Beautifully sad hand-drawn style and an original soundtrack complete this incredible story.
Scout and her dog companion Aesop are trying to find out why everyone left the flooded lands? But a calm river can instantly turn into rapids and drown — this is a very real threat. Touching and thought provoking The Flame in the Flood will test your survival skills and patience. This trip deserves attention.
6. How to Survive: Storm Warning Edition
Seven small archipelago islands, survival guide and zombies. Lots of zombies. You will have to create weapons and seek shelter while trying to repel hordes of zombies and rabid animals.
Choose from a wide range of blunt weapons to protect yourself and keep your basic human needs in check or you’ll get hurt.
5. Subnautica
Landing in an ocean world, Subnautica is one of the few games that gives you the ability to make reasonably complete instruments right from the start. The only problem is extracting the resources to build these tools. You are not Jacques Cousteau and exploring the vast oceanic alien world will be difficult without creating things to keep you alive. Build and nurture underwater habitats or watch Leviathan swim through glass walls.
The Xbox Preview Program is currently adding updates all the time. Over the past year, we’ve seen big changes to the small details of the game, the removal of some features like the ability to warp alien environments, and the addition of crash and planet landing information.
Now we have a plot. You’re not the only one who crashed on the planet, but where are the others?
Different sea biomes give up different resources that you will need to create Sea Moths to reach the deep ocean. You need to build a deep sea base so you can explore what lies below. Cyclops will lower you to the depth where you have not yet found other people’s artifacts.
Subnautica is still developing, but you will surely feel in love with this alien world, hook, string and sinker.
4. Minecraft: Xbox One Edition
Minecraft may look like a poorly made game without a character, but you’re wrong! Break through wood, craft tools, and find a safe place before dark, because when the sun goes down, hostile monsters appear.
Create a farm and shelter so that no monsters can reach you. Or delve into the very depths of the earth for rare materials to create the best weapons and armor. With the addition of PVP arenas and (hopefully sometime soon for Xbox One) Realms, Minecraft suddenly has more action than ever before.
Constantly updated with new features and crafting items, the sky is no longer your limit, only your imagination. You can import saves from your Xbox 360 game and download textures and character skins to customize your game. Want to make your world look like it’s all made of candy while you frolic like Doctor Who? Now you can.
3. Fallout 4 — Survival Mode
Including this may be a bit of a cheat, but Fallout 4’s Survival Mode raises the difficulty of the game.
The introduction of diseases requires the use of antibiotics, there is no longer a quick travel option, and healing in beds in less than seven hours does not heal HP. This is truly the most brutal survival experience. Healing items have less effect and may even cause you pain. Ammunition has weight, and carrying weight for you and your companions has been reduced. With all this and more, the odds are heavily stacked against you.
Winner of over fifty Game of the Year awards, Fallout 4 is Bethesda’s most ambitious game yet. By also supporting free mods, you can tailor your experience the way you want it. Nuclear war destroyed the world. It’s time to rebuild and the fate of the Wasteland is in your hands.
2. We Happy Few
Have you ever wondered why everyone in England in the 1960s was groovy and good-natured, and just too cheerful? If this pseudo-alternate reality « We Happy Few » has all of this, it’s only because all the people were taking mind-altering drugs.
Blinded by the grim reality, society entrenched itself in well-intentioned and relatively meaningful denial until a small group decided to stop taking their pills. You must blend in with the citizens of retro-futuristic London, where not taking your lucky pills is cause for alarm.
As the newest addition to the Preview games list, there are still issues to be worked out, but We Happy Few will hopefully continue to shape and deliver an already very compelling world and theme.
1. 7 Days to Die
This horror zombie survival game has it all, including tower defense mechanics, a first-person perspective, and…zombies. Build a fortress to protect yourself from the undead (or other players), repair and repair clothes and tools, mine and explore.
