In an attempt to make the experience as immersive as possible, many developers will base their survival games in a 3D setting where they can create a believable setting for the player to explore as they try to stay alive. While there are definitely a lot of benefits to setting a game within a 3D realm, survival games can still be just as fun, and sometimes, even more engaging and enjoyable when set in a charming 2D visual art style too,
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In fact, some of the most beloved and challenging survival games are top-down 2D titles that still feature all the classic mechanics that have become prominent within the genre, such as health, thirst, and hunger meters. While it may initially seem like it would be harder for a 2D world to be as interesting or expansive as its 3D counterparts, developers have still found a few clever ways to create some truly fascinating settings that will still provide a fair test of the players' survival instincts.
5 Cataclysm: Dark Days Ahead
No Score Available
- Release Date: February 26, 2013
- Developer: Kevin Granade & Community
- Platforms: PC, iOS
The world of Cataclysm has been devastated by natural disasters, war, and hordes of undead zombies, with almost the entire population being completely wiped out as a result. While the game does include a few roguelite and RPG elements to add a sense of progression to the gameplay, the main objective is simply to survive in a world that only becomes more dangerous as time passes.
Finding food and shelter becomes ever more difficult as the zombie enemies begin to take over the environment, so players are encouraged to explore as much as possible upon spawning in. The game features a unique glitchy 2D-pixel aesthetic that grants the player a nice and clear view of their surroundings, ensuring they don't just walk into a horde of enemies without knowing what they're about to get themselves into.
4 The Survivalists
Metascore: 76
- Release Date: October 9, 2020
- Developer: Team 17, Mouldy Toof Studios
- Platforms: PC, Xbox Series S & X, PlayStation 5, Switch
Players can team up with three of their friends to try and endure the many dangers that they will come across in The Survivalists, a beautiful 2D game that features a massive world full of quirky and unique items and enemies to uncover. Admittedly though, because of just how many resources are out there, it can take quite a while for players to gather all of them by hand themselves, which is why they are encouraged to gain some monkey allies to help them along their journey.
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Every monkey in this game runs on a "mimic" system, meaning that they will perform certain actions depending on what the player wants them to do, whether that be building, hunting for supplies, or even fighting other monsters. The addition of the monkeys does admittedly make the game a lot easier and more casual than the usual survival experience, but it also grants players the freedom to build their own unique base without needing to worry as much about dying unexpectedly from disease or hunger. Of course, hunting for food and seeking out water to drink is still crucially important, but doing so can be made much simpler thanks to the monkeys, making the game a lot more accessible as a result.
3 NEO Scavenger
Metascore: 77
- Release Date: December 15, 2014
- Developer: Blue Bottle Games
- Platforms: PC, iOS, Android
Created by former Bioware employee Daniel Fedor, NEO Scavenger is a brutal and extremely in-depth 2D survival game that provides an incredibly unforgiving experience in its gameplay, but this is ultimately what has made it so popular among fans of the genre. The game follows a turn system where the player will be able to move, attack, and interact with their surroundings a certain number of times before their turn ends, but since every action causes the character to become more fatigued, it means that stocking up on supplies is absolutely essential.
If players manage to find themselves in a harsh climate, or if they consume food or water that might be contaminated, they will put their character at risk of catching a disease that can be cured through very specific methods. However, since the game lacks tutorials and tries its best not to aid the player, it encourages them to think outside the box of ways that they can use their tools and equipment to survive until the next day. While the intense difficulty might not be for everyone, survival buffs who are looking for a new game to jump into should definitely check out NEO Scavenger.
2 Forsaken Isle
No Score Available
- Release Date: February 6, 2015
- Developer: Smoodles
- Platforms: PC
Upon booting up Forsaken Isle for the first time, players will find themselves stranded on a deserted island that initially seems to be completely abandoned, but as they explore further and search their surroundings for supplies and resources, they'll soon realize that they're far from alone. Not only is the island packed with terrifying monsters such as creepy skeletons and eerie Wraith ghosts, but there are also a few human tribes who aren't shy about antagonizing the player if they need some supplies of their own.
The captivating pixel art style is complimented by the vibrant and colorful aesthetic of the island itself, with the multiple biomes providing a nice change of scenery so that the setting never becomes predictable or boring to look at. What has also made the game so enticing to many people is its accessibility, since while it does include the signature hunger bar which will deplete health over time, the world is also fairly generous with its item drops, making it difficult to ever be too far away from a quick snack. Pair this with a very intricate crafting system, and it all results in an incredibly fun survival title that really benefits from its bright and beautiful 2D art style.
1 UnReal World
Metacritic User Score: 7.9
- Release Date: 1992 (Initial)
- Developer: Sami Maaranen & Erkka Lehmus
- Platforms: PC
It's pretty common nowadays for games to receive updates over the course of a few months or years when the developers intend to expand them and add new content, but UnReal World takes this concept to a whole new level. Originally released in 1992, it wasn't until 1996 that the game received its now signature survival mechanics in the form of an update. After several more updates, the game was only considered to be finished in 2009, eventually becoming what many consider to be one of the most complex and challenging survival games out there.
While players will be given the choice of their culture and occupation upon starting a game, they will then be free to explore the country of Finland in all its glory, but it's important not to get distracted by the stunning visuals, as there are enemies hiding around almost every corner. Luckily, since virtually everything in the world can be interacted with, it means that it's pretty easy to acquire resources and supplies to craft weapons, shelter, and more importantly than anything else, some warm clothes to make expeditions much safer and more bearable in the ice-cold climate.