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.

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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. From Open World survival games to Battle Royales, there is no shortage of games to test oneself and see if one could make it in such an unforgiving scenario.

8 Fortnite

Average Daily Player Count: Roughly 30,000,000

Fortnite has absolutely skyrocketed in popularity since 2017 for many different reasons. From fantastic release timing to 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.

7 Conan Exiles

Average Daily Player Count: 7,793

Conan Exiles has 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.

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Survival games that also embrace Medieval trappings tend to be even more immersive, as their mechanics align perfectly with Medieval lifestyles.

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 of Conan.

6 Minecraft PvP servers

Average Daily Player Count: 10,000,000

Minecraft is one of the oldest survival games on the market and has pioneered 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.

5 DayZ

Average Daily Player Count: 40,000

DayZ has 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.

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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.

4 PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds

Average Daily Player Count: 300,000

PUBG remains one of the most 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.

3 Escape from Tarkov

Average Daily Player Count: 130,000

Escape from Tarkov took 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.

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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.

2 ARK: Survival Evolved

Average Daily Player Count: 30,000

ARK: Survival Evolved took the familiar formula of survival games and made it their own with the introduction of dinosaurs. 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.

1 Rust

Average Daily Player Count: 82,000.

Rust managed 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.

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