13 Games Like Ark: Survival Evolved
This assembled collection of games like Ark: Survival Evolved features other action-adventure titles with crafting mechanics and a focus on survival in a harsh game environment.
Ark: Survival Evolved (ARK) entered Early Access in 2015 with an eventual 2017 release on console and computer platforms. Played from either a first or third person perspective players step into a world of survivor that is filled with environmental hazards for players to overcome. Including prehistoric animals and dinosaurs ARK offers a unique adventure of eras long past as players acquire resources, construct bases, craft items and fight in solo or multiplayer game modes.
Starting from nothing ARK is a sandbox experience where you can define your own goals and pathway of progression. Regardless of your ultimate goal though players will be able to build farms, research new technology, tame monsters, develop your statistics, create your own tribe with friends and summon mythical creatures. During this adventure you'll also need to manage your food, water and temperature in response to the changing weather and biomes you explore that often require shelter and a fire for survival which is just one of the many hardcore game mechanics that Ark: Survival Evolved offers.
The games like Ark: Survival Evolved placed on this list offer a similar hardcore adventure for various platforms (PC, PlayStation, Xbox) which combine open worlds, multiplayer, animals and in depth crafting into a single experience.
Planet Calypso
Planet Calypso leverages the framework of Entropia Universe to create a science fiction MMO with a wealth of content, mechanics and sizeable community waiting to be explored. Most notably is the adoption of a game currency that is closely tied with real money that provides the potential for players to profit from their activities within the virtual game world. Starting in 2003 as the first planet of Entropia Universe (which now has more than half a dozen planets that offer different gameplay) Pl...[Read Review]
The Long Dark
In The Long Dark players will be taking on the harsh environment of the Canadian wilderness and the threats that lie within across several challenging game modes. Set after a global disaster leaves the world without power players step into the shoes of a crash landed pilot who finds himself surrounded by the cold dark environment of the wild. As one would expect from this setting players will find themselves immersed in first person survival and exploration as you navigate and scavenge from the ...[Read Review]
Rust
Rust is a multiplayer survival game that encourages players to explore, build and survive. With threats coming from other players and the environment you’ll start with nothing as you build up your chances of survival by acquiring resources and equipment. Originally for Windows and Mac Rust has since expanded to the console realm with a PlayStation 4 and Xbox One release in 2021. While Rust began it’s development cycle following the likes of DayZ over the years it has morphed and evol...[Read Review]
Stranded 2
Stranded 2 is a free to play 3D game that challenges you to survive by yourself on an island as you explore and craft to improve your chances of survival. Building on the original Standard game by offering improved graphics, larger islands, additional items and higher levels of randomisation you’ll get plenty of more hours of Stranded gameplay with this sequel. Allowing players to play either through the story mode that gives you goals and objectives to achieve over four islands or the sandbox m...[Read Review]
Miasmata
Miasmata is a unique survival adventure that has you attempting to cure yourself from a deadly disease that has infected your body. The only thing that stands between you and your death is the scientific knowledge that you hold about the plant life that is scattered around your remote island location which requires you to explore and craft your way to a cure. Miasmata is one of the most unique and impressive adventure games released in recent years and even more impressive when you factor in the...[Read Review]
Fallen Earth
Fallen Earth is a MMO that combines FPS and role playing features with its post-apocalyptic game world to deliver an experience akin to the modern games in the Fallout series. Fallen Earth originally launched in 2009 as a paid MMO game before transitioning to a free to play game in 2011, it was later shut down for a temporary 2 year period between October 2019 and October 2021. Fallen Earth is centred around the Grand Canyon area which is now a wasteland after a series of devastating natural eve...[Read Review]
Wurm Online
Wurm Online is a sandbox style MMORPG that has a creative focus allowing you to create your own adventure in a medieval themed world. Players can play Wurm Online with a basic account for free but to remove some restrictions you will have to commit to a subscription based premium account. Following the initial 2012 release a stand alone paid version was launched in 2015 known as Wurm Unlimited gives players the toolkit they need to have their own single player adventure or host a multiplayer ser...[Read Review]
Far Cry Primal
Joining the other Far Cry titles but putting a prehistoric twist on it is Far Cry Primal a title available across Windows, Xbox One and PlayStation 4. Intended to be a spiritual predecessor to the games in the Far Cry franchise you’ll step back in time to take on the role of a hunter in a large world from the past. Not only are you responsible for yourself but also an entire tribe who you will guide with upgrades and crafting to survive the harsh environments. It’s a twist uncharted ...[Read Review]
Infestation: The New Z
Infestation: The New Z offers another iteration on the open world survival genre with close ties to The War Z and Infestation: Survivor Stories games before it to offer a familiar experience in a reset game world. Like these games that predate it players will explore the free to play world as they co-operate with friends and battle through PvP to ultimately survive in the harsh game world. Ignoring the rocky history that this franchise has had with countless development issues and decisions that...[Read Review]
FarSky
Offering a short ocean themed survival game FarSky explores what would happen if your submarine crashing into the bottom of the ocean. Playing as Nathan FarSky challenges players to survive through exploration, crafting and building necessary structures on the ocean floor. While a shorter gameplay loop than other sandbox survival games the randomly generated maps are designed to encourage players to continually challenge themselves with a new adventure. Diving into the ocean depths players will ...[Read Review]
Age of Conan: Unchained
Age of Conan: Unchained (originally Hyborian Adventures) seeks to stand out in the massively multiplayer online genre with a mature game in the same universe of Conan the Barbarian. Being thrown into a brutal and savage game world requires players to maintain their wits while engaging with the usual array of MMO mechanics. Originally a paid title Age of Conan: Unchained is now a free to play adventure for all players to enjoy with a freemium monetisation model. Loosely based on the Conan univers...[Read Review]
Escape from Tarkov
Using a realistic military shooter as its base and adding layers of deadly difficulty is Escape From Tarkov, a title under development by the Russian studio of Battlestate Games. The core premise of Escape From Tarkov has players scavenging instanced maps for resources while avoiding the threats of other players and AI which in turn can be used to improve your own gear to take on greater challenges. Starting development in 2012 Escape From Tarkov was first shown to players through a 2016 alpha a...[Read Review]
No Man’s Sky
Explore the vastness of space in No Man’s Sky, an action-adventure with elements of survival and exploration that lets you explore the galaxy while encountering all sorts of strange life forms. Originally launched in 2016 on PC and PS4 with an Xbox One release in 2018 No Man’s Sky had a rocky launch but with long term commitment from the developer No Man’s Sky has terraformed from a broken promise into a worthy space exploration game. The basis for No Man’s Sky is explora...[Read Review]