There are countless survival games on the PS5, but not every game is a blockbuster. Some may have players focused too much on crafting. Others may be too story-driven, neglecting the actual survival aspect of things. A good survival game needs to be balanced or at least have a unique element that makes it stand out.
Some of the best survival games on the PS5 force players to go above and beyond to survive. Others feature an engaging story with players having to focus more on management than fighting. Here are the top five survival games that you can play on PS5.
Raft
Raft is set in the ocean and has players fishing, crafting, and building their bases to survive. While the game is essentially following a loop, the engaging story keeps players hooked and wanting more. The setup is a safer feeling than other games of the genre, but rest assured, there are challenges, like sharks and running out of resources.
Players start on a raft but can build a multi-storey setup depending on how well they fare in the game. Co-op can help take the game to the next level. While the concept may seem bare-bones initially, you’ll be surprised by how much you can do in this game.
No Man’s Sky
No Man’s Sky is one of the most extensive survival games because it offers an almost hard-to-believe experience. Players explore the unknown as they go from one planet to another, making note of all the corners of the planets they visit, while collecting unique resources. Of course, things are never easy in these survival games, and some planets have environmental or living hazards that make surviving tough for even the most seasoned veterans of the genre. No Man’s Sky also has spectacular visuals that make the game even more immersive.
If that’s not enough, the game has a dedicated Survival Mode that can make things even more challenging. Arguably, the best thing is that the developer of No Man’s Sky, Hello Games, is constantly adding new features and fixes to ensure the game continues to evolve. From new mechanics to quality-of-life improvements, survival enthusiasts will likely love this love letter to the genre.
The Long Dark
The Long Dark is an engaging survival game that focuses more on exploration than combat. The game follows a linear progression with custom difficulty options and an immersive narrative. Players are thrust into a harsh, frozen Canadian wilderness and must manage their hunger, thirst, energy, and even body temperature to survive.
Players will have to learn to manage resources and make crucial decisions to ensure their survival. Running out of food means starving, and getting stranded in the cold will also lead to a gruesome demise. How you play will decide the outcome of your story. Those who love survival mechanics but also want a definitive ending to their game have to try The Long Dark.
Ark: Survival Ascended
Ark: Survival Ascended is a visually stunning survival game that has players controlling wild creatures and building various things. This survival game stands apart from the rest with its unique taming mechanic. Players form a tribe to lead, all the while taming and breeding hundreds of unique dinosaurs and other primeval creatures. Adding a monster-taming mechanic ensures there’s always something new to see and experience. The game is continuously getting new mods and content, which increases the gameplay and brings in new improvements.
Ark: Survival Ascended doesn’t offer a tutorial, so new players will feel like they’ve just been dropped into a pit. Fortunately, with a bit of effort, finding resources and taming dinosaurs becomes second nature. Unlike most other survival games, there’s also the possibility of becoming a threat yourself. You may start as the prey, but put in enough time and you find yourself at the top of the food chain.
Subnautica
Most survival games focus on players surviving a post-apocalyptic world or even a large island where the player is at the mercy of nature. However, Subnautica does things a little differently. The game sends players to the bottom of the ocean on an alien oceanic planet and lets them explore however they want. From mysterious monsters to dark corridors with deadly traps awaiting you, Subnautica edges into the realm of being a horror game that plays with the concept of delving into the unknown.
While the end goal is to escape from the planet, that’s much easier said than done, as players scramble to survive, craft necessary equipment, and struggle to find the will to continue in what initially seems like an impossible situation. If you have the PS4 version, then you can also upgrade to the PS5 version for free.