Best Survival Strategy Games, Ranked

Both the survival and strategy genres have seen a rapid increase in popularity over the last decade, with many games merging the two formulas to create a new hybrid genre. Combining elements from city-building and base-management games with the intense survival mechanics often present in other games, these titles provide players with a unique experience of having to care for large groups of soldiers, settlers, or other characters. At the same time, the player must operate as chief strategist or governor in the game’s scenario.

In addition to researching new technologies and constructing vast cities, these games share a particular emphasis on the physical and psychological needs of their inhabitants. This adds a whole new dimension of gameplay for players to deal with. Set in a diverse range of settings, each of the following games exemplify the best features, as well as the potential, of the genre as a whole.

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7 Last Train Home

A Punishing Experience In A Unique Historical Setting

Set in the early days of the formation of Czechoslovakia, Last Train Home sees players take command of a squad of soldiers as they seek to make their way west and avoid living under the tyrannical Soviet regime. In addition to solid RTS combat focused around specific character traits, players will also have to maintain and repair the locomotive itself. This adds an immersive level of gameplay which brings players into the historical setting.

As far as survival-strategy games go, it is a tough one. Characters can experience permadeath and fail the game in many possible ways. This feels appropriate given the bleak historical setting, which is rarely explored and offers players a highly unique experience and insight into European history.

6 New Cycle

A Post-Apocalyptic Strategy Game With An Industrial Aesthetic

• Developer: Core Engage
• Publisher: Daedelic Entertainment
• Platform(s): PC

In the wake of an apocalypse brought about by a solar flare, New Cycle lets players create a city from the ashes as humanity continues to survive. Much like the Anno series, the main objective here is the production of resources and the maintenance of the settlement. Players will also experience a variety of story scenarios in the Campaign game mode.

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Visually, the game has an interesting Mad Max-inspired art style, with constructions that look believable and hand-crafted for their chosen setting. Despite still being in early access for the moment, it is a very polished game. Players can expect even more content to be added along with future improvements to this title.

5 Dawn Of Man

Explore Early Human Society

With a unique approach to the survival/city-building genre, Madruga Works’ Dawn of Man takes players back to the Stone Age. Players must hunt and scavenge for resources, advancing their small civilization over time. From hunting wooly mammoths and fending off wolves to creating farms, watchtowers, and fully-functioning water mills, few strategy games offer the sense of progression that players will notice here.

There are many threats for players to deal with, ranging from harsh weather conditions and starvation, to enemy bandits and wild animals. The game is relatively slow-paced, even for a survival-strategy title. It is perfect for both casual and hardcore players who are seeking something new in the genre.

4 Stranded: Alien Dawn

This Visually Stunning City-Builder Challenges Players

Haemimont Games’ Stranded: Alien Dawn is one of the more unique survival-strategy games around. It blends elements of city builders and management sims with a stunning sci-fi world complete with aliens, mechs, and all kinds of futuristic innovations.

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The main focus of the game is on base building and advancing technology. But in addition, there is a heavy element of character management. Psychology and interpersonal relations play a central role. There are plenty of scenarios for players to choose from, as well as DLC content to enhance the experience further with robot companions.

3 Rimworld

A 2D Survival Sim With Emphasis On Individual Characters

Rimworld is one of the most popular games in the survival-strategy genre, and for good reason. With procedurally generated stories and scenarios, no two players will have the same experience with this game. As well as managing a continual flow of crises threatening the lives of the characters, players can also construct various buildings and farmland, so that their colonists can thrive.

In addition to managing food consumption and the individual needs of each character, players will also have to battle against the many threats and harmful elements that are sure to rear their heads sooner or later. A highly unique 2D experience with a pixel-art style, Rimworld is a great entry into the more ‘hardcore’ end of the survival-strategy spectrum.

2 Frostpunk

An Iconic City-Builder In An Extreme Weather Scenario

Bit Studios’ Frontpunk is an immersive social-survival game in which players govern a post-apocalyptic city in lethal frozen conditions. Players must manage the heat and resources of the settlement, as well as deal with a variety of interesting scenarios and dilemmas that are introduced along the way.

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This gritty survival experience has a unique sense of struggle and human spirit associated with it. Finding a way to prosper can be a real challenge. As well as being one of the best visual colony sims, it also provides lots of interesting gameplay mechanics for players to enjoy. A sequel, Frontpunk 2, is expected to release later in 2024.

1 Surviving Mars

The Perfect Mix Of Survival, Strategy, And Resource Management

Another title developed by Haemimont Games, this time in conjunction with Abstraction and Paradox Interactive, Surviving Mars was a true pioneer in the genre when it released in 2018. It offers players a huge depth of mechanics as they go from constructing buildings and pipelines with the help of automated robots, to managing a fully-fledged colony of martial settlers.

While there are many appealing features about Surviving Mars, chief among them is the emphasis on realism and plausibility. While some designs and innovations may be entirely fictional, many of the game-world’s designs have been drawn from real technology propositions when it comes to settling Mars. With a range of DLC available, as well as similar titles Surviving The Apocalypse and Surviving The Abyss, there is plenty to enjoy in this strategy-survival series.

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