Best PS4 Survival Games

Rust Console Edition (PS4)

It’s rough around the edges, but Rust Console Edition’s persistent online gameplay systems make it unlike anything else on this list. This is a game where you start out stranded on a beach with nothing, but if you can survive assaults from other players you can gradually build a safehouse to work out of. This will persist on any server even after you turn off the game, but it can be raided and looted by industrious opponents while you’re away. A unique experience that doesn’t feel particularly polished on PS4 but is extremely addictive.

For more information, read our Rust Console Edition PS4 review.

Minecraft (PS4)

Minecraft may not be the most obvious survival game from its appearance, but this is a release where you start out stranded in a colossus, unexplored world and must gather resources in order to construct a safehouse and begin building tools and weapons. The loop sees you largely safe during the day, but Creepers come out at night, so you’ll need to work fast in order to ensure your safety when the sun comes down. The best thing about this game compared to others on the list is that its vibrant presentation makes it appealing to players of all ages, where the survival genre tends to focus primarily on horror.

For more information, read our Minecraft PS4 review.

Song in the Smoke (PS4)

Left to fend for yourself in the hostile wilderness, Song in the Smoke takes familiar survival mechanics and ups the intensity by plunging you into a deserted world using PSVR. You’ll need to build clothes and equipment, and pay close attention to the environment in order to hunt and tame your prey.

The Long Dark (PS4)

More of a survival simulation than many of the other games on this list, The Long Dark incorporates body temperature and wind chill to create a survival experience unlike others. While you will need to pay attention to threats from the local wildlife, this open world excursion set within the Canadian wilderness emphasises your ongoing battle against the elements, and even features an episodic story mode for those who demand a bit more narrative in their endurance adventure.

For more information, read our The Long Dark PS4 review.

Stranded Deep (PS4)

Harsh, hostile worlds are the backdrop of choice for most survival games, but Stranded Deep plumps up for an idyllic island under the baking sun. Of course, given that you’ve crash-landed, you’re going to have to contend with many of the most basic human needs: thirst, hunger, and flesh-eating sharks.

The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners (PS4)

A PSVR exclusive where you must survive the undead infested city of New Orleans. The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners is a survival game where you must persist against all odds, scavenging for supplies in a hostile location, while taking on missions from various survivors in order to earn caches of valuable resources. As this game is designed for virtual reality, its immersion is unparalleled, and with new content to expand the experience, this is one of the deeper PSVR titles you can buy.

Don't Starve (PS4)

In terms of presentation, Don’t Starve is a little different to the other games on this list: it has a hand-drawn art style, and is presented from a top-down perspective. However, many of the same survival principles remain: you need to collect resources in order to sustain yourself in a hostile world. The loop is a little more geared towards short play sessions than some of the other releases on this list, so it can make for a great time filler despite its high level of difficulty.

For more information, read our Don't Starve PS4 review.

Subnautica: Below Zero (PS4)

The ocean is a vast unexplored expanse, and it’s the backdrop for Subnautica and its frigid follow-up, Subnautica: Below Zero. Despite taking place beneath the ocean, many familiar survival mechanics feature here, as you gather resources to gradually delve deeper into the unknown. With a vibrant aesthetic and a foreboding underwater world, this is a different type of survival game that manages to feel fresh despite its surface similarities.

For more information, read our Subnautica: Below Zero PS5 review.

The Forest (PS4)

One of the most popular survival games on this list, The Forest sees you hunkering down in a terrifying landscape, where you’ll be confronted by a clan of mutants. The twist is that the peninsula’s cannibalistic tribe may not immediately appear aggressive, and will even try to communicate with you, raising questions of morality as well as survival.

For more information, read our The Forest PS4 review.

No Man's Sky (PS4)

Most survival games focus on the Earth, but in No Man’s Sky you’ll find yourself navigating the universe, procedurally generated planets and discovering new species – both ferocious and friendly. You’ll need to pay special attention to your stock of resources, ensuring you always have enough oxygen and fuel to get about. You’ll also need to trade with local inhabitants, in order to expand your arsenal of equipment and even fleet.

For more information, read our No Man's Sky PS5 review.