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6 TIPS TO THRIVE IN SURVIVAL GAMES

A still from The Long Dark game, featuring an ax-wielding protagonist looking onto the snowy wilderness.
Image via Hinterland Studios

Survival games, with their harsh landscapes and unforgiving environments, plunge players into unforgiving landscapes where resource scarcity is the norm. As a gamer who enjoys the thrill of high-stakes missions, survival games are the perfect way to both challenge and indulge yourself.


Whether you're a seasoned survivor or just stepping into this challenging gaming realm, mastering the art of survival requires a strategic approach. Fear not, for this guide will equip you with all the knowledge you'll need as well as six tried and tested tips to navigate the brutal terrains of survival games, ensuring not just survival but triumph! 


5 Types of Survival Games: Navigating Diverse Gaming Realms

Survival games come in various flavors, each offering a unique blend of challenges and gameplay dynamics. Let's explore five distinct categories of survival gaming to find the one for you.

Let's look into five distinct categories of survival gaming:

  1. Open-World Survival

Open-world survival games provide vast, expansive landscapes for players to explore. They feature dynamic ecosystems, including day-night cycles and realistic weather systems, enhancing the player's immersion. Players must contend with both environmental hazards and hostile creatures while managing resources and crafting tools. 

Examples include: ARK: Survival Evolved, DayZ, and Rust.

  1. Zombie Survival

Zombie-themed survival games immerse players in post-apocalyptic worlds infested with the undead. Survivors must navigate through zombie hordes, scavenge for supplies, and fortify their shelters to endure the constant threat of zombie attacks. 

Examples include: DayZ, State of Decay, and 7 Days to Die.

  1. Isometric Survival RPG

Isometric survival RPGs combine the elements of survival with role-playing game (RPG) mechanics. Players engage in character development, complete quests, and explore a world filled with dangers and mysteries. The isometric perspective adds a unique visual dimension to the gameplay. 

Examples include: Don't Starve, This War of Mine, and Dead State.

  1. Sandbox Survival

Sandbox survival games provide players with open-ended, player-driven experiences. The focus is on player creativity and freedom, allowing them to shape the game world through building, crafting, and interacting with other players. These games typically offer minimal gameplay restrictions, emphasizing player creativity and freedom. 

Examples include: Minecraft, Terraria, and Conan Exiles.

  1. Hardcore Survival Simulations

Hardcore survival simulations push players to their limits with realistic mechanics, emphasizing the need for meticulous planning and attention to detail. These games often incorporate elements such as realistic hunger, thirst, and temperature systems, making survival a complex and immersive experience. 

Examples include: SCUM, Green Hell, and The Long Dark.


A still from the Green Hell game, featuring an injured, knocked down character in a forest.
Image via Creepy Jar

6 Essential Tips for Survival Games

Here are six essential tips to enhance your survival game strategy:


1. Master Resource Management: The Key to Longevity

Effective resource management involves not only understanding the types of resources available but also recognizing their rarity and importance. In survival games, you may encounter various resources, such as food, water, fuel, and building materials. 

Prioritize resources based on their urgency and scarcity. For instance, if you're in an arid environment, water becomes a top priority. Additionally, consider the perishability of certain items and strategize accordingly. Maintaining a balance between consumption and preservation ensures a sustainable supply for the long haul.


2. Crafting Mastery: Turning Scraps into Survival

Crafting in survival games is a dynamic process that requires experimentation and adaptation. Each game may have a unique crafting system, so invest time in understanding the intricacies. Experiment with different combinations of materials to unlock powerful recipes and create essential items. 

Focus your crafting on immediate needs – whether it's crafting weapons for defense or tools for resource gathering. Crafting mastery allows you to turn seemingly mundane materials into powerful tools, providing you with a distinct advantage in the harsh environments of survival games.


3. Adaptability: Embrace Change in Dynamic Environments

Survival games often simulate dynamic, ever-changing environments. Weather patterns, day-night cycles, and unexpected events can significantly impact your survival. Stay vigilant and be ready to adjust your strategies on the fly. 

Adaptability may involve changing your route to avoid hostile creatures, finding alternative shelter during adverse weather conditions, or modifying your crafting priorities based on the resources available in a particular area. Embracing change and adapting your gameplay to evolving conditions is essential for overcoming the unpredictable challenges presented by survival games.


A still from Minecraft.
Image via Mojang Studios

4. Survival Tactics: Stealth, Strategy, and Smart Moves

Survival tactics extend beyond combat skills and involve a combination of stealth, strategy, and intelligent decision-making. Utilize the environment to your advantage – move quietly to avoid attracting attention, use natural cover to hide from predators, and plan your movements to conserve energy. 

Recognize that survival isn't always about direct confrontations; sometimes, strategic evasion or choosing when to stand your ground is the key to long-term survival. Managing your stamina, understanding enemy behaviors, and making smart, calculated moves contribute to a more efficient and effective survival strategy.


5. Community Engagement: Strength in Numbers

In multiplayer survival games, forming alliances and engaging with the in-game community can significantly enhance your survival chances. Join forces with other players to share resources, defend against common threats, and tackle challenges collaboratively. Actively participate in community discussions, contribute to shared goals, and establish a network of allies. 

Community engagement offers a safety net and fosters camaraderie, turning the harsh survival experience into a cooperative and social adventure. The collective strength of a united community becomes a powerful asset in facing the toughest challenges.


6. Continuous Learning: Stay Informed, Stay Alive

Survival games often receive updates, patches, and expansions that introduce new mechanics, features, and challenges. Stay informed about these changes by regularly checking patch notes, following developer blogs, and participating in community forums. Continuous learning ensures adaptability to evolving game dynamics.

Explore new features introduced with each update, experiment with fresh strategies, and stay ahead of the curve. Whether you're a veteran player or a newcomer, the commitment to staying informed is integral to thriving in the ever-changing landscape of survival games.

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