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The 25 best survival games to play in 2026

Ranked by a score built from player reviews, critic scores and GAMES.GG ratings, not by opinion. The score updates every week, so a great new game can enter.

GAMES.GG25 gamesHow we rank
#1 by scoreValheimScore 93
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The top 10

Valheim

Valheim

9393% positive · 476,812 Steam reviews2026
Steam 93Critic score 89Popularity 100Steam 93Critic score 89Popularity 100
Raft

Raft

9293% positive · 325,392 Steam reviews2022
Steam 93Popularity 100GAMES.GG 100Steam 93Popularity 100GAMES.GG 100
Palworld

Palworld

9294% positive · 417,862 Steam reviews2026
Steam 94Popularity 100GAMES.GG 83Steam 94Popularity 100GAMES.GG 83
Sons Of The Forest

Sons Of The Forest

8988% positive · 289,007 Steam reviews2024
Steam 88Popularity 100Steam 88Popularity 100
7 Days to Die

7 Days to Die

8987% positive · 275,162 Steam reviews2024
Steam 87Popularity 100GAMES.GG 85Steam 87Popularity 100GAMES.GG 85
Subnautica

Subnautica

8997% positive · 343,949 Steam reviews2018
Steam 97Critic score 87Popularity 100Steam 97Critic score 87Popularity 100
Scrap Mechanic

Scrap Mechanic

8992% positive · 109,942 Steam reviews2026
Steam 92Popularity 87Steam 92Popularity 87
RimWorld

RimWorld

8997% positive · 211,302 Steam reviews2018
Steam 97Critic score 87Popularity 100GAMES.GG 80Steam 97Critic score 87Popularity 100GAMES.GG 80
Subnautica 2

Subnautica 2

8891% positive · 119,245 Steam reviews2026
Steam 91Popularity 89GAMES.GG 80Steam 91Popularity 89GAMES.GG 80
Oxygen Not Included

Oxygen Not Included

8896% positive · 136,275 Steam reviews2019
Steam 96Critic score 85Popularity 92Steam 96Critic score 85Popularity 92

11 to 25

#ScoreGameScore
1187The ForestEndnight Games Ltd87
1287Abiotic FactorDeep Field Games87
1386Days GoneBend Studio86
1485WindroseWindrose Crew85
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#ScoreGameScore
1585S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of ChornobylGSC Game World85
1684Frostpunk11 bit studios84
1783Don't Starve TogetherKlei Entertainment83
1883TerrariaRe-Logic83
1981RustFacepunch Studios81
2081The Alters11 bit studios81
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#ScoreGameScore
2181Grounded 2Obsidian Entertainment81
2280SCUMGamepires80
2380Dune: AwakeningFuncom80
2480Once HumanStarry Studio80
2579StarboundChucklefish79
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How we rank this list

No editor picks this order. Each game gets a score from 0 to 100. The score counts what players say in their Steam reviews, the critic score when the game has one, how many players reviewed it, the GAMES.GG rating and how new the game is. When a game has no critic score or no GAMES.GG rating, that part counts at the middle value of the games on this list, or lower, so a missing part never raises a score. A game needs at least 2,000 Steam reviews to enter. We start from the games in the GAMES.GG catalog that fit the list: 55 games.

Pool
55 games
Updated
Weekly
Games
Top 25
  • Steam reviewsThe share of players who recommend the game. A game with few reviews counts with more care.
  • Critic scoreThe critic score, when the game has one.
  • PopularityHow many players reviewed the game.
  • GAMES.GG ratingOur review score, else the average rating from GAMES.GG players.
  • How new it isNewer games count a little more.

Questions about this list

What is the best survival game right now?

Valheim has the highest score this week. Raft and Palworld follow.

How is the score made?

Each game gets a score from 0 to 100. The score counts what players say in their Steam reviews, the critic score when the game has one, how many players reviewed it, the GAMES.GG rating and how new the game is. When a game has no critic score or no GAMES.GG rating, that part counts at the middle value of the games on this list, or lower, so a missing part never raises a score. A game needs at least 2,000 Steam reviews to enter.

Why is my favourite game not here?

It may not have enough Steam reviews yet, may not carry the genre tag, or may not be in the GAMES.GG catalog. The list updates every week.

How often does this list change?

Every week for scores. New games enter when they pass the review floor.

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