Sharpen your axe, fill your canteen, and make sure you pack some emergency rations: 2024 is shaping up to be an excellent year for survival games. Not only are there a lot of them coming in the near future, they all look substantially different from one another.
Do you want to explore a fantasy realm shrouded by a life-sapping mist, hunt for artifacts in an irradiated exclusion zone, or fight creatures that have been twisted by an alien virus? If mobile bases are your thing, how about driving a station wagon through a forest filled with deadly anomalies or piloting a rolling base over an alien planet while surrounded by duplicates of yourself? Pick your poison, because 2024 has the survival game you’re looking for.
That’s great because 2023 wasn’t a particularly stellar year for the survival genre. There were some big hits like Sons of the Forest and Lego Fortnite, and at least one major disaster: The Day Before. Not to mention a bunch of delays pushed a half-dozen big survival games from last year into this year.
But just like in a survival game, let’s keep our eyes on the horizon. Here are the survival games in 2024 we’re most excited about.
In addition to city builder Frostpunk 2, 11 bit studios has another survival game launching this year and it looks downright fascinating. In The Alters you’re Jan, the lone survivor of a crash on an alien planet, and you must summon duplicates of yourself if you want to survive. But these aren’t mere clones — each version of Jan has different traits and backgrounds, suggesting a multiverse or possibly even time travel. Did we mention Jan’s base is a giant wheel that rolls across the planet trying to avoid the sun’s radiation? We can’t wait to learn more about this game.
Trapped in a nightmarish exclusion zone filled with dangerous environmental and mechanical anomalies, hunt for resources and soup up your rusty old station wagon with sci-fi gizmos. The demo had great driving, excellent tinkering, and plenty of scares and mysteries. We’re eager for the full game in February.
You’ve been through Black Mesa as hero Gordon Freeman, but what about the rest of those science nerds you left behind? Abiotic Factor is survival crafting game for 1-6 players set in a massive science facility overrun by aliens, monsters, and bloodthirsty soldiers. Your job: do enough science to survive. It looks hilarious and brilliant.
With a flexible voxel-based building system, an expansive and mysterious world, and support for up to 16 players in co-op, Enshrouded looks like it could scratch the same itch as Valheim. It also goes pretty light on some traditional survival systems: cooking food is to provide you with buffs, but you won’t starve if you don’t eat. We won’t be surprised if Enshrouded is the first big hit of 2024.
It’s been a long wait and there have been a number of delays, but we may finally be getting close to playing Stalker 2, for real this time. From what we’ve seen so far the world looks bleak and gorgeous in the Unreal Engine, and there are plenty of familiar friends returning (like those hideous blooduckers). We can’t wait to return to the exclusion zone for more gripping, punishing first-person survival.
The Earth has been transformed by an apocalyptic event, and now people, plants, and animals are all twisted and mutated by some sort of alien entity. Explore the freakish world, build bases, and fight monsters — some of them look extraordinarily big — in survival action game Once Human, which looks like Rust meets Stalker with a bit of The Division thrown in for good measure.
Despite several delays, gaslamp fantasy Nightingale continues to look strange and promising. Trapped in a fae realm you’ll need to craft gear, build bases, deal with fantastic creatures (not always violently), and travel to other dimensions to collect rare resources.
There are more promising survival games coming out this year, and a few we don’t yet know the dates for.
2024 is already shaping up to be an exciting year for survival games, offering players a diverse range of settings and gameplay experiences. Whether it’s surviving on alien planets, exploring fantasy realms, or navigating irradiated zones, there’s something for everyone. From The Alters’ intriguing concept of summoning duplicates of yourself to Pacific Drive’s nightmarish exclusion zone and Enshrouded’s expansive co-op world, these games promise thrilling adventures and unique challenges.
While 2023 may not have been a standout year for survival games, 2024 is set to compensate with a lineup that is sure to captivate gamers. With highly anticipated titles such as The Alters, Pacific Drive, Abiotic Factor, Enshrouded, Stalker 2, Once Human, and Nightingale, players will have no shortage of immersive and compelling survival experiences. These games offer not only visually stunning worlds but also innovative gameplay mechanics that push the boundaries of the genre.
Developed by 11 bit studios, The Alters presents an intriguing story of survival on an alien planet, where players must summon duplicates of themselves with unique traits and backgrounds. The game’s giant rolling wheel base adds an additional layer of challenge as players navigate the planet’s radiation-filled environment. The Alters promises to be a game that keeps players on the edge of their seats.
Ironwood Studios’ Pacific Drive takes players on a thrilling journey through a nightmarish exclusion zone. Armed with a rusty station wagon, players must scavenge for resources and tinker with various sci-fi gadgets to survive. The game’s driving mechanics, mysterious anomalies, and immersive atmosphere make it a standout in the survival genre.
Abiotic Factor, developed by Deep Field Games, offers a unique twist on the survival crafting experience. Set in a science facility infested with aliens, monsters, and soldiers, players must immerse themselves in scientific exploration to stay alive. The game’s blend of humor and intense gameplay promises an entertaining and captivating experience.
Enshrouded, created by Keen Games, allows players to explore an expansive voxel-based world with up to 16 players in co-op. The game’s flexible building system and emphasis on teamwork make it reminiscent of the popular survival game Valheim. With its visually stunning world and innovative mechanics, Enshrouded is poised to become a hit in 2024.
Fans of the Stalker series will finally get their hands on Stalker 2 in 2024. Developed by GSC Game World, the game offers a gripping and punishing first-person survival experience set in a bleak and atmospheric world. With stunning visuals and familiar adversaries, Stalker 2 is sure to captivate both newcomers and long-time fans of the franchise.
Once Human, a survival action game developed by Starry Studio, transports players to an apocalyptic world where everything has been twisted and mutated. As players build bases and fight off monstrous creatures, they will uncover the mysteries of this unique and horrifying landscape. With its combination of survival mechanics and intense combat, Once Human promises an unforgettable gaming experience.
Nightingale, developed by Inflexion Games, introduces players to a gaslamp fantasy world filled with captivating creatures and enchanting realms. As players craft gear, build bases, and navigate through a topsy-turvy fae realm, Nightingale offers a unique Victorian-era survival experience unlike any other.
These are just a few of the survival games to look forward to in 2024. With a variety of exciting titles on the horizon, gamers will have no shortage of thrilling adventures and challenges to overcome. So sharpen your skills, gather your gear, and get ready to survive in some of the most captivating virtual worlds ever created.
