What are the best Xbox survival games? When it comes to survival games on Microsoft’s platform, there’s a lot to choose from. From gritty zombie games, to eclectic creature-catching experiences, to massive sandbox titles, there’s a surprising amount of variety among the best Xbox survival games.
If you’re into base-building, managing resources, or just enjoy the thrill of trying stay alive in some extremely harsh environments, the best survival games can deliver all that and more. Some of these titles are so good and so popular that they can confidently be regarded as some of the best Xbox games right now, regardless of genre. So, let’s take a look at our favorite survival games.
Here are the best Xbox survival games:
1. Palworld
Palworld might look completely bonkers (and believe us, it is), but it’s undeniably one of the best Xbox survival games. This Pokémon-with-guns phenomenon blew up overnight and for good reason. By cleverly mixing Pokémon’s cute creature-catching mechanics with survival game features like resource gathering, crafting, and base building, developer Pocketpair has made a unique survival game.
If you’re looking for a great time with friends, then you can’t go wrong with Palworld. You’ll begin by making your character before being set loose in its sprawling open world where you can hunt, tame, chop, and mine your way to the top of the food chain.
The best news? Palworld is also available through Game Pass, making it one of the best Xbox Game Pass games too.
2. Subnautica: Below Zero
Subnautica: Below Zero is the sequel to the already-excellent 2018 original, and developer Unknown Worlds Entertainment has optimized this one for Xbox Series X|S which means you can play Subnautica in beautiful 4K resolution.
In between scavenging, hunting, and battling sea life, there’s one solid feature of Subnautica constantly hanging over you – your oxygen level. The ‘hold your breath’ mechanics of most games that limit your time underwater can be stressful at the best of times – now imagine it looming over you constantly.
Throw in a day and night cycle that turns you into the prey of the ocean at night, and some deep (no pun intended) base building, and you’ve got yourself an epic survival game.
3. Valheim
After an incredibly successful launch on PC, Valheim has made its way to Xbox consoles and it is just as good. With an expanding, procedurally-generated world to explore, everything on offer in the PC version, and more updates to come there is easily enough here to absorb weeks and months of your time.
As you explore, build up your bases, expand your arsenal, and defeat bosses, you will uncover new secrets. All of this can be done with friends or alone to offer an experience that best suits you.
So, if you are a big survival head, then this is one for you.
4. State of Decay 2
State of Decay 2 might be an Xbox One game – and it does look like one at times – but it’s just as good today as it was when it launched back in 2018.
As one of the best zombie games, be prepared to fight tooth and nail against the undead horde. However, it’s not your average walker fare. No, State of Decay puts stakes at the forefront. As you explore to scavenge valuable supplies, scout areas, and complete missions to upgrade your base of operations, you’ll be putting your life at risk. If you die, you’ll lose that character for good and have to venture back out as another of your survivors to grab their valuables. Even better, you can even come across your zombified pal.
Packing co-op and several DLCs, there’s a lot to sink your teeth into in State of Decay 2. When you do, you’ll become eager for the State of Decay 3 release date to arrive, just like we are.
5. Frostpunk
Frostpunk is unlike any other survival game you’ve played. Unlike the competition, Frostpunk takes a more managerial role in the survival genre, weaving survival elements with a strategy game to gripping results.
Set in a harsh, frozen world, heat and resources are paramount. You have to keep the last city going in the face of overwhelming cold and a society on the brink of collapse. With the odds always against you, your every mode decides the fate of humanity. So, make laws, build structures, and allocate your resources very carefully.
6. Rust
How do you feel about being stripped butt naked and left with nothing but a torch and a rock to your name? Well, that’s the reality you face in Rust, a huge sandbox adventure that’ll pit you against a server full of trigger-happy players.
Here you’ll need to gather resources, make friends, and build (and raid) settlements in order to survive. If you last a night without being raided, then you’ve done your job well.
Rust has been a huge hit with livestreamers and content creators due to the hilarious moments it can create – especially when proximity chat is involved. While there is some serious survival gameplay, you’re never too far away from a laugh either.
7. Minecraft
We can’t have the best Xbox survival games guide without this blocky adventure game, can we? Minecraft can be played in countless ways these days, but if you’re looking for a classic survival experience, the sandbox offers plenty of modes to cater to just that.
You likely know the rules by now, but Minecraft is all about breaking blocks to build better tools to break even stronger blocks to, ultimately, build the coolest house of your dreams. You can define ‘house’ however you’d like, it could be a castle, a theme park, or a modest dirt hut if your priorities are elsewhere. After all, there are also bosses to beat and temples to plunder.
With several difficulty options and a charming aesthetic, Minecraft is also great for all ages.
You can find the best Minecraft survival servers right here.
8. Conan Exiles
If you’re looking for a quintessential sandbox survival game, look no further than Conan Exiles. This Funcom game is optimized for next-gen consoles and has enjoyed swathes of updates over the years, though support for new content has ended now.
Set in – you guessed it – the world of Conan, there’s a unique landscape to explore either alone or with friends fora more competitive survival experience.
So if you’re looking to tackle big woolly mammoths or test your combat skills against other players, Conan Exiles is for you.
9. No Man’s Sky
This infinite, procedurally-generated survival game has been out since 2018, but in 2020, developers Hello Games released a specific upgrade to the game for next-gen consoles and it was free for those who already owned the game.
The Xbox Series X|S optimized version of No Man’s Sky boasts fuller worlds with higher resolution textures and more detailed geometry, richer base construction with the ability to construct larger and more complex builds, and a seamless transition, meaning you can move old-gen console saves onto the Xbox Series X.
There’s also 4K 60fps smoothness and the ability for cross-platform play which adds so many more layers to this survival game.
10. The Long Dark
Like many on this list, you’re fending for yourself in a land that has been destroyed by some sort of disaster. For The Long Dark, you’re in Canada in the winter and there’s something called the Quiet Apocalypse which throws you into a world of isolation that has you lost in thought.
Currently playable via Game Pass, The Long Dark isn’t quite optimized for Xbox Series X|S running at the lower framerate but it is still an excellent survival game to add to this list.
11. Ark: Survival Evolved
Much like No Man’s Sky, Ark: Survival Evolved released a specific update to ensure it was taking full advantage of the Xbox Series X|S by adding some major enhancements to the game.
This allows Ark: Survival Evolved to be the best version of itself by upping the layering, the quality, the loading speed, and finally, making sure you can fully extend to that 4K 30-60 FPS output. For this action-adventure survival game, optimization for the Xbox Series X|S gives players a much more detailed and realistic environment.
However, with the Ark Survival Ascended release date now having passed, you can now experience the world of Survival Evolved with remastered visuals and mechanics – banger.
12. Don’t Starve
If you’re a Tim Burton fan then Don’t Starve is a must-play, even if for its sketchy scratchy aesthetic alone. Fortunately, there’s plenty of substance to match its style, making it one of the best survival games you can play on Xbox right now.
Plonking you into a procedurally generated wilderness, it’s important to observe the first rule of survival… don’t starve. Unfortunately, this is easier said than done with magical beasties and other dangers lurking in every bush and under every rock. You’ll also have to take your chances with some of the food you do come across, as some of it is more deadly than the denizens of your map seed.
Don’t Starve also has a multiplayer counterpart, Don’t Starve Together, which you should definitely opt for instead if you’re planning to play with friends – it’s one of the best co-op games for a reason.
13. DayZ
As one of the pioneers of the genre, we’d be remiss not to include DayZ on our list. Though there are plenty of newer, shinier survival experiences to dive into on Xbox, the OG still holds up. Originally an Arma 3 mod, DayZ took the military sim and added a load of zombies into the mix – because every good shooter needs an army of the undead.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, it’s not just zombies you’re going to have to be wary of in DayZ. There are plenty of players scurrying about the place who are more than happy to… liberate you of your possessions. As such, teaming up with other players may be a wise strategy, unless you’re just built different and fancy your chances going it alone.
14. Terraria
If you’re after something more colorful in the same vein as Minecraft, but in a somehow even crunchier style, then let us introduce you to Terraria.
Terraria’s gameplay loop is fairly simple – dig underground to prospect for loot, then use said loot to fashion a base capable of warding off various horrors. If you’re worried about it lacking complexity, let us just say this – don’t. As you’ll discover, Terraria can become a bit of a beast to master, so prepare to lose your free time for the foreseeable.
Sporting over 5,000 items, 25+ unique NPCs, and 400+ enemies to try not to get brutally murdered by, Terraria is the gift that keeps on giving. Even though it’s not had a major update in quite some time, it’s probably for the best considering just how much content the game’s packing.
15. Grounded
While on the surface Grounded looks like a charming and fun co-op game spinoff of Honey, I Shrunk The Kids, there’s a lot more to it than just exploring the garden from an ants-eye view. There are actually some challenging survival mechanics within it.
Maintaining your food and water levels is at the core of the survival experience, so you can’t venture out too far without the right amount of supplies (or the confidence that you’ll be able to find or more). Cooking also lets you chef up meals that are far more effective at replenishing your hunger levels than standard food items.
There is also base building in Grounded, which is not only great fun but is also essential to giving you somewhere to shelter from the bugs and beasties. You’ll need to harvest or salvage materials to craft structures, furniture, defensive walls, decorative items, and much more.
So, that’s it for our best Xbox survival games list. If you’re still keen to find more of the best Xbox games to play, check out our list of the best Xbox horror games, the best Xbox open-world games, and the best Xbox strategy games. Have fun!
