Taking the Necessary Precautions
Playing video games is a good alternative when you want to increase the “Fun Bar.” Nowadays, we have tons of gaming genres for every person. For example, those players who enjoy tension and decision-making should focus on getting the Best Survival Games on Steam Deck.
Indeed, the “Survival” genre encloses different gaming mechanics in a single package. The main focus is to immerse the player in a hostile environment with meaningful resources. Like the movie “Cast Away,” you take the role of Tom Hanks where you need to survive as much as possible.
Furthermore, thanks to the Steam Deck technology, we can play anytime, anywhere with the portal device. When you’re too bored and trying your best in real life, you can power up the device and play a survival game.
Without further ado, here you have the Best Survival Games for Steam Deck.
Best Survival Games on Steam Deck
Project Zomboid
The video game comes with four simple objectives for a zombie infestation. Survive as long as possible using a foolproof strategy. Start Building an impenetrable fortress with plenty of room for your needs and outstanding defenses.
Scavenge multiple resources across the neighborhood and prepare yourself for unforgiving hazards. Lastly, Fight with all the necessary tools against the neverending zombie horde.
Thanks to the simple-but-charming graphics, this video game runs great on the Deck. You can even have a great time with friends in a single run. You’ll need that extra help when winter comes and the place becomes extremely hostile.
The Long Dark
There are no choices without consequences in The Long Dark. Check different parts of the lore and unique locations as you travel across a dangerous zone. Many of the threats in The Long Dark are wild animals and the winter’s unforgiving cold.
From the start, you have two ways of playing The Long Dark. First, you can discover clues and learn the in-game lore with the story mode. The Long Dark has different chapters that add more locations and more encounters.
Secondly, you can run the sandbox survival mode for your “staying-alive” needs. Become familiar with the different buildings and learn how to avoid upcoming encounters. In this video game, the wild animals will attack on sight and make you their next meal.
Both options can give you many playtime hours, making The Long Dark a good gaming value.
Grounded
Become a subject of a revolutionary experiment and relive the adventures of the film “Honey, I Shrunk the Kids” with Grounded. If you’re familiar with the movie, you’ll know the “gimmick” behind the survival video game.
If you still have no clue about Grounded, the premise is simple. You’re a kid living through a shrinking experiment and surviving the many dangers of a single backyard. If you were cruel to any insect close to your house, karma will have its way with you. In Grounded, many ants and spiders appear gigantic and eager to take you for a “ride.”
Use different resources to craft tools and multiple structures. Move across the backyard and learn bits about the lore and how to survive against dangerous insects. You can play solo or with a friend if your Steam Deck gets a proper Internet connection. Use your tools to withstand any danger, uncover many mysteries, and return home (with your normal size).
Valheim
Learn about Nordic folklore and survive the mythological threats as you travel through Valhelm with your Viking.
Gather many resources from the map for survival and crafting. Use materials to build an outstanding fortress for all your Viking needs. Travel between biomes full of unique hazards and dangerous creatures.
Above all, use the Viking’s strength to fight against many monsters waiting to share a moment with your ax. You can play Valhem solo or with some friends online.
Important note: Many Valheim updates made the video game more stable. However, you’ll see performance issues after building different shelters on your run. If you don’t mind losing some frames, this survival video game is for you.
The Raft
When you mix the Anime “One Piece” and the survival game genre, you get a newborn called Raft. Following the premise of One Piece, the most important possession is your ship (or in this case, your Raft). You’ll need the Raft to travel across the sea and visit unique islands.
Moving through the endless water, you’ll discover unique biomes with everlasting buildings and undiscovered threats. However, traveling through the ocean is not an easy task either.
You can play solo or with some friends online. Use the multiple crafting options to improve your tools and upgrade your Raft. Become an outstanding navigator and explore uncharted islands with your crew.
Subnautica
You are a lone survivor who landed on a new planet full of water. However, you have alien-like technology that aids you in analyzing the new world around you and helps extract materials. Gather multiple goods and use them to craft tools and gadgets.
After you get more devices in your inventory, you can explore the “depths” even further. Analyze all the fish on your screen and learn about all the biomes from this water world.
Subnautica is a single-player experience. You’ll find all the materials and craft an astonishing base without assistance. The second part (Subnautica: Below Zero) adds more mysteries and biomes to explore. Both options work without issues on the Steam Deck.
Astroneer
Explore different planets as an Astronaut with different traveling vehicles. Gather enough materials and build a new base of operations. The main objective is to craft a new spaceship and explore another world.
With the latest updates, you can change the biome and types of resources in a new world. As a result, you have enough tools to craft the ideal alien world for your upcoming space odysseys.
You can play Astroneer solo or with some friends. With the terraforming tools, you can change the area around your base and add extra features to the location.
Don’t Starve (Together)
Become enchanted with the unique art style and innovative gaming mechanics of Don’t Starve. The “2D” graphics give you that retro feel and reduce the “stress” of your Steam Deck. In other words, you can play longer in a single gaming session.
When you load Don’t Starve, you’ll find unique characters from the start. Each survivor has different attributes and special abilities. For example, “Webber” is a monster and can befriend spiders. If you’re using another character, the spiders will attack on sight.
You can find two versions of Don’t Starve. The first (Don’t Starve) is a single-player video game with different DLCs. You’ll find more in-game content from this version. The multiplayer counterpart (Don’t Starve Together) has co-op features but lacks content (for example, fewer characters).
Rimworld
Unlike previous survival games from this list, Rimworld comes with unique gaming mechanics. Instead of focusing on a single character, you manage an entire colony. Depending on your in-game choices from a single run, the whole group will get enough resources to survive another day.
First, you need to move around the area for resources. Second, build shelters for your colony. Third, prepare defenses and fight upcoming threats. Lastly, find ways to improve the group and plan strategies for expansions.
Due to the complexity of Rimworld, you only get a single-player experience. Furthermore, different DLCS will add more content and ways to improve the gameplay.
Minecraft
The legendary video game Minecraft comes with survival gaming mechanics as well. Many players know that you have two ways to experience Minecraft. First, the sandbox mode gives you enough materials to build the ideal place for your virtual needs. You can use your creativity to craft buildings and unique structures.
On the other hand, you can pick the survival mode in Minecraft for a different experience. When a new run starts in this game mode of Minecraft, you’ll appear in a “randomly generated” world. Explore the area and build a shelter to survive the night.
In both game modes, you can play alone or with your friends. However, you need a game launcher (like PolyMC) to run Minecraft on the Deck.
Terraria
If you like Minecraft, you might like Terraria as well. The 2D side-scrolling perspective adds that old platformer feel to the video game. You’ll start jumping around the area like Mario and his brother Luigi.
Apart from the survival game perspective, anything else “feels” like Minecraft. You can find different items (or blocks) as you explore multiple biomes in the virtual world.
You can play solo or with friends using the same saved file or randomly generated world.
ARK: Survival Evolved
Mix the survival gaming mechanics with dinosaurs and you’ll get ARK. Indeed, prehistoric creatures come with pros and cons. First, you get to ride Velociraptors and tame other types of animals. Meanwhile, you could get attacks from a Tyrannosaurus Rex.
Become the ultimate hunter as you deal with the wildest creatures from the “old” world.
ARK: Survival Evolved allows multiplayer gameplay. Most noteworthy, you’ll need tons of free storage to install ARK on the Steam Deck.
Dying Light
Use your parkour skills to move around the apocalyptic city as you avoid hordes of zombies. Although you’ll need to “survive” the hostile world, Dying Light lacks some familiar mechanics.
For example, you use a limited crafting system and cannot build new shelters. However, the trill of hazardous locations will keep you glued to your screen.
You can play Dying Light alone or with a couple of friends.
No Man’s Sky
After many updates, this video game is getting more famous. After the tutorial, you can explore different planets and “borrow” many resources.
However, you won’t find that sense of “danger” while playing No Man’s Sky. You can craft different tools and structures without any fights.
If you want an “easy” playing session, play No Man’s Sky for a while. Unlike “Launch Day,” you can play with your friends.
The Forest
The last option from the Best Survival Games On Steam Deck comes with a bang. The Forest comes with all the survival gaming mechanics at the right spots. You’re a single jet survivor that lands in a strange forest.
Gather enough materials to craft new tools and build your defenses. Unravel the mysteries of The Forest and find your way back to society.
You can play with or without friends. Use your survival gaming skills and endure the dangers of The Forest.
Wrapping Up
All of the Best Survival Games on Steam Deck have enough prestige and a good reputation in the gaming community. Furthermore, Almost every option allows you to play with your friends. Remember to check all the materials in the virtual world for crafting.
Use your skills to survive as long as possible! Good Luck!
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