Feature: Best Xbox Survival Games

Ark: Survival Ascended (Xbox Series X|S)

Ark, in its various iterations, seems to have been occupying my Xbox since ancient times. It’s simply a steadfast presence. In its latest version, Ark: Survival Ascended, players must endure and flourish on an expansive open-world map filled with (tameable) dinosaurs, receiving a stunning graphical update and a host of refined mechanics, ensuring it looks and plays like a thoroughly contemporary adventure.

This survival game has been around long enough to amass nearly 200 species of dinosaurs, many of which can be tamed – there are even robotic dinosaurs now – and the crafting and building components, alongside PvP elements, create an extensive and immersive survival experience that, apart from a few bugs here and there, provides the sort of full-bodied survival adventure often reserved for hardcore PC users.

• Xbox Game Pass? Yes

Atomfall (Xbox Series X|S)

Atomfall has just launched and continues Rebellion’s tradition of producing very distinctive and high-quality titles.

This survival adventure features one of our favorite settings, immersing you in a distinctly British apocalyptic scenario – where you are tasked to wander around trying to understand how you ended up in a laboratory with amnesia amidst an apocalypse – while managing to stay alive. So, like a typical Thursday afternoon in Manchester, then.

Atomfall employs the mechanics of the Sniper Elite series, ensuring that the sniping and stealth elements are spot on, merging this with a plot that adeptly maintains its intrigue, even taking on a touch of folk-horror towards its conclusion, as noted in our initial impressions during its launch:

“It’s all remarkably impressive, especially considering it’s only 20 hours long, they have crafted many enjoyable story detours and mysteries to explore within its five distinctive and interconnected open-world maps.”

If you’re up for battling through a ferociously violent depiction of the UK amidst a catastrophic collapse (insert quip about just looking outside), this one is for you! Just keep an eye out for cultists.

• Xbox Game Pass? Yes

Don’t Starve: Giant Edition (Xbox One)

Don’t Starve requires no introduction at this juncture; it’s a survival classic that has withstood the test of time, because it’s simply remarkable.

In a bizarre realm brimming with peculiar creatures and myriad surprises, your goal here is to unravel the lore of the land while surviving through crafting, resource management, and all that essential survival fare. With the capacity to play in co-op with up to six players, Don’t Starve is a uniquely designed and surprisingly demanding experience that rewards those patient enough to learn its systems thoroughly.

It may appear a bit whimsical at times, but this game will swiftly end your run if you don’t grant it the respect it rightly deserves!

• Xbox Game Pass? No

Green Hell (Xbox Series X|S)

Green Hell is a title that this particular reviewer first encountered on the Switch, which isn’t the ideal platform. Nonetheless, its brilliance shone through a port that muddied things unnecessarily. In this Xbox version, there are no such technical difficulties, allowing you to appreciate what is surprisingly intense and atmospheric survival gameplay.

And it truly is an ordeal. It’s called Green Hell for a reason. Danger lurks around every corner, behind every tree, and your survival in this bustling Amazon rainforest environment hinges on your capacity to gather, build, hunt, and take shelter effectively while surrounded by the jungle’s deadliest threats. Eaten by a tiger, anyone? Even the weather here often seems to conspire against you.

With solo and online co-op modes, this represents one of the more intense and deeply engaging survival experiences currently available, and it’s reasonably priced.

• Xbox Game Pass? No

Grounded (Xbox One)

We are huge fans of Grounded. What initially seemed like a game tailored for children (and those of us who adored Honey I Shrunk the Kids), what we actually have is one of the most exhilarating, clever, and polished survival titles available.

Being miniaturized and lost in a garden may appear low-key and non-threatening, but believe us, the sizable insects here will have you marking your undershorts in no time if you take them lightly.

With stunning visuals and world-building, a genuine sense of purpose, and significant surprises at every turn (quite literally), Grounded also ensures its survival mechanics are profound, rewarding for cooperative gameplay, and pleasantly adaptable. This remains one of the very best Xbox survival games available at this moment, it’s that good.

• Xbox Game Pass? Yes

Minecraft (Xbox One)

Well, we’ll add some text here for a bit of humor, but by now, everyone already knows how fantastic Minecraft is. It didn’t receive its own Jack Black film for no reason!

Minecraft offers a quirky (and quite remarkable) campaign to dive into (it will take some time to reach the Ender Dragon, believe…

this unfortunate cup), yet it shines in its limitless ingenuity, its talent to captivate both adults and youngsters, and with endurance that, due to the nature of the regulations of its universe, ultimately gives the sensation of a genuine second existence. Even after all this time, it remains as crucial as ever.

• Xbox Game Pass? Yes

No Man’s Sky (Xbox One)

Another title that barely requires an introduction at this stage, we’ve lauded about the remarkable transformation this game underwent numerous times in the past, and it has now expanded and improved beyond comprehension with what appears to be an infinite array of significant updates.

No Man’s Sky may have started on shaky ground, but it stands out as one of the top Xbox survival titles at present, a massive experience that genuinely enables you to explore an “infinite” universe (indeed, you can even search for ancient fossils), or engage in the genuinely captivating storyline. The type of game that can captivate your friends for hours; if you haven’t tried it yet, you’re definitely missing out. If it’s been a while, you might have overlooked a lot of new content!

• Xbox Game Pass? Yes

Palworld (Xbox Series X|S)

Geared toward younger players, as well as those who dislike Pokémon so intensely they wish to shoot numerous creatures.

Palworld is a vivid, chaotic spectacle of aggression where you collect pals that can be bred for combat or employed in various roles, or you can just trade them. Or consume them. Seriously.

Palworld presents a harsh (yet vibrantly colorful) environment where poachers show no mercy and peril is ever-present. Featuring construction elements, an abundance of pal varieties, mounts, stimulating exploration, dungeons, factories, agriculture, and much more, this is certainly a substantial title. It goes far beyond the expected “Pokémon with firearms” imitation.

With multiplayer skirmishes and co-op adventures included, this game is a no-brainer.

• Xbox Game Pass? Yes

Raft (Xbox Series X|S)

The concept of Raft, which stealthily arrived on Xbox late last year, revolves around building and surviving in the exceedingly limited confines of… well… a raft.

This grand, oceanic adventure challenges you to undertake a perilous voyage (sharks are frightening) while collecting debris, exploring coral reefs, and simultaneously constructing a floating sanctuary to reside in. Naturally, there’s a vast world to uncover, so you’re not confined to a tiny raft throughout the entire experience.

This one gained traction through word of mouth on PC, and has been well-received on Xbox thus far due to a well-executed port, so don’t miss it if you have the chance. It even allows you to experience the terror of the ocean with a few friends accompanying you. With countless cheap imitations available on the store, it’s evident that it possesses the magic touch, making it a fantastic addition to consoles.

• Xbox Game Pass? No

Rust Console Edition (Xbox One)

Rust, at this moment, feels like it has been around since the inception of time. This is the kind of game that you might as well inhabit, to be frank, and if you choose to go that route, it certainly excels.

Survival here, against cold, hunger, thirst… and ruthless killers, is demanding; this is a hardcore experience, proud and bold, designed for those seeking the most challenging and immersive type of survival. It’s also the type of survival game (similar to The Forest and Sons of the Forest) typically associated with PC.

It’s important to note that Rust Console Edition will be discontinuing for last-gen consoles (meaning Xbox One and PS4) in October 2025, with a delisting in May. Replacing it will be a “remarkable” next-gen version for Xbox Series X|S arriving in the Summer of 2025, set to elevate the game’s otherwise somewhat rusty visuals at this point.

• Xbox Game Pass? No

State of Decay 2 (Xbox One)

Another masterpiece from Xbox Studios, the initial State of Decay, along with the early release of this sequel, had their challenges, but State of Decay 2 has evolved into nearly everything we envisioned this series would become from the beginning.

Easily switching between characters to complete tasks without perishing, observing your team become fatigued, and carefully selecting your supply and resource expeditions is quite an enjoyable experience, underscored by genuine tension as hordes overwhelm your carefully established defenses. This survival game punishes mistakes, and there are plenty to be made due to the complexity and depth of the systems in place.

Co-op gameplay only enhances what’s presented here, so before the third installment arrives, perhaps it’s finally time to dive in and explore what it’s all about. It might take a little concentration for the first hour or so as you acclimate, but State of Decay 2 quickly develops into something that’s genuinely hard to stop contemplating. It’s a classic of the zombie apocalypse genre.

• Xbox Game Pass? Yes

Subnautica (Xbox Series X|S)

A definitive classic of the genre, Subnautica is a title we’ve expounded on many times, making appearances on several of our “best of” lists and ranking again as one of our premier Xbox survival games due to its exceptional quality.

Crashed into an alien ocean, with systems offline. Plunge into a nightmarish realm teeming with monstrosities and begin gathering the necessities. Harvest a battery, upgrade your skill trees and technology. Craft flippers, then create an oxygen tank. Delve deeper. Terrifying. Construct a submarine. Build an underwater base. Venture even deeper. Into the abyss. What terrors and mysteries await?

You must experience it.

• Xbox Game Pass? No

The Long Dark (Xbox One)

First launched in 2017, we initially experienced The Long Dark on PC and had to acquire it for our Xbox as well, because it’s so engaging. Indeed, when contemplating the survival genre as a whole, this is one of the titles that frequently comes to mind.

It’s a stylish realm in which to survive, this icy winter wilderness where real-world dangers, instead of zombies or cannibals, lie in wait to end your existence. Mostly, however, you’ll simply freeze to death. It’s slow, contemplative, and atmospheric in all the right aspects. This game feels like so much more than its components due to the substantial attention and detail invested in its world-building and aesthetic.

Unforgiving in all the right ways, challenging and demanding,

and incredibly fulfilling to boot, this is yet another survival masterclass on Xbox consoles.

• Xbox Game Pass? No

This War of Mine: The Little Ones (Xbox One)

This War of Mine: The Little Ones makes the list here because it’s a survival title that boldly presents some of the harsh realities of genuine warfare. Furthermore, this edition introduces children into the narrative, thereby making it even more thought-provoking.

A gritty, authentic style of endeavor, This War of Mine aims to place you in the position, not of elite soldiers or hardened warriors, but of ordinary individuals, as they navigate and endure a relentless array of dangers in a besieged metropolis.

Partially based on true events, it’s merciless, emotional, realistic, and brimming with both pre-designed and random scenarios to challenge you. Just be advised that, as well-crafted and addictive as the crafting and other gameplay mechanics are here, it pulls no punches in representing the brutality of war. There are some poignant tales conveyed here.

Additionally, while we have chosen the best version (in this author’s opinion), you can explore the Final Cut version on Xbox Game Pass. Essentially the same experience, just without The Little Ones extra content.

• Xbox Game Pass? (In its Final Cut form) Yes

Valheim (Xbox Series X|S)

Valheim truly captivated the PC survival scene when it launched a few years back.

This stunning and enchanting indie survival experience was immediately on our radar for potential porting to Xbox right after we played it on Steam, in fact, so we were quite delighted when it finally arrived on consoles.

Still in ‘Game Preview’, this installment invites you to strive for survival in a harsh (and magical) realm of Norse mythology. Maps are procedurally generated and you commence from your starting location in a snowy woodland to forge weapons, construct longhouses, and vanquish monstrosities to prove your worth to Odin.

With unique environments to discover and explore, ships to navigate, an abundance of customization for your Viking longhouses, and numerous tiers of gear to unlock and investigate, this is an exceptional experience. And it’s still not even complete!

• Xbox Game Pass? No (but a free trial is available)

7 Days to Die (Xbox One)

7 Days to Die initially encountered some challenges on Xbox consoles, but its new 1.0 edition that launched at the end of 2024 has been much more favorably received by Xbox enthusiasts thus far. It took a significant, significant duration for this to acquire a proper Xbox adaptation!

In this title, which is also still in the Game Preview phase, you venture into an open world overwhelmed by….wait for it…

Undead.

Yeah, OK, we’re a bit weary of zombies too, but here the blend of FPS, RPG, tower defense mechanics, and survival horror merges so cleverly that we find ourselves not minding the undead as much as we typically would. There are immense environments here, over 100km of biomes to traverse, apparently, and cooperation is also crucial for establishing successful settlements and launching assaults on other players’ bases. Yes, PvP is present here.

The feedback from Xbox fans has been positive regarding this one, so be sure to dive in and discover what all the excitement is about!

• Xbox Game Pass? No (but a free trial is available)