Top 10 FPS Survival Games to Play in 2024

FPS survival games have become a cornerstone in the world of gaming, offering a unique combination of first-person shooter mechanics with the immersive challenge of surviving in hostile environments. In 2024, the genre promises an array of titles that stand out for their engaging gameplay, richly designed worlds, and the intense satisfaction of outlasting the competition. Whether you're a seasoned survivor looking to test your mettle in new and unforgiving worlds or a newcomer ready to dive into the deep end, 2024's lineup is poised to deliver experiences you won't want to miss.

FPS Survival Games to Look Out For in 2024

The coming year is loaded with games that will challenge your survival skills while immersing you in action-packed adventures. From post-apocalyptic wastelands infested with zombies to isolated islands and harsh, uncharted territories, these titles are geared towards delivering an unparalleled survival experience. Taking cues from predecessors and incorporating innovative features, the top FPS survival games of 2024 are poised to redefine the genre. Let's take a closer look at what makes these games stand out and why they should be on your radar.

List of Top Choices

• DayZ
• Rust
• Escape from Tarkov
• The Forest
• Green Hell
• ARK: Survival Evolved
• 7 Days to Die
• The Long Dark
• Subnautica
• Project Zomboid

DayZ

• Massively multiplayer online survival in an expansive post-apocalyptic world.
• Zombie and player threats create a dynamic survival experience.
• Complex health, hunger, and thirst systems demand strategic resource management.

DayZ sets the stage in a massive post-apocalyptic world overrun by zombies and fraught with danger from other survivors. This game is a true test of survival, demanding not just a keen aim but strategic planning to manage health, hunger, thirst, and the ever-present threat of the undead and the living. The game's expansive open world is both a playground and a perilous trap, inviting players to explore, scavenge, and fight for every moment of life. Its blend of intense PvP (player versus player) interactions, coupled with the PvE (player versus environment) challenges, makes DayZ an unforgettable journey into the heart of darkness, where every decision could mean the difference between life and death.

Rust

• Harsh survival elements combined with a strong emphasis on base building and resource management.
• Engagement with both NPCs and other players adds layers to the survival challenge.
• Crafting system allows for extensive customization and fortification.

Rust is an exemplar within the multiplayer survival genre, known for its unyielding emphasis on resource management, crafting, and base building—set against the backdrop of a stark, open world that is as beautiful as it is deadly. Players find themselves washed up on the shores of an uninhabited island, tasked with the simple yet paramount goal of survival. Through gathering resources, creating alliances, and sometimes betraying fellow survivors, Rust offers a complex, ever-evolving narrative driven by player actions. The game's punishing environment and the constant threat of attack make each moment a thrilling fight for survival, with the reward being another day lived in this cutthroat world.

Escape from Tarkov

• Highly realistic and tactical FPS gameplay with a focus on loot extraction.
• Complex health, inventory, and modding systems for guns and gear.
• Engrossing blend of PvP and PvE in a seamless, immersive war-torn setting.

Escape from Tarkov takes the FPS survival genre into the grey, gritty realms of a conflict-torn city, blending highly realistic combat and survival mechanics that push the envelope of tactical gameplay. Players must navigate the treacherous landscapes, filled with both AI and player enemies, to extract valuable loot and gear, touching on aspects of resource management and risk-taking that are central to the survival game experience. The game's in-depth health, inventory, and weapons modding systems require careful consideration and planning, ensuring that each raid is as much about strategic foresight as it is about shooting skills. Its immersive setting and high stakes make Escape from Tarkov a standout title for those seeking a complex, hardcore survival experience.

The Forest

• Survival horror game with a focus on crafting, building, and environmental interaction.
• A dynamic AI system drives the cannibalistic inhabitants, creating unpredictable encounters.
• Open-world exploration with a dense narrative drive.

The Forest drops players into the heart of a dark, dense wilderness teeming with secrets, dangers, and cannibalistic inhabitants. As a lone survivor of a plane crash, you are thrust into a desperate bid for survival, where every decision impacts your chances of living another day. Crafting shelters, weapons, and tools from the environment around you, players must learn to navigate the forest's cryptic terrain and its hostile residents. The game brilliantly mixes elements of horror with survival mechanics, ensuring that the tension never eases up. The Forest stands as a captivating blend of storytelling, survival, and horror, offering an experience that goes well beyond mere confrontation to touch upon themes of sanity, hope, and the will to live.

Green Hell

• Realistic survival simulation set in the dense Amazon rainforest.
• Advanced survival mechanics including psychological health, wound treatment, and disease.
• Richly detailed environment with a wide variety of flora and fauna.

Set in the expansive and peril-laden Amazon rainforest, Green Hell challenges players with one of the most in-depth survival mechanics seen to date in gaming. It doesn’t just require managing hunger or thirst; players must also treat wounds properly, guard against disease, and maintain their psychological health under the constant duress of the jungle. The game's commitment to realism extends to its environment, offering a lush, vibrant world that's as beautiful as it is dangerous. Each part of the forest holds myriad secrets and challenges, making exploration a necessity and a risk. Green Hell’s all-encompassing approach to survival makes it a uniquely immersive and taxing experience, perfect for those who have ever wondered if they could survive the harshest conditions on Earth.

ARK: Survival Evolved

• Dinosaur-themed survival with a vast, open-world environment.
• Unique feature of taming dinosaurs for transportation, combat, and companionship.
• Extensive crafting and building systems allow for personalized bases and tools.

ARK: Survival Evolved brings a fantastical twist to the survival genre, offering players the unique opportunity to coexist with dinosaurs in a vast, prehistoric world. This game goes beyond basic survival; it incorporates elements of domestication, allowing players to tame dinosaurs for various purposes, including combat and transportation. The crafting and building systems in ARK are robust, enabling players to construct everything from simple tools and shelters to expansive, fortified bases. With its combination of survival mechanics, breathtaking landscapes, and the ever-present thrill of engaging with prehistoric creatures, ARK: Survival Evolved offers an enthralling and distinctively challenging sandbox experience that keeps players coming back for more.

7 Days to Die

• Voxel-based survival game with a unique blend of crafting, building, and zombie horde defense.
• Dynamic, destructible environment that changes with player actions and horde attacks.
• Scavenging, mining, and farming contribute to a complex survival experience.

In 7 Days to Die, players are thrust into a post-apocalyptic world where survival hinges on their ability to withstand hordes of zombies that intensify in strength and numbers with every seven-day cycle. This game innovates within the genre by combining survival principles with voxel-based building, creating opportunities for intricate base constructions and defenses. The environment is fully destructible, adding a layer of strategy as players must consider the permanence of their fortifications. Beyond fighting and building, there's a deep layer of resource management that emulates a true survival scenario, requiring players to scavenge, mine, and even farm to sustain themselves. The ever-present countdown to the next horde night keeps tension high, ensuring that players are constantly planning and preparing for the inevitable onslaught.

The Long Dark

• Single-player survival against the backdrop of a frozen wilderness.
• Focus on realistic survival simulation including temperature management, calorie intake, and injury treatment.
• Immersive storyline exploring the aftermath of a geomagnetic disaster.

The Long Dark presents a serene yet merciless world, where the beauty of a snow-covered landscape masks the unforgiving nature of the wilderness. This game challenges players to survive after a geomagnetic disaster has plunged the world into a perpetual winter, emphasizing realism in its survival mechanics. Players must manage their body temperature, calorie consumption, and health with meticulous care in an environment where every step outside shelter can be fatal. The inclusion of a narrative mode offers a compelling story to accompany the survival experience, providing deeper context to the struggle against nature. The Long Dark is celebrated for its methodical approach to survival, where strategic planning and resource management take precedence over combat, offering a reflective and profoundly immersive experience.

Subnautica

• Underwater exploration and survival in an alien ocean world.
• Diverse ecosystems to discover, each with unique flora, fauna, and resources.
• Base building and crafting systems allow for underwater habitat creation and customization.

Subnautica invites players to dive into the unknown depths of an alien ocean, filled with breathtaking biomes, mysterious creatures, and untold resources. This game differentiates itself from other entries in the survival genre by setting its challenges beneath the sea surface, presenting a unique blend of exploration, resource management, and creativity. The thrill of discovering new ecosystems and the dangers they contain adds a constant sense of wonder and tension. Crafting and base building are integral to surviving Subnautica's watery expanse, providing a home base in the depths and a respite from the ocean's dangers. With its innovative setting, engaging gameplay mechanics, and compelling narrative, Subnautica offers an unforgettable survival adventure that's as enlightening as it is entertaining.

Project Zomboid

• Realistic zombie survival simulation offering a detailed approach to the apocalypse.
• Complex systems for hunger, illness, mental health, and more, emphasizing a thorough survival experience.
• Open-world exploration with sandbox and story modes for varied gameplay.

Project Zomboid delves into the intricacies of surviving a zombie apocalypse, presenting a simulation that prioritizes realism and depth over all else. Players must navigate the challenges of staying alive amidst a world overrun by the undead, balancing the needs of the body and mind while scavenging for resources in a desolate landscape. Its detailed approach to aspects such as hunger, illness, and mental health sets Project Zomboid apart, offering a comprehensive exploration of what it might truly mean to survive in such harsh conditions. The game's open-world and sandbox elements, combined with an emotionally engaging story mode, ensure a varied and rich survival experience that tests the limits of player ingenuity and resilience. Project Zomboid stands as a testament to the enduring appeal of the survival genre, offering both a challenging and deeply rewarding experience for those willing to face the apocalypse head-on.

In the dynamic and ever-evolving landscape of FPS survival games, 2024 promises a diverse array of worlds ripe for exploration. From the zombie-infested post-apocalyptic environments to uncharted alien oceans and beyond, these top games offer something for every type of survival enthusiast. Whether you prefer the isolation and harsh realities of the wilderness or the thrill of defending against hordes of enemies, the key to survival lies in your ability to adapt, plan, and overcome the challenges that each unique game world presents. By immersing yourself in these engaging and meticulously designed experiences, you're not just playing to survive; you're exploring the depths of human resilience and the thrill of triumph over seemingly insurmountable odds. As the genre continues to expand and innovate, the future of FPS survival games shines bright, promising countless hours of captivating gameplay for adventurers ready to test their mettle against the unknown.