Welcome to our guide on the Best Survival Games for Solo and Co-op Play, as seen by the Blix team. A post-apocalyptic wasteland, brutal wilderness, zombie hordes – it all is survival games – a genre that challenges players to think on their feet, adapt to the environment, and use every ounce of strategy to stay alive. So, below are the top 12 survival games, where each title has received outstanding feedback for solo and co-op play.
Like before, with “15 Nintendo Switch Games to Dominate 2025” or “20 Addictive Xbox Multiplayer Games Worth Your Time in 2025” articles we’ve scoured expert reviews and community feedback to choose the most engaging, immersive, and critically acclaimed titles in the genre, whether you prefer to go alone or team up with friends.
Why is this guide necessary? We know survival games are not one-size-fits-all. Players want the best of the best, games that not only challenge their survival instincts but also provide rich co-op experiences: the journey is more rewarding when shared with others. Let’s dive into the best survival games out there!
Contents
- 1 What You’ll Find in This Survival Games Guide
- 2 The 12 Best Survival Games for Solo & Co-Op Players
- 3 Valheim
- 4 How Co-op Works
- 5 Notable Features
- 6 Dune: Awakening
- 7 How Co-op Works
- 8 Notable Features
- 9 Abiotic Factor
- 10 How Co-op Works
- 11 Notable Features
- 12 Sons of the Forest
- 13 How Co-op Works
- 14 Notable Features
- 15 Enshrouded
- 16 How Co-op Works
- 17 Notable Features
- 18 Subnautica
- 19 How Co-op Works
- 20 Notable Features
- 21 Once Human
- 22 How Co-op Works
- 23 Notable Features
- 24 Ark: Survival Evolved
- 25 How Co-op Works
- 26 Notable Features
- 27 Project Zomboid
- 28 How Co-op Works
- 29 Notable Features
- 30 V Rising
- 31 How Co-op Works
- 32 Notable Features
- 33 The Long Dark
- 34 How Co-op Works:
- 35 Notable Features:
- 36 Palworld
- 37 How Co-op Works:
- 38 Notable Features:
- 39 The Co-op Evolution of Genre
- 40 FAQ: Co-op Survival Questions Players Actually Ask
What You’ll Find in This Survival Games Guide
- A brief explanation of what co-op gave the genre rule
- A separate quick table of what you’ll get and how
- Best 12 Survivals pick
- Separate stressing that games’ benefits, what is needed for co-op, and how it works
- Additional: FAQ about general co-op survival game questions
The 12 Best Survival Games for Solo & Co-Op Players
| Game | Player Count | Co-Op Style | Co-op Method | Teamwork Focus |
| Valheim | 1 — 10 | Open-world Viking survival | Online via private/public servers | High – shared building, boss fights, exploration |
| Dune: Awakening | 1 — 4 | MMO open-world survival in the Dune universe | Online via persistent shared servers | Faction interaction, resource gathering, joint battles |
| Abiotic Factor | 1 — 6 | Story-driven survival with base building and exploration | Online co-op via private/public servers | Base building, exploration, and joint defense |
| Sons of the Forest | 1 — 8 | Horror survival in the wild | Online only | High – combat, crafting, exploring together |
| Enshrouded | 1 — 16 | Dark fantasy open-world survival with RPG elements | Online co-op | Building, boss raids, and joint defense |
| Subnautica | Single-player (co-op via mods) | Single-player underwater survival (co-op via mods) | Unofficial co-op (mods) | N/A – currently solo focused |
| Once Human | 1 — 4 | Post-apocalyptic open-world survival with shooter and crafting elements | Online servers | Joint expeditions, defense, PvP battles |
| Ark: Survival Evolved | 1–100+ | Dinosaur survival & base-building | Online + dedicated or public servers | Very high – tribe roles, large-scale projects |
| Project Zomboid | 1–32+ | Zombie apocalypse simulation | Online, LAN, or split-screen | Very high – custom roles, base building, defense |
| V Rising | 50+ players | Vampire-themed open-world survival with PvE and PvP modes | Online play via official/private servers | Clan play, joint building, and PvP sieges |
| The Long Dark | Solo (co-op in dev) | Wilderness solo survival | N/A (co-op upcoming) | N/A – currently solo focused |
| Palworld | 1 — 4 | Creature-collecting open-world survival with crafting and combat | Online co-op / servers | Joint hunting, crafting, and PvP battles |
Valheim
- Platform(s): PC, Xbox X/S, Xbox360
- Release Date: February 22, 2024
- Metacritic Rating: TBD
- Price: $19.99
Players have a procedurally generated world – all by Norse mythology. Craft weapons, build shelters, and conquer formidable foes to honor Odin. What less could be expected in those circumstances?
How Co-op Works
Supports up to 10 players in online co-op, allowing teams to explore, build, and battle together in a shared world.
Notable Features
- Expansive open-world environment with diverse biomes.
- Deep crafting and building systems.
- Dynamic combat mechanics with a focus on strategy.
Gameplay
Dune: Awakening
- Platform(s): PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S
- Release date: June 2025
- Metacritic Rating: 79
- Price: $59.99
MMO survival in the Dune universe offers a fascinating experience. The atmosphere is beautifully conveyed: sand, spices, transport, the first raids, the base, the dunes stretching to the horizon. You will explore the deserts of Arrakis, extract spice, fight the Fremen, and avoid sandworms.
How Co-op Works
Dune: Awakening has cooperative features. Players can form groups, build bases together, share resources, and even drive vehicles as part of a team. Up to four people can join a group, with no more than 40 players on a server at once. The huge amount of players can be met in Deep Desert.
Notable Features
- A vast open world based on the cult universe.
- Realistic simulation of sandstorms and ecosystems.
- A hybrid of MMO and survival with RPG elements.
Gameplay
Abiotic Factor
- Platform(s): PC
- Release date: July 22, 2025
- Metacritic Rating: 88
- Price: $29.99
The Abiotic Factor is an example of how the good old survival formula — “farm to unlock new upgrades to farm more efficiently” — is taken to its fullest potential. The developers have ensured that the new equipment has the best characteristics and opens up access to unique chips and useful buffs.
The atmosphere here is a rare cocktail of ideas: scientific complexes in the spirit of Half-Life, a secret organization for studying anomalies in the style of SCP, and the authors’ findings.
The plot and events are presented through audio diaries, notes, and short dialogues, making the game’s world feel alive and mysterious. Each discovery is like a small victory in the race for survival.
How Co-op Works
Supports up to 6 players in online co-op: building bases together, exploring objects, and fighting dangerous creatures.
Notable Features
- An intriguing story campaign with elements of survival.
- Complex crafting and engineering systems.
- A balance of action, exploration, and puzzles.
Gameplay
Sons of the Forest
- Platform(s): PC
- Release Date: February 22, 2024
- Metacritic Rating: 86
- Price: $29.99
As the sequel to “The Forest,” this game immerses players in a mysterious island filled with cannibalistic creatures and hidden secrets, emphasizing survival horror elements.
How Co-op Works
Allows up to 8 players to team up online, combining resources and skills to survive against the island’s horrors.
Notable Features
- Enhanced AI and larger map compared to its predecessor.
- Introduction of NPC companions to aid in survival.
- Multiple possible endings based on player choices.
Gameplay
Enshrouded
- Platform(s): PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S
- Release date: January 24, 2024
- Metacritic Rating: TBD
- Price: $29.99
You will find a unique game with mechanics rarely seen in the genre. Survive in a dark fantasy world of magic, dangerous creatures, and mysterious ruins. Players craft weapons, build fortresses, and explore mist-covered lands.
How Co-op Works
Support for up to 16 players: joint base defense, exploration, and raids. You can lower this number if it is unnecessary or the computer cannot process it.
Notable Features
- The atmosphere of dark fantasy.
- Freedom of construction.
- A variety of enemies and boss fights.
Gameplay
Subnautica
- Platform(s): PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch
- Release date: January 23, 2018
- Metacritic Rating: 87
- Price: $29.99
You plunge into the depths of the ocean planet 4546B after a spaceship crash. Explore underwater biomes, collect resources, build bases, craft equipment, and uncover the secrets of a mysterious world filled with dangerous creatures and ancient artifacts.
How Co-op Works
The game officially offers only a single-player mode, but there is co-op support through mods.
Notable Features
- A unique setting with full immersion in the underwater world.
- A variety of flora and fauna, from tiny fish to giant leviathans.
- A deep storyline woven into the exploration process.
- Construction of underwater bases and underwater vehicles.
Gameplay
Once Human
- Platform(s): PC
- Release date: July 9, 2024
- Metacritic Rating: 71
- Price: Free of charge
A post-apocalyptic survival game with shooter elements and base construction, where players fight anomalies and mutants. The game received mixed reviews and garnered conflicting ratings, but it’s still worth a try — and it’s free to play.
How Co-op Works
In the Once Human, you can play co-op with other players. To do this, you must be on the same server and channel. The cooperative is designed for 4 people.
Notable Features
- A free model with cosmetic items.
- Interesting biomes and anomalous zones.
- A well-developed crafting and construction system.
Gameplay
Ark: Survival Evolved
- Platform(s): PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Ios
- Release Date: August 29, 2017
- Metacritic Rating: 70
- Price: $49.99 (Base game, expansions sold separately)
Ark: Survival Evolved places players on a creepy island crammed with dinosaurs and other prehistoric creatures. The goal is to survive by gathering resources, crafting tools, and building shelters while fending off both creatures and other players. And game possesses both PvE and PvP gameplay.
How Co-op Works
Supports online co-op for up to 4 players. Form tribes, gather resources, and tame prehistoric creatures together. Tribe dynamics almost require specialization: some focus on resource gathering while others tame creatures or build strongholds.
Notable Features
- Tame and Ride Dinosaurs: Capture, tame, and ride over 80 different dinosaurs.
- Massive Open World: Explore expansive biomes, each with unique challenges.
- Building and Crafting: Construct elaborate structures with a robust crafting system.
Gameplay
Project Zomboid
- Platform(s): PC
- Release Date: November 8, 2013
- Metacritic Rating: 75
- Price: $19.99
Project Zomboid is an isometric, open-world zombie survival game. Players must survive in a zombie-infested world with realistic survival mechanics, building, farming, and fortifying shelters while avoiding or resisting zombies.
How Co-op Works
Supports online co-op for up to 4 players, who join the same game world to build fortresses, scavenge for supplies, and fend off zombie hordes. Each player can specialize in different survival skills – carpentry, cooking, combat, or something.
Notable Features
- Realistic Survival Elements: Need for food, water, and rest, as well as the possibility of infection.
- Dynamic Zombie AI: Zombies learn and adapt to player behavior.
- Endless Replayability: Procedurally generated world and multiple difficulty levels.
Gameplay
V Rising
- Platform(s): PC, PlayStation 5
- Release date: May 8, 2024 (full release)
- Metacritic Rating: 83
- Price: $39.99
You take on the role of a vampire, awakened after centuries of sleep, to regain their strength and build a dark kingdom. You must hunt living creatures, avoid sunlight, collect resources, and build majestic castles. The world is filled with dangerous enemies and other players.
How Co-op Works
Online co-op and PvP support — you can form clans, build castles together, or fight against other players.
Notable Features
- An atmospheric dark fantasy world with open locations.
- Dynamic battles using magic and melee weapons.
- Castle construction and customization.
- The ability to play in both PvE and PvP modes.
Gameplay
The Long Dark
- Platform(s): PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
- Release Date: August 1, 2017
- Metacritic Rating: 77
- Price: $34.99
We are in the frozen wilderness, where The Long Dark challenges players to survive. Aside from the cold, it is a post-apocalyptic world after a geomagnetic disaster. So we have to struggle against nature – hunger, warmth, and illnesses. Indeed, a sprawling, cold world.
How Co-op Works:
Co-op mode is currently in development, but the single-player experience is a solo challenge, so players rely on their skills and instincts to survive. Future co-op updates are expected to add multiplayer elements.
Notable Features:
- Realistic Survival Mechanics: Manage temperature, fatigue, and injuries.\
- Story Mode and Sandbox Mode: Choose between a narrative-driven experience or freeform survival.
- Dynamic Weather: Changing weather conditions and day/night cycles create unique challenges.
Gameplay
Palworld
- Platform(s): PC, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One
- Release date: January 19, 2024 (Early Access)
- Metacritic Rating: TBD
- Price: $29.99
We put this game at the end as a bonus. It’s a niche title, but if you love Pokémon and enjoy playing with friends, try it — you definitely won’t regret it. An open-world survival where players capture and use “Pals” creatures for combat, resource extraction, and construction.
How Co-op Works:
Up to 4 players online or large servers with PvP.
Notable Features:
- A unique combination of crafting and creature management.
- The ability to automate processes using “Pals”.
- PvE and PvP modes.
Gameplay
The Co-op Evolution of Genre
Co-op gameplay has totally reshaped the survival genre. Drove it from a solitary, often isolating experience into collaboration and shared challenges. Before – survival games focused on individual resource management, leaving players to fend for themselves in a harsh environment.
Nowadays, co-op permits to pool their skills (be it building shelters, fighting off hordes of zombies, or crafting essential tools). Communication, trust, and shared triumphs or failures make each session unique. Survival is just as much about the people you’re with as it is about the environment itself.
FAQ: Co-op Survival Questions Players Actually Ask
How do I team up with friends in these games?
Most survival games make it pretty easy—either invite your friends directly or set up a private server. Valheim is great at this—you just host, and your pals can hop in. Some games (looking at you, Ark) might need a bit more setup, like spinning up a dedicated server or joining public ones. Just make sure everyone’s got the right IP, version, and, ideally, a mic that works.
Is there a player cap, or can I bring the whole squad?
Yep, limits exist—and they vary. Enshrouded lets you go big with 16-player servers, while Sons of the Forest taps out at 8. Games like Project Zomboid and Abiotic Factor are more intimate, usually 4-6 max. So before inviting the entire Discord, double-check the cap—someone always ends up stuck in the lobby if not.
Can I play solo, or is it just better with friends?
Totally doable solo. Games like The Long Dark are designed for lone wolves. But if you’re jumping into something like Sons of the Forest, be prepared—it’s brutal on your own. Co-op definitely makes things smoother and often funnier (like when your buddy gets mauled because they ignored yet another warning). Still, if you’re a control freak or just like the quiet, solo survival still slaps.
Do we all get jobs, or is it just chaos?
Depends on the game—but yes, a lot of them let players take on specific roles. In Valheim, someone’s building the base, someone else is off taming boars.
Is the game different when playing co-op vs. solo?
Absolutely. Mechanics usually stay the same—crafting, building, scavenging—but co-op adds pressure and unpredictability. It’s not just “I need food,” it’s “Hey, who took all the meat again?” Co-op turns survival into a group effort, for better or worse
