10 Best RPGs With Survival Mechanics

The RPG genre has grown to encompass a wide variety of styles, from action-adventure titles to turn-based fantasy games. Genre overlap is common and essential for keeping things fresh and exciting. As the genre has grown, developers have begun to push their work into new areas of gameplay, with many RPGs including survival mechanics in their game worlds.

Survival games are some of the most immersive and engaging games on the market. These titles often include harsh weather mechanics that can kill the character if they are not prepared. Players will often need to consider the character’s hunger and thirst, as well as the gathering of materials to construct and craft different items. This level of in-depth gameplay goes hand in hand with the RPG genre, creating some of the most memorable titles in recent memory.

10 Dead State: Reanimated

Survival Mechanics: Base Building, Resource Gathering.

• Platform: Microsoft Windows
• Released: 2014
• Developer: DoubleBear Productions
• Genre: RPG, Strategy, Survival

Described as a narrative-driven survival RPG, Dead State: Reanimated places players in the middle of a zombie outbreak, forcing them to survive against the undead hordes. Players will need to take charge of their group as disputes between characters arise, as well as source all the requirements a growing settlement will need, such as food and materials.

The game is primarily a settlement builder RPG, where players customize and create their character, find survivors, and fortify and defend their burgeoning settlement with turn-based combat. The zombie horror game will appeal to fans of RPG simulation games looking for something a little different.

9 Kingdom Come: Deliverance

Survival Mechanics: Hunger, Thirst, Sleep and Crafting.

This ambitious first-person medieval RPG may not have been the game everyone was hoping for but has since grown a cult following. Set within a vassal state of the Holy Roman Empire, the game attempted to recreate life in medieval times. Starting as a lowly peasant, the game introduces tough combat mechanics and a harsh and unforgiving world that takes time to master.

Kingdom Come: Deliverance attempts to depict life in an unforgiving and realistic way. This includes the character needing regular food, water, and sleep to survive. The player’s equipment also degrades over time and will need repairs to stay effective. Although Kingdom Come is not a perfect game by any standard, it does offer a fun and immersive experience if given the chance.

8 Medieval Dynasty

Survival Mechanics: Materials, Crafting, Hunger and Thirst.

This survival RPG offers players the chance to live out their medieval dreams in the harsh environments of the Middle Ages. With a bigger emphasis on building and construction, Medieval Dynasty offers solo gameplay, as well as with a group of friends, who can help to build the thriving community within the game.

Without a specific quest to go on, the game falls into the simulation/management RPG genre, where the goal is to survive and build a healthy community. Players will come up against harsh weather conditions, wild animals, and raiding bandits while farming or hunting for food. Medieval Dynasty is a fun survival RPG that isn’t about adventuring, but building the foundations for the future of the player’s village.

7 STALKER: Shadow of Chernobyl

Survival Mechanics: Hunger, Bleeding, and Radiation

This cult first-person action RPG horror game is set within an alternative reality, where a second mysterious disaster befell Chernobyl, leading to otherworldly occurrences in the area, known as The Zone. This primarily FPS game incorporates many RPG elements, such as items that boost abilities, multiple dialogue options with NPCs, and a large non-linear setting.

The game also incorporates several survival mechanics, such as hunger and radiation poisoning, which can be treated with medication. The character can also suffer bleeding effects from attacks, which, if untreated, will slowly kill the player. These elements make STALKER a lot more than just a standard FPS, forcing players to plan their movement carefully, using stealth over action. STALKER offers a bleak atmosphere and immersive storytelling, creating a memorable and underrated classic of the genre.

6 Dust to the End

Survival Mechanics: Building, Environmental Hazards.

• Platform: Microsoft Windows
• Released: 2020
• Developer: Joy Game, Haojoy Game
• Genre: Action, RPG, Strategy

This post-apocalyptic simulation RPG brings players to a desolate Mad Max-style setting, where nuclear war has destroyed civilization. In the game, players lead a traveling merchant caravan of survivors, as they move from settlement to settlement, trading with the local population. Players can build an empire in society’s remains, creating bases and recruiting mercenaries to protect the caravan.

Dust to the End is an expansive and character-rich game with turn-based combat that offers plenty of weapon choices and skills to upgrade. Each new mercenary hired has their own unique personality, which must be taken into consideration when heading into dangerous areas. The game will appeal to fans of Darkest Dungeon, with its similar combat and recruitment system.

5 The Legends Of Zelda: Tears Of The Kingdom

Survival Mechanics: Weather, Environment, and Crafting

One of the most beloved game franchises in history, the Zelda series has continued to change and evolve over its long lifespan. Building on the gameplay of the open-world classic, Breath Of The Wild, Tears of The Kingdom continues Link’s adventures through the expansive world of Hyrule.

In the game, players will come across various environmental hazards, such as large frozen areas, which they will have to protect themselves against with different clothing or a heat source. The weapons in the game also have limited usage and will eventually degrade and break. Players can gather the required resources and craft more weapons when needed. Tears Of The Kingdom is an action-adventure RPG that rewards creativity and continues the trend of critically acclaimed games in the Zelda series.

4 Fallout: New Vegas – Hardcore Mode

Survival Mechanics: Hunger, Thirst, and Sleep

Obsidian Entertainment’s post-apocalyptic RPG classic Fallout: New Vegas takes players into the irradiated wasteland of the Mojave Desert, filled with mutated monsters and deadly raiders. In the game, players control The Courier, which they can customize and upgrade throughout the game.

The standard mode of Fallout: New Vegas has very forgiving mechanics, with survival taking a back seat. For those wanting a tougher experience of the game, players can turn on Hardcore Mode. In this version of the game, The Courier now has to contend with hunger, thirst, and tiredness, as well as stricter healing mechanics. Turning on Hardcore mode turns Fallout into an entirely new experience, making the game more about survival. Players will need to be more wary of dangerous encounters and more careful with their supplies.

3 Conan Exiles

Survival Mechanics: Hunger, Thirst, Crafting, and Construction

Conan Exiles is an action RPG set within the Conan The Barbarian universe. The game opens with the player character being saved by Conan and taken to the Exiled Lands to then survive and build their path through the game. Players can customize their character, upgrading and improving as they play in the harsh desert world of the game. Players will find various dangers ready to attack them, from roaming beasts to NPC enemies and even other players if on a PvP server.

Conan Exiles blends action RPG elements with deep survival mechanics, creating an immersive experience all set in a stunningly realized world. The game can be played in single-player or as a multiplayer experience, making this an ideal game to play with friends.

2 Wartales

Survival Mechanics: Hunger, Sleep, Crafting, Repairing

Wartales brings players into a medieval open-world setting, where they can lead a group of mercenaries to wealth and adventure. The game has a diverse difficulty system, where players can customize the level of difficulty and survival in the game. With turn-based combat, a huge open world to explore, and plenty of resources to gather, the game requires some dedicated playtime.

At higher survival levels, players will need to carefully plan their actions when considering food, the environment, and the various dangers found roaming the world. Wartales is an expansive and rich RPG that allows players a lot of freedom on their path to glory.

1 Outward

Survival Mechanics: Weather, Hunger, Thirst and Crafting

This fantasy RPG incorporates tough gameplay and survival mechanics to create an immersive video game for dedicated fans of the genre. Although each region is open to the player from the start, players will soon find rushing too quickly will lead to a fast death. Outward is a game that rewards patience. Players will need to consider various aspects of survival, from the clothes they wear in each climate, to finding regular food and water.

Each time the player dies, they do not return to a save point but are given a random event. This could mean being saved or captured and waking up in a random part of the region they are exploring. With its tough combat and magic system, becoming overpowered is a slow process; players will die multiple times. With its unforgiving gameplay and survival mechanics, Outward may not appeal to the casual gamer, but for hardcore RPG fans, it is a hidden gem of a game.