Here Are Some Actual Hyperrealistic Survival Games To Test Your Mettle

Don’t get me wrong: Survival games have seen nothing but an uprise in quantity over the course of the last few years or so, but I can’t put my finger on whether the same can be said about their quality as well. In a sea of different wannabes that reflect poorer gameplay, I’m glad we’ve still got some developers pushing out absolute gems in this category that try and blur the line between what’s real and what’s not. 

Follow along with the article, therefore, as I talk about some of the most hyperrealistic survival-oriented games rising in the industry right now. If you’re a casual gamer, there’s a tough chance that you already know about most of these. 

Tune Your Real-Life Skills With These Iterations, Seriously 

In case you’d like to add to the list, feel free to take to the comments section below and spark a discussion. 

1. The Long Dark 

A prolific indie whose popularity has only seen a steady rise since it came out in August 2017, The Long Dark belongs to that unique category of games that know no peers. This survival title puts grand emphasis on exploration, all the while making the player think for their own with zero hand-holding. I wasn’t kidding with the headline when I said you’re going to get your mettle tested hard here. 

Real-life threats pertaining to human survival such as various types of diseases, harsh temperatures, hunger, and other factors play a heavy role in The Long Dark’s gameplay. It’s no cakewalk, but once you get hooked to it, you’ll find it difficult to put the controller down. 

2. Project Zomboid

Labeled as yet another remarkable survival title that keeps players on the edge of their seats, one of the other main reasons I’d recommend Project Zomboid to whoever reads this is the sheer replayability value of the game. Trust me when I tell you that this isn’t hyperbole—Project Zomboid is the type of game that will make 5000 hours seem effortless. 

Some of the in-game mechanics revolve around crafting, first aid, electricals, and more. It really digs deep into the whole surviving notion as you plan to stand your ground against hordes and hordes of zombies. 

3. Green Hell

Creepy Jar’s Green Hell is one of the prettier-looking games we’ve got on the list, and what I’ll tell you about it right off the bat is don’t look up too much about it. Dive into it blindly and see how that works out for you. The real thrill is when you start progressing after dying countless times, and start learning the ins and outs of what works and what does not. 

I’ve kept the description vague, only because Green Hell is best played without a sliver of prior knowledge. Don’t sleep on this one, period. 

4. Stranded Deep 

With split-screen co-op functionality, enthralling boss fights, and random world generation, Stranded Deep is much more on the “fun” side of survival games than it is on the grueling and punishing end. Make no mistake though, it’s going to make you work for survival quite a bit, but as you pick up some skills and understand how to make the days go, Stranded Deep becomes well worth the $9 you pay for it. 

5. Unreal World

When you think you’ve gone ahead and played it all, try UnReal World for a taste of something utterly distinct. It boasts a completely different art direction as compared to the majority of other games on this list, so on the other side of the coin, there’s a slight chance you may end up disliking it.

That said, UnReal World scratches a different type of itch for survival game enthusiasts, one that you didn’t even know needed scratching.  

6. Cataclysm: Dark Days Ahead

If you try Project Zomboid and go like, “Oh man, this is a bit too much for me,” you’re probably never going to get into Cataclysm: Dark Days Ahead, otherwise simply referred to as CDDA. It’s single-handedly the most hyperrealistic survival game in the business that literally comes down on a micro level in terms of delivering an immersive experience. 

It’s an open-source roguelike, which means that there’s an entire array of mods that you can try out and amplify the gameplay even further. I’ll be honest; I don’t have a lot of hours into the game outside of 20-30, but I can tell you this straight away that CDDA isn’t for everyone. It’s harsh, cruel, and punishing, but above all, it’s super rewarding.