While there are plenty of great games, the 10 games mentioned in this post tops the list.
This list is based on popularity, modding capabilities, mechanics, and Rust’s closeness.
With most of these games like rust available on sale, it’s the perfect time for you to seize the opportunity. Here’s the complete list:
Pathologic 2
When it comes to survival games, Rust is a pretty good place to start. It’s been around for quite some time now and is still one of the most-played games on Steam. Before that, though, Pathologic was the go-to for gamers looking for a unique take on the genre.
Pathologic puts players in the shoes of three distinct characters, each with their motivations and methods of achieving them. The town of Dermansk is dying from a mysterious disease, and only you can save it… if you can first survive the harsh environment around you!
Pathologic 2 gives players more freedom than its predecessor while also telling more detailed stories within its strange world.
ARK: Survival Evolved
ARK: Survival Evolved is one of the most popular survival games on Steam. The appeal of the game is in its satisfying content and survival mechanics. You can join public or private dedicated servers, build houses, and even ride dinosaurs. Set in an alternate universe where man and dinosaurs co-exist, there’s never a shortage of things to do. You, as a human species, must evolve to survive.
There are dozens of dinosaurs to tame and ride, including Dilophosaurus, Raptor, T-Rex, and more! The best part is that all these creatures come with unique abilities and stats, so you can find your favorite ones to use in battle or while exploring the island.
Black Desert Online
Black Desert Online is a fantasy-themed sandbox MMORPG that takes place in a world of danger and hostility. It has a very complex combat system and an intense character customization system. In addition, it features open-world PvP mechanics where players can attack and kill each other at will. Black Desert Online is the one to go for if the player is looking for an MMO game that resembles Rust’s cruel and unforgiving PvP mechanics, including harvesting, gathering, and hunting.
The game has a very complex combat system. It includes dodging, blocking, parrying, and combos. The game also has a profound character customization system that provides everything from hair color to eye color to height. There are also different classes with unique abilities and play styles. Each class has its own fantastic set of skills that can be used in PvE or PvP situations.
Black Desert Online requires significant grind to progress. Players must level up their character by killing monsters or doing quests to get better gear and weapons. A crafting system also allows players to create items they need to progress through the game. The crafting system relies heavily on gathering resources from the environment or farming mobs for drops such as wood or leather.
Mist Survival
The game begins in a randomly generated world with a primary objective of survival by exploring, scavenging, and crafting. While doing so, the player encounters different types of infected and zombies, who are the primary enemies.
There are many ways to die in Mist; players need to be careful with zombies and natural phenomena such as storms, blizzards, heat waves, and even solar flares. There are no actual missions or objectives other than surviving the various challenges that come your way.
Players can find and craft various weapons, tools, and clothing to help them survive and fight off the infected. If players die, they will respawn at their last saved location (set when resting in a bed). There is also a zombie-mode game mode where the player must survive as long as possible without dying.
Minecraft
Minecraft is a game about building, but it has a survival component along the lines of Rust. The existential struggle to build a house with limited resources gives this game purpose. What began as a single-player game was later given a functional multiplayer. As one of the best-selling games in history, Minecraft has gathered a sizeable fan base.
Subnautica
Subnautica is about more than just surviving. It isn’t easy to describe a game like Subnautica in a way that does it justice. It’s so much more than just an underwater survival game. It’s set on an alien planet, and players must explore the depths of a large ocean. It’s really up to you what you do next. You can create a base, build machines, or you can drive a submarine through the vast body of water and see what lies beyond.
Critics loved the game when it came out, and fans still play it today. This is one of those games that is hard to describe but easy to fall in love with once you start playing it.
7 Days To Die
If you love zombie games, it’s hard to ignore 7 Days To Die. The post-apocalyptic world is dangerous and filled with the undead. You start with nothing but a torch and a rock. Then, it’s up to you to explore the world and find materials to survive.
The crafting system is robust and provides you with endless possibilities. You’ll be able to craft new tools, weapons, armor, food, drinks, and more. Even if you’re not a fan of crafting systems, this one is so essential for survival that you’ll want to master it quickly.
The zombies in this game are brilliant. They will follow sound and movement to track you down. The daytime is ideal for building or gathering resources, while nighttime puts you at risk of zombies or other players. Like real life, sleep is essential in 7 Days To Die. Make sure you get enough sleep each night, or else your health will suffer.
Raft
Although most survival games are set in the stone age, Raft is placed on the open sea. You begin your adventure as a man or woman stranded in the middle of the ocean with only a small raft and a hook to your name. As you progress through the game, you’ll be able to build a multi-story raft and explore islands.
You always have to be careful when exploring new islands, though. They can sometimes be infested with hungry sharks or other players!
The Forest
The Forest is a first-person survival game developed by Canadian studio Endnight Games. A small cabin near the crash site serves as a point where the player can rest, save the game, and store items.
The player is tasked with surviving in the wilderness using only their wits and skill to rebuild their strength skills and create tools necessary to survive. The Forest has both single-player and multiplayer modes. Survival tasks include creating shelter, hunting for food, starting a fire, foraging plants, and maintaining health. The player must also guard against cannibalistic mutant enemies in underground bunkers and caves.
Escape From Tarkov
Escape From Tarkov has a reputation for being one of the most challenging shooters in gaming. It has also been a hit with streamers and YouTubers, which has helped it develop an active community since its release in 2017.
The game is set in the fictional city of Tarkov and revolves around a conflict between two private military companies (PMC) that are fighting against each other. Players can enter several different maps to fight over loot, and it is possible to play solo or with friends.
While the game’s focus on survival is prevalent throughout, PVP elements can make Escape From Tarkov feel similar to Call Of Duty and Battlefield. However, survival, PVP, and looting make it one of the unique shooters on this list.
Final Thoughts
If you’re ready to lay waste to your enemies and leave their decaying bodies in the dirt, you will undoubtedly find games like Rust that fit your appetite.
In the end, however, it seems that Rust is a challenging game to beat and will be challenging to dethrone as king of the hill when it comes to building and survival gameplay.
