Best Survival Games on Xbox Game Pass

Xbox Game Pass is home to a vast library of titles, but pure survival games are a rare treat on the platform. Survival games deliver unique experiences for all types of players.

Whether you enjoy the atmosphere, the grind, or just the freedom to explore and mess around with friends, these games usually have much to offer.

If any of the above is what you’re looking for, there is a selection of great games on Game Pass that fit the bill.

10 State of Decay 2

Unity, Survival, and Zombies

State of Decay 2 is a survival game set in a post-apocalyptic world infested with zombies. While the game received a mixed reception at launch, Undead Labs has done a great job updating and polishing it.

The game now has better weapons, more mission variety, and diverse characters. It differentiates itself from other zombie games by adding a community element. Rather than surviving alone, you manage a group of survivors who have their own unique skills, traits, and needs.

You build up a community of these NPCs and try to survive in this decrepit world as a group. Of course, there are zombie hordes that are ready to wreak havoc on your base.

You must constantly juggle keeping the survivors safe and venturing out to find supplies. While it can get stressful, the combat, weapons, and the variety of zombies make this a bloody frenzy that is incredibly fun to play.

9 Grounded

Hope You’re Not Scared of Bugs

Like any other survival game, Grounded is all about building a base, gathering resources, and trying to survive against mobs. The twist here is that the enemies in this game are insects, and you’re a tiny human that has been shrunk to the size of an ant.

Your goal is to survive, explore, and figure out why you have been shrunk and how to reverse this situation. The story unravels itself as you discover different locations, find clues, and fight enemies along the way.

Some of the bugs and creatures in this game can help you along on your journey, while others (such as the spiders) will just try to kill you.

You can craft a range of weapons, from makeshift tools to more advanced gear that help you defend against or tame these creatures. The combat system revolves around dodging and out-maneuvering enemies while taking help from the surrounding environment.

The premise and the world is unique, helping Grounded stand out from the dozens of survival games out there.

8 Medieval Dynasty

A Chill Adventure in the Middle Ages

Medieval Dynasty is an underrated game that has survival elements at its core, but a blend of multiple other genres thrown into the mix.

It combines survival, simulation, and role-playing elements in a detailed medieval setting.

You start as a humble farmer or hunter and gradually develop skills to build and lead a thriving village. Customize your settlement, manage resources, and recruit villagers while navigating the challenges of the Middle Ages.

The progression system here is unique, as you can marry a character, raise a family, and pass on your legacy.

There’s also a vast open world filled to the brim with resources, quests, and NPCs. It’s a surprisingly cozy game where you can enjoy exploring the land and interacting with different characters.

Combat is a bit limited, but that’s not the game’s main focus anyway. There is a bit of a learning curve to the game, as you’ll only figure out some mechanics through trial and error, but it’s definitely one of the best survival games out there.

Related

10 Best Medieval Fantasy Games, Ranked

Medieval fantasy is one of the most popular genres in the video game industry at the moment. Here are some of the best games for fantasy lovers.

7 Core Keeper

Stardew Valley Meets Terraria

If you enjoyed the Mines and Skull Cavern in Stardew Valley and wish they were turned into their own fully fleshed out game, Core Keeper can scratch that itch for you.

The game starts by having you explore a forest where you discover a mysterious object. Interacting with this object teleports you down to the cavernous depths of the game. From here, your objective is to build a base, gather resources, craft gear, and find your way out.

The cavern you find yourself in is seemingly endless and procedurally generated. It’s also filled to the brim with enemies such as slimes, bats, and more dangerous creatures that resemble hydras, tentacles, and golems.

Each enemy and boss has unique attack patterns and abilities, forcing you to play dynamically. It’s a lot like T erraria, but this pixel art game features a top-down perspective and enough of its own personality to stand out.

6 This War of Mine

A Somber Experience

This War of Mine is a title that can break you emotionally. The game takes place in a war-torn and besieged city, and the story plays out through different scenarios, each having linear chapters.

Where there’s an end to each scenario, you’re less focused on “winning” and more on surviving. The premise is that there are no winners in war, and you’ll feel the burden of this statement as you play the game.

Most of the gameplay loop revolves around managing resources, scavenging during the night, and caring for your survivors during the day. A lot of the time, you’ll need to make difficult decisions where you either prioritize survival or morality.

There are also some characters you’ll be unable to save, and that’s a tough pill to swallow after you spend days caring for them. That alone makes it one of the saddest games out there.

The music, sound effects, and atmosphere set the scene for this bleak and harrowing world. Every moment feels laden with tension, and the result is a highly immersive game that leaves a lasting impact.

5 Valheim

An Immersive Viking Adventure

Valheim will immerse you in a vast, procedurally generated Viking world full of rich biomes. You explore lush forests and treacherous mountains to gather resources, build, and battle to establish your place in Valhalla.

The gameplay loop focuses on gathering resources, crafting weapons and armor, and building longhouses to withstand weather and mythical enemies like trolls and draugr.

The game exploded onto the scene a couple of years ago, and its popularity can be attributed to its engaging co-op mechanics, art style, and alterable terrain.

It also features a dynamic weather system, sailing, and ancient ruins with hidden treasures. Valheilm can be enjoyed solo or with a group of up to 10 players.

4 Palworld

A Surprising Blend of Multiple Games

Palworld is infamously referred to as “Pokémon with guns”. While that’s a fitting description for the game, the game is actually closer to Ark than Pokémon.

You survive in this world by capturing Pals and putting them to work on your base. Of course, you can also take them on your adventures and have them battle other Pals.

The world is surprisingly immersive with different biomes, and some of the boss fights are a lot of fun. Each Pal has unique attacks, abilities, and proficiencies, and some of the dragon Pals are really cool.

Apart from just exploring and taming Pals, you also have to withstand hunger, thirst, and elemental woes. You’ll also get attacked or challenged by thugs and other enemies who will try to raid your base.

The game is still in early access, but it is very polished and offers a lot of content. More content will be added with upcoming updates, but Pocketpair’s ongoing legal battle with Nintendo might affect that.

3 Ark: Survival Ascended

Taming Dinosaurs Has Never Been Better

Ark: Survival Ascended is Studio Wildcard‘s remake of Ark: Survival Evolved. The new game features upgraded graphics, revamped mechanics, and an all-new sound design.

The game enhances the original environmental threats, such as hunger and weather, alongside a lot of quality-of-life features. Players can still enjoy taming dinosaurs, exploring dangerous caves, and engaging in chaotic boss fights.

You start nearly naked, and the environment (including hostile dinosaurs) is out to ruin your fun. However, once you get your base going, get some cool weapons, and tame some useful dinos, that’s when the game gets enjoyable.

Flying around with friends on a gigantic dinosaur will always be entertaining. With the new locations and challenges, there is a big promise for even more shenanigans in this enhanced version.

2 Terraria

Dig, Fight, Explore, Build

Terraria is often compared to Minecraft, but bothare entirely different games. While both titles belong to the survival genre, Terraria is more about battling enemies and bosses while upgrading your gear.

Sure, there’s a lot of exploration and building, but that mainly serves as a means to working your way up to more challenging fights.

There are a lot of items and weapons in the game, meaning there are plenty of different playstyles you can try out. The maps and exploration are similar to many 2D Metroidvania games but with procedural generation.

You can spend hours upon hours in this world, and while the mechanics may seem simple, it gets surprisingly challenging at times. The progression and loot system keep you hooked, and the creative ways you can tackle fights make this one of the best 2D platformers out there.

1 Minecraft

The Best Sandbox Out There

Minecraft will always be the name most people think of when it comes to sandbox survival games. It’s a game you can tackle at your own pace, and you’re not punished for it.

You can ignore the Ender Dragon and spend several days building the perfect automated farm with Redstone. If that doesn’t interest you, try building cool structures like castles, fountains, or gigantic landmarks.

While beating the Ender Dragon is technically the end of the game, you can’t realistically finish the game as it is constantly being updated. It’s an amusing game with never-ending content, and it’s even better with friends or family.