3 Genre-Defining Classic Survival Games that Still Hold Up Today

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2026 looks promising for fans of survival games. Several popular games that have been in development for a while, like Enshrouded and Valheim, are planning to officially launch. But if you’re just getting into the genre, or if you’re a long-time player, it’s also fun to revisit the classics. Survival games have been around for a long time, but several titles from the 2010s really helped define the genre, and many of them are still enjoyable to play now.

I’m a big fan of survival games, and what I love about them is that you’re always working to stay alive – managing things like hunger and thirst. Usually, you also get to build a base and craft tools, which is awesome. Honestly, a lot of what makes a survival game great today feels like it started with a few really popular games from the 2010s, and I think those classics are still totally worth playing, whether you’re a long-time fan like me or just curious to see what all the fuss is about.

3) Don’t Starve

Platform(s): PC, PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Mobile

Price: $9.99

You might be surprised to find Don’t Starve among the best survival games of the 2010s. Released in 2013, it drops you into a dark and expansive world blending dangerous science and magic. While its charming, hand-drawn art style makes it unique, Don’t Starve is still a very difficult and demanding survival experience.

Even after 13 years, Don’t Starve remains highly rated on Steam. Players appreciate how challenging it is, especially since it doesn’t simplify the survival experience like some newer games do. It includes all the core elements of a survival game – collecting resources, crafting items, and fighting off creatures – but with a uniquely dark atmosphere. This, combined with its lack of in-game tutorials, has solidified its place as one of the all-time best survival games.

2) Minecraft

Platform(s): PC

Price: $29.99

Considering the recent Minecraft Movie, it’s not surprising that people are still enjoying Minecraft in 2026. It’s actually quite remarkable, considering the game originally came out in 2009. This blocky, open-world survival game has influenced many titles since, including the popular new fantasy game, Hytale.

While known for its distinctive blocky graphics and memorable monsters, Minecraft is also a foundational survival game that shaped the genre as we know it. Many popular survival games today borrow elements from Minecraft, like exploring a vast open world, building, farming, and mining. Because it’s so widely played, Minecraft is often seen as a key game in making the survival genre popular, and it encouraged developers to continue improving and expanding on the core gameplay.

1) Terraria

Platform(s): PC, PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Mobile

Price: $9.99

It’s hard to think of a game that influenced the popularity of survival games more than Terraria. First released in 2011, this exploration RPG still has a dedicated community and continues to receive regular updates – the most recent one came out on January 27th, 2026. While it’s open to discussion whether Terraria is a true survival game, it definitely played a key role in the development of the many action RPGs with survival elements we see today.

Terraria is primarily an action-adventure game centered around exploring the world, building things, and fighting enemies. While it includes some survival aspects, like managing your basic needs, it’s best known for blending these elements with RPG-style character progression. It was a key game in popularizing the sandbox survival genre, and players still love it for that unique combination.

Enjoyed any of these timeless survival games? Share your thoughts in the ComicBook Forum and join the discussion!

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2026-01-24 21:41