Best Survival Games on Steam
Steam currently has 6,943 Survival games available to download and play. Explore our list of the best picks ranked by Player Score. Our Player Score rankings are calculated directly from reviews left on the Steam store and will be updated in real-time as more players leave their feedback. Survival game rankings were last updated on 5/1/2024.
Looking for more? Explore other lists such as:
- Free survival games on Steam
- Best survival Steam Deck games
- Best survival Linux games on Steam
- Best survival Steam games for Mac OS
- Free Steam games
- Most played Steam games
- Best rated Steam games
1. Terraria
Dig, fight, explore, build! Nothing is impossible in this action-packed adventure game. Four Pack also available!
Terraria holds the #1 spot for "best Survival game on Steam" with a Player Score of 97. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 1,281,484 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 1,251,095 positive reviews and 30,389 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $9.99 to play and can be played and ran on Windows, Mac, and Linux systems. Valve has also verified it as playable on the Steam Deck and will run well.
2. RimWorld
A sci-fi colony sim driven by an intelligent AI storyteller. Generates stories by simulating psychology, ecology, gunplay, melee combat, climate, biomes, diplomacy, interpersonal relationships, art, medicine, trade, and more.
RimWorld has achieved a Player Score of 97, placing it in the #2 spot for the best Survival games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 185,574 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 181,955 positive reviews and 3,619 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $34.99 to play and can be played and ran on Windows, Mac, and Linux systems. Valve has also verified it as playable on the Steam Deck and will run well.
| Steam Price | $34.99 |
| Release Date | 10/17/2018 |
| Developer | Ludeon Studios |
| Publisher | Ludeon Studios |
| Steam App Id | 294100 |
3. Left 4 Dead 2
Set in the zombie apocalypse, Left 4 Dead 2 (L4D2) is the highly anticipated sequel to the award-winning Left 4 Dead, the #1 co-op game of 2008. This co-operative action horror FPS takes you and your friends through the cities, swamps and cemeteries of the Deep South, from Savannah to New Orleans across five expansive campaigns.
Left 4 Dead 2 has achieved a Player Score of 97, placing it in the #3 spot for the best Survival games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 852,328 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 831,295 positive reviews and 21,033 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $9.99 to play and can be played and ran on Windows, Mac, and Linux systems. Valve has also verified it as playable on the Steam Deck and will run well.
4. Bloons TD 6
The Bloons are back and better than ever! Get ready for a massive 3D tower defense game designed to give you hours and hours of the best strategy gaming available.
Bloons TD 6 has achieved a Player Score of 96, placing it in the #4 spot for the best Survival games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 305,959 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 297,914 positive reviews and 8,045 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $13.99 to play and can be played and ran on both Windows and Mac systems. At the moment, it is possible to play Bloons TD 6 on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).
| Steam Price | $13.99 |
| Release Date | 12/18/2018 |
| Franchise | Ninja Kiwi Games |
| Developer | Ninja Kiwi |
| Publisher | Ninja Kiwi |
| Steam App Id | 960090 |
5. Counter-Strike
Play the world's number 1 online action game. Engage in an incredibly realistic brand of terrorist warfare in this wildly popular team-based game. Ally with teammates to complete strategic missions. Take out enemy sites. Rescue hostages. Your role affects your team's success. Your team's success affects your role.
Counter-Strike has achieved a Player Score of 96, placing it in the #5 spot for the best Survival games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 236,606 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 230,588 positive reviews and 6,018 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $9.99 to play and can be played and ran on Windows, Mac, and Linux systems. At the moment, it is possible to play Counter-Strike on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).
6. Resident Evil 4
Survival is just the beginning. Six years have passed since the biological disaster in Raccoon City. Leon S. Kennedy, one of the survivors, tracks the president's kidnapped daughter to a secluded European village, where there is something terribly wrong with the locals.
Resident Evil 4 has achieved a Player Score of 96, placing it in the #6 spot for the best Survival games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 135,521 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 132,187 positive reviews and 3,334 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $39.99 to play and can be played and ran on Windows systems. Valve has also verified it as playable on the Steam Deck and will run well.
| Steam Price | $39.99 |
| Release Date | 3/23/2023 |
| Franchise | Capcom |
| Developer | CAPCOM Co., Ltd. |
| Publisher | CAPCOM Co., Ltd. |
| Steam App Id | 2050650 |
7. Plants vs. Zombies GOTY Edition
Zombies are invading your home, and the only defense is your arsenal of plants! Armed with an alien nursery-worth of zombie-zapping plants like peashooters and cherry bombs, you'll need to think fast and plant faster to stop dozens of types of zombies dead in their tracks.
Plants vs. Zombies GOTY Edition has achieved a Player Score of 96, placing it in the #7 spot for the best Survival games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 124,739 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 121,684 positive reviews and 3,055 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $4.99 to play and can be played and ran on both Windows and Mac systems. At the moment, it is possible to play Plants vs. Zombies GOTY Edition on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).
| Steam Price | $4.99 |
| Release Date | 5/5/2009 |
| Franchise | PopCap EA |
| Developer | PopCap Games, Inc. |
| Publishers | |
| Steam App Id | 3590 |
8. Deep Rock Galactic
Deep Rock Galactic is a 1-4 player co-op FPS featuring badass space Dwarves, 100% destructible environments, procedurally-generated caves, and endless hordes of alien monsters.
Deep Rock Galactic has achieved a Player Score of 96, placing it in the #8 spot for the best Survival games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 287,293 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 279,077 positive reviews and 8,216 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $29.99 to play and can be played and ran on Windows systems. At the moment, it is possible to play Deep Rock Galactic on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).
| Steam Price | $29.99 |
| Release Date | 5/13/2020 |
| Franchise | Coffee Stain |
| Developer | Ghost Ship Games |
| Publisher | Coffee Stain Publishing |
| Steam App Id | 548430 |
9. tModLoader
Dig, Fight, and Build your way through the world of player-created mods on Terraria with tModLoader - this DLC makes modding Terraria a reality!
tModLoader has achieved a Player Score of 96, placing it in the #9 spot for the best Survival games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 246,398 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 239,154 positive reviews and 7,244 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is completely free to play and can be played and ran on Windows, Mac, and Linux systems. At the moment, it is possible to play tModLoader on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).
10. Factorio
Factorio is a game about building and creating automated factories to produce items of increasing complexity, within an infinite 2D world. Use your imagination to design your factory, combine simple elements into ingenious structures, and finally protect it from the creatures who don't really like you.
Factorio has achieved a Player Score of 96, placing it in the #10 spot for the best Survival games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 178,493 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 173,415 positive reviews and 5,078 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $35.00 to play and can be played and ran on Windows, Mac, and Linux systems. Valve has also verified it as playable on the Steam Deck and will run well.
| Steam Price | $35.00 |
| Release Date | 8/14/2020 |
| Developer | Wube Software LTD. |
| Publisher | Wube Software LTD. |
| Steam App Id | 427520 |
More Survival Games
Explore even more rankings for the 100 best Survival games available on Steam.
| Image | Name | Actions | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | 22,211 | 5/16/2011 | 97 | $9.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 29,128 | 10/17/2018 | 97 | $34.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 15,621 | 11/16/2009 | 97 | $9.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 10,312 | 12/18/2018 | 96 | $13.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 9,532 | 11/1/2000 | 96 | $9.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 2,943 | 3/23/2023 | 96 | $39.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 1,939 | 5/5/2009 | 96 | $4.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 8,022 | 5/13/2020 | 96 | $29.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 20,101 | 5/16/2020 | 96 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 12,518 | 8/14/2020 | 96 | $35.00 | Steam Charts | |
 | 3,042 | 1/24/2018 | 96 | $29.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 9,430 | 6/8/2020 | 96 | $29.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 2,346 | 6/23/2023 | 96 | $4.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 951 | 1/24/2019 | 96 | $39.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 147 | 4/24/2012 | 96 | $14.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 5,211 | 7/30/2019 | 95 | $24.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 715 | 4/23/2013 | 95 | $9.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 6,608 | 8/11/2020 | 95 | $24.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 15 | 1/27/2016 | 95 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 9,002 | 11/1/2004 | 95 | $9.99 | Steam Charts |
Soures & References
Steambase has best-in-class data powered directly by Steam, our data partners, and in-house experts. Reviews and rankings are enriched, analyzed, and updated in real-time to ensure we surface the most up-to-date insights. Learn more about the Steambase approach to data collection and our review methodology.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, May 1). Steam Store. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, May 1). Terraria on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, May 4). RimWorld on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, April 23). Left 4 Dead 2 on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, May 8). Bloons TD 6 on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, March 22). Counter-Strike on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, April 30). Resident Evil 4 on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, February 28). Plants vs. Zombies GOTY Edition on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, May 8). Deep Rock Galactic on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, May 6). tModLoader on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, April 18). Factorio on Steam. Steam Store.