Conan Exiles – a wonderful, brutal, and crazy popular game that created or perfected some of the most exciting survival genre mechanics. 

It’s a game that you just cannot be indifferent about. In this dangerous world full of extraordinary enemies, you just have to find a way to survive. And what survival it is!

You had to find food, water, and shelter, so do not think you can just go ahead and get around in this brutal world with only combat skills. Whether you play solo or spend your entire life online – Conan Exiles has something for you!

But, as all things parish, RPG games can get a bit tiresome after playing them for months and months, and it comes the time to finally find something new and exciting. And here, in this guide, we will find that game for you! 

So, be ready to get on board in our search for the next big adventure where survival skills are necessary and other survivors – are not so much. Without further ado, let’s get into some nitty-gritty details!

• Release Date: February 2018 (PC), May 2021 (PS4, XONE)

• Developer: Facepunch Studios, Double Eleven

• Platforms: PC, PS4, XONE

• Metascore: 69

If you want a multiplayer survival game that allows you to do pretty much anything, Rust is right up your alley. The game world is vast and full of enemy players just waiting for you to show your face and blast you from a distance.

This is the closest thing that you can get to a full-blown survival experience there is. And it is set in modern times, so not only can you slice someone, but you can also explore their safe-house! It’s big, scary, and full of surprises and Apache helicopters.

Just remember, the OG players are pretty strict about the rules, so if you want to just roam around and live your life carefree – you will need to find a particular server. If you would come to some publicly available ones, there is a high chance of getting run over pretty fast, so think quickly and get (away from) the Choppa! 

Get Rust now!

• Release Date: January 2018

• Developer: Unknown Worlds Entertainment

• Platforms: Microsoft Windows, MacOS, PlayStation 4 & 5, Xbox One, Xbox X/S, Nintendo Switch

• Metascore: 87

And here is something similar, yet different. Subnautica is an underwater survival game with a great story and an even greater world to explore! You ended up on the alien planet with limited resources and an even more limited understanding of what’s happening. But – it’s all about surviving, so you decided to gather resources and make your way out of this place!

Subnautica is known for its incredible visuals and fantastic storytelling through clues left here and there worldwide. As you probably already know, it’s not only about survival. It’s about exploring the world with all of its mysteries. The game offers some fantastic modes for you to engage in, so get into the boat, and let’s roam the deep seas! 

Get Subnautica now!

• Release Date: August 2017 (PC, PS4, XONE), November 2017 (Switch)

• Developer: Studio Wildcard

• Platforms: PC, PS4, XONE, Switch

• Metascore: 70

ARK: Survival Evolved is one of the most incredible concepts in the history of gaming. Just think about it, you can craft weapons, gather resources, and we forgot, you can also ride dinosaurs with laser guns. Survival Evolved ARK is all you need in this new world full of great games.

It’s full of great lore and just an overall fantastic experience. If you want to find a game where you will fight at the top of a food chain not only to survive but also to prosper – ARK is a gamer for you.

Of course, apart from the insane world and super fun survival elements, it is just a well-produced game. You will not feel like it’s a cheap knock-off of Conan or any similar games. It’s a 100% original concept with one of the best realizations we’ve seen in a long time. And – there is a sequel right around the corner, so be sure to get updated with what’s happening! 

Get ARK: Survival Evolved now!

• Release Date: December 2018

• Developer: Lo-Fi Games

• Platforms: PC

• Metascore: 75

Kenshi is essentially an answer to what would happen if Conan lived a dark and sad life in Japan. Well, if you feel intrigued, here’s Kenshi for you!

It is completely different, as it is not only about collecting resources and trying to survive, like in the case of many games on our list, but it’s also about making choices. Sometimes tough and sad decisions you don’t want to make after all.

The best thing about Kenshi is the non-linear storytelling. And you may think it’s non-linear in the sense that there are a couple of choices throughout the game. And you are wrong, then. In Kenshi, you are just put there to survive. And just live. You can go ahead and do the quests or not. Your choices unlock other possibilities that may or may not lead to something. So, if you like post-apocalyptic worlds full of uncertainty and gloom – check it out! 

Get Kenshi now!

• Developer: Obsidian Entertainment

• Release Date: September 2022

• Platforms: Microsoft Windows, Xbox One, Xbox X/S

• Metascore: 83

Despite what you may think, Grounded is not a survival simulator of not being able to leave your room. It’s much more than that. Imagine being shrunk and fighting with ants to find your way out of the green hell, AKA your backyard.

Well, that is the situation our heroes found themselves in. in this world, insects are not just an annoyance. They are deadly enemies on your way to survival. And it’s not that easy. You need to eat, drink, and, most importantly – find a way to get to your standard size!

It’s beautifully animated with some of the most groundbreaking concepts we’ve seen for a long time now in the survival genre. Fantastical beasts cannot compare to the real threat of a spider mother protecting their spider kids. Definitely worth checking out! 

Get Grounded now!

• Developer: Mojang

• Release Date: November 2011

• Platforms: Microsoft Windows, MacOS, Linux, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch

• Metascore: 93

It’s a game that needs no introduction. Everyone knows what Minecraft is and why it is so popular. 

But, if you slept through the last decade of gaming, let us remind you why it’s so insanely popular. First, you can build anything you want if you have the time to do it. With a complex crafting system and lots of resources to go around, you can even create some famous paintings or copy some famous buildings from the real world.

You can just google “the most impressive Minecraft buildings,” and you will not believe what people were able to create in this game.

Additionally, there is a fun survival element with zombies trying to kill you during the night or a plot where you have to kill a particular dragon to win. Pretty cool stuff, after all, and definitely worth checking out! Of course, only if you want to try the most popular game ever created. But only then, no pressure! 

Get Minecraft now!

• Release Date: April 2014 (PC), June 2015 (PS4, XONE), June 2021 (PS5, Series X/S)

• Developer: ZeniMax Online Studios

• Platforms: PC, PS4, XONE, Xbox Series X/S, PS5

• Metascore: 71

Speaking of all-time classics – here we have The Elder Scrolls Online. Another incredible survival/RPG/viral game on our list.

After the great success of The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, developers decided to take it slow with the next game (that we are still waiting for) and focus on creating a multiplayer experience for millions of people around the world. And, in some ways, they have accomplished that task.

The Elder Scrolls Online is a beautifully animated game with one of the most incredible plots ever to be experienced in MMO. With the addition of survival elements, it’s just a full-blown experience that never ends especially because there are so many add-ons, DLCs, and everything.

The Elder Scrolls Online features complex RPG gameplay combined with survival elements and a world-ending plot. What else can you ask for after finishing Conan: Exiles? 

Get The Elder Scrolls Online now!

• Developer: Expansive Worlds

• Release Date: February 2017

• Platforms: Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One

• Metascore: 83

Have you ever thought – about what would happen if Conan Exiles focused solely on the hunting aspect? Well, now you can find out!

Check out theHunter: Call of the Wild, a realistic hunting survival simulator with some of the best graphics up to date and even better gameplay to match that experience.

If you have ever thought about just picking a rifle and going to the woods to hunt something – think again and just do it on your computer. 

Wild animals are wild and alive, so to keep everyone safe, give a chance this wonderful game. In 2017 it took the world by storm, even though it’s not the biggest of releases.

The gameplay was just so good that people could not look away. Tracking, shooting, sneaking, everything feels immersive and realistic like not that many games these days do. So, if you feel like it – give theHunter a chance.

• Release Date: February 2021 (Early Access)

• Developer: Iron Gate Studio

• Platforms: PC

• Metascore: N/A

Valheim? Why not! It’s a mythological world full of building, resource gathering, and third-person action-adventure style bonanza!

In this game, you not only get to fight with gigantic mythological creatures from the Norse literature but also – build amazing bases, join factions and overall – have some fantastic fun with your friends.

Just watch out; in this game, you can quickly lose most of your loved and cherished ones, as it gets pretty competitive in the long run.

The plot is also pretty interesting. You are among the many Vikings trying to get into Valhalla, the Hall of Heroes. To do that, you must defeat monsters in Yggdrasil, a powerful world full of mythical creatures.

In this procedurally generated world based on Norse mythology, gameplay-wise, you will not be disappointed. Being a Viking has never been boring, and traveling through different worlds is a great plus for this game. Worth getting, for sure! 

Get Valheim now!

• Release Date: April 2018 (PC), 6 November 2018 (PS4)

• Developer: Endnight Games

• Platforms: PC, PS4

• Metascore: 83

The first survival horror on our list! And what a survivor horror it is! You are a survivor of a plane crash. Your son has been kidnapped, so you try to look for them. Unfortunately, some monsters are roaming around. You ended up in The Lost series, with much more customization options and gore elements.

And when it comes to survival games, you can’t get much better plot-wise than this one. Although it may not be the perfect game on our list, it just sinks you in with a well-crafted story and beautiful surroundings.

All that, with great gameplay, is sprinkled all around this game. Of course, you need to do all the necessary things like getting resources, fighting monsters, and understanding who you are as a person, etc., but the main drive of this game is the intriguing story. We wish more games had some excellent writers; maybe we could overlook even more of their issues. 

Get The Forest now!

• Release Date: April 2018 (PC), November 2018 (PS4)

• Developer: Redbeet Interactive 

• Platforms: PC, PS4

• Metascore: N/A

Another survival game on our list. This time, we are trapped on a makeshift raft. We don’t have food; we don’t have resources. The only thing we have is a belief that it will someday end.

Welcome to the Raft! Try to stay alive, although there is no guarantee that you will succeed. The main protagonist in this game is…your organism. That is right, let’s get into some self-care routine, by which we mean, of course, eating, drinking, and sleeping.

If you want to stay alive, you need to collect resources, and, as you probably already know, the human body needs a lot of resources to stay alive.

Craft items, build structures, and try not to get eaten by a shark – it’s that easy!

And if it’s getting a bit overwhelming – try calling a friend! Raft has great survival mechanics suited for a multiplayer mode, where you and your friend can fight together to spread the little resources you have between the two of you. So, if you feel like it’s something you would like to explore, check out the Raft!

• Developer: Battlestate Games

• Release Date: July 2017

• Platform: Microsoft Windows

• Metascore: N/A

Escape From Tarkov may not seem like a Conan Exiles kind of game, but there are many similarities between those two games that you just can’t overlook. It’s a crazy violent survival game where you need to work with your friends to survive in this crazy world.

The best thing about this game is that it is essentially a shooter created in the survival game. Because of that, it takes the best things from both worlds. Shooting is incredible, and the massive world you roam through will satisfy even the most strict Conan Exiles fans.

In Tarkov, you get quests, trade items, and fight with other players for survival.

An interesting thing about this game is that each match lasts about an hour. If you die – you lose everything, and you need to start again. So, if you want to play a survival game, like Conan Exiles, but don’t want to spend hours upon hours engaging in the gameplay, maybe Escape from Tarkov is something you should try. 

Get Escape From Tarkov now!

• Release Date: October 2017

• Developer: Monolith Productions

• Platforms: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Xbox Cloud Gaming, iOS, Microsoft Windows

• Metascore: 75

It’s not technically a “survival” game, but it’s so close to the Conan world that we just had to include it in our list. The best thing about this game is the world that we all love and cherish. J.R.R. Tolkien created an incredible masterpiece to make it feel immersive and fun to be in. In this game, you don’t have all the gathering resources/building structures elements, but there’s a wonderful fantasy world and some of the best characters from Lord of the Rings, such as Sauron, Shelob, and Gollum.

If you crave the fantasy aspect of Conan Exiles world and not only the survival mode, you will find a lot of joy in playing Middle-earth: Shadow of War. With a fantastic Nemezis system and lots and lots of lore for you to explore, it’s a no-brainer. 

Get Middle-earth: Shadow of War now!

• Release Date: March 2016 (PC), February 2016 (PS4, XONE)

• Developer: Ubisoft Montreal 

• Platforms: PC, PS4, XONE

• Metascore: 76

This one is an excellent gem for all Conan enthusiasts. Far Cry Primal will make all the Conan enthusiasts feel appreciated in this fantastic and bloody game.

In this edition of the series, we go back 12 000 years to become a hunter in primal times. The world is unwelcoming, and people are another animal in the world, still waiting to conquer it in the future.

Fight with mammoths, craft weapons, and fight for your survival! In this game, you take control of Takkar, a hunter who not only can do whatever hunters did during those times but also – you can communicate with animals. That way, you can lead them to destroy your enemies and become the most significant world out there!

Even though it may feel a bit weird to get into the prehistoric world’s shenanigans, it is an entertaining and fast-paced game with a lot to offer. In this semi-open world, you will see a lot of outstanding survival elements and even better exploration ones for your pleasure. It’s probably something you’ve never experienced before, so be sure to give this a chance! 

Get Far Cry Primal now!

• Release Date: August 2017 (PC, PS4), April 2018 (XONE), April 2019 (Switch) 

• Developer: Ninja Theory

• Platforms: PC, PS4, XONE, Nintendo Switch

• Metascore: 83

It’s beautiful and exciting, and…it’s not like Conan Exiles. At least at first sight. Because as you travel through Helheim and see ale the Norse myths and legends with your own eyes, you start to notice that it’s similar to the story of our beloved muscular friend.

Senua is one of the best-crafted narrative-drive games ever, winning dozens of awards and for a reason. The story of Senua is tragic but so enjoyable. With all the fantastical elements, legendary themes, and overall – great gameplay, you will not be disappointed.

The game features some beautiful visuals combined with slowly getting mad Senua’s perspective makes up an exciting story that indeed will move the hearts of many people. It may not be the survival game you hoped for, but it is worth checking out if you’re a fan of Conan Exiles. 

Get Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice now!

And here we are, at the end of our road. We hope that you found something suiting for you. There are so many games similar to Conan Exiles on this list, that we are sure that at least one of them will get you where you want to go. 

It was a great pleasure revisiting all these incredible places and traveling through them to survive the harsh reality they present. Although not all of them were strictly survival games, but still were an exciting addition to any Conan fans.

We have a great library of articles like this, so if you want to find more games around the same topic, let us know. We’ll be happy to provide you with some good knowledge and fantastic adventures. And – see you at the next one!