HEADS UP! This is a VERY DATED and probably abandoned piece that will return in a new form one day. Leaving a warning rather than deleting it wholesale because I can’t remember where the fuck I’ve linked it, so here we are.
Welcome to our guide on the wild world of survival game subgenres! We’ve thrown down definitions to help you quickly get the gist of what’s what, making it easier to pinpoint your next obsession. These subgenres aren’t “official” and won’t show up in Steam’s search filters. They’re born out of countless hours of debate within the Hashtag crew and our community, meant to help you navigate the chaotic sea of “survival” titles.
Narrative Survival
Where story and survival meet! These games weave progression directly into the narrative, rewarding you with new crafting recipes, tools, and goodies as you follow the plot. Sometimes, the story is the whole point—other times, it enhances the grind.
Lifestyle Survival
Life simulation with a survival twist. These games focus on day-to-day management, typically set in a specific period or role. Sure, they’ve got some survival mechanics, but it’s more about how you keep the routine going than bracing for death. Unlike Society Survival, you’re front and center here—no puppeteering from the sidelines.
Settlement Survival
Managing groups and rebuilding societies—this is survival on a macro level. You’ll juggle everything from food and water to religion and morale, rebuilding a life post-catastrophe, or staking a claim in some new land. Basically, it’s survival…but for everyone else.
Survival Horror
Survive or die but with more monsters. These games are all about fending off dangerous external threats. You might have to solve puzzles or complete objectives while avoiding gruesome deaths, but don’t expect the same kind of upkeep you see in hardcore survival games.
Nominal Survival
Or as we like to call it, “Survival in the Eye of the Beholder.” These games slap on a survival label with token mechanics—throw in a food bar, crafting, or a basic building system, and voilà, they’re survival (except… not really). Think of them as survival game impostors that only hint at survival elements.
Bushcraft Survival
This is the real deal. These games demand survival skills that would make Bear Grylls proud—think shelter building, fire-crafting, sourcing food and water, and crafting weapons. Every move you make has weight, and comfort is fleeting. It’s hardcore survival where your happy place can go to shit in an instant.
Survival Shooter
Guns, lots of guns. Combat is a huge focus here, often tied into multiplayer elements like base raids. You’ll find survival mechanics like food gathering and base-building, but they’re more of a backdrop to the gunfights. When survival does matter, it’s typically about staying alive long enough to reload.
Survival Craft
These games check all the boxes on paper—open world, crafting, building, and some survival mechanics. But when the danger’s dialed down and the stakes feel toothless, it’s more of a crafting playground than a fight to survive. Great for chill vibes, less so for survival grit. Think full-fledged mechanics but with lower risk and consequence.
Got feedback or a hot take? Hit the comments or join the chaos in our Discord!