- Quick Summary: A list of intense, survival games like Rust to enjoy next or as an alternative. The list includes top single and multiplayer titles, including DayZ, Sons of the Forest, ARK, Valheim, and more.
If you enjoy intense survival games, Rust is hard to beat. Developed by Facepunch Studios, it’s built around emergent gameplay and high-stakes decisions, with the core loop simple but gripping: gather resources, build a base, and survive against other players.
What makes Rust stand out is its unpredictability. One moment you’re quietly farming materials; the next, you’re defending your base from a raid or negotiating with strangers who could turn on you at any time. But if you’re ready for your next survival fix, there are plenty of other games that capture a similar thrill. Here are some of the best alternatives to Rust you can try next.
Best Games Like Rust
If you want a similar feel of crafting weapons to forming alliances, then check out the best alternatives below.
DayZ
If you love Rust’s tension and unpredictability, DayZ is the one.
You start off your adventure on the coast with absolutely nothing, with the goal of scavenging towns and avoiding the infected. You have to carefully manage hunger, thirst, disease, blood loss, and more, making it a more realistic survival game than most.
Ultimately, you will be taken to a post-apocalyptic world that offers deep survival mechanics in DayZ. Not only do you need to avoid infection, but you also need to be aware of other players who want your head. Sure, you can team up with them, but then there's always the chance they betray you for your loot :(.
7 Days to Die
If you want more of a crafting, tower defense, and survival game in one place, 7 Days to Die is absolutely ideal. Here, you will build up a strong home and fortify it against hordes of zombies that arrive every night.
What's more, 7 Days to Die offers both Co-op and PvP options in an open world map, so it shares a very similar DNA as Rust, where you build, defend, and survive to succeed.
Sons of the Forest
Sons of the Forest is another survival horror game where you begin stranded on an island, with the goal being to scavenge resources, collect weapons, and fight terrifying creatures to stay alive.
Eerily, there are plenty of dark caves filled with creatures to explore, which you unfortunately have to do to scavenge the necessary loot.
By combining crafting, resource management, and unexpected encounters in Sons of the Forest, it's almost the perfect survival horror experience to play after Rust.
ARK: Survival Evolved
ARK: Survival Evolved is a game that feels very much like Rust, just with a bit more prehistoric wonder in the form of tameable dinosaurs.
In ARK, you, once again, build up your base while trying to harness the power of some of the largest creatures to ever roam the earth. Plus, you can form tribes to raid others and expand your home even further.
Exploration really is key, as you will find caves, ruins, and other regions the more you explore. In short, it's an open-world experience that's full of chaos.
Valheim
Valheim is simply a relaxed version of Rust, offering a unique environment where you will craft and build your base, plus explore various regions and find new resources to advance and survive. Each region has its own different bosses, too, making things more challenging than they might seem.
Your goal is to grow stronger by adapting different combat knowledge, and, usually, Valheim is a round survival with cooperative PvE combat, though you may find some PvP elements in it, too.
It's a bit of a complete package, and one that is well worth checking out in more detail if you're a Rust fan.
No Man's Sky
If you love space as well as survival games, then No Man's Sky is a no-brainer.
You will start your journey on a hostile world, trying to gather enough resources to jump to the next galaxy. Yes, galaxy isn't a typo, as No Man's Sky offers massive planets, big sandworms, and mechs to pilot.
In No Man's Sky, you will also get the chance to colonize planets you find, and you can build bases, complete quests, customize spaceships, and even battle Pokémon-like pets.
Early in its life, No Man's Sky wasn't highly rated at all, but with over 10 years of development pumped into it today, it's now one of the most highly regarded games on Steam, and a must-try for fans of Rust.
Conan Exiles
If you want to live out your fantasy of ruling a kingdom, clad in armor, wielding a sword, Conan Exiles is a great choice.
Set in a brutal, barbarian world, you’ll explore vast landscapes and battle everything from crocodiles to hostile factions.
This open-world survival game blends sandbox exploration with MMO-style elements. Plus, you can build your own stronghold, gather followers, and even raise an army to fight alongside you in large-scale, combat-driven battles.
Final Thoughts
That is all for our guide of the best games like Rust. Our final verdict is as follows:
- For pure survival tension - DayZ
- For bigger scale and variety - ARK: Survival Evolved
- Want an immersive story-driven survival experience - Sons of the Forest
And while you're here, make sure you check out the best games like Ratchet and Clank next.
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