It’s a cruel world out there, but our world is a lot better than some of the virtual landscapes you go through in the best survival games. Sometimes it really is a matter of survival of the fittest, especially when it comes to survival games on mobile. The genre is well suited to handheld devices, and sometimes it’s nice to see if you can safely lead someone to victory – although for me it usually ends in their downfall. Oh well, better them than me and all that jazz.
So if you want to see if you’ve got the chops to survive zombie outbreaks, desert island desertions, and exile, we’ve got the perfect list for you. We went into the wilderness, took a lot of risks and returned safely with the best survival games on mobile. If you want to overcome even more challenges, our list of the best Switch survival games is the place to be.
If the idea of being stranded on an island and finding your own Wilson isn’t for you, don’t worry, you can go relax with our list of the best games like Stardew Valley. Or, if you want a more harrowing survival test, we suggest you venture into our picks for the best Resident Evil games – there are crazy villagers, tons of zombies and rabid dogs to boot, good luck!
Anyway, without further ado, here are the best survival games on mobile:
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Don’t Starve: Pocket Edition
Don’t starve, have a sandwich or something. Okay, in all seriousness, Don’t Starve is a great choice if you’re looking for a survival game, and the mobile adaptation happens to be a very good version of the game. You play as Wilson (is this intentional or a happy coincidence?) and find yourself in the wilderness all alone, with little to no resources at your disposal. You must dig deep, cut down trees, hunt for food and withstand the elements.
Don’t Starve: Pocket Edition is a charming game, it is full of dangerous situations and many creatures that want to ruin your day – don’t let them. Embrace your inner Bear Grylls, make your way through this strange land, uncover its mysteries and find your way home.
Play Don’t Starve: Pocket Edition on Apple Arcade.
LifeAfter
It’s a harsh world out there, and wherever you are – be it frozen mountainscapes, a burning desert, or lush jungles – zombies are everywhere. One of the best things about LifeAfter is that it doesn’t force you to endure such hostility alone. You can make friendships, each of which will increase your chances of survival. Well, that’s assuming they don’t betray you at the first opportunity.
Remember, it’s not just about avoiding becoming zombie fodder, but also about finding food for yourself and building a shelter that can protect you from anything that wants to end your life.
Stormfall: Survival Story
Survival games don’t have to be all about post-apocalyptic worlds and zombies, you know. Sometimes it’s nice to forget about the walking dead and return to a time when a bunch of angry people throw you into exile – I know that’s still not a great scenario, but at least there are no zombies.
In Stormfall, you must do whatever it takes to survive as you build a new life for yourself in exile. You must fight starvation, withstand the elements, develop weapons, craft equipment and learn what it means to truly be a survivor.
Ark: Survival Evolved
Okay, we’re going back even further this time, to a time before humans walked the Earth. Ark: Survival Evolved sends you to a place where dinosaurs roam the land, and if you thought survival in the camp of Scouts was tough, well, you’re getting a rude awakening with this one.
Honestly, if there was ever a time to scream “I’m a survivor” this is it, and chances are you really are alone, so no one is going to tell you to shut up – although the way of a dinosaur to do this might be to eat you, so there’s that. Ark contains all the stereotypical survival game elements – you have to scavenge for food, resources and set up camp. Plus you’ll need to adjust your clothes as cold and heat can kill you just as much as a dino – so much fun.
Live or Die: Zombie Survival
Here’s another game with both a post-apocalyptic world and an obscene amount of zombies. You know the drill, collect supplies, craft your gear, and go hit some brain teasers. Of course, this is all about survival of the fittest, and that means building not only a base to keep out the brain-loving madmen, but also a fortress that can keep out your fellow survivors. It’s a world where dogs eat, so all you can say is live or die. Make your choice.
Minecraft Pocket Edition
How on earth can I write a list on survival games without including Minecraft? Like it or not, we’ve all beaten trees, mined ore, and sheared sheep. Minecraft is a great game if you want to both test your resolve and just sympathize while you’re doing it – there’s no pressure here, just chill vibes, cool air and a whole lot of farm animals. At least until nightfall, then bam, zombies, spiders and creepers, oh dear.
But seriously, it’s a great game to play if you don’t want to think. Sometimes you just want to exist, and this game lets you do that. We also have some guides such as Minecraft diamonds and Minecraft houses, in case you want a helping hand. And if you want more games like Minecraft, check out our picks for the best games like this on Switch and mobile.
Phew, there you have it, the best survival games on mobile – may the odds ever be in your favor. If you want an adventure filled with rainbows, sunshine, magic and unicorns, check out our fun lists of the best Mario games and the best Disney games. Go ahead, make this part of your world.
