The Survivalists similar games & best alternatives

The Survivalists

PlayStation 4, PC (Microsoft Windows), Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, iOS • 2020

Should you play it?

A living world full of surprises, secrets and danger awaits in The Survivalists, an adventure-filled survival sandbox set in The Escapists universe. Explore, build, craft and even train monkeys with up to three friends in a desperate bid to survive. Have you got what it takes to be a Survivalist?

What works
  • Fun and unique monkey automation mechanic
  • Good cooperative multiplayer experience
  • Relaxing and accessible survival gameplay
  • Charming art style and sound design
  • Long playtime with exploration and crafting
Things to keep in mind
  • Some bugs and glitches especially in multiplayer
  • Limited content and repetitive gameplay
  • Multiplayer progression restrictions (host-only unlocks)
  • Clunky ui and monkey management controls
  • Combat can feel buggy and unchallenging

What to play next

Similar games, hidden gems, and fresh directions from this game.

Top picks

Games that feel the closest overall

  • Tinkerlands

  • Smalland: Survive the Wilds

  • Gatewalkers (Alpha)

  • Ale & Tale Tavern: First Pints

  • Eon Altar

  • Darkwater

  • Cattails: Wildwood Story

  • MetaPhysical

  • Enshrouded
Hidden Gems

Less popular games with surprisingly high similarity

  • MetaPhysical

  • Super Cane Magic ZERO - Legend of the Cane Cane

  • Embers Adrift
If you liked…

Recommendations by what you enjoyed most

  • Autonomy

    Job Simulator
  • Cooperation

    ENSLAVED™: Odyssey to the West™ Premium Edition
  • Creativity

    Sunkenland

Similarity map

Explore nearby similar games and see why they’re close.

How to use the graph
Similarity map

Each dot is a game. They are arranged from the same motivation profile as in the “Why this game works” section below. Closer dots usually mean more similar reasons to play (exploration, competition, relaxation, etc.)—not that one game is “better” than another.

  • Purple star: this page’s game — everything on the map is relative to it.
  • Coloured chips: click to highlight games that mainly differ on that motivation; click again to reset.
  • Dotted line: link between this page’s game and the one selected for comparison.
  • Hover a dot for a screenshot preview, score, and top score gaps; click to compare in the panel on the right.
  • Scroll or double-click the chart to zoom out and see more games.

Why don’t the axes read like a score? This view uses t-SNE: it only keeps who is close to whom. The scales are not “good to bad” or hours played—they separate groups on the map. Read distance between dots, not the axis numbers (hidden on purpose).

The Survivalists: A very typical example of its motivational profile. Motivations that often define this kind of title include Cooperation, Fellowship, Intimacy, Leadership. Here, the score leans higher than usual among comparable games on Leadership, Intimacy. It leans lower than usual among comparable games on Competition.

Why this game works

A motivational profile of the game, with the closest similar game for each player motivation.

  • Autonomy

    Game with the same Autonomy vibe

    4

    "Players can choose how to complete tasks with freedom and experiment with objects, supporting a high degree of personal control."

    Capsule for Job Simulator Job Simulator

    "Players have freedom to explore, craft, and direct monkeys to perform tasks, showing high player control and decision-making."

  • Competence

    Game with the same Competence vibe

    3

    "Combat and crafting require skill and strategy; players receive feedback and must overcome challenges, though combat can be clunky."

    Capsule for Pine Pine

    "Game offers skill challenges in combat and crafting with feedback, but some players find combat buggy and crafting slow."

  • Competition

    Game with the same Competition vibe

    -4

    "Focus is on cooperative and solo play without leaderboards or ranked modes; no competitive elements emphasized."

    Capsule for LEGO® Batman™: The Videogame LEGO® Batman™: The Videogame

    "Focus is on cooperative multiplayer and solo play without leaderboards or ranked modes; no competitive elements emphasized."

  • Continuation

    Game with the same Continuation vibe

    3

    "Players report addictive gameplay loops and desire to keep playing, though some note repetition and grind reduce long-term engagement."

    Capsule for Thief Simulator Thief Simulator

    "Players report long playtimes, addictive crafting loops, and desire to keep playing despite some repetitiveness."

  • Cooperation

    Game with the same Cooperation vibe

    4

    "Strong emphasis on cooperation between Monkey and Trip, with gameplay mechanics requiring coordination and interaction between characters."

    Capsule for ENSLAVED™: Odyssey to the West™ Premium Edition ENSLAVED™: Odyssey to the West™ Premium Edition

    "Strong emphasis on multiplayer co-op and working with friends; monkeys also assist in cooperative tasks."

  • Creativity

    Game with the same Creativity vibe

    4

    "Extensive base building, crafting, and decoration systems allow for player creativity and customization."

    Capsule for Sunkenland Sunkenland

    "Players build bases, craft items, and customize monkey roles; some complaints about limited decoration but overall creative freedom."

  • Domination

    Game with the same Domination vibe

    -3

    "Interactions emphasize cooperation and shared goals; no evidence of power imposition or dominance behaviors."

    Capsule for The Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria™ The Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria™

    "Interactions emphasize cooperation and shared goals; no evidence of power imposition or dominance over others."

  • Escapism

    Game with the same Escapism vibe

    4

    "Players use the game as a relaxing, stress-relieving escape with charming story and art."

    Capsule for DORAEMON STORY OF SEASONS DORAEMON STORY OF SEASONS

    "Players use the game as a relaxing, fun escape with charming art and cooperative play to relieve stress."

  • Expectation

    Game with the same Expectation vibe

    -4

    "Players engage voluntarily for fun and social interaction; no indications of obligation or pressure to play."

    Capsule for Demeo x Dungeons & Dragons: Battlemarked Demeo x Dungeons & Dragons: Battlemarked

    "Players engage voluntarily for fun and social connection; no indications of obligation or pressure to play."

  • Experimenting

    Game with the same Experimenting vibe

    3

    "Players explore new islands, experiment with crafting recipes, and try different strategies for combat and navigation."

    Capsule for Salt Salt

    "Players explore new islands, unlock recipes, and experiment with monkey automation and crafting strategies."

  • Exploration

    Game with the same Exploration vibe

    4

    "Core gameplay involves discovering new islands, secrets, and lore; exploration is rewarding and encouraged"

    Capsule for Drake Hollow Drake Hollow

    "Game encourages discovering new islands, secrets, dungeons, and resources; exploration is a core activity."

  • Expression

    Game with the same Expression vibe

    2

    "Some character customization via hats and cosmetic items, though limited and sometimes criticized."

    Capsule for The Magical Mixture Mill The Magical Mixture Mill

    "Some character and monkey customization (hats), but limited cosmetic options overall."

  • Fantasy

    Game with the same Fantasy vibe

    3

    "The game features imaginative cartoonish monkeys, heroes, and bloons, providing a playful fantasy experience."

    Capsule for Bloons TD Battles 2 Bloons TD Battles 2

    "Game features imaginative survival on islands with monkeys as helpers and fantasy elements like orcs and dungeons."

  • Fellowship

    Game with the same Fellowship vibe

    4

    "Strong community and social play focus through local co-op; players enjoy shared experiences with friends and family."

    Capsule for Big Helmet Heroes Big Helmet Heroes

    "Strong community and social play reported; players bond with friends and family through co-op."

  • Growth

    Game with the same Growth vibe

    3

    "Players develop skills in combat, crafting, and survival; learning curve present."

    Capsule for Strayed Strayed

    "Players learn crafting, combat timing, and monkey management; some report a learning curve and skill development."

  • Health

    Game with the same Health vibe

    -4

    "Primarily sedentary gameplay with no physical activity; some players note long sessions and grinding."

    Capsule for Road Redemption Road Redemption

    "Primarily sedentary gameplay with no physical activity; some players note long sessions and grinding."

  • Idle

    Game with the same Idle vibe

    -2

    "Requires active attention for sorting and managing tasks; some waiting periods but generally continuous engagement."

    Capsule for Recycling Center Simulator Recycling Center Simulator

    "Requires active attention to manage monkeys and crafting; some waiting but generally continuous engagement."

  • Intimacy

    Game with the same Intimacy vibe

    3

    "Players form meaningful social bonds and friendships, though not necessarily close emotional relationships."

    Capsule for WEBFISHING WEBFISHING

    "Players form close bonds playing with family and friends; social interactions are meaningful and emotionally positive."

  • Leadership

    Game with the same Leadership vibe

    3

    "Players lead squads and coordinate units; some players take command roles in multiplayer."

    Capsule for Call to Arms Call to Arms

    "Players lead monkeys and coordinate tasks; in multiplayer, some players take host or leadership roles."

  • Progression

    Game with the same Progression vibe

    4

    "Strong sense of progression through unlocking new recipes, tools, islands, and building capabilities."

    Capsule for DRAGON QUEST BUILDERS™ 2 DRAGON QUEST BUILDERS™ 2

    "Strong progression through unlocking recipes, crafting better tools, and expanding base and monkey capabilities."

  • Relaxation

    Game with the same Relaxation vibe

    3

    "Game is described as relaxing and chill with a balance of challenge and ease."

    Capsule for Kitaria Fables Kitaria Fables

    "Game is described as chill and relaxing with a gentle difficulty curve and enjoyable crafting loop."

  • Sensation

    Game with the same Sensation vibe

    2

    "Visuals and sound are charming and pleasant but not highly intense or sensory stimulating."

    Capsule for Cards and Castles 2 Cards and Castles 2

    "Visuals and sounds are pleasant and charming but not highly stimulating; enjoyable sensory experience."

  • Status

    Game with the same Status vibe

    -3

    "No social recognition or multiplayer ranking; achievements are personal and internal."

    Capsule for Frostpunk Frostpunk

    "No social ranking or status systems; achievements are mostly personal or host-dependent in multiplayer."

  • Story

    Game with the same Story vibe

    1

    "Some lore and narrative elements exist but the game is primarily focused on gameplay and mechanics rather than story immersion."

    Capsule for The Last Flame The Last Flame

    "Game has some lore and light story elements but is mostly gameplay focused without deep narrative immersion."

  • Strategy

    Game with the same Strategy vibe

    3

    "Players plan combat tactics, resource management, and base building; some problem solving involved."

    Capsule for SurrounDead SurrounDead

    "Players plan resource gathering, monkey task assignments, and base defense; some strategic problem solving involved."

  • Thrill

    Game with the same Thrill vibe

    1

    "Some tension from combat and exploration, but overall difficulty is moderate and not highly suspenseful."

    Capsule for Lunacid - Tears of the Moon Lunacid - Tears of the Moon

    "Combat and exploration have some tension but overall low difficulty and limited suspense."

  • Value

    Game with the same Value vibe

    2

    "Generally considered good value especially on sale; some feel price is high for content amount."

    Capsule for MarZ: Tactical Base Defense MarZ: Tactical Base Defense

    "Generally considered good value especially on sale; some complaints about price relative to content."

  • Violence

    Game with the same Violence vibe

    1

    "Combat exists but is not the main focus; violence is mild and cartoonish."

    Capsule for Stonehearth Stonehearth

    "Combat exists but is mild and cartoonish; violence is not a major focus or appeal."

  • Survival

    Game with the same Survival vibe

    3

    "Survival mechanics like hunger, stamina, and resource management are part of gameplay; moderate threat level."

    Capsule for The Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria™ The Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria™

    "Survival mechanics present but forgiving; players manage hunger and threats but with low penalty."

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Last update: 01/06/2026