The Survivalists similar games & best alternatives
The Survivalists
2020
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Quick resume
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?
Global score
76/100
Genres
Action, Adventure, Casual, Indie, Strategy, Role-playing (RPG), Simulator
Similar games
Pros
- 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
Cons
- 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
Analysis
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.
How to use the graph
Similar games map
Each dot is a game. They are arranged from the same motivation profile as in the “Motivations” section below. Closer dots usually mean more similar reasons to play (exploration, competition, relaxation, etc.)—not that one game is “better” than another.
- Larger dot with a light outline: the game you are viewing.
- Colour: groups of games with comparable motivation patterns (statistical clusters).
- Hover a dot to see the game name; click to open its page.
- 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.
Motivations
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Autonomy4
"Players have freedom to explore, craft, and direct monkeys to perform tasks, showing high player control and decision-making."
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Competence3
"Game offers skill challenges in combat and crafting with feedback, but some players find combat buggy and crafting slow."
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Competition-4
"Focus is on cooperative multiplayer and solo play without leaderboards or ranked modes; no competitive elements emphasized."
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Continuation3
"Players report long playtimes, addictive crafting loops, and desire to keep playing despite some repetitiveness."
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Cooperation4
"Strong emphasis on multiplayer co-op and working with friends; monkeys also assist in cooperative tasks."
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Creativity4
"Players build bases, craft items, and customize monkey roles; some complaints about limited decoration but overall creative freedom."
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Domination-3
"Interactions emphasize cooperation and shared goals; no evidence of power imposition or dominance over others."
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Escapism4
"Players use the game as a relaxing, fun escape with charming art and cooperative play to relieve stress."
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Expectation-4
"Players engage voluntarily for fun and social connection; no indications of obligation or pressure to play."
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Experimenting3
"Players explore new islands, unlock recipes, and experiment with monkey automation and crafting strategies."
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Exploration4
"Game encourages discovering new islands, secrets, dungeons, and resources; exploration is a core activity."
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Expression2
"Some character and monkey customization (hats), but limited cosmetic options overall."
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Fantasy3
"Game features imaginative survival on islands with monkeys as helpers and fantasy elements like orcs and dungeons."
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Fellowship4
"Strong community and social play reported; players bond with friends and family through co-op."
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Growth3
"Players learn crafting, combat timing, and monkey management; some report a learning curve and skill development."
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Health-4
"Primarily sedentary gameplay with no physical activity; some players note long sessions and grinding."
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Idle-2
"Requires active attention to manage monkeys and crafting; some waiting but generally continuous engagement."
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Intimacy3
"Players form close bonds playing with family and friends; social interactions are meaningful and emotionally positive."
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Leadership3
"Players lead monkeys and coordinate tasks; in multiplayer, some players take host or leadership roles."
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Progression4
"Strong progression through unlocking recipes, crafting better tools, and expanding base and monkey capabilities."
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Relaxation3
"Game is described as chill and relaxing with a gentle difficulty curve and enjoyable crafting loop."
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Sensation2
"Visuals and sounds are pleasant and charming but not highly stimulating; enjoyable sensory experience."
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Status-3
"No social ranking or status systems; achievements are mostly personal or host-dependent in multiplayer."
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Story1
"Game has some lore and light story elements but is mostly gameplay focused without deep narrative immersion."
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Strategy3
"Players plan resource gathering, monkey task assignments, and base defense; some strategic problem solving involved."
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Thrill1
"Combat and exploration have some tension but overall low difficulty and limited suspense."
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Value2
"Generally considered good value especially on sale; some complaints about price relative to content."
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Violence1
"Combat exists but is mild and cartoonish; violence is not a major focus or appeal."
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Survival3
"Survival mechanics present but forgiving; players manage hunger and threats but with low penalty."
Where to buy
Last update: 29/04/2026