Best Psychological Survival Games

The survival genre is among the most popular across all video games platforms, and has been for over a decade. With a huge variety of options, some players may be looking for titles that offer a different spin on the genre. As more people become increasingly interested in the subject of psychology, it is interesting to see how developers weave psychological aspects into their games in an attempt to add layers of immersion and storytelling.

Such elements leave players to question their decision-making, as well as questioning whether what they are seeing is really true. The psychological survival genre holds plenty of potential for developers to deepen the narrative and mechanics of their games, even in subtle ways. While this is most often associated with horror, these games feature more of a focus on survival than scaring players. Of course, that is not to say that they are in any way less intense or memorable.

5 The Pale Beyond

Players Won’t Know Who To Trust On Their Arctic Expedition

Bellular Studios’ The Pale Beyond is a carefully crafted, hand-drawn game in which players act as the first mate of a crew setting out on a mysterious voyage. In addition to managing the supplies and lives of the crew, players will become tangled in a complex story full of suspicion and intrigue. Combining elements of point-and-click RPGs with survival and management mechanics, players feel the pressure of an anxious expeditionary who has been somewhat in the dark about the precise details of their mission.

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The game features a number of psychological elements. Players must manage their way through disaster, with the possibility of losing a crewmate at every turn. While the game is a lot more story-focused than one would typically expect from a survival title, it is more that the survival mechanics enhance an already solid RPG adventure game. Fans of Citizen Sleeper and other Fellow Traveller games are sure to enjoy The Pale Beyond with its unique blend of genres and dilemmas.

4 Metro Exodus

A Post-Apocalyptic Survival Game With An Unstable Protagonist

While it’s not considered a conventional survival game due to its story-heavy focus, Metro Exodus, the third title in the Metro series, expanded the game to an open-world setting and introduced many survival elements, forcing players to remain on their toes. As players of the first two games will know, the player character, Artyom, suffers from hallucinations. He will occasionally see figures and hear voices that are not actually in his surrounding environment.

With players having to manage their air and ammunition in this post-apocalyptic wasteland, there can be moments of anxiety and sheer terror, particularly when trying to find a safe place before nightfall. At night, the hallucinations increase, along with an array of mutant predators who are even more fearsome than those encountered during the day. The game’s incredible atmosphere, as well as a story which players can invest in, make Metro Exodus one of the best titles in the genre.

3 Subnautica

An Underwater Survival Adventure With Twists And Turns

Unknown World Entertainment’s underwater exploration game Subnautica is a unique experience. Players crash-land on an alien ocean planet and must piece together the mystery surrounding the disaster. In addition to an intriguing story, which becomes increasingly complex as the game progresses, players will also encounter a variety of incredible creatures along the way. From the hypnotic Mesmer to the colossal deep water Leviathans, there are hours of fun to be had roaming the open world.

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Players must craft equipment and can build a variety of useful tools and vehicles, as well as construct bases, which can be one of the most fun elements of the game. While the game does not contain intentional horror elements, there is always a pang of thalassophobia that accompanies each excursion into new waters. The game also recieved a follow-up titled Subnautica: Below Zero with a new character and setting in an icy region of the planet.

2 Sons Of The Forest

Builds Upon The Psychological Elements Of Its Predecessor

Endnight Games’ Sons Of The Forest and its 2018 prequel, The Forest, both showcase the genre of psychological survival perfectly. In both games, players find themselves stranded on a remote island with no equipment and no instructions on what to do next. As time progresses, players manage to acquire food, build basic shelters, and begin to learn about materials. However, they will soon find themselves stalked by roving cannibal tribes, and worse.

There are many ways to interact with the cannibals, beyond simply killing them. Players can in fact eat them and become a cannibal themselves, at the cost of in-game sanity. What makes the game such a psychological roller coaster is the sense of never truly being able to relax. The sound design and AI of the enemies are very sophisticated, and overall, both games are among the best survival experiences players can have.

1 Green Hell

The Amazonian Survival Experience Lives Up To Its Name

Creepy Jar’s Green Hell is one of the most hardcore survival games out there, with sanity and hallucination playing a central role in both the mechanics and the story. In addition to having to craft tools, weapons, and shelter, players must also get adequate food and sleep, all while avoiding the plethora of poisonous creatures lurking in the Amazon rainforest. On top of all this, players will also begin to hear voices and see hallucinations if their sanity gets low, making it hard to distinguish real threats from imaginary ones.

To add further psychological destabilization, the player is regularly required to drink the psychedelic Amazonian brew, ayahuasca, in order to recall memories from their past and piece together what led them to this situation. The game has featured regular content updates since its release in 2019, and even features a standalone VR version for extreme survival enthusiasts.

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