Summary
Thesurvival gamegenre, at one point considered to be a rather niche genre, has become increasingly popular over the last decade, particularly with the release of games likeSubnauticain 2014,ARK: Survival Evolvedin 2017, andValheimin 2021. EvenMinecraft, which is arguably one ofthe most influential video gamesever made, formerly amassed a unique crowd of gamers and has since risen to global dominance in the genre as it continues to attract more players. Now, in 2024, the genre’s popularity has never been more apparent.
Survival gameshave generally been few and far between. Every few years, the genre will see a big release, with its popularity usually reaching enormous heights during the first few weeks and then tapering off to a plateau later. However, things are looking rather different in 2024, as this year is proving to be huge for survival games, with two notable successes under its belt already and more still to come.
2024 Has Already Seen Successful Survival Games
As of now, when gamers think of 2024 survival games, they will likely call to mind two games in particular: Pocketpair’sPalworldand Keen Games’Enshrouded. These two indie titles, currently in early access, have already garnered significant followings, thoughPalworldhas far outperformedEnshroudedin its Steam reviews, now numbering over 200,000 compared toEnshrouded’s over 25,000. Many fans have taken to the internet to express their love for the two titles, to the point of starting debates as to which one is better than the other.
Although they are both survival games,PalworldandEnshroudedare drastically different from one another in their approach to the survival formula.Palworld, commonly referred to as “Pokemonwith guns,” sees players exploring the open world of the Palpagos Islands in search of Pokemon-like creatures known as Pals, battling other Pals and bosses along the way. Typical survival mechanics like hunger, crafting, and dropped loot upon death have made their way intoPalworldas well.Enshrouded, on the other hand, takes players to the world of Embervale where they must traverse a mysterious fog known as the “Shroud.“UnlikePalworld,Enshroudedleans heavily into lore and worldbuilding, which ultimately sets it apart from thePokemon-esque survival RPG.
Palworld
WHERE TO PLAY
In this game, you can peacefully live alongside mysterious creatures known as Pals or risk your life to drive off a ruthless poaching syndicate. Pals can be used to fight and breed, or they can be made to work on farms or factories. You can even sell them or eat them.Survival: In a harsh environment where food is scarce and vicious poachers roam, danger waits around every corner. To survive, you must tread carefully and make difficult choices…even if that means eating your own Pals when the time comes.Mounts & Exploration: Pals can be mounted to traverse the land, sea and sky—allowing you to traverse all kinds of environment as you explore the world.Collect all kinds of exciting Pals to fight, farm, build, and work for you in this completely new multiplayer, open world survival and crafting game!
There Are More Survival Games Confirmed for 2024
PalworldandEnshroudedwill likely not be the only survival games remembered for a successful 2024 debut, as the year has a healthy lineup of survival titles, some of which are highly anticipated. From what has been disclosed so far by their developers and in their footage, 2024’s survival titles aim to bring something fresh to the survival genre. Many of them are sequels to the formulas and worlds established by their predecessors.
Among 2024’s most anticipated survival titles areARK 2,Nightingale, andS.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl, withARK 2likely holding the top spot.ARK 2aims to evolve its predecessor’s formula with an even heavier emphasis on its narrative and characters, one of whom is played byactor Vin Diesel.Nightingaleis another highly anticipated survival game, coming from indie developer Inflexion Games, and the release ofS.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobylby GSC Game World is a long time coming, as its predecessor released in 2007.
With the first month of 2024 already seeing such successful survival titles added to the genre’s growing library, the hope is that the rest of this year’s survival games accomplish the same. At the very least,PalworldandEnshroudedhave already set an undeniable standard for survival games to come, and that includes upcoming titles likeARK 2andNightingale.
Nightingale
Nightingale is a PVE open-world survival crafting game played solo (offline or online), or cooperatively with friends. Build, craft, fight and explore as you venture through mystical portals into a variety of amazing and fantastical realms.You are stranded beyond our world, cut off by the collapse of the arcane portalnetwork. This catastrophe has left you fighting to survive in a labyrinth of beautiful and dangerous Fae realms.Your goal: become a skilled Realmwalker, and navigate the web of transdimensional portals. Only then can you discover your way to the magical city of Nightingale, the last known bastion of humanity.Prepare to make your way through Faewild forests, harrowing swamps, and shimmering deserts as you unlock the portals leading deeper into the lands of Fae. Cook meals, build shelter and muster the spirit to persevere in the face of adversity.
