One of the reasons survival games are so popular is that survival is deeply rooted in our nature. Letting out that aspect of ourselves through these games gives us a thrill. By playing survival games, we get to gauge how we'd react in different kinds of life-threatening situations, and see if we're capable enough to make it out alive.
While there are several of these games available on mobile devices, only a few of them stand out. These survival games will definitely put your skills to the test. We've picked the ones we thought would provide a decent challenge, while also offering a variety of settings.
Updated on February 7, 2023, by Yolly del Prado: Are you on the hunt for a new survival challenge? Don't worry, we've got you covered! We've updated our list with even more fun and engaging mobile survival games for easy pickup, whether at home or on the go. We selected diverse game entries that feature pragmatic gameplay elements and superb visuals for a compelling and veritable mobile survival experience. Do you have the guts and wits to survive in these hostile worlds? Bring it on!
12 Gladiators: Survival In Rome
Gladiators: Survival in Rome is an action RPG that combines elements of survival and camp-building mechanics. However, its riveting plot is what will really get you hooked on the game. Travel back in time and overthrow the ambitious Roman leaders trying to tyrannize the Empire.
Play as a fugitive from the cruel army, whose goal is to help survivors and innocent citizens from being enslaved, all while sustaining your well-being. Make allies, slay enemies, gather resources, and work together to rebuild a free city. Grind your way to the top and become the greatest gladiator on the field.
11 The Wild Darkness
The Wild Darkness is a roguelike game that takes you on a wild survival adventure in a mysterious dark world. You wake up in the middle of the forest with no recollection of anything, forced to adapt to your new reality and build your way up from scratch. However, keep in mind that you only get one chance at it. If you die, you have to start from the very beginning – putting the saying "we only get one life" into play, so make it count.
Every time you start over, you are transported to an unfamiliar map instead of the previous one you played on, providing you with endless challenges instead of having you simply memorize the levels to get past them. It is a game you will be playing as if your life actually depended on it. But don’t fret, there are pointers to help you progress as you play the game. Find out how many days you can survive in the wild, and discover the truth of how you ended up where you are.
10 Zgirls 2-Last One
A multiplayer zombie survival game in anime form? There’s no better combination than that. Zgirls 2-Last One displays incredible animated visuals that will make it feel as if you’re playing out an action-packed animated TV series. With this approach, the life-threatening aspect of the game becomes a lot less intimidating but all the more fascinating.
Take control of a cool bionic girl in a zombie-infested world who has only one goal in mind: to survive. Do this by gathering resources across the map, crafting equipment, constructing shelters, hunting for food, and unlocking awesome gadgets to help you with slaying the zombies. Additionally, keep an eye out for other players that are out to steal your loot. To increase your chances of survival, join a clan, create an alliance with other players, and together face whatever threats come your way.
9 Don't Starve: Pocket Edition
Don’t Starve: Pocket Edition brings the popular PC survival game to your mobile device. Its hand-drawn 2D gothic art style sets the tone for a wild and epic adventure infused with science and magic. It is a survival experience like no other.
As the title implies, your main goal is to ensure you don't end up dying of starvation. However, as you navigate through the bizarre magical world, you'll realize it's not as easy as it seems. You will come across various obstacles and surprises that will make it increasingly difficult to accomplish your objectives while keeping your hunger at bay. Strategically use your skills and wits to adapt to ever-changing situations and find a way to make it out alive.
8 The Last Fortress: Underground
Join a group of survivors in rebuilding a fortress from the ground up to shelter yourselves from zombies that have taken over the outside world. Each survivor you'll come across has their own unique skills to help sustain life in the stronghold, from doctors to miners to soldiers and so on. Take in as many refugees, and put together the most effective team to progress through various situations.
Amidst the chaos, Last Fortress: Underground does a great job of easing the tension by injecting humorous dialogues at crucial moments. After all, laughter is surely a helpful way to cope with the stress of living in a zombie-infested world. Establish and manage a thriving community, eliminate the zombies, and save humanity from extinction!
7 Westland Survival
Find out if you have what it takes to be a cowboy in a small western town plagued by bandits. You'll start with a blank slate and have to gather enough resources to build a shelter and generate a livelihood, for you to progress. Once you're set and geared up, you're free to ride your horse across the vast land and deal with bounties posted by the local sheriff.
With Westland Survival's online multiplayer feature, you can join your friends for a wild ride along the dusty roads and take on the violent bandits causing harm. Prove you're worthy of being a cowboy and establish a reputation as a legend of the wild west.
6 Radiation City Free
Forty years after Chernobyl's nuclear power plant accident, a fateful event brings you to the isolated city of Pripyat. The event's aftermath has caused the area to be plagued with anomalies, like subhuman creatures wandering around the open world.
Find resources and gear up to protect yourself from unknown creatures. If you enjoy bizarre and suspenseful adventures, you'll have a blast wandering across the apocalyptic Radiation City filled with plenty of surprises. Hopefully, we get to see Chernobyl restored to its former glory.
5 Last Pirate: Survival Island
This pirate survival adventure has you begin alone and empty-handed on a lost island that's home to everything from bears to skeletons, zombies, and even sea monsters. Your goal is to stay alive and gather enough resources to make it off the hellish island.
As you venture across the island, you'll have to craft items and weapons, complete challenges to gain experience, and unlock higher levels. Rebuild your pirate ship, get off the island, and finally resume your voyage across the deep blue sea.
4 Raft Survival: Ocean Nomad
A plane crash leaves you stranded in the middle of the ocean with a raft as your only means of survival. Being stuck in the middle of the ocean requires more than just food and water to survive - the heat of the sun, stormy weather, and shark attacks all pose threats to your well-being.
By gathering various resources and debris from the ocean, you'll be able to craft the necessary items and equipment to provide you with safety and security on your raft. Raft Survival provides a real sense of what it would actually look and feel like to be stranded in the middle of the ocean. Find out how far you'd make it as an ocean nomad.
3 Ark: Survival Evolved
Dinosaurs have always been a fascinating subject leaving many people wondering what it would be like to live among these alpha-predators. Do you have what it takes to survive the Jurassic era?
Dive into Ark's immersive open world, and explore the beautiful prehistoric landscapes. Build a base, craft items and equipment, and tame the terrifying dinosaurs roaming around the place, all while keeping your health in check. You can play alone or team up with friends to fight other players or hunt down diverse creatures. Wander around the map and discover the secrets of the mysterious Jurassic island.
2 Days After
Days After is a zombie survival game with a rather familiar name. In a post-apocalyptic world filled with zombies, your top priority is to stay alive, as nothing else really matters when you have the undead on the hunt for your blood and brains.
A zombie apocalypse is undoubtedly terrifying. Fortunately, you aren’t the only one living through this nightmare. You can look for other survivors, party up, and together explore different locations, accomplish quests, hunt zombies, and uncover the truth of what led to the apocalypse.
1 Frostborn
Frostborn isn't your ordinary survival game - it features both co-op and MMORPG elements. The game is set in Midgard, a once peaceful medieval land of Vikings, now abandoned and filled with darkness caused by the goddess Hel.
Take back the land of Midgard by gathering enough food and resources, and crafting weapons and equipment to fight and defend yourself from the army of the dead. Adding to the mayhem, you will also have to protect your resources and base from other players. Face the countless challenges ahead, demonstrate your dominance, and rule like a true Viking.