20 free forest survival games. Explore the wilderness, gather resources, and outwit your opponents to stay alive in these thrilling challenges.From harsh forest thickets to mystical wilderness: a complete guide to games where survival in the wild forests becomes a true test.The popularity of survival games set in the forest can be easily explained by a subconscious fear of impenetrable thickets. This fear has been ingrained in us since ancient times, when our ancestors still struggled for survival with a stick in hand.
20 Best Forest Survival Games You Must Play.
Green Hell.
- Developer : Creepy Jar
- Release date : August 29, 2018
- Download : Greenhell

The game is positioned as a survival simulator. It takes place in the dense Amazon rainforest, where no civilized human has ever set foot. For some unknown reason, the protagonist finds himself stranded in the jungle without food, water, or equipment. He remembers nothing, but knows he needs to get out as quickly as possible.
Green Hell’s survival element is atypical; it can be roughly divided into two components: physical survival and psychological. The physical component is fairly straightforward. The protagonist has a wristwatch that displays their fluid, protein, fat, and carbohydrate balances. Different types of food replenish different levels, so the character won’t survive long on bananas alone. There’s also a special mode in which the protagonist carefully inspects their body.
You might find a leech, a parasitic worm, or a festering scratch. Without proper attention, these can be fatal. The downside of survival is the struggle for sanity. Feeding on maggots and raw meat, the hero will begin to lose their humanity and go mad. There’s also a crafting mechanic with an experimentation mode, a co-op mode for co-op play, and a host of other features.
Neverliria
- Developer : no.rest
- Release date : August 22, 2018
- Download : Steam

Neverliria is an indie pixel art game that masterfully combines elements of survival, strategy, and sandbox. The protagonist is a red-haired, nameless girl hiding in the Neverliria forest. The plot explains why. The introduction merely tells us that the forest once stood on the site of a beautiful kingdom, which was captured and destroyed by certain Shadows.
The only weapon against the Shadows is Light, both literally and figuratively. Gameplay is divided into two phases: day and night. During the day, the player must gather resources for survival and construct buildings (a farm, a windmill).
Stone walls and fires will be needed for defense. At night, Shadows will appear, and if defenses prove insufficient, they will destroy some buildings and steal resources. Over time, the Shadows become stronger, but the heroine also discovers more possibilities, discovering the ruins of an ancient kingdom and learning magic. The graphics, although pixelated, look pleasing. The excellent soundtrack adds to the atmosphere
The Forest
- Developer : Endnight Games
- Release date : April 30, 2018
- Download : Steam

This is perhaps the most famous survival horror game set in the forest. Today, it’s an excellent, well-balanced product, virtually bug-free and superbly optimized. In terms of gameplay, it’s a benchmark for the genre.
The premise is trivial: the hero finds himself on an island after a plane crash. The island appears uninhabited until the first night, when the natives arrive and, as we later learn, have kidnapped the hero’s son. Their spears and clubs aren’t the worst thing about them, as they are cannibals, and it later turns out they’re also mutants.
Your hero needs to eat and drink, protect themselves from rain, cold, wild animals, and the natives. In this regard, everything is standard: we build and craft during the day, and defend ourselves at night. The natives are of particular interest. They can not only be killed but also dismantled for crafting. Descending deeper into the caves where mutants live, the player uncovers the island’s history, which is far more frightening than the notorious jump scares.
The Long Dark
- Developer : Hinterland Studio Inc.
- Release date : August 1, 2017
- Download : Steam

This unique project takes us to the forests of Northern Canada. The plot follows characters in a plane crash caused by mysterious flashes of light in the sky. Your protagonist awakens alone, and in an attempt to find his partner, he makes his way through the snowy forest and ends up in the town of Milton, where he will discover a brutal truth…
A logical place to begin exploring the game is with the story mode. The game’s alternate mode is survival. In this mode, the player has free access to a vast open world based on the story map. There are no mutants or cannibals here; the player’s main enemies are hunger and cold.
The player learns the hard way about the need to monitor body temperature, calorie intake, and fluid balance. Moreover, in Survival mode, death is permanent, and saved games are automatically deleted.
The Long Dark features an excellent crafting system and over 100 resources available for gathering. Besides the harsh climate, another enemy is time, as every action costs calories, and it always gets cold at night. Dynamic weather changes and adaptive animal behavior are the icing on the cake.
Darkwood
- Developer : Acid Wizard Studio
- Release date : August 17, 2017
- Download : Steam

Survival horror games typically lean more toward survival than horror. But in Darkwood , these genres are so tightly intertwined that it’s genuinely scary, despite being a third-person, top-down game. It does feature a procedurally generated open world.
The protagonist finds himself in a gloomy forest poisoned by an unknown disease. Almost all the people living in the local settlements have perished. The flora and fauna have mutated beyond recognition and become extremely aggressive. The player must survive in this strange world, gradually uncovering its history. Not everyone can be trusted, and the player is often faced with difficult choices.
The basis of survival is resource crafting. Magic is also a factor, as the Darkwood disease is supernatural in nature. By killing nightmarish creatures, the hero collects essence, which can be used to make injections. These injections imbue the character with special properties, which also have a negative effect. Another key feature of the game is your impact on the world. Your actions will impact not only the plot but also the environment.
Miasmata
- Developer : IonFx
- Release date : November 28, 2012
- Download : Steam

One of the pioneers of the genre. Unfortunately, the game didn’t gain popularity in the Russian market at the time, and today, due to its outdated engine, it’s no longer as impressive. However, we decided to include it in our top list because it’s truly captivating and easily rivals more modern titles in many ways.
The protagonist is a scientist with an incurable disease. He retreats from civilization, builds a cottage for himself on the shores of the mysterious Eden Island, and begins experimenting, searching for a cure for his illness. He soon discovers other scientists on the island, each of whom came for their own reasons but all stayed for the same reason. Artifacts and ruins from a civilization that lived here many centuries ago are scattered across the island.
Only after piecing everything together will the hero understand what’s really going on here. The survival element revolves around meeting basic needs like food, warmth, and sleep. There’s also a horror element. The world is open, so mapping the island is an important aspect. Miasmata is still worth playing for its story, survival mechanics, and excellent mystical atmosphere.
Don’t Starve Together

A unique survival game with roguelike elements set in a procedurally generated forest. The protagonist, a scientist named Wilson, is captured by an evil demon and sent to a parallel world. This world operates according to both the laws of science and magic, making it quite unique.
The player’s goal is to survive using an extensive and beautiful crafting system. In addition to Adventure Mode, there’s also Survival Mode, which is considered the primary mode. Each day can be divided into two phases. While the sun is shining, you must craft vigorously, and when darkness falls, you must pray, suffer, and fight for both your life and your sanity.
A character has three stats: health, hunger, and sanity. Health depletes during battles with monsters, when cold, and when overheated. Sanity depletes gradually on its own, but more rapidly at night. Hunger also depletes continuously. Decreasing health to zero leads to death, while depleting hunger leads to a decrease in health. The most interesting mechanism is the loss of sanity, which causes the character to suffer hallucinations that, over time, cause physical damage.
Shelter Series

Currently, this is the only “forest survival game” of its kind. Depending on the game, you take control of a specific animal species, ensuring their survival. Survival in Shelter is truly challenging. For example, playing as a badger, you must find ways around various obstacles, fight predators, or drive them away.
There’s a hunger mechanic, but remember, we have about five mouths to feed here that can’t yet fend for themselves? In the rain and at night, it’s essential to find shelter for yourself and your children. There are also natural hazards like forest fires. And it’s not always easy to explain to the badgers that playing in the clearing isn’t the best idea because a kite is perched in a tree nearby.
One option is to lead the children into deep grass so the bird can’t see them. And the game has plenty of such features. The gameplay is beautifully complemented by atmospheric sound and unique graphics. We won’t spoil the ending. Three installments of the series have been released so far, where you can chase lynxes, bears, and other forest creatures. The core survival mechanics seamlessly migrate from one game to the next.
Far Cry Primal
- Developer : Ubisoft Montreal
- Release date : February 23, 2016
- Download : Steam (not available in Russia; requires a foreign account)

Far Cry Primal is an open-world action RPG that’s a must-play when it comes to forest survival. In fact, it’s almost entirely unrelated to classic survival games, as it’s still Far Cry, with its core mechanics carried over almost unchanged from one installment to the next. But as a simulation of life in a primitive tribe in the forests of prehistoric Europe, Primal is unparalleled.
The game takes us back 10,000 years to the early Mesolithic period. The protagonist, Takkar, is the sole survivor of a group of hunters who stumble upon overpowered mammoths. Initially, he survives alone, then creates his own tribe. The plot is engaging and dynamic, leading many to consider Primal the best game in the franchise. The vibrant, detailed graphics make the prehistoric forest look stunning.
Beyond battles with animals and hostile tribes, there’s a decent crafting mechanic based on gathering all sorts of resources—from sticks and stones to animal pelts. There’s also a role-playing element, embodied in the development of various skill trees. A certain tree allows you to tame local wildlife, including saber-toothed tigers, which is very helpful in combat. You can even ride a mammoth, which is a plus.
There are plenty of dangers: predators, the aforementioned hostile tribes, and swamps. There are many interesting features, for example, one of the DLCs, using a shamanic potion, allows the player to transform into a mammoth and play a short but epic storyline as the leader of the hairy elephants.
Sons of the Forest
- Developer : Endnight Games Ltd
- Release date : February 23, 2023
- Download : Steam
A sequel to the legendary The Forest , the developers decided to expand on the existing mechanics of its predecessor. “Sons of the Forest” features a truly gigantic open world. The action takes place on a different island, but the core plot and gameplay remain the same.
The game’s main feature isn’t the vast open world, which, while large, isn’t exactly packed with content. The construction system takes center stage. Now you can manually construct structures without any strings attached. Log by log, you’ll build yourself a dacha of any configuration and size.
Our new hero won’t be traveling alone. He’ll be joined by a mute comrade and a mutant girl. Speaking of mutants, players have observed that they’ve become more dangerous and intelligent. Otherwise, the gameplay remains the same, except that scientific facilities have been added to the caves.
Valheim
- Developer : Iron Gate AB
- Release date : February 2, 2021
- Download : Steam
In Valheim , you’ll experience forest survival to the fullest, as even a tree can kill a stern Viking. Despite the visual style, which is actually quite pleasant once you get used to it, the game will captivate you for hundreds of hours. Every detail, including the physics, has been meticulously crafted.
The open world here is vast and diverse. You’ll encounter everything from heavenly meadows to murky swamps and snow-capped mountains. As for forests, they’re everywhere. Wood is your primary resource, and given the amazing building system, you’ll be using a lot of it.
There’s plenty to do besides just surviving. The game features bosses you need to prepare for, unique enemies that can destroy your structures, and adventures. Exploring the world is both rewarding and convenient thanks to water transport. We highly recommend playing Valheim in co-op with friends.
ARK: Survival Evolved
- Developers : Studio Wildcard, Instinct Games, Efecto Studios, Virtual Basement LLC
- Release date : August 27, 2017
- Download : Steam

Rust
- Developer : Facepunch Studios
- Release date : February 8, 2018
- Download : Steam
Another survival MMO that can easily be included in this top list. There are plenty of forests here, and they provide excellent cover for your shack from treasure hunters. Here, your main enemy won’t be aggressive fauna, but other players who will destroy your home simply because it’s fun.
As in the previous game, you begin your survival journey completely naked. However, the game features a deep crafting system that allows you to acquire not only a sturdy club but also firearms and superior armor. Top players build entire fortresses with trap systems, automated turrets, and hidden treasure troves filled with loot.
Rust is best played with friends or in co-op with other players. Surviving alone will be difficult, as there are plenty of people who like to bully newcomers. Overall, it’s a very popular and engaging game that will keep you hooked for hundreds of hours, if you don’t let its hardcore nature put you off.
SCUM
- Developer : Gamepires
- Release date : August 29, 2018
- Download : Steam

If you talk too loudly about Rust’s hardcore nature, you’ll hear SCUM players laugh . This game will literally mock you, but it’s where you can truly experience the spirit of forest survival in all its glory. And you’ll have to survive in multiplayer with other poor souls.
Your hero isn’t just a time traveler, suffering a misfortune on an island. You’re a prisoner caught up in the local “Hunger Games.” Everything that happens on this forested island is a TV show, watched by honest taxpayers while sipping cola and eating grilled chicken. Everyone who finds themselves on the island must survive at any cost, fighting both the island and each other. And it’s not easy.
In SCUM, your character’s stats aren’t limited by thirst, fatigue, and hunger. You must constantly monitor your heart rate, blood pressure, and other body stats. Your character can suffer poisoning, burns, and hypothermia. Simply surviving will be challenging, but there’s also PvP.
PvP events are random, simulating the influence of TV viewers. They can directly influence your fate, presenting new challenges, bestowing gifts, or even granting the opportunity to respawn after death.
Surviving in the forest isn’t just hardcore; it’s also a relaxing way to unwind. You can build a cozy house among the trees, plant a garden next to a silvery river, and even tame a fox. All of this is possible in Among Trees . At first glance, the game captivates with its enchanting visual style, and all this beauty makes the monotonous gameplay irrelevant.
Among Trees doesn’t challenge you or make you break out in a cold sweat searching for food. It’s a meditative sandbox with gameplay lasting no more than 10 hours. But it’s worth it, because in this colorful world you can truly unwind from all the worries of real life.
DayZ
- Developer : Bohemia Interactive
- Release date : December 13, 2018
- Download : Steam

From a vibrant fairytale world, we return to a depressing and cruel place. DayZ will take you on a walk through the woods you’ll never forget. This is a gritty, realistic game based on multiplayer. Unlike Rust, there’s no surreal progression from penniless wretch to local bully. You’re an ordinary person forced to survive in a zombie-infested wilderness.
There’s certainly progression in the game. There’s home improvement and crafting, but you won’t be able to assemble a rocket launcher from a few scraps of metal and some duct tape. In DayZ, the key isn’t firepower, but stealth and the ability to choose your allies. The world isn’t just populated by zombies, but also by living players who find themselves in the same situations as you.
Social interaction works much better here than in competing games. You can negotiate with people and even join one of the major factions. But don’t forget that medicine and food play a key role here. Even a new friend might kill you for a pack of bandages.
Deadside
- Developer : Bad Pixel
- Release date : April 14, 2020
- Download : Steam

Deadside is an ambitious and engaging project currently in Early Access. If the developers achieve their goals, it will be a viable alternative to DayZ. However, unlike its competitors, this game places a strong emphasis on realism. There are no zombies, dinosaurs, or other mythical creatures here. The world has ended, and ordinary people fight among themselves in its ruins.
The world of Deadside promises to be vast, though it’s currently very limited. The map is a forested area dotted with abandoned settlements. You may encounter both NPCs and humans along the way. Their hostility toward you will depend on the developers’ code or the mood of the living player.
The developers are trying to combine a dynamic hardcore shooter with a realistic survival game. The character needs food, medicine, water, and sleep. Ammunition and equipment must be collected, purchased, or crafted. There’s also a building system that allows you to build your own fort or a discreet cabin in the woods for a lone wolf.
ECO
- Developers : Strange Loop Games
- Release date : February 6, 2018
- Download : Steam

We couldn’t pass up this interesting and instructive project. The game’s name says it all: ECO is an eco-system simulator. It’s probably the first top-rated game where the forest doesn’t try to kill you. It’s not just you who survives, but nature as well. The game combines city-building strategy, economics, and environmental simulation. You’ll have to develop from a small village to large cities without destroying nature.
From the very beginning, the game has a specific goal. A meteorite is approaching your planet, and you need to develop to the age of space exploration to destroy it. However, your entire civilization could perish before even encountering the space rock if you destroy nature. Forests play a crucial role, affecting climate, fertility, and fauna.
Ancestors: The Humankind Odyssey
- Developer : Panache Digital Games
- Release date : August 27, 2019
- Download : Ancestorsgame

We’ll finish this list with a very unusual game developed by the father of Assassins, Patrice Désilets. There are no assassins here, so the parkour is performed by the monkeys, who are the game’s main characters. The game takes you back in time 10 million years, where you take control of primates. The goal is to evolve from a dumb ape to a smart ape, and you can compare how much you outperform historical figures.
The key to Ancestors: The Humankind Odyssey isn’t the gameplay, but the setting. At the start, you literally discover the world and fill your little primate brain with information about how you can use this stick to smack a saber-toothed cat in the furry face. The more experience you gain, the more your ape brain evolves. You choose your own evolutionary path. Ultimately, your primate will stand upright, wield a spear, and begin building a civilization of the most bloodthirsty creatures on Earth.
The gameplay is meditative, and once you understand the mechanics, it boils down to the simplest tasks. You need to find food and water, defend yourself from predators, and give birth to offspring. Yes, there’s a separate mechanic for flirting with other monkeys, eventually leading to a strong family. Otherwise, the game offers nothing special, but the atmosphere and unusual setting are quite captivating.
To conclude our top list, we can confidently say that everyone will find a game to suit their taste. You can survive in the forest in a horror game, a sandbox, a classic survival game, a strategy game, and even Far Cry.