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2020 was a bit of a bust with the coronavirus health pandemic outbreak. This virus was the reason so many games got pushed back out of 2020 with developers transitioning to working remotely. However, this means that 2021 should be a rather filled year for video game releases. In this list, we’re going to showcase some of the most anticipated survival titles coming out in 2021.
Update Disclaimer: We had removed Wild, Occupy Mars: The Game, Outpost Glacier, Icarus, Little Devil Inside, Smalland, Sons of the Forests, Winter Survival Simulator, Scrapnaut, Dead Matter, The Day Before, and State of Decay 3 due to being delayed. Meanwhile, Dreams Engines: Nomad Cities didn’t quite make the cut to stay on this list.
#7 Chernobylite
- Developer: The Farm 51
- Publisher: All in! Games SA
- Platforms: PC, PS4, PS5, XBO, X/S
- Release: July 28, 2021
- Co-op: N/A
- Competitive Multiplayer: N/A
Chernobylite is a game worth checking out, although it’s more of a survival horror game. In this title, players are taking the role of a former employee of the Chernobyl power plant. Set years after the disaster, our protagonist decides to venture back to the area to solve his wife’s disappearance. However, there is plenty of hostilities within the area that’s now radioactive. From military, other stalkers, and mutated creatures, players will always need to be on their guard. Overall, you’ll have a small base as a command center where you’ll work with resources to craft gear and make upgrades. Also, you’ll get to recruit various characters to aid you during your adventure. Unfortunately, there is a game of appeasing relationships between your party, which might turn off for some players. If you don’t mind managing relationships then this might be a survival game experience worth checking into.
#6 Valheim
- Developer: Iron Gate AB
- Publisher: Coffee Stain Publishing
- Platforms: PC
- Release: February 2, 2021
- Co-op: Online
- Competitive Multiplayer: N/A
If you ever wanted to spend some time in a Norse-inspired purgatory, then you’re in luck! Valheim throws players into this world where you, a once Viking warrior, ends up in this limbo. Now to roam the halls of Valhalla, you’ll need to prove your worth. To survive this new Valheim world, you’ll have to craft weapons, build up your shelter, and take on enemies of Odin. For those that might find the game to be a bit dated, this was done on purpose as the developers wanted to craft a game that looks like the styles of 3D gaming we would have seen during the days of the original PlayStation console. Furthermore, when this game comes out in early access, players can expect a title that can be enjoyed either completely solo or with some friends online. You can purchase this game right now, but it’s in early access, so you can expect some changes from the development team.
#5 Bum Simulator
- Developer: Ragged Games
- Publisher: Ragged Games, PlayWay
- Platforms: PC
- Release: August 26, 2021 [Early Access]
- Co-op: N/A
- Competitive Multiplayer: N/A
Bum Simulator is undoubtedly a wacky game on this list. Players step into the role of a man who lives on the streets. You need to adapt, survive and become a living legend, according to the developers from this game. The gameplay is a bit silly, where players are going through a crazy world searching for goods to sell at the pawn store, gathering gear, making up a shelter, and using their inner bum powers to defeat their enemies. This could be anything from a mighty burp through alcohol alchemy or sending your pigeons to attack a target. At the moment, this game is slated to release sometime this year as a Steam early access title.
#4 Subnautica: Below Zero
- Developer: Unknown Worlds Entertainment
- Publisher: Unknown Worlds Entertainment
- Platforms: PC, NS, PS4, PS5, XBO, X/S
- Release: May 14, 2021
- Co-op: N/A
- Competitive Multiplayer: N/A
Fans of the Subnautica video game might have already gone through this Subnautica: Below Zero installment. Players are going back to 4546B and dealing with a new arctic region in hopes of finding out what happened to their sibling. Seeking answers that a corporation might be hiding away, our protagonist will be exploring the aquatic depths and the harsh biomes to gather clues. If you played the first Subnautica game, then you know what to expect by keeping your vitals up while exploring the area, one of the biggest being oxygen. However, since this game has a spin on cold, harsh weather, there’s now a focus on keeping your temperature up to avoid the deathly chill. You’ll spend time crafting up bases, collecting resources, constructing tool, and exploring both depth below the water surface along with some of the larger land-based areas.
#3 Away: the survival series
- Developer: Breaking Walls
- Publisher: Breaking Walls
- Platforms: PC, PS4,
- Release: September 28, 2021
- Co-op: N/A
- Competitive Multiplayer: N/A
Away: The Survival Series is a unique survival game that was inspired by nature documentaries. In this game, players take on the role of a sugar glider who is escaping the storms hitting the open world. Unfortunately, natural disasters have begun to threaten the survival of all living life on the planet. Being a sugar glider, you will need to maneuver around the world to stay alive carefully. Overall, the game focuses on avoiding being devoured by a bigger critter. However, being a tiny sugar glider, you can glide, jump, climb, and have agility. Created by an indie development studio known as Breaking Walls, several industry veterans are attached to the project that has worked on big AAA video game franchises such as Assassin’s Creed to Far Cry.
#2 Undying
- Developer: Vanimals
- Publisher: Vanimals
- Platforms: NS, PS4, XBO, PC
- Release: 2021
- Co-op: N/A
- Competitive Multiplayer: N/A
Undying is an emotional roller coaster of a survival game. This title puts players into a zombie apocalypse where you take the role of a mother named Anling. Anling is bitten and has become infected, but before turning, she has to fight to keep alive long enough to teach her young son Cody all the skills he’ll need to stay alive in this world. Players will have to manage their daily routine of scavenging for items and ensure that they have enough resources to craft, feed, and take care of both individuals. A good part of this game is teaching Cody various skills and ensuring that he knows what to do for multiple situations that may come up. After all, there will come the point in which Anling will not have the ability to continue and must rely on Cody until her time comes to an end. While the game was initially slated for a 2020 launch, it has been pushed towards a release in 2021.
#1 Green Hell
- Developer: Creepy Jar
- Publisher: Creepy Jar
- Platforms: PC, NS, PS4, XBO
- Release: June 9, 2021 [PS4, XBO]
- Co-op: Online
- Competitive Multiplayer: N/A
Green Hell is not a brand new video game. This title came out back in 2019. However, we have it on this list because both PlayStation 4 and Xbox One platforms had received this game in 2021. It’s a rather popular survival and psychological thriller game. In this title, players are stranded in the Amazonian Rainforest, where you’re trying to not only survive but find your missing wife. There are a few survival aspects players will need to keep track of during the game. You’ll have areas like thirst, hunger, and sleep. Meanwhile, you’ll need to ensure that you don’t get any significant injuries or poisoned by the fauna and wildlife. Of course, being alone and in a seemingly endless rainforest, your mind can toy with you. Our protagonist will suffer from hallucinations making it tough to know what’s real or not.
