Multiplayer survival games like Rust have been taking the gaming world by storm. These kinds of games place multiple players in a hostile environment with minimal equipment. They can work together or against each other, although Rust has you working against other players. The objective of these games is mostly the same: survive for as long as you can (or at least longer than other players).
Rust’s popularity, however, is unique. The game has seen a surge in its player base in early 2021. This is mainly due to Offline TV streamers such as XQc, Pokimane, and Disguised Toast, who started a private server. You can already imagine how that’s going; there’s a lot of dramatic moments, including forming PvP factions and raiding others’ bases. Other streamers prefer to focus on the calmer aspects of Rust gameplay, such as role-playing and crafting.
What’s unique about Rust’s gameplay?
The great thing about Rust is that it covers every aspect of survival. As stated on the game’s Steam page, complex electrical systems, growing farms, various vehicles, and even musical instruments are just a few of the game’s many features. Building bases helps players survive, and can sometimes serve as death traps for their unassuming enemies. The game also receives regular updates. This means players get new content, as well as performance and graphics updates every so often to keep the game fresh and interesting.
There’s also the thrilling factor of the possibility of being attacked at any moment by other players, factions, and wildlife. The intensity and exhilaration of Rust’s gameplay really puts the survival in survival games. Everything is out to kill you, and it’s your job to make sure you live to see another day. Of course, this doesn’t mean you can’t partner up with some friends to improve your chances of survival. There are no set rules in the game, so you can make of it what you want. However, if you don’t want to take any risks and worry about betrayal, you can join servers that have no PvP elements.
List of 15 Games like Rust you need to check out
If you’ve played and liked the game, chances are you’re looking for more games like Rust. We’ve listed a few games below that we think are a great match, be that in genre, objective, or gameplay!
Terraria
Terraria is playable in both single-player and multiplayer mode. It’s mostly a 2D sandbox survival game that encourages exploration. The worlds are procedurally generated, so it’s pretty hard to get bored of the game. Although the game has no clear objective except survival, killing certain bosses offers certain in-game progressions. This includes advancing the game into hard mode. It’s very reminiscent of a 2D Minecraft, and received a lot of positive reviews from loyal fans.
Valheim
Although it’s one of the newer additions on the list, Valheim is no less valuable. It’s an open-world survival and sandbox game that saw its early access release in 2021. Valheim is a great pick for fans of Vikings and Norse mythology, as a lot of gameplay and story elements feature both. The game gives you the objective to reach the Norse afterlife by defeating Odin’s enemies in Valheim. You can play the game singleplayer, or with some friends!
Don’t Starve Together
Don’t Starve Together was a great multiplayer “sequel” to an already good single-player game. Of course, you don’t need to own Don’t Starve to be able to buy Don’t Starve Together. This makes it a great choice for those who prefer multiplayer survival games. The developers also added tons of new features to the game, including three game modes, a favorite food system, and most importantly, emotes. The graphics are also quirky and endearing!
Raft
Raft has you starting the game on, well, a raft. In the beginning, you only have a hook available for use and must collect materials to craft new items that help you survive. However, you must be careful not to lose sight of your raft or get attacked by a shark! In multiplayer, the game has you playing in co-op mode and working with others to ensure your survival. When the raft passes by an island, you can check it for valuable resources and crafting materials. Some rafts also include clues to progress the game’s story further. Along the way, you get to learn about the storyline through a two-way radio. Your character is essentially searching for his lost wife and child and learns the truth about why the world has been deserted.
SCUM
SCUM’s gameplay is set in Croatia where 64 players are pitted against each other as prison inmates. The objective is, of course, to survive, and to get off the island where the prison is located. Many know the game for its realistic metabolism mechanics; the developers attempted to simulate the human body. Because of this, players can track their character’s calorie intake, vitamins, and health. These aspects aren’t mandatory to survive, but they can help your gameplay by a great deal. Using the toilet also has consequences; other players can track you using this evidence. It’s a great and innovative game for many reasons, but it’s still in early access with no full release date yet.
Killing Floor 2
Killing Floor 2 came out in 2016 for Windows and PlayStation 4, and August 2017 for the Xbox One. In multiplayer, you can play with up to six players to fight against ‘Zeds’, which are reminiscent of zombies. Players can also take up the role of Zeds to kill the mercenary players, which essentially gives Killing Floor 2 a player-vs-player mode. The game features a few combat classes you can choose to give your character a special skill boost. Doing activities related to your chosen class will net you more XP to level up, which in turn boosts your stats.
Dying Light
Exploring Harran and trying to solve the viral outbreak the fictional city has had is the main objective in this 2015 survival horror video game. Players can complete the campaign in single-player mode, as well as a four-player co-op multiplayer mode. There are a variety of weapons and methods that help in getting rid of the infected that roam the streets. The game also features a day-night cycle and different activities are available during each time of day. The infected also become a lot more dangerous at night.
No Man’s Sky
If you’ve ever wanted over 18 quintillion planets to explore, this is the survival game for you. Using procedural generation, No Man’s Sky has managed to make its gameplay and its story rich and almost neverending. Although it’s primarily a single-player game, that makes the multiplayer feature no less fun. Players can perform a variety of activities; catalog flora and fauna, establish trade routes between aliens on different planets, or otherwise advance the main story to get to the center of the universe. It’s also set for a new free expansion called Frontiers!
The Forest
The Forest gives you one key objective: survive for as long as you can. Although the game gives no definite player-vs-player mode, you should be careful when playing with friends, as you can injure and kill each other! It’s a good way to improvise a deathmatch mode and engage in a bit of competition with friends. By gathering and collecting materials, crafting items, and building blueprints, the player can ensure their chances of survival in the forest.
The Left 4 Dead games
The Left 4 Dead games are a great series of survival multiplayer games to play with your friends. You can play with or against them, as the game features a co-op and a versus mode. In the co-op mode, four players are guided by the Director to kill the infected. However, in versus mode, the game has an additional four players taking on the role of the infected. The players also swap roles after each round, making the game more dynamic.
Stranded Deep
Although Stranded Deep is mostly a single-player game, you can play with others in a local co-op mode. After your plane crashes, you must find a means to survive in a hostile and life-threatening environment. There’s also a hunger and thirst bar to keep track of as you go through the game to make things harder. You must beware of the ocean life and there are even mythical sea creatures to kill which give you game rewards!
Minecraft
Minecraft is perhaps the most well-known example of a sandbox survival video game. There is no clear objective, and the multiplayer mode allows for a lot of fun options. It’s also possible to damage and kill other players. Because of this, many players start deathmatch servers where you can compete against others in gathering, building, and surviving. It’s basically a less graphically violent Rust. This gives Minecraft the ability to emulate Rust gameplay while keeping its own aesthetic.
DayZ
DayZ started as a mod for ARMA 2. It’s a strictly multiplayer survival game, meaning singleplayer is not available. There’s no clear PvP mode, but that’s what most players make of it. However, should you find an amicable player, you can join forces with them against the zombies and other players. Your main goal is to survive the zombie outbreak in the fictional republic of Chernarus. To achieve this, scavenging for supplies, finding weapons, and building your own base are key features of the game.
Conan Exiles
After being sentenced to death, the player is rescued from the harsh desert environment by Conan, a fictional hero. Now an exile, you must find the means to survive in the Exiled Lands. Of course, this also pits your character against others’ characters in that objective. This game has strong features of Rust gameplay; players have a hunger and thirst gauge, you can raid other player bases and attack them, and, of course, craft items.
ARK: Survival Evolved
If you’re looking for games like Rust and want cool dinosaurs in it, ARK is the game for you. As the player character, you are stranded on an island full of prehistoric animals and must survive. This means that other players can be hostile towards you as well. Crafting, gathering, and battling the hostile fauna (and other human players) are all well-developed features in the game. These activities also enable players to level up and improve one of the various skills in the game; health, stamina, oxygen, hunger, thirst, carry weight, movement speed, and crafting speed.
