7 Days to Die Alternatives and Similar Games

In DayZ you are thrown into an infected open-world country tasked with surviving in servers that house a total of 60 players. Danger is ever present as you not only avoid the zombies roaming about the 230 square km map, but also hostile animals and players themselves. Survival is at the core of DayZ, with injuries and many kinds of diseases also present to hinder your plans, requiring you have the proper medication to sufficiently recover. If you’re looking for an immersive zombie survival game to play alone or with friend(s), then you may want to check out DayZ.

Dying Light may have zombies, but there’s much more to it than that. This first-person action game oozes with flow, featuring an open-world you can parkour through in numerous ways, including the usage of a grappling hook. As you progress through the open-world single-player campaign, you’ll scavenge for resources you can use to craft weapons, most of which are melee. Slashing zombies and hostile humans is visceral with the combat system allowing you to aim at specific body parts, while exploring at day is the best option, because at night, infected take on an ultra-form, becoming faster and more agile, requiring you to swiftly run away to the nearest safe zone. Level up and unlock more moves to use both in combat and in parkouring as you play either solo or in 4-player co-op. Overall, Dying Light is one of if not the best zombi

Unlike 7 Days to Die, Project Zomboid is played out from an isometric perspective. Like 7 Days to Die, Project Zomboid is loaded with features. Complex systems allow you to sneak carefully as you avoid making noise or leaving sources of light on at night. The game is even locally playable in split-screen 4-player co-op, allowing you to together explore a massive map with changing weather and seasons. Featuring mod support, tons of settings to customize your playthrough, in-depth RPG elements and various game modes, Project Zomboid is a realistic survival experience you may not want to miss.

The Forest has you survive in magnificent-looking woods after surviving a jet crash. At daytime you’ll face cannibals, and at night, well, more cannibals. Due to their more aggressive nature at night time, daytime is the best time for exploration, resource gathering, crafting and setting up shelter. As you progress you’ll slowly be able to make a fortified home while also uncovering more secrets hidden deep in the mysterious forest. Whether you choose to play solo or with friends, The Forest doesn’t disappoint.

Rust is a PvP survival classic where you explore a world with animals to hunt, items to scavenge, players to meet and bases to build and raid. While players are the main threat, AI-controlled helicopters and more is also there to make things more challenging than they already are. If you’re looking for a tough online-only survival game, then you should take a look at Rust.

There may not be zombies, but there are many other fantasy creatures present in the diverse open-world of Conan Exiles. Throughout this detailed, lore-rich game playable in single-player and in multiplayer, you’ll interact with various NPCs as you venture through many lands with differing temperature and changing weather, requiring you to clothe yourself appropriately oe make a source of warmth if in colder parts of the game. It’s up to you whether you’ll build a huge fortified castle or a modest place to call home, but whatever the case do be ready for any enemy attack.

In SCUM, everyone is a prisoner of a television show that takes place on an island with some amazing sights. There are no zombies, but survival in this open-world title is very realistic. Your character has an advanced metabolism system in place, meaning that what food you eat and what nutrients it gives you actually matters, as everything is tracked, making urination and defecation also a necessity. Featuring both single-player and multiplayer gameplay, crafting, gory PvP in the form of ‘network events’ where you jump into specified areas for modes such as deathmatch and more, SCUM is definitely worth checking out.

Don’t expect any zombies, but do expect loads of dinosaurs in this gorgeous survival game. Whether you play solo, with friends or on public servers where everything you make can be destroyed, the game is packed with dinosaurs that you can hunt, tame and even ride on. If you ever wanted to survive in a dinosaur open-world, then you should check out this game.

In The Long Dark, the cold nature is your main enemy. This unique first-person survival sandbox has you explore the Northern Canadian wilderness, 50 square km of intense day & night survival where, apart from basics such as hunger & thirst, fatigue and warmth are also things to keep an eye on. Even calories are important to keep track of, making you plan out each move carefully. Hunt and defend yourself from wildlife, fish, climb, find precious food, face hypothermia and more. Apart from the game’s customizable Survival Mode where death means game over, there are also Challenges that require you to complete a certain task. On the other hand, if you happen to be looking for something more narrative-driven, the episodic WINTERMUTE story mode is what you’re looking for.

In Subsistence, animal predators and AI-controlled hunters are your enemy. Set in the beautiful wilds, Subsistence offers sandbox PvE gameplay where you hunt, craft, fish, mine, cook and more all while building your own base. The enemy hunters can also build bases - speaking of building, Subsistence allows you to easily place parts the way you like. If you don’t mind grinding and the lack of PvP and zombies causing trouble, then Subsistence is well-worth checking out.

Miscreated may not have zombies, but it does all have kinds of abominations lurking about in a detailed post-apocalyptic open-world teeming with greenery and large cities to explore. Temperature and an in-depth weather system can affect your character immensely, thanks to dangerous hazards such as radiation storms, tornadoes and more. Easily build your home as you forage, craft and engage both in PvE and PvP gameplay alone or with friends.

State of Decay is a popular third-person open-world zombie survival franchise. These games have you fortify your home base as you go out in the zombie-infested world searching for resources as well as survivors to rescue and bring back to base. Each survivor is unique, both in looks and in abilities. While the first entry is only single-player, the second features 4-player co-op and feels more like a sandbox, whereas the first is more story-focused.