For a harsh, uncompromising wilderness that demands you fight to scrape a living, Rust has proven surprisingly popular. The game recently went through a major resurgence, hooking a whole host of fresh players into eking out a living on its servers. Whether you’ve just discovered a taste for the survival genre or have already exhausted Facepunch Studios’ world, we’ve rounded up five games like Rust below that deliver the same style of experience, whether you’re after PvE or PvP action.
5 games like Rust for survival-loving souls
Ark: Survival Evolved
© Studio Wildcard
What is it?
A server-based survival game that sees you avoiding and then eventually harnessing deadly dinos and sci-fi tech.
Why would I love it?
Ark has been kicking around for almost as long as Rust has, and in that time the game has received a rather hefty collection of updates, expansions, and other exciting developments. If you’re after a more fantastical setting than Rust offers, then Ark will let you build up from nothing until you’re riding and commanding hordes of dinosaurs into battle. Much like Rust, Ark features both PvE and PvE gameplay, letting you work together with, duke it out again, or run terrified from other players on the server. Ark 2 was recently revealed as arriving in 2022, which leaves plenty of time to discover what all the fuss is about.
Where can I play it?
PC, PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
Grounded
© Obsidian Entertainment
What is it?
A colorful, co-op survival game that build a unique challenge out of an everyday environment.
Why would I love it?
If you’re just looking to enjoy building up a base without the threat of other players stealing your stuff, Grounded is a great new co-operative title in the Survival genre. The unique setting sees you can your friends playing as minified children, shrunken down and left to survive in their back garden. Suddenly, all kinds of bugs turn from barely noticed critters to gigantic monstrosities, hungry for a human snack. You’ll need to explore, build up a base, and discover the secret science stations scattered throughout the undergrowth if you want to return to normal. Be warned, this definitely isn't one for arachnophobes.
Where can I play it?
PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S
The Forest
© Endnight Games
What is it?
A spooky, co-op survival game set in a mysterious and definitely unwelcoming woodland.
Why would I love it?
The greatest horror you’ll encounter in Rust is another squad of players looking for a target. In the Forest, however, far naster things are lurking in the dark. This co-operative survival title leaves you as the survivors of a plane crash, left to fend for yourselves in a dense woodland. Things seem pretty standard survival game at first, but before long you’ll notice figures lurking at the edges of your vision. Turns out this particular forest is home to a particularly nasty cannibal tribe. The worse news? They’re just the tip of the iceberg. Stick close to your friends, if you want to take this particular challenge on. Oh, and did we mention it has full VR support too? Yeah, we're too scared to try it as well.
Where can I play it?
PC, PS4
Escape from Tarkov
© Battlestate Games
What is it?
An intense shooter in which players compete to loot and escape broad maps with their lives and their gear.
Why would I love it?
Once you make it to the late-game of Rust, gunfights with other players will likely form a lot of your playtime. If you want to step the gunplay up a notch while retaining that same sense of risk to each battle, Escape from Tarkov might be the game for you. Each run of this uniquely terrifying shooter risks all the gear you bring on a mission. You're aiming to loot a map while looking for an exit, but get too greedy and you could lose it all to a stray bullet. NPC Scavs are a threat, but the real danger comes from other players. Because as it turns out, you’re the juiciest looting opportunity available. Grab as much gear as you can, carefully make your way to an exit, and pray that you don’t draw too much attention.
Where can I play it?
PC
The Long Dark
© Hinterland Studio
What is it?
A cold and challenging solo survival sim that'll test your endurance.
Why would I love it?
If you’re after some time alone, few games offer a better solo first-person survival experience than The Long Dark. Set in the Canadian wilderness, there are no zombies or monsters to be dealt with here. It’s simply you, the cold ground, and maybe the occasional wolf or bear looking for an easy meal. You can choose between a story mode or pure survival, but either way you’ll face a serious challenge in keeping yourself alive through the icy nights ahead.
Where can I play it?
PC, PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
Those were out picks for games like Rust you can enjoy right now! But if you’ve got any other survival games you’d like to recommend, drop a comment down below to share them with us.
