15 Survival games like DayZ that you should try

If DayZ worked for you because of strong narrative focus, a sandbox world and multiplayer gameplay, the same is here. Both also lean on exploration and discovery, and a third-person camera. The distance is in tone and game mode — its own ground is offline play.

It comes from the same genre as DayZ and shares melee combat and multiplayer gameplay. Where the two diverge is tone and setting: cozy, relaxing feel and procedural generation.

It meets DayZ on shooting mechanics, a sandbox world and melee combat. To that it adds post-apocalyptic world and multiplayer gameplay. They part company on progression and genre: this one brings crafting mechanics.

What brings it close to DayZ is dark, oppressive atmosphere, open world exploration and ranged combat, and the two track each other on genre, game mode and setting. Both also lean on post-apocalyptic world and multiplayer gameplay. The distance is in world and tone — its own ground is third-person shooting and free-to-play access.

If DayZ worked for you because of dark, oppressive atmosphere, open world exploration and ranged combat, the same is here. Both also lean on exploration and discovery, and PvP competition. The distance is in world and tone — its own ground is third-person shooting and free-to-play access.

It shares the essentials of what DayZ does: dark, oppressive atmosphere, open world exploration and ranged combat. Both also lean on exploration and discovery, and multiplayer gameplay. The distance is in world and tone — its own ground is third-person shooting and free-to-play access.

It shares the essentials of what DayZ does: ranged combat, multiplayer gameplay and a first-person view. Where the two diverge is tone: competitive edge.

On paper it is what DayZ is — tactical combat, multiplayer gameplay and a first-person view — though the resemblance is mostly at that level. The distance is in setting and progression — its own ground is a sci-fi setting and crafting mechanics.

What carries over from DayZ is shooting mechanics, dark, oppressive atmosphere and open world exploration. Both also lean on post-apocalyptic world and multiplayer gameplay. The distance is in genre and progression — its own ground is base building.

It comes from the same genre as DayZ and shares dark, oppressive atmosphere, open world exploration and melee combat. To that it adds exploration and discovery, and a first-person view. They part company on progression and world: this one brings crafting mechanics.

On paper it is what DayZ is — melee combat, post-apocalyptic world and multiplayer gameplay — though the resemblance is mostly at that level. The distance is in combat and setting — its own ground is an early-access release.

Where it meets DayZ is tone and place, not genre: shooting mechanics, dark, oppressive atmosphere and melee combat. To that it adds horror setting and multiplayer gameplay. They part company on genre: this one brings single-player focus.

What carries over from DayZ is shooting mechanics, dark, oppressive atmosphere and ranged combat. Both also lean on horror setting and co-op play. The distance is in progression and genre — its own ground is skill tree progression and 3D presentation.

If DayZ worked for you because of dark, oppressive atmosphere, open world exploration and ranged combat, the same is here. To that it adds exploration and discovery, and multiplayer gameplay. They part company on visuals and world: this one brings 3D presentation.

It meets DayZ on multiplayer gameplay and a third-person camera. They part company on visuals: this one brings fighting mechanics and single-player focus.