18 Survival games like Fallout 3 that you should try

Of everything here, this is the nearest thing to Fallout 3 — the two agree on genre, game mode and tone. Both also lean on post-apocalyptic world and single-player focus. What it adds of its own: ranged combat and historical setting.

Matches like this one are rare: it meets Fallout 3 on genre, game mode and tone. The common ground extends to post-apocalyptic world and single-player focus. Where the two diverge is progression: base building.

On paper it is what Fallout 3 is — strong narrative focus, open world exploration and melee combat — though the resemblance is mostly at that level. To that it adds exploration and discovery, and single-player focus. They part company on game mode and tone: this one brings dark, oppressive atmosphere and horror setting.

Shelved next to Fallout 3 for good reason: strong narrative focus, melee combat and post-apocalyptic world. To that it adds skill tree progression and a first-person view. They part company on game mode and progression: this one brings dark, oppressive atmosphere and fantasy world.

On paper it is what Fallout 3 is — strong narrative focus, open world exploration and stealth mechanics — though the resemblance is mostly at that level. To that it adds post-apocalyptic world and single-player focus. They part company on game mode and progression: this one brings dark, oppressive atmosphere and multiplayer gameplay.

The common ground with Fallout 3 is structural: deep RPG systems, strong narrative focus and open world exploration. To that it adds melee combat and post-apocalyptic world. They part company on tone and visuals: this one brings dark, oppressive atmosphere.

The common ground with Fallout 3 is structural: deep RPG systems, strong narrative focus and open world exploration. Both also lean on melee combat and post-apocalyptic world. The distance is in tone and visuals — its own ground is dark, oppressive atmosphere.

The genre is the same as Fallout 3’s, and with it strong narrative focus, melee combat and post-apocalyptic world. The common ground extends to single-player focus and skill tree progression. Where the two diverge is game mode and progression: dark, oppressive atmosphere and multiplayer gameplay.

Genre puts it alongside Fallout 3, and so does post-apocalyptic world, single-player focus and skill tree progression. Both also lean on a first-person view. The distance is in tone and game mode — its own ground is dark, oppressive atmosphere and horror setting.

It meets Fallout 3 on strong narrative focus, melee combat and single-player focus. To that it adds a first-person view. They part company on game mode: this one brings multiplayer gameplay.

With Fallout 3 it shares deep RPG systems, strong narrative focus and open world exploration. To that it adds melee combat and post-apocalyptic world. They part company on visuals and tone: this one brings dark, oppressive atmosphere.

It comes from the same genre as Fallout 3 and shares strong narrative focus, open world exploration and melee combat. Both also lean on post-apocalyptic world and single-player focus. The distance is in game mode and tone — its own ground is dark, oppressive atmosphere and horror setting.

On paper it is what Fallout 3 is — open world exploration, melee combat and single-player focus — though the resemblance is mostly at that level. To that it adds exploration and discovery, and a first-person view. They part company on setting and game mode: this one brings horror setting and multiplayer gameplay.

The overlap with Fallout 3 is in what it evokes rather than what it is: deep RPG systems, strong narrative focus and open world exploration. To that it adds melee combat and post-apocalyptic world. They part company on visuals and world: this one brings an isometric view.

Genre puts it alongside Fallout 3, and so does strong narrative focus, melee combat and single-player focus. The common ground extends to exploration and discovery, and a first-person view. Where the two diverge is setting and combat: magic-based combat and fantasy world.