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The Long Dark

41 Games like The Long Dark that you should try

Games like The Long Dark · Find similar →

Looking for games like The Long Dark? The NextGameLike editorial team analyzed its gameplay DNA — survival mechanics, strong narrative focus and open world exploration — against over 6,700 titles. These 41 alternatives are ranked by real similarity, not marketing tags. Raft leads with 66/100, followed by the rest of the list.

NextGameLike82/ 100

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GenreSurvivalSubgenreCo-op PvE Survival
Tags
NarrativeSolo
Year 2014Dev Hinterland Studio

Quick answer

The closest game to The Long Dark is Raft — scoring 66/100 on our similarity scale. Astroneer and Stranded Deep follow close behind.

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Top games similar to The Long Dark

41 similar games foundUpdated May 2026

Handpicked by our similarity algorithm, these are the titles with the highest gameplay match to The Long Dark. Each one has been evaluated across 14 real attributes — from combat style and progression mechanics to world structure and visual perspective — so every recommendation is based on how the game actually plays, not just its genre label.

1

Raft

66
NGL85
Raft
Closest overall match
SurvivalCo-op PvE Survival
SoloOpen WorldSandbox WorldCraftingExplorationFirst Person
Year 2022Dev Redbeet Interactive · Axolot GamesPlaytime ~8hOn PC

It meets The Long Dark on open world exploration, single-player focus and crafting mechanics. Both also lean on a first-person view. The distance is in game mode — its own ground is multiplayer gameplay.

Released 8 years after The Long Dark.

Genre100World100Progression81Visuals73Game mode27
2

Astroneer

64
NGL85
Astroneer
Closest on tone
SurvivalCo-op PvE Survival
SoloNarrativeOpen WorldSandbox WorldExplorationCrafting
Year 2019Dev System Era SoftworksOn PS4 · PC · PS5

Shelved next to The Long Dark for good reason: strong narrative focus, open world exploration and single-player focus. To that it adds exploration and discovery. They part company on setting and visuals: this one brings a space setting and multiplayer gameplay.

Released 5 years after The Long Dark.

Genre100Tone100World100Progression72Game mode32Setting0
3

Stranded Deep

64
NGL71
Stranded Deep
Closest on visuals
SurvivalCo-op PvE Survival
SoloNarrativeSandbox WorldOpen WorldExplorationCraftingFirst Person
Year 2015Dev Beam Team GamesOn PS4 · Linux · PC

The genre is the same as The Long Dark’s, and with it strong narrative focus, a sandbox world and single-player focus. Both also lean on exploration and discovery, and a first-person view. The distance is in setting and game mode — its own ground is dark, oppressive atmosphere and horror setting.

Genre100World100Visuals100Progression84Tone57Game mode27
4

Deliver Us the Moon

59
NGL82
Deliver Us the Moon
Closest on game mode
SurvivalCo-op PvE Survival
SoloNarrativeExplorationFirst PersonMelee
Year 2019Dev KeokeN Interactive · Wired ProductionsOn Xbox · PS4 · PC

Genre puts it alongside The Long Dark, and so does exploration and discovery, strong narrative focus, and single-player focus. Both also lean on a first-person view. The distance is in setting and progression — its own ground is a sci-fi setting.

Released 5 years after The Long Dark.

Genre100Game mode100Tone100Visuals72Progression59Setting0
5

The Planet Crafter

58
NGL84
The Planet Crafter
SurvivalCo-op PvE Survival
SoloNarrativeOpen WorldSandbox WorldCraftingExplorationFirst Person
Year 2022Dev Miju GamesPlaytime ~9hOn PC

What brings it close to The Long Dark is strong narrative focus, open world exploration and single-player focus, and the two track each other on genre, tone and world. Both also lean on crafting mechanics and a first-person view. The distance is in setting and game mode — its own ground is a space setting and co-op play.

Released 8 years after The Long Dark.

Genre100Tone100World100Visuals100Progression56Game mode24
6

Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater

57
NGL86
Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater
SurvivalCo-op PvE Survival
SoloNarrativeFirst PersonTacticalStealth
Year 2004Dev Konami Computer Entertainment Japan · Konami

On paper it is what The Long Dark is — strong narrative focus, single-player focus and a first-person view — though the resemblance is mostly at that level. The distance is in setting and visuals — its own ground is fantasy world and an isometric view.

It predates The Long Dark by 10 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Game mode100Tone100Visuals53Setting0
7

The Alters

54
NGL88
The Alters
SurvivalCo-op PvE Survival
SoloNarrativeSci-FiIsometricThird Person
Year 2025Dev 11 bit studiosOn Xbox · PC · PS5

Same family as The Long Dark: strong narrative focus and single-player focus. They part company on setting and visuals: this one brings a sci-fi setting and an isometric view.

Released 11 years after The Long Dark.

Genre100Game mode100Tone100Setting0Visuals0
8

ARMORED HEAD

49
NGL98
ARMORED HEAD
SurvivalCo-op PvE Survival
SoloNarrativeExplorationFirst PersonRanged
Year 2020Dev Egor RezenovPlaytime ~2hOn PC

Shelved next to The Long Dark for good reason: exploration and discovery, strong narrative focus, and single-player focus. The common ground extends to a first-person view. Where the two diverge is setting and tone: punishing difficulty and a sci-fi setting.

Released 6 years after The Long Dark.

Genre100Game mode100Visuals100Progression57Tone46Setting0
9

The Invincible

52
NGL83
The Invincible
SurvivalCo-op PvE Survival
SoloNarrativeOpen WorldExplorationFirst Person
Year 2023Dev Starward Industries · 11 bit studiosOn Xbox · PC · PS5

Same family as The Long Dark: strong narrative focus, open world exploration and single-player focus. To that it adds exploration and discovery, and a first-person view. They part company on setting and progression: this one brings dark, oppressive atmosphere and a sci-fi setting.

Released 9 years after The Long Dark.

Genre100Game mode100Visuals100Tone62World62Progression57
10

Domestic Dog

50
NGL81
Domestic Dog
SurvivalCo-op PvE Survival
SoloNarrativeOpen WorldExplorationCasual
Year 2015Dev Sean DavyPlaytime ~4hOn PC

It comes from the same genre as The Long Dark and shares strong narrative focus, open world exploration and single-player focus. To that it adds exploration and discovery. They part company on visuals and tone: this one brings a casual, approachable feel and procedural generation.

Genre100Game mode100Progression67World49Tone29Visuals0
11

Silent Hill 2

47
NGL89
Silent Hill 2
SurvivalCo-op PvE Survival
SoloNarrativeExplorationMeleeDark
Year 2001Dev Team Silent · Konami

The genre is the same as The Long Dark’s, and with it exploration and discovery, strong narrative focus, and single-player focus. The distance is in setting and visuals — its own ground is dark, oppressive atmosphere and horror setting.

It predates The Long Dark by 13 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Game mode100Tone60Progression57Setting0Visuals0
12

Silent Hill 3

47
NGL88
Silent Hill 3
SurvivalCo-op PvE Survival
SoloNarrativeExplorationStealthMelee
Year 2003Dev Team Silent · KonamiOn PC

Shelved next to The Long Dark for good reason: exploration and discovery, strong narrative focus, and single-player focus. They part company on setting and visuals: this one brings dark, oppressive atmosphere and horror setting.

It predates The Long Dark by 11 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Game mode100Tone60Progression57Setting0Visuals0
13

Dino Crisis

52
NGL60
Dino Crisis
SurvivalCo-op PvE Survival
SoloNarrativeDarkHorrorSci-Fi
Year 1999Dev Capcom Planning Room 2 · CapcomOn PlayStation 3 · PC

On paper it is what The Long Dark is — strong narrative focus and single-player focus — though the resemblance is mostly at that level. The distance is in setting and visuals — its own ground is dark, oppressive atmosphere and horror setting.

It predates The Long Dark by 15 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Game mode100Tone55Setting0Visuals0
14

Minecraft: Story Mode

48
NGL73
Minecraft: Story Mode
SurvivalCo-op PvE Survival
SoloNarrativeCraftingCasualDark
Year 2015Dev Mojang StudiosOn PlayStation 3 · PS4 · Android

Shelved next to The Long Dark for good reason: strong narrative focus, single-player focus and crafting mechanics. They part company on setting and visuals: this one brings a casual, approachable feel and fantasy world.

Genre100Game mode100Progression70Tone64Setting0Visuals0
15

FIVE NIGHTS AT FREDDY'S: HELP WANTED

48
NGL71
FIVE NIGHTS AT FREDDY'S: HELP WANTED
SurvivalCo-op PvE Survival
SoloNarrativeFirst PersonDarkHorror
Year 2020Dev Steel Wool Studios · Steel Wool GamesPlaytime ~2hOn Xbox · Nintendo

It comes from the same genre as The Long Dark and shares strong narrative focus, single-player focus and a first-person view. Where the two diverge is setting and tone: dark, oppressive atmosphere and horror setting.

Released 6 years after The Long Dark.

Genre100Game mode100Visuals100Tone60Setting0

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Found one on the list you already love? Open its own list: the games that play most like it, ranked, with the reason for each.

Explore games similar to The Long Dark by category

If The Long Dark left you wanting more, this is where you narrow it down. Was it the adventure or the simulation that hooked you? There is a list of just that. And if you play on PC, Nintendo Switch, PS5, PlayStation and Xbox, filter by platform and skip the games you could not play anyway.

Rankings in the same genre

Sometimes what you want is not a The Long Dark look-alike but simply the best Co-op Survival Games there are. That is what these rankings are for: no comparison to anything, just the highest-rated games. And if you feel like widening the net, the Survival Games ranking is a good way to run into something you were not expecting.