Hey survival game fanatics! 2022 was a fantastic year for the genre, with a bunch of awesome titles hitting PC. Whether you're a seasoned survivor or a newbie just dipping your toes into the harsh realities of virtual wilderness, there's something out there for everyone. So, gather 'round, because we're diving into the top 10 PC survival games of 2022! Get ready to scavenge, craft, build, and most importantly, survive. We've got a killer list, covering everything from zombie apocalypses to crafting-focused adventures and even some space survival! Let's get started, shall we?

1. Valheim: The Viking Survival Saga

Alright, guys, let's kick things off with a true gem: Valheim. This game took the world by storm, and for good reason! It blends satisfying combat with in-depth crafting and building mechanics, all wrapped in a gorgeous, low-poly aesthetic that's just a treat for the eyes. In Valheim, you're a fallen Viking warrior, tasked with proving your worth in the afterlife by slaying beasts and conquering the wilds of a procedurally generated purgatory. The core gameplay loop is super addictive. You'll spend your time gathering resources, crafting tools and weapons, building your base, and venturing out to explore dangerous biomes. Expect to battle trolls, skeletons, and other mythical creatures while you're at it. The combat is surprisingly deep, requiring you to master parrying, dodging, and utilizing different weapon types. And let's not forget the building! The game's building system is fantastic, allowing you to create everything from humble shelters to epic Viking longhouses. Co-op play is a massive part of the Valheim experience, so grab some friends and embark on this epic adventure together. The sheer amount of content and the feeling of accomplishment you get from surviving and thriving in the Viking afterlife makes Valheim a must-play for any survival game enthusiast. The developers consistently update the game, adding new content and features, so there's always something new to experience.

Why Valheim Still Rocks

• Cooperative Gameplay: It's just more fun with friends, building bases and fighting monsters together!
• Satisfying Combat: Parrying, dodging, and strategic weapon choices make every encounter exciting.
• In-depth Crafting & Building: Build the Viking longhouse of your dreams! The building is easy and the structures are beautiful.
• Regular Updates: The game continues to evolve with new content and improvements.

2. V Rising: Embrace the Night

Next up, we have V Rising, a game that lets you embrace your inner vampire. This one is all about surviving as a creature of the night, building your castle, and dominating the land. You start as a frail vampire, weak and vulnerable to the sun. Your main goal is to grow stronger, build a powerful castle, and expand your territory while avoiding the deadly sunlight. The gameplay involves a mix of action RPG combat, base building, and resource management. You'll need to venture out into the world to gather resources, battle enemies, and hunt down powerful bosses to gain new abilities and crafting recipes. V Rising's combat is fast-paced and action-oriented, with a focus on dodging, positioning, and utilizing your vampire powers. The base-building aspect is also quite detailed, allowing you to create a gothic castle to call your own. You'll need to defend your castle from raids, manage your resources, and keep your vampire minions happy. The game has a strong emphasis on multiplayer, so you can team up with friends or compete with other players for territory and resources. The art style is beautiful, with a dark, gothic aesthetic that perfectly captures the atmosphere of the game. If you're looking for a survival game with a unique twist and a focus on action-packed combat and gothic environments, V Rising is a great choice. You will need to manage the sun so that your vampire does not burn and you can enjoy the map and progress in the game.

Why V Rising is Undeadly Fun

• Vampire Theme: Who doesn't want to be a vampire?
• Fast-Paced Combat: Get ready to use your vampire powers in some thrilling battles!
• Castle Building: Create a gothic stronghold fit for a vampire lord.
• Multiplayer Focused: Team up or compete with other players.

3. Dying Light 2 Stay Human: Parkour Through the Apocalypse

Alright, let's switch gears and talk about zombies! Dying Light 2 Stay Human takes the parkour-focused gameplay of the first game and cranks it up to eleven. You play as a skilled survivor, navigating a post-apocalyptic city overrun by zombies. The game focuses on free-running movement and brutal combat, with a story-driven campaign, and a world where your choices have consequences. The game's defining feature is its incredible parkour system. You can run, jump, climb, and slide your way through the city with impressive agility. The parkour is not only fun but also essential for survival, as you'll need to navigate the environment to avoid zombies and find resources. Combat is visceral and satisfying, with a focus on melee weapons and brutal takedowns. You'll face various types of zombies, each with unique behaviors and weaknesses. The story is a key element of the game, with a branching narrative and choices that impact the world around you. You'll interact with different factions, make decisions, and shape the fate of the city. Dying Light 2 also features a co-op mode, allowing you to team up with friends to tackle the challenges of the apocalypse. The world is beautiful and the gameplay is smooth and fun, making Dying Light 2 a must-try for zombie game fans. The developers have added a ton of content to the game since its launch, so there's plenty to experience.

Why Dying Light 2 is a Thrilling Experience

• Epic Parkour System: The best way to get around a zombie apocalypse.
• Brutal Combat: Fight for your life with melee weapons and satisfying takedowns.
• Choice-Driven Story: Shape the fate of the city with your decisions.
• Co-op Mode: Explore the world with your friends.

4. Project Zomboid: Survive the Zombie Infestation

Project Zomboid is a hardcore, top-down zombie survival game that's all about realism and player freedom. If you're looking for a challenge, this is the game for you. You're dropped into a zombie-infested world, with no hand-holding or tutorials. The goal is simple: survive as long as possible. The game emphasizes meticulous resource management, crafting, and strategic decision-making. You'll need to scavenge for food, water, and supplies, build defenses, and avoid attracting the attention of hordes of zombies. The gameplay is slow-paced and unforgiving. Even a minor injury can lead to infection and death. The game features a deep crafting system, allowing you to create a wide range of items, from weapons to furniture. You can customize your character with various skills, traits, and professions, each affecting your gameplay style. The game features a massive map with procedurally generated buildings, ensuring a unique experience every time. The game's community is also very active, with plenty of mods available to enhance and customize the experience. The game also provides a very good learning curve. If you want a more difficult game, then Project Zomboid is for you!

Why Project Zomboid Will Challenge You

• Hardcore Survival: Every decision matters.
• Deep Crafting System: Build anything you need to survive.
• Massive Map: Explore a procedurally generated world.
• Great Community & Mods: Customize your experience.

5. Raft: Sail the Seas of Survival

Time to set sail! Raft puts you in the middle of the ocean on a tiny raft. Your mission? Survive! Gather resources, expand your raft, and explore the vast ocean while fending off sharks and other dangers. The gameplay loop is centered around gathering resources, crafting tools and upgrades, and expanding your raft. You'll need to collect floating debris, fish for food, and purify water to stay alive. The crafting system is intuitive, allowing you to create various items, from basic tools to advanced structures. The game is beautiful, with stunning ocean environments and dynamic weather effects. The exploration aspect is also a key feature, allowing you to discover new islands, underwater locations, and hidden secrets. The game features co-op gameplay, so you can team up with friends and build the ultimate floating paradise. The developers are constantly updating the game, adding new content, features, and improvements, so there is always something new to see and do.

Why Raft is a Must-Play

• Unique Setting: Survive on a raft in the vast ocean.
• Satisfying Crafting & Building: Expand and customize your raft.
• Beautiful Environments: Explore a stunning ocean world.
• Co-op Gameplay: Build the ultimate raft with friends.

6. Green Hell: Survival in the Amazon

Next up, we're heading to the Amazon rainforest in Green Hell. This game throws you into the brutal environment of the Amazon, where you must fight for your life against the elements, hunger, thirst, and the dangers of the jungle. The game is all about survival in a realistic and unforgiving environment. You'll need to learn to identify plants, hunt animals, and build shelters to survive. The game features a deep crafting system, allowing you to create a wide range of items, from basic tools to complex structures. You'll also need to manage your sanity, as the isolation and dangers of the jungle can take their toll. The game's realism is what makes it so immersive. You'll need to treat wounds, deal with diseases, and monitor your physical and mental health to stay alive. The story is also compelling, with a mystery to unravel as you explore the jungle. The developers have added a lot of content and improvements, making it a great survival game.

Why Green Hell is a True Test

• Realistic Survival: Face the harsh realities of the Amazon.
• Deep Crafting & Building: Learn to survive in the jungle.
• Compelling Story: Unravel the mysteries of the Amazon.
• Immersive Atmosphere: The Amazon is unforgiving.

7. Icarus: Survive on a Dangerous Planet

Icarus is a session-based survival game set on a hostile alien planet. You play as a Prospector, sent to Icarus to gather resources and complete missions, all while battling the planet's dangerous creatures and harsh environments. The gameplay focuses on completing missions within a time limit, gathering resources, and returning to orbit before it's too late. The planet is filled with a variety of biomes, each with unique challenges and resources. You'll need to craft tools, weapons, and structures to survive the planet's hostile conditions. The game features a cooperative multiplayer mode, allowing you to team up with friends and tackle missions together. Each mission is a race against the clock, as you must gather your resources and return to your drop pod before time runs out. The graphics are beautiful, with detailed environments and creatures. The crafting system is also deep, allowing you to create a wide range of items, from simple tools to advanced equipment. If you want a more action-focused survival game, Icarus is perfect.

Why Icarus is Out of This World

• Session-Based Gameplay: Each mission is a unique challenge.
• Beautiful Environments: Explore a dangerous alien planet.
• Co-op Multiplayer: Team up with friends.
• Deep Crafting: Build the tools you need to survive.

8. Rust: Brutal Multiplayer Mayhem

Rust is a multiplayer survival game known for its unforgiving nature and intense player interactions. It is not for the faint of heart! You start with nothing and must scavenge for resources, craft weapons and tools, build a base, and fight for survival in a harsh, post-apocalyptic world. The game is all about player interaction, as you'll encounter other players who may be friendly, hostile, or somewhere in between. You can team up with others to form alliances, raid enemy bases, and conquer the land, or you can go solo and try to survive on your own. The game features a deep crafting system, allowing you to create a wide range of items, from weapons and armor to vehicles and base defenses. The building system is also robust, allowing you to construct complex bases and defend yourself from attacks. The game is constantly updated with new content and features, ensuring a fresh and engaging experience. Be prepared for conflict and betrayal, as Rust is a game where trust is a rare commodity. The game is fun but also very challenging and sometimes frustrating. But that's the appeal of the game!

Why Rust is for the Brave

• Brutal Multiplayer: Prepare for player-versus-player conflict.
• Deep Crafting & Building: Create a base to call your own.
• Intense Player Interactions: Form alliances or make enemies.
• Regular Updates: New content to keep you engaged.

9. Conan Exiles: Build and Conquer

Conan Exiles is a survival game set in the brutal world of Conan the Barbarian. The game allows you to explore a vast open world, build a base, craft weapons and tools, and fight against enemies, both human and creature alike. The game features a strong emphasis on combat and action, with a focus on melee fighting and a variety of weapons to master. The building system is also robust, allowing you to create impressive structures and customize your base. You can team up with friends to build a clan and conquer the land, or go solo and try to survive on your own. The game features a vast open world with diverse biomes, each with unique challenges and resources. You'll also encounter various creatures, from wild animals to mythical beasts, that you'll need to fight. The game is constantly updated with new content and features, ensuring a fresh and engaging experience. Conan Exiles is great if you want to experience the world of Conan!

Why Conan Exiles is a Barbarian's Dream

• Brutal Combat: Experience thrilling battles.
• Deep Crafting & Building: Create your fortress.
• Open World Exploration: Discover a vast world.
• Regular Updates: New content to keep you engaged.

10. SCUM: Hyperrealistic Survival

Last but not least, we have SCUM, a hyperrealistic survival game that puts an emphasis on the details. You play as a prisoner on a reality TV show, tasked with surviving in a dangerous open world filled with other players and deadly creatures. SCUM's main feature is its realism. You'll need to manage your character's metabolism, including hunger, thirst, and fatigue. The game also features a detailed crafting system, allowing you to create weapons, tools, and structures. The combat is also realistic, with a focus on tactical engagements and precise aiming. The game is constantly updated with new content and features, ensuring a fresh and engaging experience. SCUM is very detailed, with complex mechanics. SCUM is great if you're looking for a realistic survival experience. You'll need to learn how to monitor your character's needs and how to survive in the wild.

Why SCUM is a Realistic Thrill

• Hyperrealistic Survival: Detailed mechanics to master.
• Deep Crafting: Craft everything you need.
• Tactical Combat: Precise and realistic battles.
• Regular Updates: New content and features.

Conclusion: The Survival Continues!

And there you have it, folks – our top 10 PC survival games of 2022! Each of these games offers a unique and engaging experience, with something for everyone. Whether you're into zombies, vampires, Vikings, or just the thrill of surviving against all odds, you're sure to find a game to love on this list. So get out there, start exploring, and remember: the most important rule of survival is to never give up. Happy gaming, and may your adventures be long and your deaths… well, hopefully, infrequent! What are your favorite survival games? Let us know in the comments below!