Summary
Developed by Hinterland Studio and released in 2017,The Long Darkis a challenging first-person survival exploration game. Resourcefulness is king, and quick thinking is the difference between life and death. In this game, players are pitted against the vicious and chilling enemy of Mother Nature, where a single mistake can spell their doom. Death is the only way this game ends.
The following games have been selected because their gameplay, themes, or the experiences and emotions they evoke are similar toThe Long Dark. This includes, but is not limited to,character needs management, survival within an ecosystem, isolation, diverse and beautiful environments, and a constant threat of death.
Project Zomboidis a survival crafting game that takes place following the total breakdown of society at the hands of a zombie apocalypse.Players must learn to live in this new worlddevoid of human life, utilizing humanity’s remains for food, shelter, and defense.
LikeThe Long Dark,Project Zomboidfeatures permadeath and a gameplay loop that sees players learn with every death and character loss. No death is a waste, though it is avoidable. Every new game is a journey further into the apocalyptic unknown, and knowledge and experience are bought with loss.Project Zomboidalso sees players explore while managing various needs, including hunger, thirst, and sleep.
Subnauticais a first-person survival exploration game set in the alien underwater depths of a foreign planet. In it, players must search, loot, and craft tosurvive and progressthe game’s plot.
Fans ofThe Long Darkcan find a lot to love inSubnautica,including their similar atmospheres.Delving into the ocean’s dark depths, players are awestruck at the beauty ofSubnautica’svaried environments. Simultaneously, players are also terrified at what monstrosity could be lurking within the murky gloom. Death could be behind any corner.
LikeThe Long Dark,Subanuticais also a single-player game where players only interact with humanity through the stuff they have left behind.
7 Days to Dieis a first-person base-building survival game set long after humanity has fallen victim to a zombie apocalypse. Players must fight, loot, and build to survive zombie hordes that will mercilessly hunt down players every seventh in-game day.
7 Days to Die’sseventh-day zombie horde mechanic hasplayers go from predator to preyas hundreds of zombies attempt to claw, punch, and bite their way into players' bases. Failure by players to respect zombies as their predators will end in demise. The same can be said ofThe Long Dark’swolves and bears, a single one of which can lead to a swift death.
Valheimis a third-person crafting adventure game set within aViking mythos-inspired fantastical wilderness. Players must adventure, craft, and build to protect themselves and their loot from monsters.
Players who loveThe Long Darkwill find the diverse lands ofValheimfamiliar but refreshing. Everybiome inValheimhas its own unique challenges and threats that players must learn and overcome. Players who succeed will be rewarded with access to new resources.
Many ofValheim’sbiomes require extended travel through the wilderness to access, necessitating players to prepare extensively for voyages and establish multiple bases. Fans ofThe Long Darkwill find great enjoyment in this as it closely parallelsThe Long Dark’sneed for players to always be on the move.
Unturnedis a first-person cartoon-style zombie apocalypse game whereplayers must survivein a world where the undead recently destroyed society.
LikeThe Long Dark,Unturnedis a game that explores ‘what ifs?‘Unturned’s’What if overnight humanity fell to zombies?’ is similar toThe Long Dark’s’What if society collapsed, trapping someone in the Canadian wilderness?’ Both scenarios give each respective game a fresh feeling. When playingUnturned,players are exploring a new world, one newly produced by a cataclysm.Unturned, likeThe Long Dark, powerfully captures how something once so familiar and comfortable can suddenly feel alien and hostile.
Groundedis a relatively new entry in the first-person survival-exploration genre. In it, players play as children who have been shrunk to the size of ants within a garden. Instead of zombies and NPCs,players have to survivealongside mosquitos and giant spiders.
Groundedexpertly brings a sense of wonder and alienation to a world that many are familiar with, a similar praise given by many toThe Long Dark. Players who enjoy exploring everyday experiences from a new perspective will find a lot to engage with inGrounded. Similar toThe Long Dark,Groundedalso has players living at the bottom of the food chain, so be prepared to prey on and be preyed on.
ARK: Survival Evolvedis a first-person survival base-building game. To survive in this prehistoric land, players must build bases and tame a plethora of dinosaurs, both giant and small.
ARK: Survival Evolvedis a game that doesn’t hold back, allowing players toencounter ferocious dinosaurs early on. Players quickly learn that survival is not just about who can hit the hardest but also knowing when and if they should engage in combat. Sometimes, running is the best option, or quietly sneaking past and praying that the T-Rex doesn’t spot them. Running headlong into combat will only end in death.
A thrilling first-person survival game,The Forestsees players tasked with escaping an island inhabited by cannibals and deadly mutant humanoids. Players must manage character needs and base building while under the looming threat of attack.
Beautiful but deadly,The Forestinspires equal awe with its lush and varied environments as it does fear, knowing that a deadly threat could be lurking around any corner. LikeThe Long Dark,The Forestalso has high-quality and varied AI that always keeps players on their toes. Players never quite know what an encounter with cannibals will bring, whether fighting, fleeing, or bringing war to players' front doors.
