Games Like The Long Dark: Survival Edition (2026)

Shared: Permadeath

Surviving alone was already brutal - surviving with friends who make catastrophic decisions is another beast entirely. A deep, unforgiving co-op survival game that rewards patience, preparation, and someone on the team who knows what a Science Machine actually does.

Shared: Permadeath, Skill Progression

Survival horror that treats your death as a foregone conclusion and dares you to postpone it as long as possible. The depth here will outlast most RPGs you own.

Shared: Permadeath

Stress kills faster than swords here, and your Vestal will crack before your Leper lands a hit. Whether that loop hooks you or breaks you is the only question worth asking.

Shared: Hardcore Survival

Surviving a dinosaur island sounds like a fantasy, but ARK will test whether you actually want to spend 200 hours punching trees and babysitting unconscious raptors before it gets good.

Shared: Permadeath

Completely free, permanently complete, and built by one person responding to a YouTube dare. If you have 90 minutes and a friend with a Steam account, there is no excuse not to try Muck.