Survival Games
Survival Games refer to a genre of video games where the primary gameplay mechanic involves players surviving in a hostile environment or under adverse conditions. These games often require players to manage resources, craft tools, build shelters, and fend off threats, which can range from natural elements to hostile creatures or other players.
History and Evolution
The concept of survival in video games can be traced back to early games like Adventure and Myst, where exploration and survival were key elements. However, modern survival games were significantly shaped by:
- 1980s-1990s: Games like Elite introduced survival through space exploration and resource management.
- 2000s: Minecraft released in 2011, became a landmark title, featuring a survival mode where players must gather resources to survive in an infinite world.
- 2010s: The genre saw a boom with games like DayZ, which started as a mod for Arma 2, emphasizing player versus environment (PvE) and player versus player (PvP) survival scenarios.
- 2010s-Present: Games like Rust and ARK: Survival Evolved continued to evolve the genre, introducing more complex crafting systems, base building, and multiplayer dynamics.
Key Elements
- Resource Management: Players must collect food, water, materials, and sometimes manage health or stamina to survive.
- Crafting: Crafting systems allow players to create tools, weapons, and shelters from collected resources.
- Survival Mechanics: Includes hunger, thirst, temperature management, and sometimes sleep or sanity levels.
- Environmental Interaction: Dynamic weather, day/night cycles, and sometimes procedural generation of the game world.
- Combat: Defending against hostile entities or other players, which can be either NPCs or real human players.
- Multiplayer Dynamics: Many survival games feature multiplayer components where player interaction can be cooperative or competitive.
Context and Culture
The popularity of survival games has grown due to their appeal to a broad audience:
- They provide a sandbox environment for creativity and exploration.
- They simulate real-world survival scenarios, appealing to those interested in survivalism or prepping.
- They often include elements of horror or post-apocalyptic settings, tapping into popular culture themes.
- Community and social interaction are significant, with players often forming alliances or engaging in trade.
Notable Titles
External Links
Related Topics