Best Games Like 
In early 2021, an unknown game called Valheim burst onto the survival games scene after exploding in player count on Steam For many players, there’s still not a game like Valheim that truly captures what it has to offer
From the architecturally sound base building to the Viking atmosphere and the different map environments teeming with new resources and bosses, there’s a reason why Valheim is still considered one of the best survival games in the genre
However, this doesn’t mean there aren’t other games that share many similarities with Valheim You can play a variety of survival titles that offer a comparable experience in at least one way
If you’ve been searching for a new game of Valheim’s caliber, then we have you covered We have compiled a list of the 11 best games like Valheim, which are all easily playable in 2026 and share one or more gameplay aspects with the Viking survival game
Best Games Like: RuneScape: Dragonwilds
- Developer: Jagex
- Release Date: April 15, 2025
- Platforms: PC
The RuneScape franchise is most well-known in the MMO genre, as the default RuneScape and its counterpart, Old School RuneScape, are both some of the most successful MMOs on the market
However, developer Jagex took a long-awaited step outside that genre with its newest release, RuneScape: Dragonwilds This is a survival game that has clearly taken some inspiration from Valheim, just like Valheim initially took inspiration from the RuneScape MMO
Dragonwilds features a similar aesthetic, the same kind of precise base building, and several unique skills you can level up by performing actions in the world
Dragonwilds is still unfinished, but the developer is delivering frequent updates to expand the skilling system, add to the story, and design new parts of the map
It’s arguably the closest 1:1 experience of Valheim to be found
Best Games Like: Sons of the Forest
- Developer: Endnight Games
- Release Date: February 23, 2023
- Platforms: PC
Sons of the Forest is what you get when you add horror and a more brutal survival experience to Valheim In terms of gameplay, Sons of the Forest and Valheim are fairly different; Sons of the Forest is a first-person shooter that emphasizes survivability and a more open-ended exploration path
The game begins with you crash-landing on an island filled with dangerous and mysterious creatures that all want you dead You’ll have to scavenge in deep and dark caves and other areas to find tools and weapons you need to survive on the island
A couple of companions can help you out, especially when building your base, but you’re mostly on your own as you traverse the island looking for new resources
Sons of the Forest isn’t for the faint of heart, as there are intense moments, jump scares, and other horror elements around every corner However, it’s another terrific survival game that shares Valheim’s hard-to-master combat and multi-environment map
Best Games Like: Raft
- Developer: Redbeet Interactive
- Release Date: May 23, 2018
- Platforms: PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC
If there’s one thing you’re taught early on in Valheim, it’s to not go into the sea unless you’re prepared to face what lies beneath Well, in Raft, you don’t have a choice but to head into the sea
Raft is a survival game that starts you off floating on a small wooden platform surrounded by nothing but water Through finding resources underwater and eventually finding land formations, you can transform your raft into a luxurious boat that can stand against any threat the game has to offer
However, this doesn’t mean danger isn’t lurking, as you have to fend for yourself when you dive underwater to look for more supplies If the resource-gathering and base-building elements of Valheim are what you enjoy most, then you’ll find immediate satisfaction with Raft
Subnautica
- Developer: Unknown Worlds Entertainment
- Release Date: December 16, 2014
- Platforms: PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PC, Nintendo Switch
We’re headed back to the water with this entry, and Subnautica redefines a fear of the open ocean If you weirdly enjoyed the sea monster and its appearances in Valheim, then you’ll be thrilled with what Subnautica has to offer
You’re the lone survivor of a spaceship crash that winds up in the middle of an unknown planet, which is almost entirely made up of water
Your job is to explore the ocean, find other missing members of your crew, and unravel the true nature of the planet’s origin and power Subnautica features some of the best open-world exploration of any game, and its survival elements will test you for your entire playthrough
You’ll have to fend off sea creatures of all shapes and sizes, and this includes some truly terrifying leviathan-sized monsters that can eat you in a second if you’re not prepared
Subnautica offers a similar style of character and map progression as Valheim, as you need to explore different environments to access new resources that are required to progress to further areas
You’ll also partake in fantastic base building that offers the ability to craft underwater submarines
The Planet Crafter
- Developer: Miju Games
- Release Date: March 24, 2022
- Platforms: PC
If you ever looked at the Valheim map and thought to yourself, “I could create something better,” then The Planet Crafter might just be the next game for you
This survival game allows you to completely terraform an entire planet, giving you full control over what kind of fauna, flora, and environments are found in your new home
You’ll initially scavenge the planet for supplies so you can get a base set up, but then you can explore and make the planet hospitable for human life
The terraforming process includes maintaining heat, oxygen, and pressure levels, as well as deciding the terrain of a given area The Planet Crafter doesn’t offer the combat or in-depth base building of Valheim, but it does offer the same level of exploration and resource-gathering
Enshrouded
- Developer: Keen Games
- Release Date: January 24, 2024
- Platforms: PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC
Enshrouded is another survival game that shares plenty of aspects with Valheim It features deep exploration and has a focus on combat, with the map holding several bosses you can fight to earn unique rewards that will aid you in advancing through other parts of the map
Enshrouded also has a substantial base-building system that allows you to make massive forts in multiple locations across the world One thing that sets Enshrouded apart from Valheim is its RPG mechanics that offer new upgrades and abilities for your character as you level up
Enshrouded is a great survival experience that can be played solo or in co-op with up to 16 players on a single world
V Rising
- Developer: Stunlock Studios
- Release Date: May 17, 2022
- Platforms: PS5, PC
The unique parts of Valheim are what make it such a fun survival game, and V Rising offers plenty of new gameplay elements that aren’t seen elsewhere
For starters, the game sees you play as a vampire who’s just awoken from a long hibernation period You have to rebuild your kingdom, but to do so you need to brave the outside elements, which aren’t kind to vampires
At all times, you need to avoid the sun and other light, or you’ll take severe damage This adds an entirely new layer to the general gameplay loop you see in most survival games
V Rising also has in-depth combat with varied enemies, bosses, and even some PvP if you choose to play on a multiplayer server
Grounded 2
- Developer: Obsidian Entertainment
- Release Date: July 29, 2025
- Platforms: PC
The original Grounded had various Valheim influences that shone throughout its life cycle, and now the sequel is building off those influences Grounded 2 is a step-up from the original in just about every way, featuring a more explorable map, new enemy types, and a smoother crafting system
The basic gameplay loop in Grounded 2 is very similar to its prequel, as you still play as a character that’s been shrunken down to 1/4th the size of a blade of grass
As this character, you need to survive in a park that’s full of different areas and environments, all of which offer resources and items that you can use to build a base and upgrade your character’s gear and abilities
The exploration and differently-scaled areas of the map in Grounded 2 are very reminiscent of Valheim, and there’s plenty more for fans to enjoy in this fantastic addition to the survival genre
Green Hell
- Developer: Creepy Jar
- Release Date: August 29, 2018
- Platforms: PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PC, Nintendo Switch
When it comes to difficulty, Valheim certainly doesn’t hold your hand through some of the challenging combat engagements or survival aspects If you’re looking for an increased level of difficulty compared to Valheim, though, check out Green Hell
Green Hell is a far tougher survival game that places you right in the middle of the unforgiving Amazon rainforest You’ll have to always monitor your character’s vitals and watch out for the different environments that all pose a new kind of threat
In addition to the challenging environments, you’ll also face off against difficult enemies who inhabit the rainforest, and they’re always lurking nearby Green Hell features some expansive base building, terrific yet arduous exploration, and a difficulty level that’s not often found in a survival game
Palworld
- Developer: Pocketpair
- Release Date: January 19, 2024
- Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PC
Palworld is a survival game that combines elements from Valheim and Pokémon The game allows you to catch creatures known as Pals that all have different types, levels, locations, and attacks
With your Pals, you can either keep them in a storage system, place them in your party, or put them to work at your base Pals are especially helpful with base building and management, as some of them have unique abilities that can be utilized to upkeep stations, harvest materials, and build new structures
If you decide to take some Pals with you in your party, you can use them to battle other Pals, including a selection of bosses Your character can also battle Pals using weapons that are crafted with resources you find in the world
The more you progress, the higher-level resources you can access, which gives you the ability to craft better weapons, gear, and tools It’s all a seamless experience that focuses on the grind of exploring the map to find new Pals and resources
Like in Valheim, Palworld also features fairly strict survival elements, as you have to constantly manage health, hunger, and thirst
Conan Exiles
- Developer: Funcom
- Release Date: January 30, 2017
- Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC
Conan Exiles is one of the OG survival games that laid a foundation for many popular games in the genre that followed it It’s set in the Conan the Barbarian universe, and offers a lot of what Valheim fans have come to know and love in the Viking survival game
Conan Exiles offers an in-depth base-building system that allows players to construct a variety of unique and expansive structures While the combat is fairly limited at the start, Conan Exiles has added sorcery and other combat mechanics over the years, allowing you to utilize plenty of different weapons to take down the enemies that are scattered across the large, open world map
One aspect of Conan Exiles that differs from Valheim is that it offers more multiplayer elements, as there’s online PvP and online co-op, both of which add more replayability