18 Games Similar To Rust
Rust offers an exciting and demanding survival experience in a harsh world where players must fight for their survival and cooperate or compete with other players. The open world, freedom of choice and social aspect make the game appealing to fans of survival and online competition. If you're looking for similar games - you've come to the right place!
18. Chernobylite
The main character of the game is Igor, a former Chernobyl NPP worker, who returns to the exclusion zone to search for his missing fiancée. The plot of the game develops around his attempts to find out the truth about her disappearance, as well as about the dark secrets of Chernobyl. Chernobylite gameplay combines elements of strategy (planning expeditions, base and resource management), action (clashes with mutants and other dangers of the zone) and horror (constant sense of tension due to unexplored threats). And there's Rust-style survival, too. The graphics of the game is made on a high level thanks to the use of photorealistic scanning of the real part of the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone. This creates a particularly immersive atmosphere. Chernobylite has received positive reviews for its atmospheric atmosphere, complex non-linear storyline and the depth of choices before the player. However, some critics pointed out problems with optimization and repetitiveness of tasks.
17. Escape from Tarkov
The events of the game are set in the fictional Russian city of Tarkov, which is isolated from the rest of the world due to a political crisis. Players have to get out of this place by fighting other players (PMCs or private military companies) and non-player characters (Scavs). One of the key features of the game is the combat system, which strives to be as realistic as possible, from limb injuries to the selection of ammunition for each weapon type. Every shot can be fatal, forcing the player to be constantly on guard and carefully plan their actions. Customization of the character and his equipment is another notable feature of Escape from Tarkov. The player can modify almost every part of his weapon, from the sights to the types of bolt delays. It is also necessary to manage your character's inventory, monitor his physical condition, hydration level and general health. The looting system requires special attention: all items matter - from wire to rare weapons. Upon death, a character loses all of the possessions he has gained; this adds to the tension of each expedition. The game also offers a complex economic system: players can trade both between NPC-traders and at auctions between users themselves. Not all Rust fans will like this game, but it's worth a try.
16. Minecraft
- Similarity: 10 %
- Metacritic: link
- Year of release: 2025
- Game play time: 100 hours
- Trailer: link
- Review: IGN
In Minecraft, players explore an infinitely generated world full of different biomes, resources, and puzzles. The world is made up of blocks - basic building blocks that the player can destroy, collect and use to build new structures or tools. Main game modes: Survival - the player must mine resources to create tools, defend against monsters at night and build shelter. There is a system of health and hunger. For fans of Rust what is needed. Creativity - Players have access to unlimited resources for building; no need to eat or defend against monsters. Adventure - The mode is designed to play on maps with specific rules for interacting with blocks created by other users. Hardcore - a variation of survival with a harder difficulty level; if a player dies in this mode, they can no longer be revived in this world. The game features simple graphics in the style of blocky 3D pixel animation, which is its trademark. It has excellent potential for modification by the user community: there are thousands of modifications (mods) that add new elements to the game or change existing ones. An important aspect of Minecraft is social interaction: people join together on servers for shared adventures or building projects. Also present is the possibility of an educational experience through Minecraft Education Edition. Minecraft has had a significant cultural impact - building contests are organized, classes are based on it, and it is even used as a programming tool thanks to the Redstone interface - the electricity system within the game.
15. The Planet Crafter
The gameplay is based on resource extraction, base construction and gradual change of the planet's ecosystem. The player must create various machines and devices to support his life needs and at the same time work to improve the atmosphere, temperature and pressure on the planet. All of this is done through a system of crafting (creating items from available resources) and base management. The main goal is to reach certain environmental parameters so that conditions become suitable for growing plants and sustaining life forms of Earth origin. The game received positive reviews for its interesting gameplay, focused on engineering thinking and planning, as well as for the exciting process of transforming a desert landscape into a green paradise. At the same time, some users noted the repetitiveness of tasks after a certain stage of the game. "The Planet Crafter" is of interest to fans of space themes, fantasies about colonizing new worlds and fans of survival games like Rust.
14. Factorio
- Similarity: 20 %
- Metacritic: link
- Year of release: 2020
- Game play time: 90 hours
- Trailer: link
- Review: IGN
The essence of the game is to build and optimize processes in automated factories to produce various resources and items. The player starts with basic tools on a desert planet and must extract resources such as iron, copper, coal and oil to build machines and conveyor systems. One of the key features of Factorio is the ability to create complex industrial chains with multiple interconnectors and balance the efficiency of production lines. In addition to the industrial aspect of the game, there are survival elements: the player must defend his factory from the attacks of the local fauna - aggressive aliens. Gameplay requires planning and strategic thinking. The use of programming through logic circuits adds interest to the management of the factory. The constant expansion of the factory requires more and more resources, which implies exploration expeditions to find new mineral reserves. Factorio's community is characterized by activity: users create modifications (mods) that add new technologies, change game mechanics or complicate tasks. In addition, there is a cooperative network play feature available. Graphics in Factorio is made in isometric perspective with enough details to distinguish the objects of the plant. Sound design plays an important role: machine sounds help you determine the efficiency of the systems without directly observing them. Think of Factorio as "Rust with automation".
13. The Long Dark
The game has an atmospheric visual design and elaborate survival mechanics. The player must take care of warmth, food, water and safety of the character. It is necessary to get resources, hunt, fish and avoid the dangers of nature. "The Long Dark" offers several game modes. "Life After the Crash" - a series of episodic adventures with an emphasis on narrative. "Survival" is a free mode with no specific quests or objectives, where the main goal is to survive as long as possible. Just in the style of Rust. "Challenges" - special trials with specific conditions to add variety. An important part of the game is its visual style - all elements are done in such a way as to convey the feeling of loneliness and vast snowy expanses. The sound is also excellent; it helps you immerse yourself in the atmosphere of the delicate balance between life and death. The story episodes provide context for what's going on and reveal the background of The Long Dark's world. They feature characters with their own stories. Generally, reviews of The Long Dark are very positive for its sophisticated approach to the survival genre without supernatural or sci-fi elements; everything here is built on a realistic representation of man's struggle with nature.
12. Project Zomboid
In Project Zomboid, players find themselves in a city completely engulfed by the zombie apocalypse. The goal of the game is the same as in Rust - to survive as long as possible. To do this, you will not only have to dodge crowds of hungry zombies, but also collect resources, build shelters, grow food and protect your health. Despite the simple 2D graphics, the game has a detailed world. Players will have to keep track of character parameters such as hunger, thirst, body temperature and stress levels. The difficulty system can be customized before starting the game; different aspects of difficulty can be selected from the number of zombies to their movement speed. The game world consists of several maps with a variety of landscapes. Project Zomboid is constantly updated by the developers with new content and bug fixes.
11. Sons Of The Forest
- Similarity: 50 %
- Metacritic: link
- Year of release: 2024
- Game play time: 30 hours
- Trailer: link
- Review: IGN
The gameplay of Sons Of The Forest is based on exploring the world, gathering resources and building. The game offers a more advanced crafting system compared to Rust. The interaction with the surrounding world also plays an important role: you can encounter both wildlife and strange creatures inhabiting the island. Visually, the project has undergone significant improvements: textures have become more detailed, animations - smooth, and weather effects - realistic. The game promises to be interesting not only for fans of the first part, but also for all fans of the survival genre. It should be noted that in addition to the single-player campaign, there is an option of cooperative playthrough. This adds a social element to the game and allows you to share the hardships of survival with your friends. "Sons Of The Forest" also received positive reviews for its atmospheric nature: the gloomy forest landscape combined with the tense sound design creates a true sense of lonely survival in an unfriendly world.
10. The Forest
- Similarity: 50 %
- Metacritic: link
- Year of release: 2023
- Game play time: 30 hours
- Trailer: link
- Review: IGN
In The Forest, the player finds himself the sole survivor of a plane crash on an unknown island. As in Rust, the main goal is survival, defense against cold, hunger and wild animals. However, the biggest danger comes from the mutant cannibals that inhabit the island. The player must gather resources, build shelters and weapons for defense. The crafting system allows you to create various items from found materials. The game also offers the possibility of exploring the secrets of the island, which adds elements of adventure and deepens the storyline. "The Forest" is remarkable for its open world and freedom of action for the player. There are no clearly defined tasks or courses of action - everyone can choose their own ways of survival. Daytime is more peaceful, allowing you to build and collect resources, while at night the game is filled with thriller moments of cannibal attacks. An interesting feature is the behavioral aspects of mutants: they don't always attack first, sometimes they watch the player or simply pass by. "The Forest" also features a cooperative mode, which allows you to survive with other people online.
9. 7 Days to Die
- Similarity: 60 %
- Metacritic: link
- Year of release: 2021
- Game play time: 100 hours
- Trailer: link
- Review: IGN
The gameplay of 7 Days to Die focuses on survival after a nuclear war that turned most of humanity into zombies. The gameplay is familiar to those who have played Rust. The player must collect resources, build fortifications, produce food and weapons, and defend himself from continuous zombie attacks. The world of the game is a post-apocalyptic landscape with cities, forests, deserts and various biomes. The crafting system allows you to create weapons, tools, fortifications and other useful items. The player can build his shelter block by block or use already existing structures to equip the base. It is necessary to keep track of such character parameters as hunger, thirst and health. By gaining experience the player can increase the skills of his character and get new abilities. Zombies become more dangerous at night; every 7 days there is a "blood moon" when crowds of zombies attack more actively. The game supports both single-player game mode and multiplayer cooperative or PvP (player versus player).
8. DayZ
In DayZ, players find themselves in a fictional post-apocalyptic region called Chernorussia, after about two years since the start of the zombie apocalypse. The player's goal is to survive - to do so, they must search for food, water, clothing, and weapons, as well as defend themselves against zombies and other players. The game map is huge and gives a lot of opportunities to explore. The game is very realistic in terms of having to maintain your character's vitals. This is especially important for Rust fans. In DayZ, you can encounter both friendly and aggressive players, making each encounter unpredictable. Since it is an online game, the developers are constantly updating it by adding new elements and fixing bugs. The main feature of DayZ is its non-linearity: there are no defined objectives or end goal other than survival. This can be both an advantage for those who like free unlimited worlds without clear rules or goals and a disadvantage for those who prefer more structured gameplay. The game was well received by the community due to its realism and tense atmosphere. Despite some difficulty for newcomers and occasional technical problems (as is often the case with large online projects), DayZ continues to have an active community of fans around the world.
7. Mist Survival
In Mist Survival, players take on the role of one of the few survivors of an unknown virus that has turned most of humanity into aggressive infected. The story and world of the game has a post-apocalyptic character, with dense fogs that periodically cover the landscape and turn it into an even more dangerous place to survive. Players will have to gather resources, build shelter and produce food to sustain health, thirst and hunger. An important part of gameplay is the use of stealth to avoid encounters with the infected, especially when the fog descends. Users can craft various items and tools from found materials. The changing time of day and weather conditions also have a significant impact on gameplay. If interested in the survival genre and love Rust, Mist Survival may be a worthy choice to check out.
6. Subnautica
- Similarity: 60 %
- Metacritic: link
- Year of release: 2018
- Game play time: 50 hours
- Trailer: link
- Review: IGN
The action of Subnautica takes place in an alien oceanic world, where after the crash of a spaceship the player has to survive. The main task is to explore the underwater landscape, which is full of mysterious reefs, deep-sea trenches and various underwater flora and fauna. The developers paid great attention to detailing the terrain and the inhabitants of the depths. The player can build his underwater dwelling, create various items to further explore the world and its mysteries. The crafting system is quite extensive: you can create tools, new parts for the base, underwater means of transportation and much more. At the same time, you always need to keep an eye on your oxygen levels, health and food requirements. Subnautica also has an interesting story element: as you progress through the game, more information is revealed about the reasons for the ship crash and the mysteries of this unearthly place. The game received high marks for its atmospheric, unconventional approach to the genre and exciting immersion into an unexplored underwater world. Subnautica is of interest to fans of survival games like Rust.
5. Terraria
- Similarity: 60 %
- Metacritic: link
- Year of release: 2011
- Game play time: 80 hours
- Trailer: link
- Review: IGN
The world of Terraria is procedurally generated for each new game, providing a unique experience with each playthrough. Players will explore a variety of biomes from forests and deserts to underground caves and hellish spaces. Players can build houses, fortresses, castles - almost anything. The building system is very flexible and detailed, providing a huge amount of materials and items to create unique structures. Terraria features a wide variety of monsters and bosses. Each new boss requires special conditions for its summoning, as well as special tactics in the fight. An important part of the game is crafting - creating new items from resources found or mined in the world. These can be weapons, tools for work or various useful accessories. You can play alone or with friends online. Many servers offer different formats of cooperation or competition between players. Rust fans will love it!
4. ARK: Survival Evolved
- Similarity: 70 %
- Metacritic: link
- Year of release: 2017
- Game play time: 100 hours
- Trailer: link
- Review: IGN
In "ARK: Survival Evolved" the player finds himself on the mysterious Ark Island, inhabited by dinosaurs and other prehistoric creatures. The main task is survival: to do this you need to collect resources, build shelters, produce weapons and clothing. The player can tame dinosaurs and use them as transportation or household helpers. The world of "ARK" is alive and constantly changing. Day is replaced by night, the weather is changeable, which adds realism. In the game you can tame various creatures, each of which has its own unique use. Buildings can be as simple huts made of stone or wood, and entire fortresses with complex security systems. New items, from tools to clothing, must be crafted to survive. ARK has a vast world to explore with many biomes from tropical paradise zones to glacial wastelands. The game features not only aggressive creatures, but also natural dangers - attacks from other players (in PvP), food can spoil, and a character can get sick. The game offers both single-player mode for those who prefer quiet exploration of the world on their own and servers for cooperative or competitive (PvE or PvP) playthrough. The graphics in "ARK: Survival Evolved" are of high quality; dinosaur models deserve special attention. Management may seem difficult to beginners because of the large number of possible actions. The game received different reviews; some praise it for the complexity of survival systems and interesting approach to the theme of dinosaurs, others complain about optimization errors and bugs. Despite this, "ARK: Survival Evolved" has gained a lot of popularity among fans of survival games like Rust, thanks to its unusual combination of adventure and animal care elements.
3. Miscreated
In Miscreated, players find themselves in a post-nuclear war world that is filled with dangers, from radiation-altered nature to other survivors who can be both friendly and aggressive. The main objective of the game is to survive by creating shelters, searching for food, water and equipment. The game has a crafting system that allows you to build bases and produce various items to improve your chances of survival. The world is realistic and detailed: it is full of different locations from small villages to large urban areas. And each area has its own unique atmosphere and opportunities to explore. The game supports multiplayer mode, where you can team up with other players to survive together or fight for resources. Due to the constant danger from the environment and other players, the tension is maintained throughout the game. The graphics are done on a fairly high level thanks to the use of CryEngine. The environment elements look very high quality, from the ground textures to the weather effects. Miscreated offers an interesting experience for fans of survival simulators like Rust with an emphasis on realism.
2. No Man’s Sky
- Similarity: 70 %
- Metacritic: link
- Year of release: 2016
- Game play time: 90 hours
- Trailer: link
- Review: IGN
The game features a vast universe of over 18 quintillion unique planets, each procedurally generated. Players can explore these planets, discover new species of plants, animals and minerals. The game also provides the opportunity to participate in space battles, build bases and trade. One of the key features of "No Man's Sky" is complete freedom of action - the player can follow the plot threads or do his own thing in the boundless space. A crafting system allows you to create the necessary tools and improvements for your ship, spacesuit and weapons. Upon launch, the game was heavily criticized by the public for its lack of promised features and content. However, the developers did not abandon the project after its problematic launch; they continued to actively work on improving the game, releasing a series of significant updates (e.g. "Foundation", "Pathfinder", "Atlas Rises", "NEXT", "Beyond", and others) that expanded the functionality by adding multiplayer mode, commodity frigate basing, underwater missions, and more. "No Man's Sky" encourages exploration of the world around you and survival in the midst of distant galaxies. Although the initial launch was scandalous due to the audience's inflated expectations of the game's advertising campaign, subsequent changes received positive reviews from both the press and the player community due to significant content tweaks. Currently Hello Games continues to support No Man's Sky with new updates, as do the developers of Rust.
1. Valheim
- Similarity: 80 %
- Metacritic: link
- Year of release: 2021
- Game play time: 60 hours
- Trailer: link
- Review: IGN
The game immerses you in a world inspired by Scandinavian mythology. You play as one of the Vikings sent to the mysterious land of Valheim in order to prove your worth and enter Valhalla. The game's world is huge and procedurally generated, providing a unique experience for each user. Players will have to gather resources, build shelters and produce weapons and tools. There is the ability to build various structures, from simple houses to fortresses and castles. There is also the exploration of the seas on ships built by the player himself. Battles are melee combat using various weapons or archery. And then there are powerful bosses, each of which requires a special approach and tactics. And support for cooperative play for up to 10 people. Valheim's graphics are done in a recognizable low-poly style, which at the same time creates an atmospheric feeling thanks to high-quality lighting and effects. Despite not having the most advanced graphics compared to AAA projects, the game has received positive reviews for its atmospheric execution, interesting gameplay, and expansive open world. Survival mechanics are complemented by such elements as: a food system (game characters need food), changeable weather with all the consequences (affects the course of construction or navigation) and a dynamic system of changing day and night. Valheim quickly gained a large community thanks to the freshness of the concept of survival with a Scandinavian flavor. The tasks for the player will be not only the classic for the genre survival, but also exploration of secret locations, the struggle for control over resources with ferocious creatures and the expansion of abilities peculiar to the chosen character. Definitely worth a try players in Rust!
