Summary
Survival games generally place the player into a harsh,dangerous environment, requiring them to find a way to thrive and survive. This usually means exploring, finding resources, crafting weapons, clothing and equipment, and some form of shelter. These are the staples of survival games, but some offer other types of content as well.
Dungeon crawling is a feature of some survival games. Sometimes traditional dungeons, other times dungeon-like caves or underground structures. Often, these dungeons are used as a way to gate valuable resources, or to hide valuable, powerful items. These dungeons provide players with a way to test their skills, and have some fun exploring and defeating enemies, oftentough bosses.
Conan Exilesis a multiplayer,sandbox survival game. However, it is not a full-blown MMORPG. It is set in a game world that is based on the lore of Conan the Barbarian, filled with mythical beasts to conquer and valuable resources to accrue.
The multiplayer feature makesConan Exilesstand out, as players can group together to build entire settlements if they wish, and of course, to tackle the dangerous dungeons. Dungeons can be found in most biomes, and offer a significant challenge to players who are either not ready to tackle them, or lack the proper equipment.
Valheimis another open-world, sandbox survival game. It is based on elements fromNorse mythology.Valheimfollows an interesting progression mechanic, with players needing to defeat a number of bosses in turn, to gain access to the next tier of resources and materials. Dungeons are not just about fun combat in Valheim; they are a requirement to progress through the game. Some resources, such as iron, can only be found in dungeons, so every player will need to tackle them eventually.
The trick withValheim’sdungeons is not to try them until geared up sufficiently, especially the dungeons that feature archer enemies. These dungeons include Burial Chambers, filled with skeletons and Surtling Cores, Sunken Crypts in the Swamps, where iron scrap is hidden behind muddy scrap piles, and Frost Caves in the Mountains, where werewolves and cultists lurk. Each dungeon has unique enemies, hazards, and treasures, making exploration a thrilling yet dangerous necessity.
In Ark: Survival Evolved, the player inhabits a prehistoric world, populated by dinosaurs and other mythical creatures. The game offers an open-world, sandbox style of gameplay, with a focus on taming and even riding dinosaurs, alongside traditional survival tropes.
The cave dungeons inArk: Survival Evolvedare the best places to find legendary artifacts. However, they are, of course, the place where the most powerful enemies are found in the game as well. They are also the locations where players can summon the toughest bosses in the game.
Terrariais a very successful 2d indie game, that combines survival with exploration, combat, and crafting. The game has been heavily influenced by RPGs, with a very similar progression system that RPG fans will recognize. The dungeons inTerrariaare dangerous for many reasons, including the intricate traps, and many hidden, secret areas, allgenerated procedurally. The boss battles require some strategic thinking to survive.
And then there are the two mega-dungeons, including the famed Underworld, a huge cavern that players need to explore and survive in. And, of course, the Dungeon itself; a sprawling, perilous fortress teeming with traps and guarded by Skeletron, with formidable foes like Cursed Skulls and Dark Casters lurking within. Later in the adventure, the Lihzahrd Temple presents yet another ruthless ordeal, housing the mighty Golem and packed with lethal Lihzahrds and spiked hazards.
Minecraftis one of the most successful games of all time, played by hundreds of millions of people both old and young. It likely needs no introduction here. And even thoughMinecraftis primarily a survival, resource-gathering, and building game, it does have dungeons. All of the dungeons inMinecraftare generated randomly and provide a great place for players to explore for loot, resources, and riches.
All of the dungeons inMinecraftare generated randomly, and provide a great place for players to explore for loot, resources, and riches. Dungeons inMinecraftpresent hidden challenges, and some very tough boss fights, giving players an additional way to find adventure in the game.
Another 2D survival game takes the top spot on this list, and this time a multiplayer one. InDon’t Starve Together, players find themselves working as a team, in a mysterious procedurally generated world, that is populated with horrific supernatural threats, in a trueLovecraftian manner. The dungeons inDon’t Starve Togetherare huge cave systems that are completely unpredictable.
The dungeons inDon’t Starve Togetherare huge cave systems, that are completely unpredictable. They are grueling at times, and offer a significant challenge even to experienced players. But with good preparation and teamwork, they can be beaten, but never easily. These caves include dangerous biomes like the Spore-laden Mushtree Forests and the deadly Ruins, home to powerful creatures such as Depths Worms and Ancient Guardians. The Ruins, in particular, hold valuable loot like Thulecite and the powerful Ancient Pseudoscience Station, making them a high-risk, high-reward destination. Players must navigate darkness, hunger, and aggressive enemies to survive in these treacherous underground landscapes.
