Summary
Survival games of all types offer players an adrenaline-inducing experience that replicates the thrill of living minute-by-minute. FPS survival games, however, take this even further, by immersing players in brutal worlds that are viewed from a first-person perspective.
The best FPS survival gamesnot only have great survival mechanics such as crafting and resource management, but they also have outstanding shooting mechanics that at the very least can match some of thebest FPS games. While guns aren’t always at the center of attention in many of these games, it does feel great to finally get hold of one after surviving with a spear or dagger.
Updated July 26, 2025, by Joe Grantham:Survival games have become increasingly popular over recent years, and players will find no shortage of examples that feature first-person shooting mechanics. Many of these games are released in Early Access, allowing developers to refine the experience over the years, responding to feedback from the player base. Therefore, the best FPS survival games include both new and old releases. Some win over players with sheer quality, while at other times, it is the innovation that draws new fans into the genre.
ARK: Survival Ascendedis the latest in the series of dinosaur survival games and improved onSurvival Evolvedin a number of ways including, most notably, in the graphics department with the help of Unreal Engine 5. However, the game did suffer a shaky start with many technical problems, and it’s certainly nota game for those on low-end PCs.
Now that time has passed and updates have improved multiple aspects of the experience, it can be considered a good survival game that can be played in first person. For those who just can’t get enough of dinosaurs and are looking to the future, this is certainly a game to get into, although for FPS enthusiasts it can take a little while to unlock firearms and crossbows.
Building upon the success ofThe Forest,Sons of the Forestis a sequel where players are sent to rescue a missing billionaire from the series' iconic cannibal-infested island. With improved graphics, animations, and much more, if players enjoyed the jump scares of the first game, they should definitely check this sequel out.
While FPS gameplay isn’t at the fore, with basic survival skills often being more important, guns are nevertheless a feature ofSons of the Forestwith a few more firearms available such as a revolver and rifle. This is on top of the selection of bows and crossbows.
Dying Light 2 Stay Humanis an open-world zombie survival game, perhaps best known for its incredible parkour andrealistic melee combat in first person. However, in early 2024, the game received an update that saw the addition of multiple firearms, shaking up the gameplay.
With beautiful graphics and realistic AI already staples of the game,Dying Light 2has quickly risen to become one of the best FPS survival games. The only downside is that some fans feel like these sleek-looking guns feel out of place in a post-apocalyptic world. Especially one where 20 years have passed since a virus toppled civilization. Some players would have preferred to see shoddy hand-made firearms crafted from scraps.
Despite its simple graphics,The Long Darkis a gritty and realistic survival game that pits the player againstthe natural dangers of a frozen wilderness. With a first-person camera, players will be fully immersed in the bitterly cold world as they look down the sight of their trusty shotgun, which is the only thing capable of saving them from a bear. While the game isn’t known for outstanding shooting mechanics, they are nonetheless solid and allow other aspects of the experience to shine.
In Survival Mode, players get no second chances, as their save file will be deleted on death. They must manage their hunger levels and soldier on through the cold, with every action costing them precious calories. At times, they will hunt for food; at other times, they will be the ones who are hunted. Above all else, players must think for themselves, as the game will not hold their hand.
AlthoughArk: Survival Evolvedhas its problems with bugs and glitches, it is nonetheless a good FPS survival game, especially for anyone who has ever dreamed of fighting against, running alongside, and even riding dinosaurs. The game sees players dropped onto an island inhabited by all manner of primeval creatures, and after starting off with basic equipment, they will eventually discover more modern technology.
Once players have guns, for example, and have tamed the strongest dinosaurs, they will be a force to be reckoned with. They will be well on their way to escaping, which is the aim of the game.
If players have ever wondered what it would be like to explore an entire universe full of weird and wonderful life,No Man’s Skyis the game for them. This sci-fi survival game features a procedurally generated universe made up of a mind-boggling 18 quintillion planets. More often than not, individuals will be the first and perhaps only player to ever step foot on a newly found planet.
What players choose to do with hundreds of unique galaxies at their fingertips is completely up to them. They can become fighters, space pirates, traders, builders, or simply push exploration further than ever before. With lots of weird and wacky alien life that isn’t always friendly, shooting is naturally part of the game. Players can experience this in the third or first person, whichever they prefer. WhileNo Man’s Skyflopped at launch and left fans disappointed, years of revisions and frequent content updates have led to one ofthe biggest comebacks in gaming history.
After crashing onto a remote island, players will set about basic survival tasks to make it through the first few days inThe Forest. Shelter must be built and food must be scavenged or hunted. However, they will soon discover that they are not alone, as the island is home to raving cannibals.
The game is heavily praised for its horror elements,crafting mechanics, and first-person action, all of which combine for some nail-biting moments that can be enjoyed alone or with friends in co-op mode.
Allowing players to play in first person or third person,SCUMis one ofthe most in-depth survival gamesout there, with a plethora of immersive details. For example, when players get wet, so will their clothing, and each layer will need to dry and this is best done off of the character’s body.
For better or worse, players will also discover that they must attend to their bodily functions as almost everything about the human character is simulated. As with many other survival games, players are dropped into a mostly deserted land and start with nothing but their bare hands. Eventually, however, they will find proper weapons and, as with anything in this game, they function extremely realistically.
S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Call of Pripyatsees players enter the Exclusion Zone around the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant, in search of a missing military expedition. On top of worrying about food and other basics like most survival games, players must also worry about radiation levels, and watch out for mutated creatures.
As one of themost brutal survival gameson the market, players must always check their surroundings and should really think things through before engaging in any shootout.
Despite technically being inthe early access stage of development,Escape From Tarkovis practically a complete game and an excellent FPS survival experience. Set in the fictional Norvinsk region of Russia, the game is as immersive as it is brutal, and just the noise of distant gunfire is enough to put most players on edge.
The game has a few game modes and multiple maps, but generally, players are tasked with the objective of reaching an extraction point before falling victim to one of the other players. When a player dies, they will lose all their loot.
