What should a survival game have?

Survival games have become increasingly popular in recent years, captivating players with their immersive gameplay and adrenaline-pumping challenges. These games put players in the shoes of a character stranded in a harsh environment, tasked with fighting for survival against all odds. But what makes a survival game truly great? In this article, we will explore the key elements that every survival game should have to provide players with an unforgettable gaming experience. From realistic mechanics to engaging storylines, we will delve into the essentials that make survival games worth playing. Get ready to discover what it takes to create a survival game that will keep players on the edge of their seats.

Immersive Gameplay Mechanics

Crafting and Resource Gathering

Crafting and resource gathering are crucial components of a survival game. In order to survive, players must gather resources and use them to craft tools, weapons, and shelter. The following are some key elements of crafting and resource gathering in a survival game:

• Importance of gathering resources for survival: Players must gather resources such as food, water, and materials in order to survive. The scarcity of resources adds to the challenge of the game and requires players to make strategic decisions about how to best use the resources they find.
• Crafting systems and their role in gameplay: Crafting systems allow players to create items and tools that are necessary for survival. These systems can range from simple recipe-based systems to more complex systems that require players to experiment with different combinations of materials.
• Variety of materials and items to collect: A variety of materials and items should be available for players to collect, including but not limited to wood, stone, metal, food, and water. The variety of materials and items should be balanced with the player’s ability to carry them, so that players must make strategic decisions about what to carry and when to scavenge for more resources.

In addition to these elements, a good survival game should also include a sense of progression, where players can improve their skills and abilities over time. This can be achieved through a leveling system, where players earn experience points by completing tasks and challenges, or through a skill tree, where players can unlock new abilities and upgrades as they progress.

Survival Needs and Mechanics

A survival game is only as good as its ability to simulate the harsh realities of survival. In order to create an immersive experience, the game must incorporate survival needs and mechanics that accurately reflect the struggles of real-life survival.

Hunger

Hunger is a fundamental survival need that must be addressed in any survival game. Players must be required to hunt, gather, or farm for food in order to satiate their hunger and avoid starvation. The game should incorporate realistic hunger rates that decrease over time, forcing players to constantly search for food.

Thirst

Thirst is another essential survival need that must be incorporated into the game. Players must be required to find sources of water, such as rivers, lakes, or wells, in order to quench their thirst. The game should also incorporate realistic thirst rates that decrease over time, forcing players to constantly search for water.

Fatigue

Fatigue is a critical survival need that is often overlooked in survival games. Players must be required to manage their energy levels, as physical activity and stress can quickly drain their stamina. The game should incorporate realistic fatigue rates that decrease over time, forcing players to balance their need for physical activity with their need for rest.

Implementing Mechanics for Managing Survival Needs

In order to create an immersive survival experience, the game must incorporate mechanics that allow players to manage their survival needs. This includes mechanics for hunting, gathering, farming, and crafting.

Players must be able to use a variety of tools and weapons to gather resources and hunt prey. The game should also incorporate a crafting system that allows players to create items such as weapons, shelter, and clothing.

Balancing Realism and Gameplay Enjoyment

It is important to strike a balance between realism and gameplay enjoyment in a survival game. While the game must accurately simulate the struggles of survival, it must also be enjoyable to play.

The game should incorporate a difficulty curve that increases over time, challenging players to constantly adapt and improve their survival skills. However, the game should also provide players with a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction as they overcome obstacles and achieve milestones.

In conclusion, a survival game must incorporate survival needs and mechanics that accurately simulate the struggles of real-life survival. The game must also balance realism with gameplay enjoyment, providing players with a challenging and immersive experience that is also fun to play.

Base Building and Shelter

• The Importance of Having a Safe Haven and Shelter
  • In any survival game, the player’s ability to build and maintain a safe haven is crucial to their success. This base of operations serves as a place to store resources, craft equipment, and rest. It also provides a sense of security and belonging in a harsh and unforgiving world.
• Building Mechanics for Creating Bases and Structures
  • The mechanics for building bases and structures should be intuitive and easy to use. Players should be able to gather resources and use them to construct walls, floors, and roofs. The building process should be interactive, allowing players to place each piece individually and manipulate the structure to fit their needs.
  • In addition to basic building blocks, players should have access to a variety of tools and blueprints to create more advanced structures. This could include doors, windows, traps, and other defensive measures. As the player progresses, they should be able to build more complex and fortified bases to protect themselves from increasingly dangerous threats.
• Customization Options for Personalizing the Player’s Shelter
  • The ability to customize the player’s base is important for creating a sense of ownership and identity. Players should be able to choose from a variety of colors, textures, and materials to make their base unique. This could include options for painting walls, adding furniture, and placing decorations.
  • Customization should also extend to the layout of the base. Players should be able to rearrange walls and floors to fit their preferred layout. This could include creating different rooms for storage, crafting, and sleeping.
  • In addition to cosmetic customization, players should also have the option to upgrade their base with improved defenses, storage, and crafting stations. This could include adding electricity, irrigation systems, and other advanced features to enhance the player’s survival experience.

Overall, the base building and shelter mechanics in a survival game should be intuitive, interactive, and customizable. They should provide players with a sense of safety and security in a hostile world, while also allowing them to express their creativity and personalize their experience.

Dynamic and Threatening Environments

Procedurally Generated Worlds

• Procedurally generated worlds offer a unique and dynamic environment for survival games.
• These worlds are created through algorithms, allowing for a near-infinite variety of environments to explore.
• The ever-changing nature of procedurally generated worlds keeps players on their toes, as they must constantly adapt to new challenges and obstacles.
• This unpredictability also adds a sense of replayability, as players can continue to explore new areas and encounter different scenarios.
• In addition, procedurally generated worlds allow for a more organic feel, as players are able to discover hidden areas and secrets that were not designed by developers.
• This can add a sense of discovery and excitement to the game, as players are always on the lookout for new and unexpected finds.
• However, it is important to note that procedurally generated worlds can also have their drawbacks, such as a lack of polish and consistency in some areas.
• Nonetheless, when implemented effectively, procedurally generated worlds can greatly enhance the survival game experience by providing a constantly changing and challenging environment.

Weather Systems and Environmental Hazards

A survival game that aims to be immersive and challenging must have dynamic weather systems and environmental hazards that pose threats to the player. These elements create a sense of realism and unpredictability, forcing players to constantly adapt and evolve their strategies to survive.

Dynamic weather conditions can greatly impact gameplay, affecting the player’s ability to navigate the environment, gather resources, and avoid danger. For example, a sudden rainstorm could make it difficult to maintain a fire, while a heatwave could lead to dehydration if the player doesn’t find a way to cool down.

In addition to weather systems, environmental hazards such as natural disasters like storms, earthquakes, or floods can be used to create a sense of urgency and danger. These events can cause the player to quickly reassess their situation and make crucial decisions in order to survive.

Furthermore, environmental hazards such as dangerous wildlife, toxic waste, or dangerous terrain can pose ongoing threats to the player. These hazards can be used to create a sense of tension and uncertainty, forcing players to always be on guard and make strategic decisions to avoid danger.

Overall, dynamic weather systems and environmental hazards are essential elements in creating a challenging and immersive survival game experience. They add an extra layer of realism and unpredictability, forcing players to constantly adapt and evolve their strategies to survive.

Hostile NPCs and Wildlife

• Introduction of hostile non-player characters (NPCs):
  In a survival game, players must be wary of not only the environment but also the potential threats posed by other characters. Hostile NPCs can add an extra layer of challenge and danger to the game, forcing players to be constantly vigilant and strategic in their actions. These NPCs can range from bandits and raiders to hostile factions or even zombies and other monsters. Their behavior and actions should be unpredictable and dynamic, providing players with a sense of unpredictability and challenge.
• Wildlife as both a source of resources and danger:
  In addition to hostile NPCs, the wildlife in a survival game can also pose a significant threat to players. While some animals may be docile and peaceful, others can be deadly and aggressive. Players must be aware of their surroundings and the potential dangers that lurk in the environment. Animals can also be a source of resources, such as food, shelter, and materials for crafting. However, players must weigh the risks and benefits of interacting with the wildlife, as even seemingly harmless animals can turn deadly in certain situations.
• AI behavior and interactions with the player:
  The behavior of both hostile NPCs and wildlife should be driven by advanced AI systems that allow for dynamic and unpredictable interactions with the player. This can include behaviors such as chasing after the player, attacking on sight, or fleeing when threatened. The AI should also take into account the player’s actions and behaviors, allowing for a more realistic and immersive experience. For example, if the player is actively hunting a particular animal, the AI should respond by making that animal more cautious and difficult to approach. Overall, the AI should add an extra layer of challenge and realism to the game, making the environment feel truly dynamic and threatening.

Progression and Character Development

Skill Trees and Abilities

Skill Progression Systems for Character Development

Skill progression systems are an essential element of any survival game. These systems allow players to develop their characters over time, gaining new abilities and improving existing ones. The system should be designed to be both engaging and challenging, providing players with a sense of accomplishment as they progress through the game.

One approach to skill progression is to use a branching skill tree. In this system, players earn experience points by completing tasks and overcoming challenges. As they earn experience, they can spend points to unlock new abilities and perks. The skill tree should be designed to encourage players to choose certain skills over others, creating a sense of strategy and depth to the gameplay.

Unlocking New Abilities and Perks

As players progress through the game, they should be able to unlock new abilities and perks that enhance their character’s capabilities. These abilities could include new combat moves, survival tools, or other useful skills. Perks could provide passive bonuses, such as increased health or better resource gathering.

The unlocking of new abilities and perks should be tied to the player’s progress through the game, with more advanced abilities and perks requiring more experience points or other in-game achievements. This helps to create a sense of progression and achievement as players work towards unlocking new abilities.

Balancing Character Progression with the Survival Aspect

It is important to balance character progression with the survival aspect of the game. Players should be able to improve their character’s abilities, but these improvements should not make the game too easy. The challenge of the game should remain constant, even as players become more powerful.

One way to balance character progression with the survival aspect is to introduce new challenges and obstacles as players progress through the game. These challenges could be environmental, such as harsh weather conditions or dangerous wildlife, or they could be story-based, such as encounters with other survivors or hostile factions.

Another approach is to limit the number of points players can spend on certain abilities or perks. This encourages players to make strategic choices about which skills to prioritize, and prevents them from becoming too overpowered.

Overall, skill trees and abilities are an important part of any survival game. They provide players with a sense of progression and achievement, and offer a wide range of options for character customization. However, it is important to balance character progression with the survival aspect of the game, ensuring that the challenge remains constant even as players become more powerful.

Equipment and Gear

• Variety of weapons, tools, and equipment: A survival game should offer a wide range of weapons, tools, and equipment that can be used to help the player survive and overcome challenges. This could include firearms, melee weapons, medical equipment, survival tools, and more. The equipment should be varied enough to allow players to choose the tools that best suit their playstyle and the situation they are in.
• Scavenging and crafting better gear: One of the key aspects of survival games is the ability to scavenge for equipment and craft new items using resources found in the game world. This adds an element of strategy to the game, as players must decide which items to keep and which to discard, and which resources to conserve and which to use. Crafting should also be deep enough to require players to make meaningful choices about the equipment they create, such as choosing between a powerful but heavy weapon or a lighter but less effective one.
• Importance of gear in surviving and combat situations: Gear should play a crucial role in the player’s ability to survive and combat situations. This means that the player must be able to repair and maintain their equipment, as well as keep it stocked with ammunition or other consumables. The player’s gear should also be impactful enough to make a difference in combat, with each piece of equipment having its own strengths and weaknesses. Additionally, the player’s gear should be affected by the game’s world, with equipment deteriorating over time or becoming damaged in combat. This adds an extra layer of realism to the game and encourages players to be more careful with their equipment.

Permadeath and Survival Challenges

Permadeath as a challenging and immersive feature

In a survival game, one of the most challenging and immersive features that a player can encounter is the concept of permadeath. This means that if the player’s character dies, they must start over from the beginning, losing all of their progress and items. This can be a daunting prospect for some players, but it also adds a level of tension and urgency to the gameplay.

Permadeath can also help to create a sense of realism in the game world. In real life, death is a permanent and irreversible event, and the same should be true in a survival game. By incorporating permadeath into the game, players are forced to make every decision count, as they know that one wrong move could mean the end of their character’s life.

Hardcore modes and increased difficulty levels

Another way to challenge players in a survival game is by incorporating hardcore modes and increased difficulty levels. These modes can be optional for players who want an extra challenge, or they can be the default setting for the game.

In a hardcore mode, players must contend with harsher environmental conditions, stronger enemies, and limited resources. This can make the game significantly more difficult, but it can also be incredibly rewarding for players who are up to the challenge.

Additionally, increasing the difficulty level can add an extra layer of challenge to the game. This can be done by reducing the player’s health and stamina, increasing the frequency and severity of weather events, or by making the enemies more aggressive and better equipped.

Achievements and rewards for overcoming survival challenges

Finally, survival games can offer achievements and rewards for players who are able to overcome the challenges presented by the game. These achievements can range from simple tasks, such as surviving for a certain number of days, to more complex objectives, such as building a functioning settlement or defeating a powerful boss.

By offering achievements and rewards, players are incentivized to push themselves to their limits and overcome the challenges presented by the game. This can help to create a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction for players, and it can also encourage them to continue playing and exploring the game world.

Engaging Narrative and Exploration

Lore and Worldbuilding

Creating a rich and immersive game world is essential for a survival game to captivate players. A well-developed lore and backstory can provide players with a deeper understanding of the game world, its history, and the events that have shaped it.

One important aspect of lore and worldbuilding is the exploration of the environment. Players should be encouraged to discover the history and secrets of the game world through exploration. This can be achieved by hiding clues, artifacts, and other storytelling elements throughout the game world. By exploring the environment, players can uncover the story of the game world and gain a deeper understanding of its history.

Another way to engage players through storytelling is by creating a dynamic and evolving game world. This can be achieved by introducing events and characters that react to the player’s actions, creating a sense of agency and impact on the game world. This can also include dynamic weather systems, day-night cycles, and other environmental factors that affect the game world and the player’s experience.

Furthermore, a survival game should have a deep and complex lore that provides players with a sense of history and context. This can include information about the game world’s cultures, religions, and politics, as well as the events that have shaped the world. By providing players with a rich and detailed lore, they can gain a deeper understanding of the game world and its inhabitants, which can enhance their overall experience.

Overall, a survival game’s lore and worldbuilding are crucial elements that can provide players with a deeper understanding of the game world and its history. By creating a rich and immersive game world, players can become more engaged and invested in the game, which can enhance their overall experience.

Exploration and Discovery

A survival game should provide players with an engaging narrative that encourages exploration and discovery. The following elements can enhance the exploration aspect of a survival game:

• Vast open world: The game world should be vast and open, providing players with ample space to explore. The world should be dynamic, with changing weather patterns, day and night cycles, and varied terrain. This creates a sense of immersion and encourages players to venture out and discover what lies beyond their immediate surroundings.
• Hidden locations, treasures, and secrets: The game world should be filled with hidden locations, treasures, and secrets that are waiting to be discovered. These could include underground caves, hidden rooms, secret passages, and ancient ruins. Players should be rewarded for their exploration efforts with unique items, weapons, or abilities that enhance their gameplay experience.
• Encouraging players to venture off the beaten path: Survival games often have a main storyline or objective, but players should be encouraged to venture off the beaten path and explore the game world. This can be achieved by providing players with side quests, hidden objectives, and random events that occur in the game world. For example, players may stumble upon a random encounter with a dangerous predator or discover a hidden settlement filled with useful resources and information.

By incorporating these elements into a survival game, players are encouraged to explore the game world and discover its many secrets. This enhances the overall gameplay experience and adds an extra layer of depth and immersion to the game.

Player Agency and Choices

Survival games thrive on the concept of player agency, which allows players to make meaningful decisions that impact the game world. The following points highlight the importance of player agency and choices in a survival game:

• Meaningful decisions that impact the game world: A survival game should offer players choices that are not just superficial, but also have a tangible impact on the game world. For instance, players might have to decide whether to conserve resources or use them immediately, or whether to form alliances with other survivors or compete against them. These decisions should result in different outcomes and create a sense of agency in the player.
• Multiple paths and branching storylines: A survival game should provide players with multiple paths to follow and branching storylines to explore. This creates a sense of freedom and encourages players to experiment with different strategies. Branching storylines can also lead to unique endings, which adds replayability to the game.
• Consequences of player actions: Players should face consequences for their actions, both positive and negative. This adds depth to the game world and reinforces the idea that every decision matters. For example, if a player chooses to steal from a rival survivor, they might gain valuable resources but also risk retaliation or the loss of reputation. Consequences should be unpredictable and sometimes even counterintuitive, which makes the game more challenging and unpredictable.

By incorporating player agency and choices, a survival game can create a sense of immersion and engagement for players. Players feel like they are making a difference in the game world, and this encourages them to continue playing and exploring different paths.

Multiplayer and Cooperative Features

Cooperative Gameplay

When it comes to survival games, one of the most exciting aspects is the ability to team up with other players and work together towards a common goal. Cooperative gameplay allows players to join forces, share resources, and collaborate on tasks in order to enhance their chances of survival.

Team up with other players for survival

In a survival game, players often find themselves in harsh and dangerous environments, where the only way to survive is by working together. Cooperative gameplay allows players to team up with other players, sharing their skills and knowledge in order to overcome obstacles and threats. Players can work together to build shelters, gather resources, and fend off enemies, all while sharing the experience and enjoying the social aspect of the game.

Share resources and collaborate on tasks

One of the key benefits of cooperative gameplay is the ability to share resources with other players. This can include food, water, weapons, and other essential items that are necessary for survival. Players can work together to gather resources and distribute them among the group, ensuring that everyone has access to the tools they need to survive. Additionally, players can collaborate on tasks such as building structures, hunting, and exploring, making the gameplay experience more enjoyable and efficient.

Enhance the social aspect of survival games

Survival games are often isolating and challenging, but cooperative gameplay can help to enhance the social aspect of the game. Players can work together to build relationships, share stories, and create a sense of community within the game. This can help to reduce feelings of isolation and create a more immersive and enjoyable experience for players. Additionally, cooperative gameplay can encourage players to develop strategies and tactics together, fostering creativity and problem-solving skills.

Overall, cooperative gameplay is a crucial aspect of survival games, allowing players to work together, share resources, and enhance the social aspect of the game. By incorporating cooperative gameplay into survival games, developers can create a more immersive and enjoyable experience for players, encouraging teamwork, creativity, and problem-solving skills.

PvP and Competitive Elements

• Player versus player combat for added challenge
  • Adds a new layer of excitement and tension to the game
  • Forces players to adapt their survival strategies to account for potential threats from other players
• PvP modes and arenas for competitive gameplay
  • Provides structured environments for players to test their skills against each other
  • Encourages strategic gameplay and alliances between players
• Balancing PvP with the survival aspects of the game
  • Ensuring that player-versus-player combat does not overshadow the core survival mechanics
  • Providing incentives for players to engage in both PvP and survival gameplay to create a well-rounded experience.

Community Interaction and Modding

Community-driven content creation and modding support

In order to provide a rich and dynamic gaming experience, a survival game should offer ample opportunities for community interaction and modding support. This includes allowing players to create and share their own content, such as custom maps, textures, and game modes. By encouraging community-driven content creation, developers can tap into the creativity and passion of their player base, fostering a sense of ownership and investment in the game.

Custom servers and player-created content

A survival game should provide players with the ability to create and host their own custom servers, allowing them to tailor the game experience to their own preferences and playstyles. This can include customizing the game’s rules, settings, and even the game’s map itself. Players should also be able to share their custom content with others, either by uploading it to a server or by sharing it directly with friends.

Building a thriving community around the game

A successful survival game should strive to build a thriving community around it. This can be achieved by providing a robust set of tools and resources for players to connect with one another, such as forums, social media groups, and in-game chat functions. Additionally, developers should actively engage with the community, soliciting feedback and suggestions for improvements, and fostering a sense of shared ownership and responsibility for the game’s success. By cultivating a strong and vibrant community, a survival game can ensure that it remains relevant and engaging for players over the long term.

FAQs

1. What is a survival game?

A survival game is a type of video game that emphasizes survival as the primary gameplay mechanic. Players must gather resources, craft tools, and navigate the environment to stay alive in harsh conditions. Survival games often feature procedurally generated environments, permadeath, and a strong emphasis on survival skills.

2. What should a survival game have?

A survival game should have a strong emphasis on survival mechanics, such as resource gathering, crafting, and building shelter. The game should also have a dynamic environment that changes over time, with weather, day/night cycles, and dangerous creatures. Additionally, a survival game should have a strong sense of progression, with players gradually improving their skills and equipment over time.

3. What kind of resources should a survival game have?

A survival game should have a variety of resources that players can gather and use to craft tools and equipment. These resources should include basic materials like wood, stone, and metal, as well as more exotic resources like rare minerals and animal hides. The game should also have a system for tracking player inventory and storage, so players can manage their resources effectively.

4. How should the environment be designed in a survival game?

The environment in a survival game should be procedurally generated, with a variety of biomes and landscapes to explore. The environment should also be dynamic, with weather patterns, day/night cycles, and other environmental factors that affect gameplay. The game should also feature dangerous creatures and hazards, such as predators and natural disasters, that players must avoid or overcome.

5. What kind of challenges should a survival game present?

A survival game should present a variety of challenges to players, including environmental hazards, dangerous creatures, and scarcity of resources. The game should also have a strong emphasis on player choice and consequence, with players having to make difficult decisions that can have a lasting impact on their survival. Additionally, the game should have a strong sense of progression, with players gradually improving their skills and equipment over time.

What makes a survival game a survival game?