Top-5 Games Like The Forest: Zenith in Wilderness Survival Gaming

For wilderness survival gaming enthusiasts, The Forest has been a runaway hit. Combining elements of survival horror with a construction-rich gameplay, it has set a high bar. However, the gaming world is vast and filled with unique experiences. Here we venture under the canopy of the wilderness survival genre, exploring Top-5 games that rival The Forest in their captivating gameplay, enigmatic story, and immersive setting.

1. Subnautica

Sailing away from the dark, woodsy world of The Forest, we dive deep into the unexplored underwater depths of Subnautica.

Gameplay

Survival takes a fascinating twist as you navigate the sprawling coral reefs, volcanic zones, and deep-sea trenches of Subnautica's game world. Here, resource gathering and crafting are dictated by the ever-looming need for oxygen. Building submersibles and underwater bases becomes vital as you delve deeper into the ocean.

Story

The story takes off after your spaceship, Aurora, crash-lands on an alien ocean world. Stranded on your life pod, with no land in sight, your only avenue of survival is the sea. As you explore, you unravel the fate of your shipmates and discover the secrets of the alien world.

Setting

Subnautica's vast and vibrant underwater ecosystem teems with alien marine life. Each of its biomes, from kelp forests to deep-sea caves, is not only stunning but also presents unique challenges and resources.

2. The Long Dark

Moving from underwater depths to the unbearable white wilderness, The Long Dark offers a chilling survival challenge.

Gameplay

Survival in The Long Dark revolves around managing vital stats like body temperature, fatigue, hunger, and thirst against the backdrop of harsh Canadian wilderness. The game emphasizes non-linear exploration, resource management, and player decision-making, with wildlife encounters adding an element of danger.

Story

The game offers an episodic story mode, Wintermute. Here, you take on the role of Will Mackenzie, a bush pilot who's left stranded in the Canadian wilderness after a geomagnetic disaster. As you search for your missing friend, you uncover deeper mysteries of the quiet apocalypse.

Setting

Everything about The Long Dark's setting screams harsh, chilling wilderness. Its stunning hand-drawn visuals bring to life the sparse, snow-covered world. The realistic day-night cycle and weather system further enhance the gritty feel of surviving in a post-apocalyptic winter.

3. Stranded Deep

Adding a tropical twist to the survival narrative, Stranded Deep tests your survival instincts on deserted Pacific islands.

Gameplay

As a castaway in Stranded Deep, you not only grapple with the need for food, water, and shelter but also combat the hazardous island environment. Crafting, hunting, navigation, and gathering resources make up the core gameplay. Its compact yet intuitive building system encourages creativity.

Story

Stranded Deep threads a tale of survival following a mysterious plane crash. You're left marooned in the Pacific, surrounded by the dangers of the wild, mutable ocean and the secrets that rest beneath.

Setting

Stranded Deep's minimalist island setting presents a scenic tropical paradise riddled with tremendous threats. The game's stunning procedural world, dynamic weather system, and hissing ocean waves immerse you entirely in your survival journey.

4. Green Hell

Abandoning the relative safety of the islands, we step into the oppressive deadly embrace of the Amazonian rainforest in Green Hell.

Gameplay

Green Hell follows a rigorous survival scheme. The game demands you to take care of your hunger, fatigue, and mental health. Crafting elements, medical supplies, and weapons are critical to the gameplay.

Story

You're dropped into the Amazon Jungle with no backstory and left to fend for yourself while you piece together fragmented memories from a handheld radio.

Setting

The game dives into the heart of the Amazon Jungle. Its visually-stunning simulated ecosystem with diverse flora and fauna and the underlying dangers that lurk around every bend make your survival journey incredibly immersive.

5. Mist Survival

Mist Survival merges supernatural elements with real-world survival to offer an apocalyptic scenario as the last game on our list.

Gameplay

The game focuses on classic survival elements like crafting, hunting, and shelter building. But what makes it interesting is the introduction of a mysterious mist that periodically covers the world, bringing with it infectious zombies.

Story

After a mysterious incident wiping out most of the world's population, you're one of the few remaining survivors immune to the mist's infection. Your goal is to survive in this new world while discovering what caused the disaster.

Setting

Mist Survival's world is an uncanny blend of an eerily deserted rural landscape with occasional jolts of supernatural horror. Day-night cycles, changing weather, and a post-apocalyptic aesthetic make the world thrilling and immersive. From deep sea exploration to being a castaway, from a bitter winter struggle to surviving the unrelenting Amazon jungle, each of these games presents a unique take on the survival genre. If you're an enthusiast of The Forest, you'd surely relish the challenge these games offer. The eerie quiet of the wilderness in these games awaits your arrival. Will you survive? Step in to find out.