5 Best Survival Games on Xbox Game Pass (August 2023)

Xbox Game Pass continues to impress with its ever-expanding treasure trove of famed classics and freshly-minted IPs. And while its catalog boasts an entire range of genres, its iron backbone, really, is its long line of survival games — a sandbox subsidiary that houses copious amounts of captivating realms and innovative recipes. In August alone, even, the subscription-based platform idles in receipt of dozens of quality creations, all of which justify the price tag, tenfold.

So, which of these survival games are actually worth playing this month? Well, here’s what we’d recommend picking up the next time you feel the urge to explore a new chapter. Let’s talk survival 101.

5. Amnesia: The Bunker

Amnesia: The Bunker is the well-overdue follow-up to Frictional Games’ Amnesia: Rebirth. Granted, it’s slightly more horror-oriented than full-blown survival, but it does tap into the latter’s elements surprisingly well, what with it introducing the ability to craft, salvage, and rely on makeshift contraptions to steer the narrative towards its eventual tipping point. And as far as horror games go, well, let’s just say it’s one of the best of its kind of Xbox Game Pass right now.

Amnesia: The Bunker is a relatively short story-driven survival-horror in which you take on the role of a waylaid soldier—a character who just so happens to be barricaded inside a war bunker after various unsettling notes hinted that a monster had taken full control of its every crag and crevice. Alone, and without all that much fuel to keep the power flowing, you must embrace the darkness and search for an escape route — even if it means going toe-to-toe with the unholy creation that supposedly resides within.

4. Common’hood

Common’hood is a base-building and survival hybrid that transports you to a post-apocalyptic world—a barren settlement, if you like, in which resources are scarce and the remaining population are without purpose. As the leader of said settlement, you must pool all your resources together to formulate a sustainable economy. Nothing particularly out of the ordinary as far as survival blueprints go, but its customization elements are certainly some of the best we’ve had the pleasure of working with in recent months.

Granted, Common’hood isn’t the most fleshed out game we’ve seen flowing through the Game Pass network, but where it lacks in depth, it surely makes up for in replayability. It’s a beginner-level survival game, at best, and it compliments the more rugged and competitive IPs remarkably well. Is it the best sandbox survival game of 2023? Not quite. Although, it’s definitely a credit to the ongoing carousel of fresh-faced indies that we’ve grown ever so accustomed to.

3. Medieval Dynasty

Medieval Dynasty is an open world city-building game set in the Middle Ages. Its premise, much like that of Conan Exiles or Common’hood, is based around survival — more so in troublesome times—periods in which the shifting weather patterns are viscous and the stragglers of new and old are equally as starved and fragile. As one of said stragglers, you are entrusted with finding stable ground in a hollow world that’s been robbed of all its resources and energy. Easier said than done, what with your hero being stark naked and without two stones to rub together.

True to the style of survival games, Medieval Dynasty caters to those who are beyond willing to go the extra mile for the sake of their people. It’s a slow start, as one would expect from a game that leaves you with nothing but your name to go on — but it’s a journey well worth taking, nonetheless. There’s hunting, crafting, base-building, and a whole lot of opportunities to customize and forge your own medieval haven.

2. Stranded Deep

Stranded Deep is another survival game that’s based around the feeling of being isolated and husked away from modern civilization. As the survivor of a plane crash who’s been washed ashore with nothing but the bare essentials, players are tasked with adapting to island living and preparing for what’s to come on the other side of the tide. That is, of course, proving said player is able to live long enough to see their first sunrise.

Similar to a lot of survival games out there, there are no goals in Stranded Deep; the story is what you make of it, as well as the actions you make to nudge it towards its eventual climax. There’s crafting, hunting, fishing, and a boatload of world building. And while that seems rather bare bones as far as elements go, it’s definitely an experience that gets better with age. If you’re willing and able, then there truly is nothing preventing you from squeezing Stranded Deep for all its perks — even if it does involve drinking coconut milk for three weeks straight.

1. Valheim

In spite of it being a work-in-progress and a few field goals from reaching its full potential, Valheim is, for lack of a better word, stupendously iron-footed. Sure its visuals are somewhat dated compared to a few other survival games out there, but as far as legacy-building and open-world exploration goes, it’s definitely one of the better choices on the market. What’s more, it also features a rather complex but surprisingly rewarding crafting system and all the customizable bells and whistles to boot.

Valheim drops you in the ashen purgatory of, well, Valheim—a world in which fallen Vikings are tasked with proving themselves worthy of a proper afterlife. As one of said fallen Vikings, you must find your place in the world, and essentially do all in your power to claim eternal glory and, with a little luck, a one-way ticket to the fabled halls of Valhalla. Easier said than done, what with Valheim being famous for its endearing trials and behemoth-like monsters and what have you. Best of luck, either way.

So, what’s your take? Will you be picking up any of the above five games on Xbox Game Pass this month? Let us know your thoughts over on our socials here.