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Indie Game Daily #14: Survival Systems, Crafting & Harsh Worlds

Valheim, Sons of the Forest, and Subnautica challenge survival instincts.

3 min read
Indie Game Daily #14: Survival Systems, Crafting & Harsh Worlds

Today’s lineup focuses on survival, crafting, exploration, and the constant pressure of living in worlds that are rarely forgiving.

1. Valheim

A Viking survival adventure set across a procedurally generated world.

Gathering resources, building settlements, crafting equipment, and exploring dangerous biomes are all part of the journey. The further you travel, the more prepared you need to become.

Valheim on Steam
Survive and build your way through a mysterious Norse-inspired world.

Valheim on Steam
A brutal exploration and survival game for 1-10 players, set in a procedurally-generated purgatory inspired by viking culture. Battle, build, and conquer your way to a saga worthy of Odin’s patronage!

2. Sons of the Forest

A survival horror game where crafting and exploration are constantly interrupted by danger.

You’ll gather materials, construct shelters, explore underground caves, and defend yourself against the strange inhabitants of a remote island. The unpredictable environment makes even simple exploration feel dangerous.

Sons of the Forest on Steam
Build, explore, and survive against terrifying creatures on a remote island.

Sons Of The Forest on Steam
Sent to find a missing billionaire on a remote island, you find yourself in a cannibal-infested hellscape. Craft, build, and struggle to survive, alone or with friends, in this terrifying new open-world survival horror simulator.

3. Subnautica

A survival adventure that moves the genre beneath the ocean.

After crash-landing on an alien planet, you must explore underwater environments, collect resources, craft equipment, and uncover the mystery surrounding the world. Each dive can reveal something new — or something you weren't prepared to encounter.

Subnautica on Steam
Dive into an alien ocean where exploration, survival, and mystery are inseparable.

Subnautica on Steam
Descend into the depths of an alien underwater world filled with wonder and peril. Craft equipment, pilot submarines and out-smart wildlife to explore lush coral reefs, volcanoes, cave systems, and more - all while trying to survive.