Computed from player tags · Not ranked by quality
24 games like Don't Starve (2026)
Every game below overlaps with Don't Starve on things players said about it rather than on our opinion of what feels alike. Each entry shows what it matched on, so you can throw out the ones matching on the part you did not care about.
The games like Don't Starve on a map
Compare the whole catalogueThe same 24 games, plotted rather than listed. The two axes below are the ones the ranking is built from, so a game sitting high and right is a game the formula placed near the top. Change either axis to see the field a different way. Where we hold a publisher wordmark, the game is drawn as its mark rather than a dot.
24 games have both
Axes are fitted to these 24 games rather than the full 0 to 100 scale, because a filtered list shares a narrow band and would otherwise sit in one corner. End values are marked. A point on the left edge is the lowest of thesegames, not a low score.
Players. The share of Steam reviews marked positive, pulled toward the catalogue average in proportion to how few reviews stand behind it. A game with 200 reviews moves a long way toward the average; one with 200,000 barely moves at all. Without this a title sitting at 100 percent on nine reviews outranks Half-Life 2 at 98 percent on 278,000.
Popularity. A blend of two things that are not the same. Audience is how many people wrote a Steam review, which is a floor on how many played it. Reach is how many language editions of Wikipedia document the game, which is cultural footprint rather than sales. A game can score high on one and low on the other: a huge free-to-play title has audience without reach, and a landmark console exclusive has reach without a Steam audience at all. Where both exist they are averaged; where only one does, that one carries it.
- Mobile
- Multi-platform
- PC
Every point links to that game's entry. The value map and the reception map are fixed views of the same data.
How positions are decided
No paid placement, no favouritism, live third-party data
- Placed by the published method, not by us. Every coordinate is computed from the axis definitions and weights printed on this site. Nobody moves a point. See the axes.
- Nothing here is paid for. No sponsored placements, no promoted slots, no arrangement of any kind affects a position. If that ever changes it will be labelled and sit outside the ranking.
- No favouritism, including our own. The 16 games we have written full reviews of are scored by exactly the same formula as the other 1,510, from the same third-party inputs, and they land where it puts them. Our own opinion of a game does not enter its coordinates.
- A position is not an endorsement. It says how a game was received and what it costs, not that we recommend it. Where we do recommend something, it carries a written review with a name on it.
- Fetched from live third-party data. Player sentiment from Steam, critic aggregates as published on store pages, prices checked hourly, attention from Wikipedia. Each figure carries its source and the date it was read, and we do not adjust any of them.
The short version
- Closest match: Darkwood, which both open world, survival, horror and difficult.
- Don't Starve is tagged Survival, Open World Survival Craft, Crafting, Adventure, Indie, Sandbox, Singleplayer, Perma Death by Steam players. Those tags are what the matching runs on.
- 24 games qualify, each with at least fifty player reviews behind its sentiment figure.
- 1 are from the same studio: Oxygen Not Included.
Why players value Don't Starve
The five things Steam players tag Don't Starve with most. This is the yardstick every game below is measured against: the closer a game matches these, the more it is likely to scratch the same itch.
- Survival
- Open World Survival Craft
- Crafting
- Adventure
- Indie
| Reception | on Steam (97% of 113,392) |
|---|---|
| Watch-outs | no widespread problems reported by players |
| Price | $9.99 |
Tags, sentiment and reported problems come from Steam players; the story line is from Wikipedia. We do not add a written opinion of our own.
How these were matched
Steam tags carry the most weight, because players apply them and they describe how a game feels rather than how it was filed. Souls-like, Atmospheric and Cozy exist as tags and as nothing else, which is exactly the vocabulary this question needs. Formal genres count for less, themes and a shared studio for more.
Tags carried by more than a third of the catalogue are thrown out before matching. Nearly everything is tagged Singleplayer, so matching on it is matching on nothing. That cutoff is computed from the catalogue rather than fixed, so it moves as the catalogue grows.
All 24, closest first
- 1
Darkwood
Why it matched: both open world, survival, horror and difficult; shares 8 player tags including Horror, Survival Horror and Top-Down; released around the same time (2017).
Darkwood - a new perspective on survival horror. Scavenge and explore a rich, ever-changing free-roam world by day, then hunker down in your hideout and pray for the morning light.
Darkwood at a glance Released 2017 Studio Acid Wizard Studio Player sentiment 95% positive of 24,890 Price $3.99 Verdict: GamingPickz Score 8.0/10 · Steam: (95% of 24,890)
Matches Don't Starve on: 4 of 5 — Survival, Crafting, Adventure, Indie
Why players like it: Horror, Survival Horror, Top-Down, Atmospheric, Survival — the tags Steam players apply most
Price vs Don't Starve: $3.99 — $6.00 cheaper
Watch-outs: no widespread problems reported by players
Shared with Don't Starve:HorrorSurvival HorrorTop-DownSurvivalIndieExplorationCraftingRogue-like
- 2
The Escapists
Why it matched: both open world, survival and difficult; shares 9 player tags including Crafting, 2D and Simulation; released around the same time (2015).
The Escapists provides players the opportunity of experiencing a light-hearted insight into everyday prison life with the main objective being that of escaping!
The Escapists at a glance Released 2015 Studio Mouldy Toof Studios Player sentiment 90% positive of 16,194 Price $3.59 Verdict: GamingPickz Score 7.5/10 · Steam: (90% of 16,194)
Matches Don't Starve on: 4 of 5 — Survival, Crafting, Adventure, Indie
Why players like it: Pixel Graphics, Strategy, Crafting, Singleplayer, 2D — the tags Steam players apply most
Price vs Don't Starve: $3.59 — $6.40 cheaper
Watch-outs: no widespread problems reported by players
Shared with Don't Starve:Crafting2DSimulationIndieSurvivalDifficultTop-DownSandbox
- 3
The Forest
Why it matched: both open world, survival and horror; shares 9 player tags including Open World Survival Craft, Survival and Horror.
As the lone survivor of a passenger jet crash, you find yourself in a mysterious forest battling to stay alive against a society of cannibalistic mutants. Build, explore, survive in this terrifying first person survival horror simulator.
The Forest at a glance Released 2018 Studio Endnight Games Player sentiment 96% positive of 680,814 Price $19.99 Verdict: GamingPickz Score 8.3/10 · Steam: (96% of 680,814)
Matches Don't Starve on: 5 of 5 — Survival, Open World Survival Craft, Crafting, Adventure, Indie
Why players like it: Open World Survival Craft, Survival, Open World, Horror, Crafting — the tags Steam players apply most
Price vs Don't Starve: $19.99 — $10.00 pricier
Watch-outs: players report crashes and freezes (details)
Shared with Don't Starve:Open World Survival CraftSurvivalHorrorCraftingSurvival HorrorExplorationSandboxSimulation
- 4
Subnautica
Why it matched: both open world, survival and horror; shares 8 player tags including Open World Survival Craft, Survival and Horror; released around the same time (2014).
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.
Subnautica at a glance Released 2014 Studio Unknown Worlds Entertainment Player sentiment 97% positive of 379,053 Price $29.99 Verdict: GamingPickz Score 8.4/10 · Steam: (97% of 379,053)
Matches Don't Starve on: 5 of 5 — Survival, Open World Survival Craft, Crafting, Adventure, Indie
Why players like it: Open World Survival Craft, Survival, Horror, Open World, Underwater — the tags Steam players apply most
Price vs Don't Starve: $29.99 — $20.00 pricier
Watch-outs: players report crashes and freezes (details)
Shared with Don't Starve:Open World Survival CraftSurvivalHorrorExplorationCraftingSandboxSurvival HorrorIndie
- 5
Project Zomboid
Why it matched: both open world, survival and horror; shares 8 player tags including Survival, Open World Survival Craft and Sandbox; released around the same time (2013).
Project Zomboid is the ultimate in zombie survival. Alone or in MP: you loot, build, craft, fight, farm and fish in a struggle to survive. A hardcore RPG skillset, a vast map, massively customisable sandbox and a cute tutorial raccoon await the unwary. So how will you die? All it takes is a bite..
Project Zomboid at a glance Released 2013 Studio The Indie Stone Player sentiment 94% positive of 476,732 Price $24.99 Verdict: GamingPickz Score 8.7/10 · Steam: (94% of 476,732)
Matches Don't Starve on: 5 of 5 — Survival, Open World Survival Craft, Crafting, Adventure, Indie
Why players like it: Survival, Zombies, Open World, Multiplayer, Open World Survival Craft — the tags Steam players apply most
Price vs Don't Starve: $24.99 — $15.00 pricier
Watch-outs: players report crashes and freezes, performance and stutter (details)
Shared with Don't Starve:SurvivalOpen World Survival CraftSandboxCraftingIndieSimulationSurvival Horror2D
- 6
Oxygen Not Included
Why it matched: made by the same studio, Klei Entertainment; both open world, survival and difficult; shares 7 player tags including Survival, 2D and Simulation.
Oxygen Not Included is a space-colony simulation game. Deep inside an alien space rock your industrious crew will need to master science, overcome strange new lifeforms, and harness incredible space tech to survive, and possibly, thrive.
Oxygen Not Included at a glance Released 2019 Studio Klei Entertainment Player sentiment 97% positive of 143,589 Price $24.99 Verdict: GamingPickz Score 8.6/10 · Steam: (97% of 143,589)
Matches Don't Starve on: 3 of 5 — Survival, Adventure, Indie
Why players like it: Colony Sim, Base-Building, Survival, Resource Management, Building — the tags Steam players apply most
Price vs Don't Starve: $24.99 — $15.00 pricier
Watch-outs: no widespread problems reported by players
Shared with Don't Starve:Survival2DSimulationSandboxIndieDifficultExploration
- 7
SUNLESS SEA
Why it matched: both open world, survival, horror and difficult; shares 7 player tags including Exploration, Survival and Rogue-like; released around the same time (2015).
LOSE YOUR MIND. EAT YOUR CREW. DIE. Take the helm of your steamship and set sail for the unknown! Sunless Sea is a game of discovery, loneliness and frequent death, set in the award-winning Victorian Gothic universe of Fallen London.
SUNLESS SEA at a glance Released 2015 Studio Failbetter Games Player sentiment 83% positive of 9,554 Price $18.99 Verdict: GamingPickz Score 7.3/10 · Steam: (83% of 9,554)
Matches Don't Starve on: 3 of 5 — Survival, Adventure, Indie
Why players like it: Exploration, Lovecraftian, Survival, Story Rich, Dark — the tags Steam players apply most
Price vs Don't Starve: $18.99 — $9.00 pricier
Watch-outs: no widespread problems reported by players
Shared with Don't Starve:ExplorationSurvivalRogue-likeIndieHorror2DTop-Down
- 8
Dwarf Fortress
Why it matched: both open world, survival and difficult; shares 8 player tags including Simulation, Sandbox and Survival.
Build a fortress and try to help your dwarves survive against a deeply generated world. Keep your dwarves happy, grow their community and beware of digging too deeply. The deepest, most intricate simulation of a world that's ever been created.
Dwarf Fortress at a glance Released 2022 Studio Bay 12 Games Player sentiment 95% positive of 31,446 Price $29.99 Verdict: GamingPickz Score 8.4/10 · Steam: (95% of 31,446)
Matches Don't Starve on: 2 of 5 — Survival, Crafting
Why players like it: Dwarf, Colony Sim, Strategy, Simulation, Base-Building — the tags Steam players apply most
Price vs Don't Starve: $29.99 — $20.00 pricier
Watch-outs: no widespread problems reported by players
Shared with Don't Starve:SimulationSandboxSurvivalRogue-likeCraftingModdableDifficultExploration
- 9
State of Decay
Why it matched: both open world, survival and horror; shares 7 player tags including Survival, Sandbox and Simulation; released around the same time (2013).
The end is here. Life as you knew it has gone to hell after the mother of all zombie outbreaks. Now you and the few scattered survivors must band together to survive and rebuild in a 3rd-person action game set in a dynamic open world.
State of Decay at a glance Released 2013 Studio Undead Labs Player sentiment 85% positive of 17,480 Price Not listed Verdict: GamingPickz Score 7.4/10 · Steam: (85% of 17,480)
Matches Don't Starve on: 3 of 5 — Survival, Adventure, Indie
Why players like it: Zombies, Survival, Open World, Action, Post-apocalyptic — the tags Steam players apply most
Watch-outs: no widespread problems reported by players
Shared with Don't Starve:SurvivalSandboxSimulationExplorationHorrorSurvival HorrorIndie
- 10
Magicite
Why it matched: both open world, survival and difficult; shares 8 player tags including Indie, Rogue-like and 2D; released around the same time (2014).
Explore, craft, and survive in this Multiplayer RPG Platformer with permanent death! Featuring many Rogue-like elements, Magicite randomly generates each underground dungeon for you and your friends to delve deep into.
Magicite at a glance Released 2014 Studio Sean Young Player sentiment 85% positive of 7,585 Price $9.99 Verdict: GamingPickz Score 7.1/10 · Steam: (85% of 7,585)
Matches Don't Starve on: 4 of 5 — Survival, Crafting, Adventure, Indie
Why players like it: Indie, RPG, Rogue-like, Multiplayer, Pixel Graphics — the tags Steam players apply most
Price vs Don't Starve: $9.99 — about the same price
Watch-outs: no widespread problems reported by players
Shared with Don't Starve:IndieRogue-like2DCraftingPerma DeathSurvivalDifficultSandbox
- 11
My Summer Car
Why it matched: both open world, survival, horror and difficult; shares 6 player tags including Simulation, Survival and Sandbox.
My Summer Car is the ultimate car owning, building, fixing, tuning, maintenance AND permadeath life survival simulator. You start the game with hundreds of loose parts and assemble both car and engine.
My Summer Car at a glance Released 2025 Studio Amistech Games Player sentiment 95% positive of 117,158 Price $14.99 Verdict: GamingPickz Score 8.4/10 · Steam: (95% of 117,158)
Matches Don't Starve on: 3 of 5 — Survival, Adventure, Indie
Why players like it: Automobile Sim, Simulation, Driving, Open World, Survival — the tags Steam players apply most
Price vs Don't Starve: $14.99 — $5.00 pricier
Watch-outs: no widespread problems reported by players
Shared with Don't Starve:SimulationSurvivalSandboxDifficultPerma DeathIndie
- 12
Subnautica: Below Zero
Why it matched: both open world, survival and horror; shares 8 player tags including Open World Survival Craft, Survival and Horror.
Dive into a freezing underwater adventure on an alien planet. Below Zero is set two years after the original Subnautica. Return to Planet 4546B to uncover the truth behind a deadly cover-up. Survive by building habitats, crafting tools, & diving deeper into the world of Subnautica.
Subnautica: Below Zero at a glance Released 2021 Studio Unknown Worlds Entertainment Player sentiment 90% positive of 108,227 Price $29.99 Verdict: GamingPickz Score 8.1/10 · Steam: (90% of 108,227)
Matches Don't Starve on: 5 of 5 — Survival, Open World Survival Craft, Crafting, Adventure, Indie
Why players like it: Open World Survival Craft, Survival, Underwater, Singleplayer, Open World — the tags Steam players apply most
Price vs Don't Starve: $29.99 — $20.00 pricier
Watch-outs: no widespread problems reported by players
Shared with Don't Starve:Open World Survival CraftSurvivalHorrorExplorationIndieCraftingSurvival HorrorSandbox
- 13
Sons Of The Forest
Why it matched: both open world, survival and horror; shares 7 player tags including Survival, Survival Horror and Horror.
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.
Sons Of The Forest at a glance Released 2024 Studio Endnight Games Ltd Player sentiment 88% positive of 318,107 Price $29.99 Verdict: GamingPickz Score 8.2/10 · Steam: (88% of 318,107)
Matches Don't Starve on: 3 of 5 — Survival, Crafting, Adventure
Why players like it: Survival, Open World, Multiplayer, Co-op, Survival Horror — the tags Steam players apply most
Price vs Don't Starve: $29.99 — $20.00 pricier
Watch-outs: no widespread problems reported by players
Shared with Don't Starve:SurvivalSurvival HorrorHorrorCraftingExplorationSandboxSimulation
- 14
Green Hell
Why it matched: both open world, survival and horror; shares 7 player tags including Open World Survival Craft, Survival and Crafting.
Plunge into the open-world survival simulation set in the extreme conditions of the uncharted Amazon jungle. Use real-life survival techniques to craft, hunt, fight, and gather resources, set a makeshift shelter, or raise a fortress. Survive alone or team up with your friends and challenge the jungle together.
Green Hell at a glance Released 2019 Studio Creepy Jar Player sentiment 85% positive of 101,599 Price $2.79 Verdict: GamingPickz Score 7.7/10 · Steam: (85% of 101,599)
Matches Don't Starve on: 4 of 5 — Survival, Open World Survival Craft, Crafting, Adventure
Why players like it: Open World Survival Craft, Survival, Multiplayer, Online Co-Op, Open World — the tags Steam players apply most
Price vs Don't Starve: $2.79 — $7.20 cheaper
Watch-outs: no widespread problems reported by players
Shared with Don't Starve:Open World Survival CraftSurvivalCraftingExplorationSandboxSimulationSurvival Horror
- 15
Stoneshard
Why it matched: both open world, survival and difficult; shares 8 player tags including Rogue-like, Survival and Open World Survival Craft.
Stoneshard is a hardcore turn-based RPG about the harsh life of a medieval mercenary: travel with your own caravan, descend into procedurally generated dungeons, learn new skills, survive hunger and injuries - and remember, every mistake can mean death and loss of progress.
Stoneshard at a glance Released 2020 Studio Ink Stains Games Player sentiment 75% positive of 35,515 Price $24.99 Verdict: GamingPickz Score 6.8/10 · Steam: (75% of 35,515)
Matches Don't Starve on: 3 of 5 — Survival, Open World Survival Craft, Indie
Why players like it: RPG, Rogue-like, Strategy, Pixel Graphics, Survival — the tags Steam players apply most
Price vs Don't Starve: $24.99 — $15.00 pricier
Watch-outs: no widespread problems reported by players
Shared with Don't Starve:Rogue-likeSurvivalOpen World Survival Craft2DIndieDifficultReplay ValueSandbox
- 16
Just Survive
Why it matched: both open world, survival and horror; shares 7 player tags including Survival, Crafting and Survival Horror; released around the same time (2015).
Just Survive is a post-apocalyptic survival game that immerses you in a world where humanity is fighting to take back control from the zombie hordes.
Just Survive at a glance Released 2015 Studio Daybreak Game Company Player sentiment 59% positive of 76,763 Price Not listed Verdict: GamingPickz Score 5.9/10 · Steam: (59% of 76,763)
Matches Don't Starve on: 3 of 5 — Survival, Crafting, Adventure
Why players like it: Zombies, Survival, Open World, Multiplayer, Massively Multiplayer — the tags Steam players apply most
Watch-outs: no widespread problems reported by players
Shared with Don't Starve:SurvivalCraftingSurvival HorrorSandboxExplorationHorrorSimulation
- 17
FTL: Faster Than Light
Why it matched: both survival and difficult; shares 9 player tags including Rogue-like, Indie and Perma Death; released around the same time (2012).
This "spaceship simulation roguelike-like" allows you to take your ship and crew on an adventure through a randomly generated galaxy filled with glory and bitter defeat.
FTL: Faster Than Light at a glance Released 2012 Studio Subset Games Player sentiment 95% positive of 78,616 Price $9.99 Verdict: GamingPickz Score 8.4/10 · Steam: (95% of 78,616)
Matches Don't Starve on: 3 of 5 — Survival, Adventure, Indie
Why players like it: Rogue-like, Space, Strategy, Sci-fi, Indie — the tags Steam players apply most
Price vs Don't Starve: $9.99 — about the same price
Watch-outs: no widespread problems reported by players
Shared with Don't Starve:Rogue-likeIndiePerma DeathDifficultReplay ValueTop-Down2DSurvival
- 18
Five Nights at Freddy's 3
Why it matched: both survival, horror and difficult; shares 7 player tags including Horror, Survival Horror and Difficult; released around the same time (2015).
Thirty years after Freddy Fazbear's Pizza closed it's doors, the events that took place there have become nothing more than a rumor and a childhood memory, but the owners of "Fazbear's Fright: The Horror Attraction" are determined to revive the legend and make the experience as authentic as possible for patrons, going to great l
Five Nights at Freddy's 3 at a glance Released 2015 Studio Scott Cawthon Player sentiment 90% positive of 11,334 Price $7.99 Verdict: GamingPickz Score 7.4/10 · Steam: (90% of 11,334)
Matches Don't Starve on: 2 of 5 — Survival, Indie
Why players like it: Horror, Singleplayer, Survival Horror, Robots, First-Person — the tags Steam players apply most
Price vs Don't Starve: $7.99 — $2.00 cheaper
Watch-outs: no widespread problems reported by players
Shared with Don't Starve:HorrorSurvival HorrorDifficultIndieSurvivalSimulation2D
- 19
Slender: The Arrival
Why it matched: both open world, survival, horror and difficult; shares 6 player tags including Horror, Survival Horror and Indie; released around the same time (2013).
Slender Man returns more terrifying than ever. You're on your own. No one to help you. No one to hear you scream. Relive the horror all over again with cutting edge visuals for the 10th Anniversary Update and experience survival horror at its finest.
Slender: The Arrival at a glance Released 2013 Studio Blue Isle Studios Player sentiment 88% positive of 9,349 Price $19.99 Verdict: GamingPickz Score 7.0/10 · Steam: (88% of 9,349)
Matches Don't Starve on: 3 of 5 — Survival, Adventure, Indie
Why players like it: Horror, Survival Horror, First-Person, Multiplayer, Indie — the tags Steam players apply most
Price vs Don't Starve: $19.99 — $10.00 pricier
Watch-outs: players report performance and stutter (details)
Shared with Don't Starve:HorrorSurvival HorrorIndieSurvivalDifficultExploration
- 20
Terraria
Why it matched: both open world and survival; shares 8 player tags including Open World Survival Craft, Sandbox and Survival; released around the same time (2011).
Dig, fight, explore, build! Nothing is impossible in this action-packed adventure game. Four Pack also available!
Terraria at a glance Released 2011 Studio 505 Games Player sentiment 97% positive of 1,550,032 Price $9.99 Verdict: GamingPickz Score 8.7/10 · Steam: (97% of 1,550,032)
Matches Don't Starve on: 5 of 5 — Survival, Open World Survival Craft, Crafting, Adventure, Indie
Why players like it: Open World Survival Craft, Sandbox, Survival, 2D, Multiplayer — the tags Steam players apply most
Price vs Don't Starve: $9.99 — about the same price
Watch-outs: no widespread problems reported by players
Shared with Don't Starve:Open World Survival CraftSandboxSurvival2DCraftingExplorationIndieReplay Value
- 21
Hello Neighbor
Why it matched: both open world, survival, horror and difficult; shares 5 player tags including Horror, Sandbox and Survival Horror; released around the same time (2017).
Hello Neighbor is a Stealth Horror Game about sneaking into your neighbor's house and figuring out what he's hiding in the basement. Play against an advanced AI that learns from your actions.
Hello Neighbor at a glance Released 2017 Studio Not recorded Player sentiment 86% positive of 32,548 Price $29.99 Verdict: GamingPickz Score 7.4/10 · Steam: (86% of 32,548)
Matches Don't Starve on: 1 of 5 — Survival
Why players like it: Horror, Sandbox, Stealth, First-Person, Story Rich — the tags Steam players apply most
Price vs Don't Starve: $29.99 — $20.00 pricier
Watch-outs: players report crashes and freezes (details)
Shared with Don't Starve:HorrorSandboxSurvival HorrorDifficultSurvival
- 22
State of Decay: YOSE
Why it matched: both open world, survival and horror; shares 6 player tags including Survival, Simulation and Survival Horror; released around the same time (2015).
Make your stand against the collapse of society in the ultimate zombie survival-fantasy game. Explore an open world full of dangers and opportunities that respond to your every decision. Recruit a community of playable survivors, each with their own unique skills and talents.
State of Decay: YOSE at a glance Released 2015 Studio Undead Labs Player sentiment 82% positive of 13,145 Price $19.99 Verdict: GamingPickz Score 7.0/10 · Steam: (82% of 13,145)
Matches Don't Starve on: 3 of 5 — Survival, Crafting, Adventure
Why players like it: Zombies, Survival, Open World, Base-Building, Post-apocalyptic — the tags Steam players apply most
Price vs Don't Starve: $19.99 — $10.00 pricier
Watch-outs: no widespread problems reported by players
Shared with Don't Starve:SurvivalSimulationSurvival HorrorSandboxCraftingPerma Death
- 23
No Man's Sky
Why it matched: both open world and survival; shares 7 player tags including Open World Survival Craft, Exploration and Survival; released around the same time (2016).
No Man's Sky is a game about exploration and survival in an infinite procedurally generated universe.
No Man's Sky at a glance Released 2016 Studio Hello Games Player sentiment 85% positive of 414,641 Price $59.99 Verdict: GamingPickz Score 7.3/10 · Steam: (85% of 414,641)
Matches Don't Starve on: 5 of 5 — Survival, Open World Survival Craft, Crafting, Adventure, Indie
Why players like it: Open World, Open World Survival Craft, Space, Exploration, Sci-fi — the tags Steam players apply most
Price vs Don't Starve: $59.99 — $50.00 pricier
Watch-outs: players report crashes and freezes, performance and stutter (details)
Shared with Don't Starve:Open World Survival CraftExplorationSurvivalSandboxCraftingIndieSimulation
- 24
Valheim
Why it matched: both open world, survival and difficult; shares 7 player tags including Open World Survival Craft, Survival and Crafting.
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!
Valheim at a glance Released 2021 Studio Iron Gate Studio Player sentiment 94% positive of 540,990 Price $29.99 Verdict: GamingPickz Score 8.0/10 · Steam: (94% of 540,990)
Matches Don't Starve on: 5 of 5 — Survival, Open World Survival Craft, Crafting, Adventure, Indie
Why players like it: Open World Survival Craft, Survival, Online Co-Op, Open World, Multiplayer — the tags Steam players apply most
Price vs Don't Starve: $29.99 — $20.00 pricier
Watch-outs: players report crashes and freezes (details)
Shared with Don't Starve:Open World Survival CraftSurvivalCraftingExplorationDifficultSandboxIndie
Common questions
What game is most like Don't Starve?
Darkwood, on the evidence we have. It both open world, survival, horror and difficult. That is a statement about overlap, not a promise you will like it as much: two games can share every tag and still feel different to play.
How is "similar to Don't Starve" decided?
By overlap on the tags Steam players applied to each game, the formal genres, the themes both sit in, and whether the same studio made them. Tags carry the most weight because players write them, so they describe how a game feels rather than how it was filed. Tags carried by more than a third of the catalogue are ignored: matching on "Singleplayer" is matching on nothing. Every entry below shows exactly what it matched on.
Are these ranked by quality?
No. They are ordered by how much they overlap with Don't Starve. Where two games overlap equally, the better received one goes first, but that only moves a game a place or two. Each entry shows its own player sentiment so you can weigh that separately.
What else did the makers of Don't Starve do?
Oxygen Not Included is also from Klei Entertainment, and appears in the list below for that reason as well as on tag overlap.
Do you get paid for these recommendations?
No. The order is computed from tag and genre overlap and nothing else. No placement here can be bought, and a game appearing high on this page is a statement about resemblance rather than an endorsement.