All these factors play a role in the immersion of a game, and the more immersive a zombie game is, the better it is likely to be. Read on for the most realistic zombie games, and let us know if you agree in the comment section below.

DayZ Gameplay

DayZ is a great place to start if you’re looking for realistic zombie survival games. This interactive game takes place in the aftermath of an apocalyptic undead outbreak in the fictional post-soviet Republic of Chernarus.

You start with basic clothing and equipment, and must search and scavenge your way to better equipment all while trying to avoid incoming attacks by zombies and other online players. 

Survival isn’t easy, though. The realism of survival in DayZ accounts for food and water intake, blood levels, temperature, illnesses, and overall health. There is a LOT to monitor. But that’s what makes the game so good and what makes it one of the most realistic zombie games around. 

Despite being originally released as an Arma 2 mod, DayZ has become a successful standalone successor since it was first released in 2018, and it continues to stand out as a must-play within the genre. 

No More Room in Hell Gameplay

No More Room in Hell is an oldie, but it’s a goodie. Originally released in 2011, this first-person survival game is set during a zombie apocalypse and is heavily inspired by The Living Dead film series. 

The game is slower-paced than your average zombie game, with slow movement, slow enemies, slow reloading and healing – basically, slow everything. 

But this is what makes the game one of the most realistic zombie survival games available. In the event of an apocalyptic undead outbreak, the likelihood is that people will be fatigued by the constant fight for survival and demoralizing loss of loved ones, and won’t have the free-running energy levels seen in games such as Dying Light (no hate, I still love the Dying Light series). 

This co-op horror game has multiple gameplay modes including objective-based, zombie waves,and outright survival. Realism in the game is added to by the lack of indicators in the HUD bar, fast stamina depletion, and (controversially) zombies of ALL ages.  

Another great thing about No More Room in Hell is that you can download it for free on Steam.

State of Decay 2 Gameplay

State of Decay 2 is a game that has evolved a lot since it was first released in 2018. There are now 5 maps, a whole host of new weapons, new gameplay modes, and far less technical issues. 

State of Decay 2 is a tough game to master but the rich open world, strong character development, and intricate survival elements will keep you hooked throughout. There is a strong sense of community survival, and you’ll have to work with other players if you want to stay alive. Scavenging for weapons and gear in abandoned buildings feels rewarding, and meaningful upgrades can regularly be found.

It should be noted that there is no PvP in State of Decay 2, and it is purely PvE. Personally, I prefer PvE and think that it allows the game to focus on realistic zombie interactions. If PvP is your thing, though, maybe this game isn’t for you. 

Another great thing about the game is the mods. There are certain realism mods, such as the Brimstone and Romero mod, that make the game feel more realistic and/or more difficult. All in all, State of Decay 2 is easily one of the most realistic zombie survival games around, and well worth checking out before the third installment in the franchise is released. 

Project Zomboid Gameplay

Initially, I wondered how immersive a zombie game could be from an isometric viewpoint. This was quickly quashed, though, when I started playing Project Zomboid. I was blown away by the levels of immersion, and this quickly became one of the most realistic zombie survival games I have ever played. 

This is a top-down, sandbox survival game that thinks of everything. It’s not just about defeating enemy undead, you also have to factor in starvation, dehydration, depression, disease, loneliness, and fatigue. 

There are four starting towns within Kentucky, each of them ridden with undead and abandoned buildings ready for scavenging. The game does little to help you, and there is no hand-holding to walk you through the early stages. 

In fact, it is the difficulty of the game that makes it so incredibly rewarding and addicting. You must learn from your mistakes if you want to progress further on your next run. 

There is tons of content in Project Zomboid, and the game has the ability to keep you hooked for 100s of hours. 

Days Gone Gameplay

If you, like me, were put off by the negative reviews when Days Gone was first released, I implore you to rethink the decision to overlook this game. 

Not only is this one of the most realistic zombie games ever made, it is one of the best games of the past decade and will go down as a classic in years to come. 

Once the developers (Bend Studio) patched the many day 1 bugs, the true beauty and depth of the game came to the fore. With one of the most engaging stories in recent times, the level of immersion in Days Gone is amplified by the stunning graphics, realistic driving mechanics and player movement, and a real need to scavenge for supplies in order to survive. 

It took a while for the protagonist, Deacon St John, to grow on me, but that’s partially because the dialogue is so believable and, in real life, you’re not gonna like everybody all the time. As the game goes on, though, players grow very attached to Deacon and you’ll no doubt be rooting for his survival by the end.

With multiple zombie types, horde locations, and infestation sites, there is a lot to be getting on with in Days Gone. It doesn’t seem to become repetitive, either, and this is the first game in years that inspired me to push for total completion. 

If you want a real challenge, try completing the game on Hard difficulty. If that’s not enough, try the Survival Mode, though this is for masochists only. 

What do you think are the most realistic zombie survival games? Do you agree with our list? Let us know in the comment section below!

For any enquiries, contact richard@blogofgames.com

For more info about Days Gone, check out the walkthrough by theRadBrad below. 

Fortunately, there are other survival games like DayZ that offer similar gameplay experiences. Here’s a list of 10 of them to whet your appetite!

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Rust PC Gameplay

Platforms: Microsoft Windows, Linux, macOS, Xbox One, PlayStation 4

Year Published: 2013 (Early Access), 2018 (Full Release)

Developer: Facepunch Studios

Rust is a PvP-focused game where players must gather resources, craft items, and build bases to survive against other players and the environment. Similar to DayZ, Rust has an emphasis on player interaction, and there is a very real risk of losing everything if you are killed or if your base is destroyed. 

The game’s open-world environment and rich crafting system make it a popular choice among survival game fans, and the sense of freedom in Rust is vast. 

Hunting Dinosaurs in Ark Survival Evolved

Platforms: Microsoft Windows, Linux, macOS, Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, iOS, Android

Year Published: 2015 (Early Access), 2017 (Full Release)

Developer: Studio Wildcard

Ark: Survival Evolved takes place on an island full of various monsters and creatures, including dinosaurs. Players must gather resources, craft items, and build bases to protect themselves from both the environment and other players. 

The game’s taming system allows players to capture and tame dinosaurs to use as mounts or defenders, adding a unique twist to the survival gameplay. 

Conan Exiles Gameplay

Platforms: Microsoft Windows, Xbox One, PlayStation 4

Year Published: 2017 (Early Access), 2018 (Full Release)

Developer: Funcom

Conan Exiles is a survival game set in the world of Conan the Barbarian, where players must gather resources, craft items, and build bases to survive against other players and the environment. 

The game features a combat system with different weapons and armor, and a workforce system where players can capture NPCs and task them with working in their bases. Conan Exiles’ immersive world and rich storyline make it a popular choice for players looking for a more in-depth survival experience.

Related: Where to find Iron in Conan Exiles

7 Days to Die – Zombie

Platforms: Microsoft Windows, Linux, macOS, PlayStation 4, Xbox One

Year Published: 2013 (Early Access), 2016 (Full Release)

Developer: The Fun Pimps

7 Days to Die is another survival game that takes place in a post-apocalyptic world filled with zombies. Players must gather resources, craft items, and build bases to survive against the zombies and other players. 

The game’s dynamic world and horde system add a unique challenge to the survival gameplay, while the crafting system allows for endless possibilities in terms of base-building and item creation. Although the graphics look a little dated compared to many on this list, it still holds up as one of the best survival games around. 

Related: The 7 Best Games Like 7 Days to Die

H1Z1 Gameplay

Platforms: Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4

Year Published: 2015 (Early Access), 2018 (Full Release)

Developer: Daybreak Game Company

H1Z1 is a fast-paced survival game that takes place in a battle royale format whereby players have to survive against enemy players and zombies. Players must scavenge for guns, vehicles, and equipment, and the loot they find is likely to determine how long you will survive in the game.  

The game’s Battle Royale mode (a la Fortnite) offers a competitive twist to the survival gameplay, making it a good choice for players looking for a more intense experience, though the game may require a bit of persistence at you get used to brutality of the PvP.

Surveying the landscape in Miscreated

Platforms: Microsoft Windows

Year Published: 2014 (Early Access), 2018 (Full Release)

Developer: Entrada Interactive LLC

Like most of the games on this list, Miscreated follows the survivalist model in which players gather resources, craft items, and build bases. In Miscreated, surviving during the night is a much different experience to surviving during the day, and both offer different challenges. 

The game has a dynamic weather system and radiation system that add a unique challenge to survival gameplay, while the immersive world and detailed graphics make it stand out among other survival games.

The Forest Gameplay

Platforms: Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4

Year Published: 2014 (Early Access), 2018 (Full Release)
Developer: Endnight Games

The Forest is a survival game with horror elements that immerses players in a hauntingly beautiful island filled with cannibalistic mutants. Players are tasked with gathering resources to create weapons, shelters, and other necessary items to survive the harsh conditions. They must also build bases to protect themselves from the dangers that lurk around the corner.

The crafting system is well developed, allowing players to create unique weapons and traps using resources gathered from the environment. The game’s story mode adds a different twist to the survival gameplay, as players must uncover the mysteries behind the island and its inhabitants to progress through the game. The game also features a day/night cycle and weather system, which affects the gameplay and makes surviving in The Forest even more challenging. 

Deadside Gameplay

Platforms: Microsoft Windows

Year Published: 2020 (Early Access)

Developer: Bad Pixel

Deadside is an much-forgotten survival game that should really have been bigget than it was when first released. Set in a barren, post-apocalyptic world, players are tasked with traversing the enviornment and surviving against the elements and other players.

Deadside has a realistic ballistics system, and its dynamic world adds a real challenge to the survival involved in the gameplay. The game also has impressive graphics and stunning visuals that will have you immersed from the outset. 

Scavenging in Scum

Platforms: Microsoft Windows

Year Published: 2018 (Early Access), 2021 (Full Release)

Developer: Gamepires

Scum is a survival game like DayZ that places a strong emphasis on realism, where players must fight to survive in a prison island by gathering resources, crafting items, and building bases to protect themselves. 

The game’s attention to detail is evident in its realistic metabolism system, where players must manage their hunger, thirst, and other needs to stay alive. Scum also features a wide-open world environment with endless possibilities for exploration and base-building, providing players with a vast sandbox to play in. The game’s intense focus on realism makes it a unique and challenging survival experience for players seeking a more immersive game.

Project Zomboid – Zombie Horde

Platforms: Microsoft Windows, Linux, macOS

Year Published: 2011 (Early Access), 2019 (Full Release)

Developer: The Indie Stone

Project Zomboid is unique in this list in the sense that it is the only game that plays through an isometric perspective. Like the others though, it is set in a post-apocalyptic world infested with zombies. The game’s deep skill system allows players to improve their character’s abilities over time, adding an RPG-like element to the survival genre.

Project Zomboid’s emphasis on survival and the need to scavenge for resources make it a popular choice among fans of the survival game genre. The game’s dynamic world and challenging gameplay make it a great alternative for players who are looking for a survival game like DayZ.

Can you think of any other survival games like DayZ? Let us know in the comment section below.
For any enquiries contact me at richard@blogofgames.com

For another great overview of similar survival games to DayZ, check out this great YouTube video below by Game Advisor. 

It is a multiplayer game, but can be enjoyed solo – in fact, it’s perhaps a good idea to learn the ropes by yourself in the first instance, before branching out and finding a crew.

That being said, we’ve put together a short list of beginner tips for DayZ, which will hopefully provide a good foundation for the evolution of your skill level. 

Making friends in DayZ

The first point may seem like an obvious one, but one of the most crucial survival tips for DayZ is to keep as quiet as possible. You might have to rein in frustration and be disciplined, as moving slowly can feel painful at a time when you just want to crack on and get some new gear. 

Yet, the moment you run past a small herd of zombies with little to no equipment is the moment you can kiss your player goodnight. One zombie is manageable, two is a problem, any more is usually a death sentence. 

Another way to get better at DayZ is to stay alert and be aware of your surroundings. It’s easy to get complacent and tunnel vision on your end destination, but the best approach is a methodical one. 

Pick a goal, plan your route, and move towards it in small increments, stopping to assess the situation at each point. It’s a good DayZ tip to play the game as if you’re constantly being tracked by a sniper (and often you likely will be). This way, you’ll move using the environment as a weapon, finding cover and staying hidden at all times. 

Learning the DayZ map will help you navigate

One of the beginner tips for DayZ that I ignored for too long is to learn the map. New players can roam around the Chernarus aimlessly for far too long. Instead, study the DayZ map, become familiar with the spawn locations, and you will slowly start to create a picture of how you fit into the larger area. 

This will hasten your play when you first spawn, as knowing your location will help you plan where to head first in order to get the best possible start. 

Following on from the previous point, it is equally useful to explore every nook and cranny in the map. It’s not enough to just know where the main cities and outposts are, you’ll also need to know what’s in each location – where are the most likely places for food, weapons, tools, and other amenities. 

This will help you identify where the best loot is, where military camps are, and where most of the PvP action is likely to take place, among other things.

DayZ water pumps will keep you hydrated

One of the most useful beginner tips for DayZ is to conserve your resources. This may seem like a no-brainer, but it’s not as easy as it first appears. It can be tempting to eat/drink resources as soon as you get them, but it’s usually not the best tactic. 

If consumables are sparse, you’ll want to let your hydration and hunger reach red before eating or drinking. This is because your parameters deplete faster when they are in the white zone, so it is not wise to waste them when resources are minimal. 

Once you’ve figured out the basics by playing by yourself, you’ll find better luck working in a team. Chernarus is an unforgiving place, so having friends and companions can be the difference between life and death. 

Where possible, play with a microphone. This means you can declare yourself as friendly to others, and figure out who might be hostile. Silence will most likely be deemed untrustworthy, and you will be gunned down for refusing to cooperate. 

First person combat in DayZ

This is a matter of personal preference. But, in my opinion, both camera perspectives have their use in DayZ. 

For general gameplay and roaming, I play the game in third-person mode. This allows the player to have a wider field of vision, and enables players to look over and past walls that are not possible to look beyond in first person mode. 

When looting buildings, though, you’ll want to switch to the first-person camera, as you’ll be able to see and grab items faster. This camera perspective is also better for combat, as soon as you enter a fight, switch camera to first-person as the crosshair is more accurate in this mode.

The bread and butter of almost all survival games is to stay well fed and hydrated, and things are no different here. It’s one of the best beginner tips for DayZ. Expanding on that, though, there are certain things to be aware of that will make your life easier when starting out. 

All towns will have a water pump (typically located next to the police station, but not always), and it is always a good idea to take a good drink before traversing the map further. Additionally, most towns have orchards and fruit trees that can be great places to stock up on sustenance for your journey. Learning to identify apple, pear, and plum trees can significantly enhance your ability to survive. 

DayZ Zombie Horde

This is one of the DayZ tips that often gets overlooked, but keeping well-managed inventory is essential. Have your most important items near the top of your inventory, so you can grab them quickly when in a pickle. 

This will most likely be fully loaded magazines, food and water, and medical supplies. It’s always wise to keep a number of bandages available should you find them, as bleeding out following a scrap with a zombie can be one incredibly frustrating way of dying. 

This is more of an advanced beginner tip, but it’s definitely something that you will want to learn once you get better at DayZ. There are certain resources that are essential for base building, such as a shovel, wooden planks and logs, hammer and nails, and a hatchet, among other things. 

Having a solid base is a great way to preserve all of your loot and can give you a welcome reprieve from the hostile post-apocalyptic environment of Chernarus. Check out this handy base building guide for a more detailed overview. 

We hope you enjoyed these beginner tips for DayZ, and please let us know if you can think of some other great tips that will help our readers become better survivalists. 

If you’re looking for some realistic post-apocalyptic survival games like DayZ, why not check out our article about the most realistic zombie survival games around today. 

For any enquiries, contact richard@blogofgames.com 

If you’re looking for a good DayZ YouTuber, I’d highly recommend Baby Nades. You can check out one of their videos below. 

Set in an open world abrim with intense combat and ferocious creatures, Remnant is a game that should keep you captivated from start to finish (once you get past the lengthy tutorial, at least…).

If you’re wondering how long it’ll take to beat Remnant: From the Ashes, we’ve got all the playthrough times outlined below.

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The Remnant From the Ashes world is a gloomy place

The main story of Remnant: From the Ashes should take between 15-20 hours to complete. 

This can vary, though, depending on the player. If you are solely interested in getting through the main campaign of the game, then it will indeed take roughly 15 hours. However, if you’re looking to explore the world fully, max out every trait (there are 32 in total), and obtain all the weapons and armor, then it will probably take closer to 45-50 hours to complete. 

To complete the main game plus all of the extras and downloadable content, it will roughly take 25-30 hours if you are going at an average pace. 

Anecdotally, some players report spending over 100 hours in the game, but this really hinges on whether or not you enjoy the gameplay or not. 

Download Remnant: From the Ashes on Steam

Boss fights in Remnant are very satisfying

You’ve probably heard the comparisons to the Dark Souls games, but other than the boss fights I think the similarities fall short, particularly when it comes to difficulty. 

Remnant: From the Ashes is much easier than most souls-like games, and there are also difficulty settings that you can adjust to increase/decrease the challenge. 

If you’re in the mood for something that you really need to concentrate on in order to beat, you can do that easily with Remnant. Likewise, if you’re just in it for the story, just set the difficulty to easy and you’re good to go. 

All things considered, Remnant: From the Ashes is not a particularly difficult game.  

Some bosses require more thought than others

Remnant: From the Ashes is definitely worth playing if you have not yet done so. The game is particularly fun in co-op mode with some friends, but can just as well be played solo for a great gaming experience. 

For those who like souls-like games, or games set in monster-ridden post-apocalyptic worlds, I strongly recommend that you give Remnant a try. It’s a game that took me by surprise by how much I enjoyed it, and it was definitely worth persisting with. 

With that being said, it is worth mentioning that the game does not give the best first impression. One thing to keep in mind is that you may have to persevere through the first part of the gameplay before you get into it.

At the start, you find yourself in a dreary, grey city that is not particularly stimulating and is, in all honesty, rather dull. As soon as you leave this area, though, things begin to get spicy fast. 

The gameplay is Remant’s main asset, and the gunplay and combat is incredibly fun and rewarding. The story and lore of the game is a bit meh, but that doesn’t detract from a thoroughly enjoyable souls-like gaming experience. 

How long did it take you to beat Remnant: From the Ashes? Are you a fan of the game? Let us know in the comment section below!

For any enquiries, contact me at richard@blogofgames.com

If you’re a beginner to the game, check out the great YouTube video below by TerraMantis.

Yet, there are still some great survival games out there that are at least as good as it. Here are the best games like 7 Days to Die. 

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In Rust you wake up naked on a beach and must survive

Developer: Facepunch Studios, Double Eleven

Platform: macOS, Microsoft Windows, Xbox One, PS4

Year of Initial Release: 2018

Rust is a multiplayer survival game that takes place in a hostile open world environment where players try to take each other down in order to survive. It sounds brutal, and it really can be. 

In Rust, you have to be mindful of your health parameters – stay well fed, keep warm, and watch your stamina levels whilst in the water. You also have to be aware of the wildlife that surrounds you, with wolves and bears being a particular threat to your existence. It’s the other players, though, who will be both your biggest asset and danger.

If you’re looking for the best games like 7 Days to Die, Rust is a good place to start. It is challenging, rewarding, good-looking, and smooth. It should be noted that the community has a reputation for being quite toxic, so be mindful of that if you are looking to get started. 

Buy Rust on Steam.  

DayZ – PC Gameplay

Developer: Bohemia Interactive

Platform: Microsoft Windows, PS4, Xbox One

Year of Initial Release: 2018

What started as a mod for ARMA 2 has turned into one of the best zombie survival games around. Set in the fictional Chernarus, the main goal of DayZ is to stay alive for as long as possible in the midst of a zombie outbreak that pits players against the raging undead. 

Find supplies, clothing, food, and shelter along the way, and look out for weapons and firearms that make defending yourself a bit easier. You can make friends (or, most likely, enemies) with other players throughout your journey, too, and this is one of the game’s best aspects. There are times when the generosity of strangers has really got me out of a pickle, but most of the time you can expect a fight. 

All in all, the DayZ community is a nice one, and this is definitely one to try if you’re in the market for games similar to 7 Days to Die. 

Check out the DayZ homepage here. 

Project Zomboid PC Gameplay

Developer: The Indie Stone

Platform: Java, Microsoft Windows, OS X, Linux

Year of Initial Release: 2013 (still in alpha stage)

In the interest of full disclosure, when I first played Project Zomboid I went into the game expecting not to like it. There was something about the isometric viewpoint and basic aesthetic that I thought would limit the immersion. Fortunately, the game proved me wrong. 

Project Zomboid is one of the most in depth survival games around. There is so much to do that it’s truly surprising how cheap you can pick the game up for. One of the coolest aspects of the game is the Trait system, which dictates what skills and perks your character has. The thing is though, you must balance positive and negative traits in order to have any. For example, if you want the Locksmith perk to be able to break into doors easily, you may have to take on the negative Trait of being a smoker, meaning that your character will have another parameter to be mindful of whilst trying to negotiate survival. 

At the moment, it’s more of a single player game, but there are plans to greatly expand the multiplayer mode in the near future. This is one that you’ll not want to miss if you’re a fan of survival games, and it’ll definitely scratch that itch if you’re looking for games like 7 Days to Die. 

Visit the Project Zomboid homepage for more info. 

Explore the vast world of Conan the Barbarian

Developer: Funcom

Platform: Microsoft Windows, PS4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S

Year of Initial Release: 2018

If you’re looking for games like 7 Days to Die without zombies, then Conan Exiles could be the one for you. This is a prehistoric survival game that explores the canon of Conan the Barbarian through the lens of a customizable player character. 

By using the natural resources in the biomes you find yourself in, players need to stay on top of hunger and thirst levels, and will need to keep an eye out for hostile enemies that include the NPC wildlife and other players. 

The more you play, the more Experience points you will gain. This is how you progress in the game. Experience points allow you to augment your combat, crafting, and gathering skills, and soon enough you’ll become a survival expert with a large base to monitor and manage. 

Download Conan Exiles on Steam

Look out for dangerous wildlife in the Long Dark

Developer: Hinterland Studio Inc.

Platform: PC, PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch

Year of Initial Release: 2017

For many, The Long Dark is the most realistic survival game around. It is also one of the best. This is a first-person survival game that tries to be as true to real life as possible. There are no fantasy elements, and you must only learn how to survive against the cold, dark, hunger, and wildlife. I say only, but this is actually extremely challenging. 

It’s likely you will die a number of times before getting the hang of things, and for this reason I’d recommend doing the campaign mode first. It is both engaging and illuminating. 

The Long Dark has a great sense of atmosphere, too, in a way that the other games like 7 Days to Die aren’t able to replicate. If you are looking to get completely immersed in a survival experience, this could be the one for you. 

Download The Long Dark on Steam.

Developer: Studio Wildcard

Platform: PC, PS4, Xboc One, Android, iOS, Nintendo Switch

Year of Initial Release: 2017

Ark Survival Evolved PC Gameplay

As action-survival games go, Ark: Survival Evolved is up there with the cream of the crop. It truly is an incredible game and if you’re looking for games like 7 Days to Die that don’t have zombies, I would highly recommend this. 

After finding yourself stranded on a mysterious island crammed full of primeval creatures and fantastical beasts, you must learn to negotiate the harsh environments by killing or taming animals, gathering food and resources, and building shelters. The building aspect of Ark is particularly impressive, and I have seen some rather phenomenal bases. 

Some people say that there is an awful lot of grinding, with very little to show for it at the end. While I can see the point, it’s still very satisfying playing with a group of friends and navigating your way to a state of surviving and thriving. 

Download Ark: Survival Evolved on Steam.

Valheim PC Gameplay

Developer: Iron Gate AB

Platform: Microsoft Windows, Linux

Year of Release: 2021 (early access)

Valheim is a truly beautiful survival game experience that can be enjoyed both as a single-player and as a multiplayer. If you’re not bothered about zombies, this is the best game like 7 Days to Die you can find. 

Survival has never been so fun as you build, craft, fight, and explore your way through the harsh open world. There are both PvE and PvP aspects, and making friends in the game is incentivized if you want to make survival as easy as possible. 

You can develop vast viking settlements, build and sail ships to explore the seas, and craft weapons and armor using the finest resources available. At present, the community is a friendly one, and it is a great time to get into the game if you’re looking for a new survival game to sink your teeth into.  

Download Valheim on Steam.

Have you tried any of these games like 7 Days to Die? Perhaps you have some other recommendations? If so, let us know in the comment section below!

For any enquiries, contact me at richard@blogofgames.com

To check out a more in depth review of Valheim, watch the great YouTube video below by Worth A Buy. 

Read on for how to hatch eggs in ARK. 

A pile of Rex eggs

First of all, you’ll need to identify the species that you want to breed and find a female and male within that population. Some creatures don’t have a gender and, therefore, will be unbreedable. There are also other species that do have genders, but are sterile and unable to breed. You can check out this long list of unbreedable creatures in ARK. Don’t worry, though, there are still plenty of options for creatures to breed. 

Once you’ve identified your female and male, place them next to each other and select ‘Enable Mating’ from the wheel menu. You must ensure that they are not following you, not encumbered, and remain close to one another, otherwise the breeding process will stop. The mating process is signified by a bunch of hearts on their status bar.

Once the mating process is completed, the female mammals will enter the gestation period, and all other female creatures will lay an egg, which leads us to the hatching process. You’ll also notice that the female creatures will have a display cool down period until they are next able to breed. For non-mammal creatures this will display immediately, while mammals will show the timer after the gestation period. 

A dodo and its egg

Hatching an egg in ARK is fairly straightforward. All you have to do is visit a hatchery (see video at end for how to build a hatchery) and leave the egg there until it hatches. Leaving your egg in the hatchery means that you won’t have to worry about leaving your egg at the right temperature.

The hatchery is a well insulated building that maintains the same temperature at all times due to the AC units regulating the conditions inside. You’ll need to have about 15 to 20 refrigerators in your hatchery for normal use, along with a bunch of air conditioners (around 10 to 15, depending on the environment). You’ll also want a few feeding troughs and plenty of space in the hatchery for the younglings to roam around.  

You can also use campfires to hatch your egg, drop the egg in a building and add campfires around it until the egg is no longer displaying the status ‘Too Cold!’. You can also place an egg next to some Dimetrodon, as they emit heat as they level up.

For most species, the incubation process will take no longer than 6 hours, but there are a few creatures with longer incubation periods. All you have to do now is sit and wait for the egg to hatch. Once the timer reaches zero, your egg will hatch and you’ll have a new life to take care of. 

In short, no. Eggs that are found in the wild are not fertilized and can’t be incubated. A better use for these wild eggs is to use them as Kibble to tame creatures faster and allow for better stats. The different sizes of the eggs corresponds with the quality of the Kibble you can make. 

The Dimetrodon can be used to hatch eggs in ARK

Now you’ve got your baby, it’s time to care for it. The youngling will require special care and you’ll have to pay attention to its needs if you want it to survive. Keep food in their inventory as they will only consume from there.

After birth, your hatchling will need care every so often, which is indicated by the ‘Wants Care In’ marker in their status bar. The care they require will be randomized between cuddling, feeding, and walking, all of which are self explanatory and easy to do.   

Tip: Keep a Daedon in close vicinity with your youngling and select ‘Enable Passive Healing’ from the wheel menu. This will ensure that your baby will survive its early days until it is able to get nourishment from the feeding trough and become a little more independent. 

What creatures have you been breeding in ARK: Survival Evolved? Did you find it easy to hatch an egg and bring up your baby dinos? Let us know in the comment section below! 

For any enquiries, contact me at basil@blogofgames.com, or join our gaming group on Facebook. To help out our site, subscribe to the Blog of Games YouTube channel.

There are a whole host of games that we could have chosen to go in this list, but we’ve whittled it down to 10 for your convenience. Here are the 10 best isometric RPGs of all time. 

Tower of Time Gameplay

Tower of Time is a bit of a hidden gem in the isometric RPG world. It doesn’t get nearly as much fanfare as it deserves, and once you start playing you’ll quickly realise how good the game is. 

Perhaps it’s main pull is the combat system. Tower of Time uses real-time combat with a slow time system that makes you really think about what your next move should be. The level design is detailed and exploration is rewarding. Take the time to read as much of the story as possible, too, as it becomes very engaging. 

Graphically, it struggles to compete with the AAA titles, but it does as good a job as a low-budget indie game can, and it doesn’t detract from the gameplay. Tower of Time is one of the best isometric RPGs that you may not have tried yet.  

Download Tower of Time on Steam.  

Encased RPG Gameplay

Encased is a post-apocalyptic RPG a la Fallout. Released in the second half of 2019 by Dark Crystal Games, Encased does a brilliant job of world-building both before and after the apocalyptic incident. 

Combat can be a little frustrating initially, but once you get used to how it plays, you quickly get into a rhythm and defeat the AI with your companions. As you can imagine in a barren wasteland, food and water is scarce. There is a food and thirst stat to monitor this, so you need to be mindful of when your character last nourished in order to survive. 

All in all, the atmosphere in Encased is superb, the art is stylish, and the story telling is expert. Encased is definitely one of the best isometric RPGs you can play right now. 

Download Encased on Steam.

Path of Exile Gameplay

Path of Exile is still one of the best isometric games of all time, despite first being released in 2013. Granted, it’s quite a complex game, and the multiple layers added over the years can make it hard to grasp for beginners. This shouldn’t deter you, though, there’s still a heck of a lot of gaming value to be had. 

Set in a dark fantasy world called Wraeclast, Path of Exile provides a completely free action RPG experience. The devs are particularly forthright about the game being free, too, and on the official website it is declared that it will never be “pay to win”. 

When you consider this, the content that you get for a free game is really quite impressive. Gameplay revolves around items, with each pickup offering different perks. You can customize your character to deal heavy damage, swift attacks, poison-laden magic, and a multitude of other things. Indeed, experimenting with different builds is one of the game’s best features, and it’s easy to see why many consider this to be one of the best isometric RPGs of all time. 

Shadowrun Hong Kong PC Gameplay

I could easily have included any one of the Harebrained Schemes Shadowrun games, but in my opinion Hong Kong is the pick of the bunch. Though, if you really want to delve into this cyberpunk sci-fi world, check out our post about the best order to play the Shadowrun games.  

Shadowrun started as a tabletop role-playing game back in 1989, and has since transformed into a huge sci-fi franchise with multiple books, video games, and other forms of media.

For me, it’s best asset is its cyberpunk aesthetic, something which Harebrained Schemes seem to master. If you like a world brimming with orcs, cyborgs, high-tech, magic, and guns, Shadowrun: Hong Kong, may be one of the best isometric RPGs for you. 

Related: Is Shadowrun: Hong Kong worth playing?

Tyranny Gameplay

I was originally going to include Pillars of Eternity in this list of the best isometric RPGs, but in the end opted for a subsequent Obsidian game, Tyranny. 

This may turn a few heads as, for many, PoE is synonymous with isometric role-playing games. For me, though, Tyranny is a better game in many ways. Tyranny is less intimidating for a start, so if you’re a casual gamer, you’re less likely to get bogged down with the masses of text and slower pace that PoE players will become accustomed to. 

The lore and story in Tyranny is engaging if a little thin, but all in all it is a game well worth playing and one to try for people looking for an easier introduction to the genre. 

Fallout 2 Gameplay

A lot of people only know the Fallout series for their more recent FPS and third-world open world adventure games, but the franchise started out as a turn-based isometric RPG. Fallout 2 showcases the brilliance of this style the best. 

As with all games in the series, Fallout 2 doesn’t take itself too seriously and has charm in abundance. Progress in the game is heavily dependent on your skills and stats, combat is tactical and engaging, and the story and lore are delivered expertly. Indeed, many think that Bethesda’s recent Fallout games don’t even hold a candle to Interplay’s earlier offerings. 

If you have a limited schedule, you could try it’s shorter predecessor Fallout 1 first, but you won’t miss anything too important if you want to jump straight into the second game first. 

Baldur’s Gate 2 Gameplay

Baldur’s Gate II is widely considered to be one of the best cRPGs of all time. Its predecessor is also right up there with the best, but BG2 feels like a more complete and polished experience than BG1. 

The game uses the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 2nd edition rules and, for beginners at least, this can take some getting used to when you first start playing. But it’s worth getting used to the ruleset in order to enjoy the game. 

Baldur’s Gate 2 holds up well in the present day, despite being a 2D isometric game released in 2000. The customization is comprehensive and detailed, NPC characterization is thoughtful and engaging, and the class system allows for some interesting builds to be assembled. Add to this the rich high fantasy setting of the Forgotten Realms, and you’ve got yourself one of the best isometric RPGs of all time. 

Baldur’s Gate II certainly feels like one for hardcore RPG gamers, so if you want to jump right into the deep end, I recommend starting here. 

Divinity Original Sin II Combat

Without a doubt, Divinity: Original Sin II is one of the best isometric RPGs of recent years, and arguably one of the best games of the past decade, period. 

DOS2 gets almost everything right – quirky characters, great atmosphere, good customisation and build possibilities, fantastic audio and voice acting – the list could go on. 

Perhaps the biggest pull for DOS2, though, is its incredible player freedom. There are so many different paths and quests that you take that you could complete the game twice in a row and it would feel like a completely unique experience each time. Experimenting with different builds is fun, and it’s likely that you’ll find yourself wanting to try different techniques the better you get at the game. This is one for multiple replays. 

Planescape Torment Gameplay

You can’t talk about the best isometric RPGs without mentioning Planescape. This is a timeless classic that has one of the most engaging and in-depth role-playing games in the entire genre. It’s highly story-driven and is set in a unique fantasy world that immediately sets it apart from others. 

Combat takes a backseat in this D&D game, but that’s part of why it’s so good. You can get completely lost in the Planescape multiverse and the world is full to the brim with interesting characters and side plots. The dialog trees allow for some excellent character introspection and, while they may not affect the outcome of the game too much, do an excellent job of keeping players engaged in the story. 

There’s not much we can say about Planescape that hasn’t already been said. If you haven’t tried it yet, you should. The glowing reviews are correct.  

Disco Elysium Gameplay

This might turn a few heads but, for me, Disco Elysium is THE best isometric RPG of all time. It should be noted right off the bat that you have to be in the right mood to play this game, so if you’re more in the mindset of finding a game to play casually you might want to look elsewhere on the list. 

If you’re ready to sink your teeth into something with a bit of substance, though, Disco Elysium is the game for you. Played from an isometric view point, this mystery game is a combatless role-playing game that focuses on dialog trees and skill progressions. Improving different attributes will determine how (and how well) you tackle different investigations. 

Aesthetically, the game is beautiful and smooth, and the story will have you engrossed from start to finish. If you’re into isometric games, this is one you simply must try. 

We hope you enjoyed our list of the best isometric RPGs of all time. Did you agree with the list? If so, which games would you have chosen instead? Let us know in the comment section below!

Related: 10 Games Like Cyberpunk 2077

For any enquiries, contact me at richard@blogofgames.com

For upcoming isometric RPGs check out this great video by ColdBeer below!

Read on to learn how to heal in Don’t Starve.

Related: Where to Find Iron in Conan Exiles

Woodie eating food

This may sound obvious, but eating the right foods is the best way to regain health in the game. You do have to be mindful about what you eat, though, as some healing foods will come with unwanted side effects, and others will just straight up harm you. 

If you’re new to the game are looking for a quick fix whilst you explore. You can get by with some berries and seeds to keep you going while you get used to the game’s controls and dynamics. Try cooking them for even further benefits. You can also kill butterflies and eat their wings for a bit of health, just be mindful of how often you do this, as it contributes to your Naughtiness level, and Krampus will come after you if it gets too high. 

Pretty soon, though, that won’t be enough, and you’ll need more substantial meals in order to survive. In that case, you’ll want to find the materials to make a Crock Pot. 

Wilson and his Crock Pot

This is something that I wish I’d have done when I first started playing the game, but I always seemed to avoid building one. And for no good reason, too, they are easy to make and only require 3 Cut Stone, 6 Charcoal, and 6 Twigs. 

Once you have a Crock Pot at your base, you’ll really be able to learn how to heal in Don’t Starve. The following foods are among the best healing items in the entire game. 

Honey Ham is one of the best ways to heal in Don’t Starve as the ingredients are relatively easy to come by. All you need is a type of Meat and Honey. Add them to the Crock Pot and cook for 40 seconds. Honey ham restores 30 Health, 75 Hunger, and 5 Sanity. It will perish in 15 days. 

To make Pierogi, you’ll need an Egg, any type of Meat, and any type of Vegetable. Cook in the Crock Pot for 20 seconds and you’ll have a food that will provide 40 Health, 37.5 Hunger, and 5 Sanity. The pie losts for a long time and perishes after 20 days. 

Cooking Dragonpie in the Crock Pot only requires 1 item – Dragon Fruit. Unfortunately, this is one of the rarest Fruits in the game. If you’re lucky enough to get your hands on some, though, cook it for 40 seconds for a food that will give you 40 Health, 75 Hunger, and 5 Sanity. It will perish after 15 days. 

Once you get your hands on some Fish or Eel, you’ll have access to one of the most convenient foods in the game – the Fishstick. All you need is 0.5 Fish and some Twigs, cook it in the Crock Pot for 40 seconds and there you have it. Fishsticks provide 40 Health, 37.5 Hunger, and 5 Sanity. They perish after 10 days. 

After Mandrake Soup, Waffles are the next most healing food in Don’t Starve. They provide 60 Health, 37.5 Hunger, and 5 Sanity. In order to make Waffles, you’ll need 1 Butter, 1 Berry, 1 Egg, and a filler item (such as Honey). Cook it in the Crock Pot for 10 seconds and you;ve got yourself a fine meal. 

This is the highest healing food in the game and restores 100 Health, 150 Hunger, and 5 Sanity. To make it, you just need to add at least 1 Mandrake to the Crock Pot and cook it for 60 seconds. One drawback of Mandrake soup, though, is that it spoils fairly quickly and perishes in 6 days. 

Learn to avoid damage in Don’t Starve

It might sound obvious and a little glib, but if you want to know how to heal in Don’t Starve you should also learn that avoiding damage is one of the best skills to have in the game. Not taking the damage in the first place is going to be easier than making or finding the items that you’ll need to heal. 

Learn from experience. If you die, make sure you know how you died and avoid it in the future. Study the attacks and movements of the enemies that you encounter. Don’t just accept death as an inevitability, learn from it and use it against the game in a future run. 

Don’t Starve Healing Salve

Learning how to heal in Don’t Starve doesn’t just require knowledge of foods and Crock Pot recipes, you can also get by with using a Healing Salve. These items provide 20 Health and are fairly easy to make. 

In order to craft a Healing Salve, you’ll need 2 Ashes, 1 Rock, and 2 Spider Glands. You’ll have to use a Science machine to build the prototype, and then you’re in business. 

Bees are useful for making Honey

Another great Survival Item is Honey Poultice. You’ll need an Alchemy Engine to build the prototype, along with 2 Honey and 1 Papyrus. Once, you’ve got all that together, craft the poultice for an item that will provide 30 Health whenever used. 

Just be mindful that you’ll need a lot of Reeds to make the Honey Poultice, so this may not be the most convenient thing to make unless you’ve set up camp near a swampy area. 

Do you think you learned how to heal in Don’t Starve well enough from this article? Perhaps you know of a different or better way to replenish health in the game? Let us know in the comment section below!

For any enquiries, contact me at richard@blogofgames.com

Metal can be used for ammo, base building, saddles, and various other things in the game, so it is important to know where to acquire it. Without wasting any more time, read on to learn where to find metal in ARK. 

The Volcano – The Island Map

There are various places to find metal in the game. The following is a list of some of the most resource rich places where you can fill your boots with all the metal you can find. 

One of the most metal-rich locations on the Island is the Volcano, and if you can get inside the Volcano to the Throat of the Flame you’re gonna be in for a productive resource-gathering time. Other resources you can find there include Crystal and Obsidian. If you’re not comfortable venturing inside the heart of the volcano, you can also find metal around the sides of the mountain, too. 

The next good place to find metal on the Island is right at the centre of the map (~55 Lat, 52 Lon) on The Red Peak, which is located in the middle of the Redwood Forests. This place is abundant with metal and you’re bound to come away with a good supply from here, including rich metal rocks. The icing on the cake is that it seems like a relatively safe area, too, with not many predators around. 

The Red Peak – centre of the Island

In the north east of the Island (~31 Lat, 78 Lon) you’ll find a huge mountain that is a great spot for farming metal. It can be found all the way up the mountain, but you may want to take a flying creature out with you to reach the top as it is not the easiest place to get to. 

Far’s Peak metal location

The final place on The Island where you’ll find lot’s of metal is at Whitesky Peak in the snow biome. It’s hard not to find metal in this area and you’re likely to stumble upon it even if you’re not actively trying to find it. 

Whitesky Peak – North west of the Island

Metal is fairly abundant on the Scorched Earth Map, but there are certain locations where you’ll have better luck than others. Try the following locations to find metal. 

As with The Island Map, most of the metal hotspots on the Scorched Earth map are located on raised terrain and mountainous areas. The Eastern Badlands is a great place to start looking, as there are lots of rocky hills, all of them containing a generous amount of metal. 

Metal in the Eastern Badlands

Another great place to locate metal in Scorched Earth is at the peaks of the Northern Mountains, particularly on top of the eastern most mountain. You’ll also find Obsidian here, so you and your pickaxe will likely be in for a busy time. 

The Crystal Isles map can be quite dangerous with some ferocious creatures roaming around large parts of land. There are some relatively places to collect metal, though. Here they are. 

Right at the centre of the Crystal Isles map (~Lat 55, Lon 52) you’ll find Copper’s Peak. This is one of the best places to find metal and is easy to find. Whilst you’re here you can also farm some Chitin, Hide, and Keratin from the local creatures. 

Copper’s Peak Metal Location

In the lower part of the Halcyon Plains (~38 Lat, 68 Lon) you’ll get to one of the most metal rich places on the map. You’ll have to be careful here, though, as there are a multitude of creatures that might come after you if you let your guard down. On rare occasions, you may even encounter a Rex dwelling here. 

Metal in the Halcyon Plains

Perhaps the best place to find metal on the Crystal Isles is within the Desert Savannah, which is located directly south from Copper’s Peak. If you’re in need of some other resources, you’ll also be able to get your hands on some Cactus Sap, Silk, Crystal, and various other things, too. 

Metal in the Desert Savannah

There is no complex trick to getting metal in ARK. All you need is your trusty pickaxe and a bit of time. With your pickaxe equipped, simply hack at the metal or other resource that you want to acquire and it will transfer into your inventory. The size of the resource will dictate how much you’re able to get from a single unit. 

Metal is an extremely valuable resource in ARK, and once you’ve got plenty of it you’ll be able to start building some nice armor, guns, shelters, saddles, and all kinds of different useful things to aid in your survival. 

Using the Pickaxe on Crystal

Do you know of any other great locations to find metal in any of the ARK maps? If so, please let us know in the comment section below! 

For any enquiries, contact me at basil@blogofgames.com, or join our gaming group on Facebook. To help out our site, subscribe to the Blog of Games YouTube channel.

Read on for where to find iron in Conan Exiles. 

Related: Where to find metal in Ark Survival Evolved

Dirgewood

Northwest of the Mounds of the Dead

One of the best places to find iron in Conan Exiles is to the northwest of the Mounds of the Dead in the resource-rich Dirgewood. Not only will you find an abundance of iron nodes, but you’ll also be able to get hold of some shroom amantia, coal, and wood. Just keep an eye out for the dangerous Wights.
The east to the capital is also a good place to find some iron spawn locations, but the best place is to the northwest, as you can see from the picture above. 

The Mounds of the Dead is definitely a great spot to set up camp, not only is there plenty of iron and stone, but you’ll also be able to get steel and hardened steel from the Cimmerians. The area also has some of the best scenery in the entire game, despite it being a bit dark and gloomy. 

The Tower of Bats

Iron south of the Tower of Bats

The Tower of Bats is easily one of the best places to find iron in Conan Exiles as it has one of the highest concentrations of the resource in the entire map. Another benefit is that it is located very close to ‘noob river’ if you’re new to the game and looking for iron early on, though I wouldn’t recommend setting up home here as there are tons of better spots. 

You’ll have to be very careful at the Tower of Bats, too, as Rocknoses dwell this region and you could easily end up dying if you are caught unprepared. You’ll find most of the iron deposits to the southern area of the tower. 

Related: How to Hatch Eggs in Ark Survival Evolved

Godsclaw Passage

Godsclaw Passage Iron Locations

If you’re a higher levelled Conan Exiles player you’ll want to get your ironstone from Godsclaw Passage. Without a doubt this is the best place to find iron in Conan Exiles. In fact, there’s so much iron that by the time you’ve finished mining the last node in the area, the already mined iron will start to respawn. 

Godsclaw Passage can be found to the west of New Asagarth in the highlands and is a great location for other resources, too, especially stone and wood.  

Descent of Dagon

Descent of Dagon Iron Location

A lot of people set up their base near the Descent of Dagon, a huge stone structure in the biome jungle to the west to the west of the Forgotten City of Xel-ha. 

The main reason for this is that the hills around the hidden structure are rich in ironstone. What’s more, if you go through The Crevice into the Descent of Dagon, you’ll also find a nice supply of silverstone, too, which is one of the rarest resources in the game. In fact, this is one of only two locations where you’ll find silver, the other being in a mine southeast of Sepermeru.

If you do decide to come here for iron and silver, keep your eye out for panthers as they like to roam this area in great numbers. 

Other Conan Exiles Iron Locations?

Ironstone is not a particularly difficult resource to locate in the Exiled Lands, and you’re likely to find it in multiple locations – especially in mountainous areas and along the river. 

Gathering it can be time consuming, though, if you don’t go to an area of high concentration. That’s why this list should prove useful for those who are making a trip to specifically harvest iron. It’s in these places where you’ll have the most luck.  

Get in Touch

Where do you go to find iron in Conan Exiles? If you know of any other places, let us know in the comment section below! If so, which games would you have chosen instead? Let us know in the comment section below!

Related: The scariest zombie survival games to play right now

For any enquiries, contact me at richard@blogofgames.com

If you’re new to survival games and Conan Exiles, check out this great beginner’s guide on YouTube by Rottonjon.