7 Hardcore games like Don't Starve: Reign of Giants that you should try

Games like Don't Starve: Reign of Giants · Find similar →

Ranking compiled by Lluis Enric Mayans, Founder & Head of ContentUpdated May 18, 2026How this is calculatedOrdered by an attribute-similarity model, not editorial opinion.

Filter by:Hardcore×← Back to home

We filtered the 41 games similar to Don't Starve: Reign of Giants down to the 7 that fit the “Hardcore” category. Don't Starve Together, FTL: Faster Than Light and Valheim top the list, ranked by affinity and similarity score to Don't Starve: Reign of Giants.

iRank93/ 100

Did you find what you were looking for?

GenreSurvivalSubgenreCo-op PvE Survival

The best hardcore games like Don't Starve: Reign of Giants

7 similar games foundUpdated May 2026

Handpicked by our similarity algorithm, these are the titles with the highest gameplay match to Don't Starve: Reign of Giants. Each one has been evaluated across 13 real attributes — from combat style and progression mechanics to world structure and visual perspective — so every recommendation is based on how the game actually plays, not just its genre label.

#1Don't Starve TogetherClosest overall match

iRank85

GenreSurvivalSubgenreCo-op PvE Survival

MultiplayerSoloHardcoreSandbox WorldOpen WorldExplorationCrafting

Steam👍 95%· 531KRAWG👍 72%· 1.4KMC83

Year 2016Dev Klei EntertainmentPlaytime ~7hOn PC · PS · Xbox

✓ Same family of PvE survival games: survival mechanics, deep simulation and adventure storytelling

≠ Where it differs: brings dark, oppressive atmosphere, strong narrative focus and horror setting, while skipping roguelike runs

Don't Starve Together is surrealistic and grim survival game made up for six people simultaneously. Initially, Don't Starve is a single-player game with a core mechanic of going through various problems of your character. You have to sleep and eat well.

Where it drifts furthest from Don't Starve: Reign of Giants: tone and game mode.

Same studio: Klei Entertainment.

Genre100Progression100World89Game mode48Tone46

Details →

Steam

#2FTL: Faster Than LightClosest on tone

iRank90

GenreSurvivalSubgenreCo-op PvE Survival

SoloHardcoreProceduralTacticalSpace

Steam👍 95%· 78KRAWG👍 88%· 964MC84IGDB91· 2

Year 2012Dev Subset GamesPlaytime ~6hOn PC · iOS · Apple Macintosh

✓ Fits the PvE survival games cluster, with survival mechanics, roguelike runs and deep simulation

≠ Where it differs: brings combat tactical, setting space and setting scifi, while skipping sandbox freedom

FTL: Faster Than Light is a roguelike strategy game set in space civil war in the Galactic Federation. You control a spaceship that has to deliver an essential package of data to the Federation headquarters. This data can help defeat the rebel’s army and finish the war.

Genre100Tone100Game mode78World69

Details →

Steam GOG Epic

#3ValheimClosest on world

iRank87

GenreSurvivalSubgenreCo-op PvE Survival

MultiplayerSoloHardcoreOpen WorldSandbox WorldExplorationCrafting

Steam👍 94%· 534KRAWG👍 77%· 642IGDB90· 1OC85· 19

Year 2021Dev Dvoid · Coffee StainPlaytime ~12hOn PC · Linux

✓ Both are PvE survival games — sharing survival mechanics, adventure storytelling and sandbox freedom

≠ Stands apart with deep RPG systems, melee combat and fantasy world, while skipping deep simulation

Prove your worth! Are you worthy of entering Valhalla? You have been sent to Valheim, the 10th Norse world. Only by defeating the mighty beasts of these lands will you win the favor of the gods. This quest will take you to the far reaches of this world, from the deepest forest to the highest mountain peak.

Where it drifts furthest from Don't Starve: Reign of Giants: game mode.

On reception: its Steam reviews are very positive, against overwhelmingly positive for Don't Starve: Reign of Giants.

Released 7 years after Don't Starve: Reign of Giants.

Genre100Tone100World91Progression72Game mode38

GenreSurvivalSubgenreCo-op PvE Survival

SoloMultiplayerHardcoreProceduralCo-op

Steam👍 93%· 6.3KRAWG👍 45%· 406MC79IGDB86· 2OC79· 24

Year 2013Dev FlippFly · FlippflyPlaytime ~3hOn PC · PS · Xbox

✓ Fits the PvE survival games cluster, with survival mechanics, roguelike runs and punishing difficulty

≠ Where it differs: brings racing gameplay, strong narrative focus and dark, oppressive atmosphere, while skipping adventure storytelling

In Race the Sun you control a spaceship powered by solar energy. You have to dodge objects on your way, for example, from laser beams, other ships and various obstacles, while collecting blue pyramids that will boost the player.

Where it drifts furthest from Don't Starve: Reign of Giants: tone.

On reception: its Steam reviews are very positive, against overwhelmingly positive for Don't Starve: Reign of Giants.

Genre100World69Game mode61Tone36

GenreSurvivalSubgenreCo-op PvE Survival

SoloHardcoreExplorationRangedMelee

Steam👍 98%· 1.3K

Year 2020Dev Egor RezenovPlaytime ~2hOn PC

✓ Both are PvE survival games — sharing survival mechanics, adventure storytelling and punishing difficulty

≠ Stands apart with strong narrative focus, ranged combat and melee combat, while skipping deep simulation

ARMORED HEAD is a miniature shooter, where all the action takes place in one arena. The main character is a gladiator who fights against his opponents in pursuit of the grand prize. His task is to defeat 30 waves of opponents, unravel all the secrets of the arena, and win the gold cup.

Where it drifts furthest from Don't Starve: Reign of Giants: progression.

Released 6 years after Don't Starve: Reign of Giants.

Genre100Game mode74Tone71Progression42

GenreSurvivalSubgenreCo-op PvE Survival

SoloHardcoreMeleeCasual2D

Steam👍 93%· 550

Year 2017Dev Nickervision StudiosPlaytime ~3hOn PC · iOS · Apple Macintosh

✓ Both are PvE survival games — sharing survival mechanics, punishing difficulty and single-player focus

≠ Stands apart with puzzle design, vibe casual and melee combat, while skipping adventure storytelling

This is an 'XL' version of my unreleased mobile game 'Diamo'. I have added/changed a variety of things to make it more suitable for the Steam platform. I have been learning to make games in my free time and love making small-yet-solid arcade games with simple mechanics.

On reception: its Steam reviews are very positive, against overwhelmingly positive for Don't Starve: Reign of Giants.

Released 3 years after Don't Starve: Reign of Giants.

Genre100Game mode78Tone61

GenreSurvivalSubgenreCo-op PvE Survival

SoloHardcoreRangedMeleeCasual

Steam👍 96%· 6.1KRAWG👍 29%· 68

Year 2016Dev Nickervision StudiosPlaytime ~3hOn PC · Apple Macintosh · Linux

✓ Both are PvE survival games — sharing survival mechanics, punishing difficulty and single-player focus

≠ Stands apart with vibe casual, ranged combat and melee combat, while skipping adventure storytelling

I have been learning to make games in my free time and love making small-yet-solid arcade games with simple mechanics. Please expect 'Bit Blaster XL' to be a small, re-playable, arcade score-chaser game where the only goals are to constantly beat your previous score and unlock some extra ships.

Genre100Game mode76Tone60

Details →

Steam

Explore games similar to Don't Starve: Reign of Giants by category

Rankings in the same genre

Best Co-op Survival Games Best Survival Games