Survival Sandbox
Ongoing coverage on Survival Sandbox.
Latest coverage
Subnautica 2 talks up its next update’s visual storytelling and the endless threat of a bored tentacle monster
Subnautica 2's upcoming early access update will feature a massive collector leviathan and new areas for players to explore and hide within. The developers are focusing on visual storytelling to convey the narrative threads and the creature's obsessive nature.
Subnautica 2’s next major early access update promises to bring ‘one of the scariest regions ever done’
Subnautica 2's upcoming major early access update, referred to as "EA 2," will introduce one of the scariest regions ever created for the game, according to creative director Anthony Gallegos. The update will also feature new creature behaviors, a new Sea Frog vehicle chassis, additional biomods, a new round room for bases, and more story elements.
Piratical survivalbox Windrose hypes winter’s Ashlands update with video and ship customization deep-dive
The pirate-themed survival sandbox Windrose has delayed its upcoming Ashlands update from early autumn to winter. Developer Kraken Express released a new cinematic trailer and detailed ship customization features, including extensive interior and exterior options that will not be locked behind factions.
Conan Exiles adds new spells and tears open rifts in the Legacy of the Giant-Kings Part Two update
The Legacy of the Giant-Kings Part Two update for Conan Exiles introduces new extradimensional rifts across the Exiled Lands and the Isle of Siptah, featuring dangerous foes and new rewards. The update also adds four new sorcery spells focused on defense, corruption, spellcasting, and battlefield control, along with Mi-Go themed rewards and a new building set available in the Bazaar.
Stormlight Archive-inspired survivalbox Stormforge confirms November 10 early access release date
Roboto Games has announced that its Dungeons & Dragons and The Stormlight Archive-inspired survival sandbox, Stormforge, will launch into Early Access on November 10th for PC via Steam. The developer released a new gameplay trailer and thanked players for their feedback from previous tests and the demo, with more information on content, pricing, and the Early Access roadmap to follow in the coming weeks.
Enshrouded highlights combat updates for mages and performance improvements arriving in its 1.0 release
Keen Games has detailed upcoming updates for Enshrouded ahead of its 1.0 release, focusing on significant improvements for mage combat with new spells and skills, as well as enhancements for archers. The developer also highlighted performance optimizations aimed at low-end and middle-grade PCs.
Hytale’s Update 7 brings a new dungeon and tweaks to items and enemies October 12
Hytale's Update 7, also referred to as the second wave of Chapter 1 content, is set to release on Monday, October 12th. This update introduces new features including reality-warping enemies, underground regions, a new dungeon with a boss named the Gobliterator, and numerous adjustments to items, combat, and enemy behavior.
Valheim enters its full release with a new biome, new gear, and some all-new mechanics
Valheim has officially launched its 1.0 full release, exiting its five-year early access period. The update introduces the dangerous Deep North biome, over 40 new weapons, new armor sets, more than 80 buildable pieces, and new mechanics like snow clearing and a grappling hook.
MMOs You’ve Never Heard Of: Above Land Rhapsody, Myth War, and Delverium
This article rounds up lesser-known multiplayer games, including Above Land: Rhapsody, a co-op action roguelite with unconventional weapons; a revival of the 2D fantasy MMO Myth War Online; and Delverium, a 2D pixel art survival sandbox coming to early access.
Bellwright takes you on a horsey ride with a trailer for its upcoming mounts update
Bellwright is preparing to release an update that will introduce mounts, specifically horses, to the early access survival sandbox game. A trailer debuted at Gamescom showcasing characters riding horses and hinting that the feature is 'closer than you think.' The recent hotfix also addressed several bugs and crashes.
After six years of early access, Craftopia is making its 1.0 launch sometime in 2027
Craftopia has confirmed a 1.0 launch for 2027, marking its sixth year in early access. Developer Pocketpair apologized for perceived neglect, stating that the company's growth has aided development and that the full release will focus on polish and refining existing systems rather than adding extensive new content. The 1.0 version will also launch for Xbox players in 2027.
JOIN US Continues Indoctrinating Us with a Good Time
Wolf Haus Games announced that their cult simulation sandbox survival game, JOIN US, will launch in March 2027 for Xbox Series X|S, Xbox on PC, and cloud, included with Game Pass. The game allows players to start their own cult, recruit followers, build a compound, and survive the apocalypse.
Gamezebo At Gamescom 2026 – Indie Spotlights and Highlights!
This article highlights several promising indie games showcased at Gamescom 2026, including the survival sandbox God Save Birmingham, the atmospheric visual novel Rain98, and the cozy farming sim Delphinium. Other featured titles include the roguelike deckbuilder Reply All, psychological horror Fractured Blooms, bullet hell Deesicks, habitat restoration sim The Regreening, and the poetry experience Oku, all presented by developer Byterockers.
Co-op survivalbox Aloft will deliver its last early access update, Discovery & Ancestry, on August 26
The co-op survival sandbox game Aloft will receive its final early access update, "Discovery & Ancestry," on August 26th. This update will introduce a new open world, survival challenges, character upgrades, and a new companion. Developer Astrolabe Interactive is also upgrading the game engine to Unity 6, which will improve performance and visuals as they continue development towards the 1.0 launch.
The Daily Grind: What’s your favorite non-MMO survival sandbox?
This article asks readers for their favorite non-MMO survival sandbox games, contrasting them with the grind often found in MMORPGs like Runescape. The author expresses a preference for exploration over grinding, seeking recommendations for games like Valheim that offer a different experience.
Terraria promises that it’s on its final push towards a balancing and update patch for 1.4.5
Studio Re-Logic has announced that the balancing and addition update for its survival sandbox game Terraria, version 1.4.5.7, is nearing release. The update is currently undergoing a localization pass and certification submissions for PC, console, and mobile platforms. New gear, including a giant grassy claymore and a homing arrow, will be included, and progress is being made on updating the TMod Loader for version 1.4.5.
RuneScape Dragonwilds confirms launch date: ‘September 15th is not the end of Dragonwilds’
Jagex has announced that RuneScape Dragonwilds will officially launch its 1.0 version on September 15th, concluding the Kuldra Saga. This date marks a milestone but not the end of content, with plans for multi-year development including new skills, quests, regions, and bosses. Further information will be shared closer to launch and at the Runefest event in October.
Palworld is getting a mobile-only MMO version sometime later this year called Palworld Online
Garena is developing and publishing Palworld Online, a mobile-only MMO version of the survival sandbox game, set to release later this year. This new version will feature a reimagined narrative, original side story elements, and an MMO ecosystem with PvE and PvP battles, all optimized for mobile controls.
Necesse’s Rust & Romance update adds relationships, scrapyard battles, and a free weekend
Necesse's 'Rust & Romance' update introduces a new Scrapyard incursion with unique enemies and a boss, alongside an expanded personality and relationship system for settlers, including romance quests. The update also adds larger biomes, new items, and a reworked tutorial. To celebrate, Necesse is available for free on Steam for a limited time and is currently 50% off.
Multiplayer airship survivalbox Forever Skies arrives to Xbox and releases its Final Echoes patch
The multiplayer survival sandbox game Forever Skies has received its Final Echoes update, introducing new airship management mechanics, combat drones, and a custom difficulty mode. The game has also officially launched on Xbox Series X|S with Xbox Play Anywhere support, and is currently on sale for PC and PlayStation 5.
