Summary
Survival games generally cover compelling scenarios that challenge players’ ingenuity and resilience. Fromfuturistic technologygone awry, natural disasters and isolated environments, and apocalyptic settings such as zombies taking over, these settings provide fertile ground for immersive gameplay.
There are some survival scenarios that, with a little imagination, could be made into a fun to play game. Each concept pushes the boundaries of creativity, introducing players to hostile environments,resource managementdilemmas, and dynamic problem-solving. Whether battling nanobot swarms, navigating London’s forgotten tunnels, or surviving a tsunami, these ideas showcase the potential for gripping narratives and engaging mechanics. Discover how survival can take on new dimensions in these imaginative and challenging settings.
7Gray Goo Scenario
Out Of Control Nanobots
Humanity has the capability to develop a number of technologies that would result in a singularity-style event, entirely changing human life, or even ending it. Nanotechnology, or specifically self-replicating nanobots, is an example of one of these technologies.
One of the worst case scenarios for nanotechnology is nanobots running out of control, constantly replicating and rendering down everything they come into contact with. A survival game based on such a scenario could involve the player having to find ways to push back the encroachment of nanobots, slowly cleaning up the landscape, through unlocking technologies,procuring resources, and building machinery.
6Trapped In London’s Tunnel Systems
Stay Alive And Find A Way Out
Since the mid 1800s, there have been multiple levels of tunnel systems built beneath London. The London Underground subway network is the most well-known, but there are multiple levels of tunnels beneath this railway system. Some were used to run power and utilities, others were dug by private companies for delivery or storage straight from the River Thames. There are no accurate maps of all the tunnel systems beneath London, and many are completely forgotten about.
Asurvival gamebased on being trapped in the old tunnels below London, could require the player to find a way out, with nothing but the gear they had on them when they became trapped. Exploring the tunnel systems could give clues, such as old signs or artifacts, that hint at which part of London the player is currently beneath. Finding and following these clues would eventually lead the player to an exit.
5Caught In A Tsunami
And Surviving Until The Water Subsides
A game based on this scenario could begin with a video sequence of a tsunami destroying a city, with the player finally being trapped on the top of a tall building, surrounded by water. Survival in such a situation would involve finding a way to move from rooftop to rooftop, and exploring parts of buildings that were not flooded, looking for supplies and equipment.
This scenario has some real possibilities for unique hazards the player will need to overcome either by thinking through them, or crafting items to solve them. The overall goal would be to stay alive until the water subsides enough to escape. As the water level drops, the player will gain access to more buildings, and this could be used as a mechanic for gating progression.
4Trapped In An Artificial Environment
Controlled By An Evil AI
Anyone who has seen the Tron movies, or read the book Ready Player One, will remember the graphical style of what used to be termedCyberspace. This is a great setting for a survival game. The premise could be that the player’s virtual reality hardware has been hijacked by an evil AI that has them trapped in Cyberspace.
Gameplay could revolve around finding computing resources such as pieces of code or entire scripts, that the player can combine to create digital tools. Resource management could cover the player gaining access to more memory and CPU cycles. The goal would be to overcome the enemy AI and escape Cyberspace before the player’s real-world body dies.
3Marooned On A Floating Garbage Island
One Man’s Garbage Is Another Man’s Gold
The Great Pacific Garbage Patch covers an area of something in the region of 1.6 million square kilometers. A manmade island that contains junk and trash from all around the globe. It could become an excellent setting for a survival game.
Players would need to explore the island of floating garbage to find resources and equipment that can help them survive until they can find a way off the island. Some of the gameplay could revolve around crafting fishing equipment to fish for food, or sourcing parts to build a water desalination system.
2Locked Inside A Zoo
Following An Apocalyptic Event
This would be a survival simulation game set in a zoo after an apocalyptic event. Players must navigate the chaos, forging alliances with other survivors while contending with escaped animals and limited resources.
The zoo’s diverse habitats serve as strategic zones for crafting, scavenging, and shelter. Decision-making is crucial as players balance survival against uncovering the cause of the apocalypse. Dynamic challenges, including animal behaviors and environmental hazards, ensure each playthrough feels unique and immersive.Animal husbandryand farming could form part of the gameplay as well.
1Locked Inside A Massive, Automated Warehouse
Using Robotics And Stored Goods To Survive
This could be a survivalpuzzle gameset in a massive, automated facility. Players utilize advanced robotics and the warehouse’s vast inventory to sustain themselves and engineer an escape. Resourcefulness is key, as players manipulate automated systems to unlock new areas, access supplies, and outsmart security protocols. Dynamic challenges arise from malfunctioning robots and dwindling energy reserves.
With creative problem-solving and strategic resource management, players unravel the warehouse’s secrets and navigate towards freedom, balancing survival with technological ingenuity, and the need to explore and locate additional resources within the warehouse.
