It's official. "Sandbox Survival" games are a thing. Of course, this has been in the process of happening for a few years now but we've reached the point where there are enough of them in development or in some publicly-playable form that they're no longer flukes or anomalies, but the roots of a new genre of gaming.
Some might argue that these are simply modernized Rogue-likes, but I contend that their emphasis on scavenging, crafting and in many cases multiplayer sufficiently differentiates them into a new category.
So, what are the characteristics of a "Sandbox Survival" game?
- Perma-death - If your character dies, you start over with nothing or very basic supplies.
- The primary goal of the game is survival (food, shelter, security, etc.)
- Sandbox Gameplay - The game world and its systems provide a framework wherein players create their own fun. There is no pre-defined story or goal beyond survival and anything short of hacking/cheating is permitted and encouraged.
- There are usually one or more generic and plentiful enemy types (zombies are the most common) that serve as a nuisance or genuine threat to the player's survival. In the multiplayer context, these are ideally overcome via player co-operation and factor into player confrontations.
- Crafting and/or building systems allow players to impact a persistent game world that is inevitably shaped by such actions.
The Forerunners
Some of the games that led to this point:
Resident Evil - Popularized the concept of gameplay and tension based on the scarcity of items like ammunition and health. Also firmly established the zombie/infected as a go-to antagonist.
Left 4 Dead - A touchstone and point of inspiration for a number of gameplay elements and esthetics: scavenging/looting, co-operative and competitive multiplayer, survival mode, dynamic enemy behaviors and level layouts.
Dead Island - Crafting, refined melee combat, non-linear environments and vehicles were all key concepts proven in this game.
Minecraft - I think it's pretty safe to say that "Minecraft" was the first "Survival Sandbox" game. If not, it's certainly the one that popularized the concept.
The First Generation
In the wake of "Minecraft's" success and influence, more refined and elaborate versions of the concept were inevitable. The following have established themselves over the past year:
DayZ - People love arguing until they're blue in the face about which one of these games "came first" but there's no denying that "DayZ" was the one that struck a chord with gaming enthusiasts around the world. In a lot of ways, it's become the standard bearer for the genre and the game that folks interested in such things are most excited about playing. It's also taken much longer than many might have hoped for it to make the transition from a fledgling "ARMA II" mod into a standalone game, which has opened the door for competing projects to potentially steal its thunder. Still, hearing Dean "Rocket" Hall talk about the plans for the game and seeing the progress being made on it, it's hard to not get excited.
Project Zomboid - While its isometric, point-and-click presentation and gameplay aren't my cup of tea, "Project Zomboid" does clearly fit into the "Sandbox Survival" genre– even in its incomplete, alpha state.
State of Decay - It's tempting to exclude this XBOX 360 game due to its questionable performance and lack of a proper sandbox mode but it may have a bright future if the PC port turns out well and the hinted-at sandbox and multiplayer modes become a reality.
Future Contenders
Several additional games of this type are also in development:
The Dead Linger - As I
stated recently, I think this game has a great chance of giving "DayZ" a run for its money if its developer can get the various technical issues and challenges surrounding it handled.
7 Days to Die - Not much to say about this one except that it looks good on paper. Definitely keeping an eye on it.
Dying Light - The next game from the team behind the original "Dead Island" won't be out until 2014 and it remains to be seen whether or not it will provide a true "Sandbox Survival" experience but it does look very promising based on what I've seen of it so far.
Rust - From the makers of "Garry's Mod," this game's public alpha recently closed and generated a lot of buzz and interest. It appears to combine elements of "Minecraft," "DayZ" and "S.T.A.L.K.E.R." (radiation) in some potentially-interesting ways but access to the new beta is limited as of this writing.
Conclusion
As you can see, there are quite a few games in the process of emerging into this new genre– not to mention loosely-related titles like "
I Am Alive" or failed/unscrupulous attempts by other developers, which I won't name here. It's a safe bet that I've likely overlooked or forgotten about at least one game or project that's relevant to all of this and that's perhaps the best evidence that the "Sandbox Survival" genre is here to stay.
