Looking for games like Rust? Maybe you are waiting for the next force wipe, your group burned out, or you want the same survival loop with less getting offlined. This list covers the 20 best alternatives in 2026, from hardcore full-loot PvP games that feel just like Rust to relaxed co-op builders you can play with friends.
Every game here was checked in October 2026: release dates, Steam prices on October 21, 2026, game modes and the latest big updates. Prices change with sales, so treat them as a guide. The screenshots and art are the official store images for each game.
- Top Picks
- Hardcore PvP
- Building and Raiding
- Free Games
- New Games
- Co-op and PvE
- Comparison Table
- Which to Play
- On Console
- FAQ
The Best Games Like Rust at a Glance
What makes a game “like Rust”? We looked for the things Rust players actually love: starting with nothing, gathering and crafting, building a base, a world shared with other players, and the risk of losing it all. No game has every piece. Rust is still the only big game that combines full-loot PvP, fully destructible bases, a huge player count and a fixed monthly server wipe, so each pick below says which part of Rust it gets right.
Hardcore PvP Games Like Rust
These are the closest to Rust’s core feeling: an open world, full-loot PvP and the risk of losing everything.
1. DayZ
DayZ is the game Rust players are pointed to first, and for good reason. It is the same promise: you spawn on a coast with nothing, scavenge a huge open map, and every player you meet could share a can of beans or shoot you for your backpack. When you die you lose everything you were carrying, so a fresh spawn feels exactly like waking up naked on a Rust beach.
The differences are pace and focus. DayZ is slower and more realistic, with infected roaming the towns, sickness, broken bones and a heavy emphasis on gear condition. Base building exists (fences, gates, watchtowers and code locks) and bases can be broken into on most servers, but it is far less central than in Rust, where your base is the whole game. On October 15, 2026 Bohemia released the Badlands expansion with update 1.30: Nasdara Province, a 267 km² desert map that is the largest official DayZ map yet, sold as paid DLC for about $24.99. Official servers had a full wipe with that update.
2. SCUM
SCUM drops you on an island as a prisoner in a televised survival show. It mixes Rust-style open-world PvP with a far more detailed survival sim: your character tracks calories, vitamins, hydration and even bowel movements, and skills level up as you use them. Abandoned bunkers act like Rust monuments, with keycards, puzzles and high-tier loot.
What makes it one of the closest games to Rust is base building and raiding. You claim a flag, build walls and doors, and other players can raid you, usually inside raid windows that the server owner sets. SCUM left early access with its 1.0 update on June 17, 2025, which redid the map and added new vehicles and armed NPCs. Most servers are community run with their own wipe schedules, similar to picking a Rust server.
3. Escape from Tarkov
Escape from Tarkov is not an open-world base builder, but it nails the part of Rust where a single fight can win or lose you everything. You load into a raid with your own gear, loot, and try to reach an extraction point. Die and your kit is gone. The gunsmithing and ballistics are the most detailed of any game here, and armor, ammo types and medical items all matter.
Tarkov hit 1.0 and launched on Steam on November 15, 2025. A Steam copy is a separate purchase from the old Battlestate launcher version. There are no raidable bases; your hideout is a personal upgrade tree. Tarkov also has wipes, which reset progress every so often, so if you like the fresh-start feeling of a Rust force wipe you will feel at home.
4. Deadside
Deadside is a smaller open-world shooter that sits between DayZ and Tarkov. There are no zombies, just armed NPCs, missions and other players on a big map with full-loot PvP. You can build a base, store loot and defend it, and the shooting is quicker and less punishing than DayZ.
The full release on Steam came on December 5, 2024, and the console version followed on February 25, 2025 with three server types: PvP, PvE and PvP with scheduled raids. At under $25 it is one of the cheapest ways to get the Rust feeling of running loot back to your base while hoping nobody follows you.
Base Building and Raiding Games Like Rust
If your favorite part of Rust is building a base and breaking into other people’s, start here.
5. ARK: Survival Ascended
ARK: Survival Ascended is the Unreal Engine 5 remake of ARK: Survival Evolved. The loop is very Rust-like: gather, craft, build, form a tribe and protect your base from other tribes. The twist is dinosaurs. You tame them, ride them and bring them to raids, and a big tribe’s base on an official PvP server is a fortress of turrets, walls and armored creatures.
Raiding in ARK uses C4, rockets and siege dinos, and offline raids and wipes of whole tribes happen just like in Rust clan wars. It is also a much bigger time sink: taming and breeding take hours. The Lost Colony expansion arrived in December 2025 at $29.99. If you play Rust mostly for the clan politics and huge bases, ARK is the closest match.
6. Conan Exiles
Conan Exiles is a survival game in the Conan the Barbarian world with some of the best building tools in the genre. Castles, keeps and villages can be huge, and the piece-by-piece system will feel familiar if you have read our Rust building guide. You enslave NPC thralls to craft and guard your base, a bit like Rust automation but with people.
On PvP servers you raid with explosive jars and siege weapons, usually during raid hours the server sets. In May 2026 Funcom released Conan Exiles Enhanced, a free Unreal Engine 5 overhaul for Steam owners; consoles stay on the older build for now. Combat is melee-first, so it plays very differently from Rust gunfights.
7. The Front
The Front is the most Rust-looking game on this list. You start with stone tools, climb a tech tree to guns and electricity, build a base out of foundations and walls, and raid other players with explosives. Even the menus and building pieces will feel familiar.
It left early access on October 30, 2025. It is rougher and much less popular than Rust, so check the server list for your region first, but at this price it is an easy try for players who want more of the same loop.
8. Soulmask
Soulmask is a survival game set in a jungle full of ancient tribes. A magic mask lets you recruit and command NPC tribesmen, who gather, craft and fight for you, so your base slowly turns into a working village. Combat is mostly melee and bows, with big boss fights.
It has PvP servers with base raiding, but most players use it as a co-op or solo survival game. The 1.0 release on April 9, 2026 added the full map and ending.
Free Games Like Rust
Rust costs $39.99 on Steam and goes on sale often, but these two cost nothing to start.
9. Once Human
Once Human is a free-to-play open-world survival game with guns, base building and strange monsters. It plays like a mix of Rust, The Division and a horror game: you gather, build a territory, run dungeons and fight both monsters and players on PvP servers.
It also has wipes. Seasons run for about six weeks, then characters go back to level 1, while blueprints, cosmetics and house designs carry over. In December 2025 the developer said its permanent PvP servers had fewer than 50 active players each and closed them on January 8, 2026, so PvP now happens on seasonal servers. It is the best free pick if you like the wipe cycle.
10. Unturned
Unturned looks like a cartoon, but under the blocky art it is a full survival sandbox with zombies, guns, vehicles, base building and raiding. It runs on almost any computer and is free, which is why so many Rust players started here before they could afford Rust or a PC to run it.
Most of the Rust-like action happens on community servers, many of which add kits, raid rules and wipe schedules. Vanilla Unturned is much gentler. If you want to practice the base defense mindset without spending money, it is still worth a look.
New Games Like Rust (2025 and 2026)
The newest big survival and PvP releases. Several older favorites also hit 1.0 this year.
11. Dune: Awakening
Dune: Awakening is an open-world survival MMO set on Arrakis. You start with nothing, build bases, fight sandworms and the heat, and craft ornithopters and sand bikes. The endgame Deep Desert is where guilds fight over spice, which is the closest thing to Rust clan warfare.
In 2026 Funcom shifted the game toward PvE after reporting that over 80% of players only played PvE. On official servers PvP in the starting Hagga Basin is off, and the Deep Desert is split into PvE and PvP instances. If you want Rust building with less griefing, that is a plus. If you want nonstop PvP, Rust is still better.
12. ARC Raiders
ARC Raiders is the breakout extraction shooter of the last year, with over 12 million copies sold by early 2026. You go topside to loot a ruined world full of hostile machines, and other player squads can ambush you for your bag. Make it to an exit and you keep what you found.
There is no base building or raiding, but the moment-to-moment feeling is very Rust: will that other team help, ignore you or shoot you in the back? It is also crossplay across PC, PS5 and Xbox, unlike Rust’s split between PC and console.
Co-op and PvE Games Like Rust
Love gathering and building with friends but hate getting offlined? These games keep the survival loop and drop or soften the PvP.
13. 7 Days to Die
7 Days to Die is a zombie survival game where every seventh night a horde attacks your base. The whole world is made of blocks you can mine and rebuild, so you design traps, kill corridors and bunkers. It feels like defending a Rust base from an online raid, every week.
It hit 1.0 in July 2024. PvP is optional and most players stick to co-op, so think of it as the best pick for people who love Rust building and base design but are tired of losing their base to other players.
14. Valheim
Valheim is a Viking survival game for up to 10 players per world. You chop trees, build longhouses, sail between islands and fight bosses to unlock new materials. The building has structural support, so roofs and towers need real thought, and it is as satisfying as finishing a good Rust base.
Valheim launched 1.0 on September 9, 2026 with the Deep North biome and new console versions. PvP is a toggle, so nobody can raid you unless you allow it. It is the best game here if you play Rust with a small group and enjoy the farming and building more than the shooting.
15. Sons of the Forest
Sons of the Forest is a horror survival game on an island full of cannibals and mutants. You build log cabins with a very free building system, set traps, explore caves and slowly uncover the story. Up to 8 players can play together.
There is no PvP, so it scratches the Rust itch of gathering and building with friends while the island itself is the threat. Expect a much more scripted experience with an actual ending.
16. Enshrouded
Enshrouded is a fantasy survival RPG for up to 16 players. Its voxel world lets you dig and build anywhere, and you fight through a deadly fog called the Shroud to rescue NPC craftsmen who unlock new recipes, a bit like climbing the Rust tech tree.
Enshrouded 1.0 launched on October 15, 2026 on PC and PS5; the Xbox version is planned for spring 2027. It is PvE only, so it is for Rust players who want the crafting and building without raids.
17. Palworld
Palworld mixes monster catching with base-building survival and guns. Your Pals work in your base, mining, crafting and farming, so your base becomes a factory. Dedicated servers support up to 32 players.
The 1.0 release arrived in July 2026 with the World Tree area. It is far sillier than Rust and raids come from NPCs, not players, but the gather, build and automate loop is very close to running a Rust base with electricity and conveyors.
18. Project Zomboid
Project Zomboid is an isometric zombie survival game in which you will die; the only question is how long you last. It has deep systems for injuries, cooking, farming, carpentry, vehicles and electricity, and multiplayer servers can host many players with PvP on or off.
It looks nothing like Rust, but the long-term survival planning and the tension of every supply run hit the same notes. It is still in early access after many years of updates.
19. V Rising
V Rising is a top-down vampire survival game. You build a castle, gather blood and resources, and hunt bosses to unlock new powers. On PvP servers you can raid other players’ castles with siege golems during set raid hours.
The camera and combat are closer to an action RPG than a shooter, but the castle-building and raid loop is one of the most Rust-like on the list.
20. ICARUS
ICARUS comes from RocketWerkz, the studio led by DayZ creator Dean Hall. You drop from an orbital station onto a hostile planet, complete a mission, and must get back to your dropship before time runs out or lose your character. There is also an open world mode for longer games.
There is no PvP, but the gather, craft, build and survive loop is strong, and the storms that tear apart weak buildings make base design matter.
Games Like Rust Compared
| Game | Steam price (Oct 21, 2026) | Full-loot PvP | Raidable bases | Wipes | Max group |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rust | $39.99 | Yes | Yes | Monthly force wipe | Server rules |
| DayZ | $49.99 | Yes | Yes | Server, full wipe with Badlands | Server rules |
| SCUM | $17.99 | Yes | Yes, in raid windows | Server | Squads |
| Escape from Tarkov | $49.99 | Yes | No | Periodic wipes | Raid squads |
| ARK: Survival Ascended | $44.99 | Yes | Yes | Server | Tribes |
| Conan Exiles | $39.99 | Yes | Yes, in raid hours | Server | Clans |
| Deadside | $24.99 | Yes | Yes | Server | Groups |
| Once Human | Free | On PvP servers | On PvP servers | About every 6 weeks | Squads |
| Unturned | Free | On PvP servers | On PvP servers | Server | Groups |
| The Front | $9.99 | Yes | Yes | Server | Clans |
| Dune: Awakening | $49.99 | Deep Desert PvP only | Limited | Deep Desert resets | Guilds |
| ARC Raiders | $39.99 | Yes | No | Optional resets | Squads of 3 |
| Valheim | $29.99 | Optional | No | None | 10 per world |
| Enshrouded | $35.99 | No | No | None | 16 |
Which Game Like Rust Should You Play?
- You love the gunfights and loot runs: DayZ, Escape from Tarkov or Deadside. If you mostly run monuments in Rust for military crates, Tarkov’s raid loop will hook you.
- You love raiding: ARK: Survival Ascended, Conan Exiles or The Front. Nothing beats the satisfaction of working out a boom cost in the Rust raid calculator, but sieging an ARK tribe comes close.
- You love building: Valheim, Conan Exiles or Enshrouded. If you spend wipe day planning Rust base designs, these have the deepest building tools.
- You love clan wars: ARK: Survival Ascended or Dune: Awakening’s Deep Desert.
- You love wipe day: Once Human seasons, Tarkov wipes or fresh SCUM and DayZ community servers.
- You do not want to pay: Once Human or Unturned.
Games Like Rust on PS5 and Xbox
If you play Rust Console Edition, these games are also on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S: DayZ, ARK: Survival Ascended, Conan Exiles (the older build, not Enhanced), Deadside, ARC Raiders, 7 Days to Die and Valheim. Enshrouded and V Rising are on PS5, with Enshrouded on Xbox planned for spring 2027, and Palworld is on both. SCUM, The Front, Soulmask and Dune: Awakening are PC only for now.
Older Games Like Rust Worth Knowing
Hurtworld (Bankroll Studios, $24.99) and Miscreated (Entrada Interactive, $29.99) were the classic Rust alternatives in the late 2010s, with base raiding and full-loot PvP. Both are still on Steam, but their player counts are small in 2026, so check the server browser before you buy. If you want the Rust experience on your own terms, you can also rent a Rust server and set your own rules with server mods.
Games Like Rust FAQ
What is the closest game to Rust?
DayZ is the closest game to Rust. Both drop you into a big open world with nothing, both have full-loot PvP where you lose everything when you die, and both let you build bases that other players can break into. DayZ is slower, more realistic and has zombies, and base building matters less than in Rust.
Is there a free game like Rust?
Yes. Once Human is the best free game like Rust, with guns, base building, PvP servers and seasonal wipes about every six weeks. Unturned is also free, runs on almost any PC and has base raiding on community servers.
What games are like Rust but without PvP?
Valheim, Enshrouded, Sons of the Forest, ICARUS and Palworld keep the gather, craft and build loop but drop player raiding. 7 Days to Die and Project Zomboid support PvP but most servers are co-op. Dune: Awakening now keeps most of its world PvE on official servers.
What game is like Rust with base raiding?
SCUM, ARK: Survival Ascended, Conan Exiles, The Front, Deadside and V Rising all let other players raid your base on PvP servers. Many use raid windows set by the server, unlike Rust where you can be raided at any time.
Are there games like Rust on PS5 and Xbox?
Yes. DayZ, ARK: Survival Ascended, Conan Exiles, Deadside, ARC Raiders, 7 Days to Die, Valheim and Palworld are on both PS5 and Xbox Series X|S. Enshrouded and V Rising are on PS5. Rust itself is on consoles as Rust Console Edition.
Is DayZ better than Rust?
It depends on what you like. DayZ is better if you want slow, realistic survival and tense player encounters. Rust is better if you want fast PvP, big bases, raiding and a guaranteed fresh start every month. Many players own both.
Which games like Rust have wipes?
Escape from Tarkov wipes progress every so often, Once Human resets characters each season (about six weeks), and DayZ, SCUM, ARK and Conan community servers set their own wipe schedules. DayZ official servers had a full wipe with the Badlands update on October 15, 2026. Rust is the only one with a fixed monthly force wipe for every server.
What is the newest game like Rust?
ARC Raiders (October 30, 2025) is the biggest new PvP survival-style game of the last year. Escape from Tarkov hit 1.0 on Steam on November 15, 2025, and in 2026 Soulmask, Palworld, Valheim and Enshrouded all reached their full 1.0 releases.
Sources and Further Reading
- Release dates, prices and modes: official Steam store pages for each game, checked October 21, 2026
- DayZ Badlands: Shacknews, DayZ Badlands release date
- Conan Exiles Enhanced: Funcom press release via Game Developer
- Dune: Awakening PvE shift: Blue’s News, Dune: Awakening refocusing on PvE
- Once Human servers: Once Human dev blog, December 2025
- Valheim 1.0: Massively OP, Valheim full release
- Enshrouded 1.0: Game Informer, Enshrouded 1.0
- ARC Raiders sales: GamingBolt, ARC Raiders 12 million
- SCUM 1.0: PCGamesN, SCUM 1.0