Basically the title. I think I've come to accept that as basic as it sounds, this is one of my favorite genres.

The issue I frequently run into is that so many of them are designed around PvP and / or Co-Op. Like ARK, I love the idea, but most of the mechanics are for PvP servers, which I have zero interest in.

Funny enough I'm not too into true survival games (Green Hell, The Forest), as I kinda enjoy the whole "Combine iron with two sticks and make an automatic weapon" progression of other games in the genre.

Obviously I've played Minecraft & Terraria, but also Subnautica, Palworld, Satisfactory (sort of counts), and NMS and enjoyed all of those.

Project Zomboid seems like it has too steep of a learning curve for me to get into.

I tried Astroneer, but the utter lack of base building and organization drove me up the wall.

EDIT: Forgot V Rising, which I also enjoyed solo, but it's definitely built with a PvP server in mind, which kind of makes progression in solo feel like you're aiming for a goal that doesn't exist.

I appreciate everyone's suggestions, I think I may give Raft or Project Zomboid a go.

A different thread reminded me of this unique for me and frustrating but enlightening experience.

This war of mine is a survival game where you have to manage food, building equipment, scavenging, security, stealth, possibly weapons and the morale of your companions for an unknown period of time until the siege is lifted. The art is beautiful but simple. The pace is slow. The emotions are profound. At the end of the game there are different stories for how your companions lives progress depending on how well or poorly you handled the circumstances of the game. It is very easy to die.

It is the only war game I have seen where you are a civilian.

I used to absolutely love DayZ when it was still a mod. Even over a decade later I've yet to find a game with the sheer level of adrenaline that it could induce. I fell off the genre when it started moving towards crafting and base building since the systems just ended up feeling like busywork and detracted from the intensity of the core gameplay.

Is there anything newer that captures that experience from early DayZ, or is the Rust/Ark style gameplay loop completely ubiquitous now? I'd love something with good gunplay, a focused set of systems, and a punishing difficulty curve.