Games Like Raft: 8 Survival Games to Play With Friends

If you loved Raft, follow it up with Stranded Deep for survival at sea, Subnautica for underwater exploration, or Grounded and Valheim for co-op building. They all keep what makes Redbeet Interactive's game so charming: starting from nothing, crafting, growing your base and surviving with friends, laughing about as much as you panic.

What makes Raft so much fun

Raft starts from a dead simple idea. You float on a few planks in the middle of the ocean with a hook to grab whatever drifts by, and a shark that loves chewing on your raft. Bit by bit you add crops, a water purifier, extra floors and a sail, and your scrap of wood turns into a proper floating home.

What really sells it is co-op. A session with friends is part serious building, part total chaos when the shark shows up. There's also a story, with islands and places to visit. According to players on IGDB, it takes about 26.5 hours to see it through.

How to pick your next survival game

First, figure out if you'll mostly play solo or with friends. Grounded, Valheim, Enshrouded and The Forest shine in co-op. Subnautica and Stranded Deep are better solo, or when you want a tenser mood. Then look at the tone: Raft is lighthearted, while Green Hell and The Forest are much harsher. And if building is what you love most, Satisfactory will take over your life, in a good way.

1. 

   1. Stranded Deep

   2015

   The closest cousin in mood: you survive a crash in the Pacific among small islands, sharks and makeshift rafts. You craft tools, hunt for drinking water and explore shipwrecks. It's more realistic and rougher than Raft, but with the same salty taste of the open ocean and scrappy survival.

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2. 

   2. Subnautica

   2018 · Main story 26 h

   Still the ocean, but this time you go under it. You build underwater bases and submarines and explore depths that get more unsettling the further you dive. It's a solo experience, more about exploration and mystery. We have a whole list of games like Subnautica.

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3. 

   3. Grounded

   2022 · Main story 25 h

   Shrunk to bug size in a backyard, you survive with friends among ants, spiders and other giant critters. The crafting and base building feel very close to Raft, with the same humor and the same co-op that goes off the rails in no time.

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4. 

   4. Valheim

   2021

   Viking survival in co-op across a huge world. You build wooden halls and boats, fight bosses and plan expeditions across the sea. If sailing and building with friends was your favorite part of Raft, this is the natural next step. More in games like Valheim.

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5. 

   5. The Forest

   2018

   Your plane crashes in a forest full of creatures that aren't exactly friendly. You build a base, hunt and explore caves by flashlight. Co-op works as well as in Raft, but the mood is far more nerve-racking. Best for players who want a dose of horror.

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6. 

   6. Green Hell

   2019

   Hardcore survival in the Amazon jungle. You manage hunger, thirst, wounds, parasites and even your sanity. There's a solo story to follow and a co-op mode. If Raft felt a little too friendly, this one will really put you to the test.

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7. 

   7. Satisfactory

   2024

   Not quite a survival game, more a factory builder on an alien planet. If your favorite moments in Raft were optimizing your raft and automating your resources, here you'll build gigantic production lines, alone or with friends. It's dangerously addictive.

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8. 

   8. Enshrouded

   2026

   Survival, crafting and action in co-op, in a fantasy world swallowed by a deadly fog. Building is very free, with structures you shape block by block, and exploration rewards curiosity. For players who want a bigger world and more adventure than the middle of the ocean can offer.

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FAQ

What game is most like Raft?

Stranded Deep is the closest, with survival at sea, islands and rafts. For co-op building and the same sense of humor, Grounded is excellent. And if the ocean is what you love, Subnautica takes you down into the depths.

What survival game should I play with friends after Raft?

Grounded, Valheim and Enshrouded are the best co-op picks after Raft. Grounded keeps the lighthearted tone, Valheim focuses on exploration and bosses, and Enshrouded offers very free building in a big fantasy world.

How long does it take to beat Raft?

According to players on IGDB, finishing Raft's story takes about 26.5 hours. That varies a lot depending on if you play solo or in co-op, and how much time you spend expanding your raft instead of pushing forward.