7 Survival Games Like Rust that Run on Linux

Rust does not come in a native Linux version and it’s a mixed bag on ProtonDB (bronze rating), with some being able to run the game via workarounds.

If you have trouble getting it to run, or simply want to expand your survival game collection, there’s are several alternatives that will run more smoothly on Linux systems. Let’s have a look at some of the best ones.

1 – 7 Days to Die: Zombie Survival with Rust-Like Building

7 Days to Die is a great, Linux-native option for Rust enthusiasts. This open-world zombie survival game combines the resource-gathering and base-building elements with the added layer of zombies. The voxel-based world allows for complete destructibility and creative construction, much like the freedom Rust offers in its building systems.

What particularly shines in 7 Days to Die is the progression system. Unlike Rust’s more freeform approach, 7 Days uses a skill tree and crafting system that rewards specialization and strategic planning.

Every seventh day brings a massive zombie attack on your base, creating a cyclical tension that Rust achieves through potential player raids.

Performance-wise, 7 Days to Die runs remarkably well on most Linux distributions with proper graphics drivers installed. The developers have maintained solid Linux support throughout the game’s development, making it a reliable choice for Linux gamers.  There are also numerous mods that enhance performance and add features, many of which work seamlessly on Linux systems.

2 – DayZ: The Original Survival Experience

DayZ is a Windows game that runs well via Proton and flawlessly on the Steam Deck. It’s something of a spiritual predecessor to games like Rust, pioneering many of the survival mechanics that would later become genre staples. Set in the fictional post-Soviet country of Chernarus following a zombie apocalypse, DayZ offers a massive open world where player interactions form the core of the experience.

The survival mechanics in DayZ feel more grounded in reality compared to Rust. Your character needs to manage hunger, thirst, temperature, and even blood types when receiving transfusions. Injuries require specific medical supplies, and diseases can affect your character if you don’t properly prepare food or drink contaminated water.

Base building in DayZ is less elaborate than in Rust but still satisfying. The focus is more on finding and securing existing structures rather than building elaborate bases from scratch.

3 – ARK: Survival Evolved – Comes with Dinosaurs

ARK: Survival Evolved transports the survival genre to a prehistoric setting populated with dinosaurs. The game has a gold rating on ProtonDB and should be possible to get up and running for most Linux users.

The core gameplay loop will feel immediately familiar to Rust players – gather resources, craft items, build bases, and interact (often violently) with other players.

What distinguishes ARK from Rust is its creature taming and riding system. While Rust limits you to human interactions, ARK allows you to domesticate dinosaurs for transportation, resource gathering, and combat.

The building system in ARK allows for elaborate structures that can rival anything created in Rust. Various biomes – from beaches to mountains, jungles to volcanic regions – provide diverse building challenges and keep the gameplay fresh.

While ARK is notoriously resource-intensive, modern Linux systems with decent hardware can run it smoothly with some graphics settings adjustments.

4 – Conan Exiles: Brutal Survival in a Fantasy World

Conan Exiles runs well on Linux through Proton, with many players reporting performance comparable to Windows.

The combat system in Conan Exiles feels more deliberate and impactful than Rust’s, with a focus on melee weapons that reflect the game’s barbarian setting. The thrall system, which allows you to capture NPCs and convert them to work for your settlement, adds a unique dimension to base management that Rust lacks. These thralls can defend your base, craft items, or even accompany you on expeditions, creating a sense of building not just a base but a community.

The building system deserves special mention for its flexibility and aesthetic options. Conan Exiles allows for impressive architectural creations, from desert huts to massive castles.

5 – Valheim: Viking Survival with Linux Support

Valheim offers native Linux support and runs exceptionally well even on modest hardware, making it an excellent choice for Linux gamers looking for Rust alternatives.

Unlike Rust’s constant PvP tension, Valheim focuses primarily on PvE challenges, with hard bosses that require preparation and strategy to defeat. This progression system provides clear goals while still allowing the freedom to build, explore, and survive at your own pace. The sailing mechanics add another dimension to exploration.

What sets Valheim apart is its atmosphere. The game’s stylized graphics combine with excellent sound design and music to create an immersive experience.

6 – Subnautica: Underwater Survival Excellence

Subnautica is Deck verified and also runs on Linux desktop (gold rating).

What makes Subnautica stand out is its unique setting and atmosphere. Instead of the familiar terrestrial environments of most survival games, you’ll explore coral reefs, dark abyssal plains, and more. The game masterfully uses depth as both a progression mechanic and a source of tension – the deeper you go, the more valuable the resources and the more dangerous the predators. This creates a natural risk-reward system that keeps exploration thrilling.

The base-building in Subnautica is also fun. You can construct underwater habitats ranging from simple survival pods to elaborate research facilities.

7 – The Forest: Horror Survival with Robust Building

The Forest combines survival gameplay with horror elements, creating a uniquely tense experience that runs well on Linux through Proton (rated gold). As the survivor of a plane crash on a remote peninsula, you’ll soon discover you’re not alone – the forest is home to a tribe of cannibalistic mutants with their own agenda.

Speaking of which, The Forest’s enemy AI really adds to the horror. Unlike the predictable zombies in many survival games, the cannibals in The Forest display unsettling intelligence. They’ll scout your base, retreat when outmatched, and return with reinforcements. Sometimes they’ll even just observe you from a distance, creating moments of psychological tension that few other survival games achieve.

Bonus Tips – 7 More (Somewhat) Similar Games

• Don’t Starve Together – offers a more stylized take on survival gaming with its distinctive Tim Burton-esque art style and challenging gameplay. With native Linux support, the game runs flawlessly on most distributions. While visually quite different from Rust, Don’t Starve Together captures some of the same core survival tension through its unforgiving mechanics and constant threat of death.
• Terraria – Terraria’s 2D presentation might seem worlds apart from Rust at first glance. But this side-scrolling survival crafting game captures many of the same gameplay elements that make Rust addictive. It also has native Linux support.
• Project Zomboid – takes zombie survival seriously, offering perhaps the most detailed survival simulation in an isometric package. The game runs on Linux and has maintained excellent support throughout its development. While visually different from Rust, Project Zomboid captures some of the same feel.
• Raft – presents a unique survival premise – you begin on a tiny wooden raft in the middle of an endless ocean, with nothing but a plastic hook to catch floating debris. From these humble beginnings, you’ll expand your raft into a floating fortress while exploring mysterious islands and underwater reefs. The game runs well on Linux through Proton.
• Stranded Deep – puts you in the role of a plane crash survivor stranded in the Pacific Ocean, surrounded by small islands and the constant threat of the sea. Runs well on Linux through Proton.
• Unturned – might initially be dismissed for its blocky, simplistic graphics, but beneath its Minecraft-like appearance lies a surprisingly deep survival game with excellent Linux support.

Which Rust alternative will you try first? Add your favorite(s) in the comments!