Don't Starve
Platforms: Android, Mac, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Wii U, PC, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita, Xbox One and iOS
Genres: Action, Open World, Simulation and Strategy
Released: April 2013, updated in 2014. Added to this library 4 months ago, last updated 10 weeks ago.
Overview
This is an open-world survival game. Here it’s the environment and enemies, rather than other players, that you work with. You need to find and develop food, weapons and shelter to survive. It’s enjoyable because it’s hard, so repeat-plays to improve performance are common.
There are a variety of versions of this game and all play in a similar fashion. Of note, Don't Starve Together is a version of the game that adds the option to play with another player in the same place. This is not available on Switch or iOS currently.
This game is good if you want to take on a mountainous challenge, face tough decisions, cope with losing or survive the night.
Commitment
Players: You can play with 2 players in the same room and up to 6 players online. Don't Starve Together version of the game is required for multiplayer features.
Costs
In-game purchases for "Shipwrecked", "Hamlet" and "Reign of Giants" packs add new locations, seasons, items and enemies. To play co-operatively you need to "Don't Starve Together" pack, that is purchased separately on PC. Don't Starve Together: Console Edition on Xbox and PlayStation 4 includes co-operative play Don't Starve on Switch includes "Reign of Giants" and "Shipwrecked" but not co-operative play and this is not available to purchase. Don't Starve Mega Pack provides all the expansions in one package on PC, Xbox One and PlayStation 4.Don't Starve: Reign of Giants, Don't Starve: Shipwrecked and Don't Starve: Hamlet each add new creatures, characters and content.
You will need PlayStation Plus to play online with PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4 or PlayStation Vita. You will need Xbox Live Gold to play online with Xbox One. You will need Nintendo Online to play online with Nintendo Switch.
Ratings
This game has been rated PEGI 12+.
Game contains occasional mild violence towards human characters and the use of mild swearing. The examiners report expands this rating with the following: Violence within the game, which takes the form of physical encounters with animal-like or fantasy like characters, can result in the demise of the player's character. After being hit a sufficient number of times the player's character falls to the ground and a splash screen appears indicating that the character is dead. The violence however is non-realistic looking. There is also the use of mild swearing in the game - the word 'bloody' is used.The game's main menu includes a link to the games forum and a community page. Both are moderated by the publisher Klei Entertainment.
This game has been rated ESRB TEEN.
Users Interact: The game enables players to interact and communicate with each other, so may expose players to language usually associated with older rated games.
Accessibility
System settings: Android has accessibility settings including ways to navigate and interact, although not all games support this. Nintendo Switch has some built-in features, including a lockable zoom, that can be used on all games. The Wii U has some limited settings, such as disabling rumble and selecting mono audio. Windows has extensive accessibility features. Some, like colour correction, work with games. Lots of accessibility software can be used with PC games, from voice recognition to input device emulators. PlayStation 4 has a range of accessibility settings. Some are system only, some work in games (invert colours and button mapping). Xbox One has a wide range of system features including some that can be used on all games, like the excellent co-pilot mode. iOS has a very extensive suite of accessibility settings including ways to navigate with voice and comprehensive screen reading, though most of the features don't work with games... read more.
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Don't Starve is in These Lists
In addition to the similar games listed above, which have been linked to this game specifically in the database, you may find games with a similar theme to Don't Starve in the following lists:
Face Tough Decisions
The games selected here each place you in a challenging situation to give you a first-hand experience of what it’s like. It may be nail-biting, heart-breaking or desperate, but often, through all the trials and tribulations, there is still hope. Either way, unlike reading books or watching films about these subjects, here you are emotionally implicated in the choices you are faced with.
Attempt The Impossible
This might be grappling with the flying mechanics in Rocket League, getting endlessly lost trying to find the next guardian in Shadow of the Collosus or coming up with the right tactic to get enough money for the ship you need in Elite. Of course, some of these games can be made easier, but to play them at their best is to ramp up the difficulty to max (crushing on The Last Of Us for example) and let them give you all they've got.
Survive The Night
Whether this is as simple as closing the door to keep the zombies out in Minecraft or as complex as crafting food, clothing and medicine to cope with the freezing blackness of The Long Dark these games are exhilarating as they pose a strategic puzzle with personal consequences.
Many of these games offer an open world in which to survive, which opens up more ways of preparing for and then making it through the night time. This, of course, leads to another day where you need to spend time and resources wisely while exploring your surroundings.
Persevere After Losing
These are interesting games for families, not only because their difficult nature leads to shorter sessions, but also because they foster perseverance and coping with losing. After dying you are sent back to some sort of central village where you can choose upgrades for your next attempt. The incentive to play again once you have been killed is usually that you start with some more equipment or skills.
In this way, by belligerence and a slowly learned understanding of how the game world works and how best to survive, you incrementally get a bit further each time you play. Here are some really good roguelike games for families:
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