Most Survival Games Have Problems That S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Solved Long Ago
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The Vanishing of Ethan Carter lead Adrian Chmielarz once confessed that he liked the
idea of survival games more than any survival games he actually played. I feel similarly, but his remark got me thinking about why that might be.
I’m always in the mood for a great survival game, so why do so many leave me feeling cold? Is there any game that’s done survival well?
I don’t think the issue is innate to the genre. Conceptually, the idea of surviving against the odds is a great one. The emotional core of a survival experience the tension of vulnerability and the thrills that accompany overcoming the odds makes the genre uniquely compelling. The lack of appeal must come from the implementation of survival mechanics rather than the genre itself.