The Survivalists is a survival sandbox game that blends action, adventure, and indie crafting elements on procedurally generated islands. Players wash ashore and must gather resources, craft tools, build shelters, and train monkeys to assist with daily tasks while fending off threats and completing objectives. The Monkey Business Pack adds cosmetic flair through new hats for both players and monkeys along with a dedicated side quest centered on locating a crashed plane for a special delivery.
Gameplay
Core gameplay revolves around exploration across an archipelago filled with resources, wildlife, and hidden dangers. Players chop trees, mine rocks, forage for food, and construct items using a skill-based crafting system that unlocks progressively more advanced tools and structures. Combat involves melee and ranged options against animals, hostile natives, and mythical creatures, with a lightweight system that rewards positioning and timing over complex combos.
A standout mechanic involves taming monkeys by offering food or rescuing them from camps. Once recruited, these helpers can be trained to mimic player actions such as gathering wood, crafting items, or hauling materials, freeing up time for other survival priorities. The world features quests from local taskmasters, trading with a mysterious stranger using doubloons or tokens, and expeditions into labyrinths and caves for loot and challenges. Procedural generation ensures each playthrough presents fresh layouts and encounters.
Game Modes
The game supports solo play where individuals manage all aspects of survival independently. Online co-op allows up to four players to collaborate on building, questing, resource management, and defense against enemies. Sessions emphasize shared exploration and division of labor, with monkeys serving as additional workforce for the group. No separate competitive or versus modes exist, keeping the focus on cooperative survival and adventure.
Additional Content from the Monkey Business Pack
This pack introduces the Box-Ex side quest, which tasks players with finding a crashed plane containing a lost delivery. Success grants access to three player hats including a straw hat, an Escapists guard hat, and a unicorn hat. Six monkey hats become available as well, featuring styles such as a top hat, lumberjack hat, chef hat, crown, hard hat, and pirate hat. These items provide visual customization without altering core mechanics or progression.
Is It Worth Playing?
The Survivalists appeals to fans of relaxed yet engaging survival experiences who enjoy crafting loops, base building, and the novelty of directing monkey assistants. Its co-op support makes it suitable for small groups seeking shared island adventures, while solo players can tackle the full scope alone. The Monkey Business Pack enhances replayability for those interested in style options and an extra quest thread. Reception highlights the satisfying monkey training system and pixel-art presentation alongside notes on occasional grind and interface quirks. The title remains available on PC with ongoing playability for new and returning players who value its unique twist on the genre.
