Is Survive the Nights worth playing in 2025?
Survive the Nights may or may not be a game you're familiar with. First teased in 2014 and released into early access in 2017, it has received a steady stream of updates ever since. But nearly a decade later, has it become the zombie survival experience players were promised?
To answer that, we need to start at the beginning. In 2014, a small indie team launched a Kickstarter campaign to create a realistic zombie survival experience. Unlike many flashy pitches of the era, Survive the Nights promised a grounded game featuring limited resources, realistic day-night threat dynamics, and a strong emphasis on cooperative gameplay.
Image Source: Steam Page
They surpassed their funding goal, raising over €108,000 — more than double the amount they originally requested. With community support through Steam Greenlight, the game steadily moved toward early access. Leading up to launch, creators like FrankieonPC and PsiSyn showcased early builds. While it didn’t generate AAA-level buzz, among survival fans, it had real momentum.
On December 21, 2017, Survive the Nights finally launched into early access. But it didn’t land cleanly. Riddled with bugs, server issues, and performance problems, the launch quickly soured that early excitement. Even in a genre known for rough starts, Survive the Nights was in especially bad shape. But in a rare move for indie survival games, the team didn’t walk away.
Image Source: Steam Page
Over the next eight years, a2z Interactive consistently released updates, fixing systems, rebuilding mechanics, and gradually shaping Survive the Nights into something much closer to the original vision. So... nearly a decade later, how does it hold up?
As of this writing, the game is at version 1.39, and the difference from its 2017 launch is night and day. From what I remember of the original release, it feels like a new game. The map has been expanded, and many mechanics have been redesigned or rewritten entirely. Visually and audibly, the game remains essentially unchanged, although some enhancements have been added.
Image Source: Steam Page
One of the most notable changes is the addition of a lightweight RPG system. You can no longer craft or harvest everything from the start; you need to level up and allocate points into various skills and abilities. It adds progression and encourages long-term play.
World events have also been introduced, including a power plant that can be shut down (and restored, if you’re willing to put in the effort). This system adds life and consequence to the world, giving players more reasons to prepare and cooperate.
Image Source: Steam Page
That said, some rough edges remain. While driving, I encountered several issues with pop-in objects, animals, and zombies suddenly appearing in the world. It’s not game-breaking, but it’s jarring and shows the game still needs polish.
Survive the Nights is no longer the broken mess it once was. While it may never reach DayZ levels of popularity, its focus on realism, teamwork, and survival atmosphere makes it one of the more distinct zombie survival experiences available today. It’s not for everyone, especially those seeking fast-paced action, but if you value preparation, planning, and teamwork, it’s worth considering in 2025.