Player Preferences in Survival Gameplay Styles and Settings

The Survival Game Player Preferences survey by EggBit Games LLC. revealed valuable insights into the gameplay styles, settings, and platform preferences that shape players’ survival gaming experiences. This analysis explores how players approach survival games, including their preferred gaming platforms, time spent playing, game modes, and the variety of settings that enhance immersion in the survival genre.

This section allowed for multiple responses in several questions to capture the full range of gaming preferences and styles among players.

Preferred Gaming Platforms

The survey data highlights that PC is the dominant platform among survival game players, with many respondents also using consoles like PlayStation and Xbox. This question allowed multiple selections, reflecting the multi-platform nature of today’s gamers, who often switch between or use multiple platforms for different games or preferences.

PC: 65% (225 participants)
PlayStation: 40% (138 participants)
Xbox: 37% (130 participants)
Mobile: 26% (91 participants)

While 65% of respondents indicated PC as their preferred platform, PlayStation and Xbox both garnered nearly 40% of the responses, indicating that consoles play a significant role in survival gaming. The lower engagement on mobile devices (26%) suggests that players favor devices with greater performance and graphics capabilities for immersive survival experiences.

Average Gameplay Hours Per Week

To understand how much time players dedicate to survival games, we asked respondents to share their average weekly gameplay hours. The data showed a wide range of engagement, reflecting both casual players and highly committed gamers.

0-5 hours: 9% (30 participants)
6-10 hours: 30% (103 participants)
11-20 hours: 37% (128 participants)
21-30 hours: 17% (58 participants)
31+ hours: 9% (30 participants)

The largest group of players (37%) reported spending 11-20 hours per week playing survival games, followed closely by 30% who play 6-10 hours. This level of engagement suggests that many players view survival games as an immersive experience that demands more time investment than casual gaming.

Game Mode Preferences

When it comes to game modes, players’ preferences are split across PvP (Player vs. Player), PvE (Player vs. Environment), and a combination of both. This question allowed multiple responses to capture the complexity of player engagement with different survival modes.

PvP (Player vs. Player): 34% (122 participants)
PvE (Player vs. Environment): 32% (110 participants)
Both PvP and PvE: 34% (117 participants)

These results reflect a balanced interest, with 34% of players preferring PvP-only modes, 32% leaning toward PvE, and another 34% enjoying a mix of both. This division illustrates that survival games appeal to a variety of playstyles, with some players seeking cooperative experiences and others favoring competitive dynamics.

Play Preferences: Solo, Co-op, and Multiplayer

Player responses to play preferences indicate how players approach survival games, whether they prefer single-player experiences, cooperative play with friends, or online multiplayer on dedicated servers. This question also allowed multiple selections to capture the flexibility many players seek.

Single-player: 11% (40 participants)
Co-op with friends: 38% (131 participants)
Online multiplayer (dedicated server): 38% (131 participants)
Combination of co-op and dedicated server multiplayer: 7% (25 participants)
All modes equally: 6% (22 participants)

The data suggests that players gravitate toward collaborative experiences, with 38% enjoying co-op play with friends and another 38% engaging in online multiplayer through dedicated servers. Only 11% reported a preference for solo gameplay, reflecting the strong community and social interaction valued within the survival gaming genre.

Navigation and Map Preferences

Navigation and map size are essential elements of survival games, affecting how players explore and interact with the game world. Survey respondents provided feedback on their preferred navigation aids and map scales, showing a mix of preferences for both guided and open exploration.

Preferred Navigation Methods

Using road signs or landmarks: 47% (166 participants)
Finding GPS for location tracking: 70% (243 participants)
Minimap showing exact location: 42% (146 participants)
Map grayed out until discovered: 30% (105 participants)

The most popular navigation preference was using GPS, selected by 70% of respondents, while 47% also enjoyed using in-game road signs or landmarks. The preference for minimaps (42%) and undiscovered map areas (30%) indicates that players appreciate both realistic and game-assisted navigation options that suit different playstyles.

Map Size Preferences

Small (dense, compact): 24% (83 participants)
Medium (balanced): 56% (193 participants)
Large (vast, expansive): 56% (193 participants)
No preference: 22% (76 participants)

Medium and large map sizes were equally popular, each chosen by 56% of respondents, highlighting a preference for maps that allow for extensive exploration and adventure. The compact map option, selected by 24% of players, may appeal to those who prefer a more contained, high-density experience where survival challenges are intensified by closer proximity to resources and other players.

Difficulty and Challenge Preferences

Survival games often involve managing complex systems and overcoming environmental hazards. The survey asked players about their preferences for day-night cycles, resource respawn times, and other difficulty elements to understand how challenging they like their gameplay experience to be.

Preferred Day-Night Cycle Speed

Fast (24 minutes or less): 20% (68 participants)
Moderate (2 hours or less): 46% (159 participants)
Real-time (24 hours): 24% (85 participants)
Always day: 9% (32 participants)

Most players (46%) preferred a moderate day-night cycle lasting about 2 hours, suggesting a balance between realism and gameplay pacing. A smaller but substantial portion (24%) selected real-time cycles, indicating a desire for highly immersive experiences.

Resource Respawn Time Preferences

Fast (24 minutes or less): 31% (109 participants)
Moderate (24 minutes – 2 hours): 50% (174 participants)
Slow (2+ hours): 16% (54 participants)
No respawn: 3% (10 participants)

Moderate respawn times (24 minutes to 2 hours) were preferred by 50% of respondents, suggesting that players appreciate a balance where resources are replenished but not too quickly. The 31% favoring faster respawn times may reflect players who prefer faster-paced progression.

Summary of Gameplay Style and Setting Preferences

The findings from the Survival Game Player Preferences survey demonstrate a highly engaged player base with distinct preferences in gameplay styles and settings. The survey reveals that most players favor PC and console platforms, invest significant hours into survival games, and value collaborative modes, such as co-op and multiplayer. Preferences around navigation, map size, and difficulty options illustrate a demand for varied and immersive gameplay experiences that accommodate different playstyles. These insights can guide developers in crafting settings and modes that resonate with players and provide the level of depth and realism that survival gamers seek.

More Data from Our Survey

Summary of Survival Game Player Preferences

You Are Here: Player Preferences: Platforms, Modes, and Difficulty

Core Mechanics: Resources, Crafting, and Environment

What Players Like: Graphics, Sound, and Microtransactions

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Do players prefer cooperative or solo play in survival games?

A: Players lean toward cooperative play, with 38% preferring co-op with friends and another 38% opting for online multiplayer on dedicated servers. This reflects a strong interest in social and collaborative gameplay.

Q: How much time do players typically spend on survival games each week?

A: Most players spend between 11-20 hours per week on survival games, with a significant portion dedicating even more time. This high engagement level shows the genre’s depth and appeal.

Q: What navigation tools do players prefer in survival games?

A: GPS tracking is the top choice, with 70% of players favoring it. Road signs and landmarks are also popular, showing that players enjoy a mix of realism and game-assisted navigation.