Don't Starve (2013)

Developer: Klei Entertainment
Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux
Genres: Adventure, Indie, Simulation
Rating: 4.8 of 5, 113,153 player ratings
Typical playtime: about 11 hours
Where to get it: Steam

The 3D catalog: game boxes on wooden shelves, with the cat sitting at the counter next to its greeting.

The catalog in 3D

The same catalog has a room you can walk around in. The cat behind the counter is the AI Catbot, and they pick real games from it when you tell them what you feel like playing. Nothing is for sale, here or in there. Go in from here and this game is already out on the counter, with more like it waiting on the shelf next to it.

More games like this Watch the trailer

or watch the trailer on YouTube

How it feels

A tense, lonely scramble for resources where every mistake is permanent and the world feels both whimsical and menacing.

survival craftatmosphericunforgivingexplorationresource managementperma deathquirky horrorrepetitive

What players say

Players are split on whether the lack of guidance is a flaw or a feature. Many say you need a wiki open to survive, and failure rarely teaches you what to do better. The art style and crafting loop keep people coming back, but combat feels janky and progress is slow without outside resources.

Screenshots

More games like this

More by Tencent Holdings

This page is from Underplayed Gems, a catalog of older and overlooked games. Not quite it? You can browse by platform and genre, or take this one into the 3D catalog and ask the Catbot for something closer.