Best if you want a fully-featured zombie survival sandbox that's completely free, runs on potato PCs, and offers endless variety through mods and community servers without spending a dime.
Unturned delivers the complete survival game loop—scavenging, crafting, base-building, and zombie defense—wrapped in a blocky aesthetic that keeps performance buttery smooth on aging hardware. What sets it apart is how much depth it packs into that simple shell: hunger and thirst matter, gear degrades, vehicles let you explore sprawling maps, and you can tackle it solo, in co-op with friends, or on massive public servers where other players become allies or threats. The learning curve is gentle if you choose the right starting point. Solo or private servers let you experiment without pressure, learning the rhythm of loot runs, crafting chains, and base layouts at your own pace. Public PvP servers raise the stakes considerably—expect to lose everything and start fresh as you learn to read threats and manage risk. The game never tutorializes explicitly, but its systems are intuitive enough that trial and error feels rewarding rather than punishing. Session structure is wonderfully flexible. You can drop in for a quick 20-minute supply run, spend an evening fortifying a safehouse, or sink hours into a weekend co-op campaign. Pacing depends entirely on your chosen server and ruleset: casual PvE worlds let you focus on exploration and construction, while hardcore survival servers demand constant vigilance and smart resource management. The real longevity comes from Steam Workshop support. Thousands of community maps, mods, and total conversions mean you can shift from vanilla zombie survival to military sims, role-play servers, or entirely new game modes without leaving Unturned. This ecosystem keeps the game fresh years after launch, and because it's all free, you're never locked out of content by paywalls—only cosmetics cost money, and they're entirely optional. The trade-off is visual simplicity and occasional jank. The blocky style won't wow anyone, some official maps feel dated, and multiplayer servers vary wildly in quality and ruleset clarity. But if you value systems depth, replay variety, and the freedom to play offline or online without financial commitment, Unturned is the standout free survival experience that respects your time, hardware, and wallet.
24 online
Unturned does not support crossplay, supports up to 24 players online.
Single Player • Multiplayer • Co-op • PvP • Online Multiplayer • LAN Multiplayer
Steam version supports online and LAN play via community/dedicated servers. Steam store lists 'Single-player' and 'Online PvP'/'Online Co-op'. No split-screen/couch co-op. Max players depends on server settings; PCGamingWiki lists 24 players for multiplayer. Drop-in/out supported by joining/leaving servers during a session.
Important details about which version to buy and where to play.
Steam Workshop integration is seamless on PC. Controller support exists via Steam Input but is basic—keyboard and mouse remain the optimal setup. LAN and self-hosted servers work great for offline or local co-op without internet dependency.
Full key remapping, adjustable FOV and sensitivity sliders, UI scaling options, and simple visuals that stay readable at lower resolutions. No subtitles needed since there's minimal dialogue. Creative mode and server settings let you reduce survival pressure. Partial controller support with basic remapping available.
Click any screenshot to view in full size
If you enjoyed Unturned, you'll love these similar games. We've handpicked titles based on gameplay style, difficulty, atmosphere, and what players like you are enjoying. Whether you're looking for something with a similar vibe, more challenge, or the same multiplayer features, these recommendations have you covered.
Cooperative multiplayer games that emphasize teamwork and shared objectives, building on the social aspects of Unturned.
Co-op survival where friends split roles—scavenging, base defense, medical care—while the persistent world makes every supply run and rescue feel meaningful.
Designed around co-op survival: share crafting stations, coordinate food and sanity, and revive each other as the seasons and bosses pressure teamwork.
Co-op looting and base-building with tense horde nights; friends can specialize in crafting, traps, or exploration for a shared survival plan.
Head-to-head competitive games for players who enjoy the competitive elements found in Unturned.
Hard PvP survival on wipe-based servers where raids, base defense, alliances, and betrayal create high-stakes player-driven stories every session.
Tense open-world survival where player encounters are the real threat—scarce ammo, permadeath stakes, and emergent firefights reward caution and aim.
Fast, hostile multiplayer survival with constant player pressure; scavenge weapons, craft essentials, and fight over contested loot routes.
Creative building and crafting games that expand on the construction mechanics found in Unturned.
A deep buildcraft sandbox: mine, craft, and fortify bases while progression unlocks new biomes and bosses—great for long-term worlds and servers.
Sandbox survival with lots of crafting and base-building, plus procedurally generated planets to loot; ideal if you want exploration-driven progression.
Blocky survival crafting focused on building and exploration; relaxed combat and clear crafting steps make it a friendly sandbox to create big bases in.
Performance-optimized games similar to Unturned that run smoothly on low-end PCs, integrated graphics, and older hardware.
Runs well on older PCs while delivering great zombie gunplay; quick campaign chapters and versus modes make it an easy jump-in multiplayer staple.
We've included this game in 7 articles.
Unturned tops the free survival list with deep scavenging, crafting, and base-building systems that rival paid games. Hunger, thirst, and gear management matter in every session, whether solo, co-op, or on massive servers. Steam Workshop adds endless maps and modes, ensuring long-term replayability. The blocky aesthetic and initial complexity are trade-offs, but for robust survival without upfront cost, it's unmatched.
Unturned combines blocky zombie survival with big open maps and endless Workshop mods, all free to explore. Scavenging, crafting, and base-building unfold across diverse biomes, and community content adds new worlds, modes, and systems without cost. Low system demands and thousands of server options let anyone dive in. Visuals are simple, but replayability and freedom shine for survival fans wanting varied, accessible open-world play.
Unturned offers a blocky survival sandbox with crafting, vehicles, and giant maps supported by long-running updates and hundreds of community servers. Massive mod support and player-driven stories deliver endless time value. While it's busier and less polished than design-forward indies, its fair free model and social multiplayer scope suit survival fans who prioritize systems and longevity over cutting-edge art.
Unturned excels on low-end PCs with blocky visuals that prioritize steady performance over fidelity. The survival sandbox offers full offline support, thriving Workshop content, and fair free-to-play access—no paywalls blocking core features. Mods extend replayability with maps, overhauls, and modes in small downloads. Best for survival fans who value flexible play, offline options, and community-driven longevity on humble systems.
Unturned ranks high among free Steam games for its full-featured survival sandbox that runs smoothly on aging hardware. The blocky zombie world offers solo, LAN, or online play without paywalls, while Steam Workshop integration delivers endless maps and mods. Perfect for players wanting deep survival mechanics—hunger, crafting, base-building—on a budget and modest specs.
Unturned earns its spot as a truly free co-op survival game with cosmetic-only monetization and steady updates. Private servers let friends set their own difficulty and pace, while mod support adds variety without cost. Runs great on low-end PCs, making it ideal for groups on a budget who want flexible survival sessions—looting, base defense, and weekend arcs—without hardware or wallet barriers.
Unturned delivers full zombie survival—hunger, thirst, base-building—that runs great on integrated graphics at 720p–1080p low settings. The free-to-play model, active Workshop, and flexible server options make it ideal for budget systems. Performance stays smooth (50–90 FPS) across early and mid-game on UHD/Iris GPUs, with customizable difficulty for steady frames on low-end CPUs. Perfect for families and younger players.
Common questions about this game answered by our team.
Difficulty is entirely server-dependent. Solo and private PvE worlds can be relaxed sandbox experiences, while public PvP servers demand constant awareness and resource management. Newcomers should start on easier servers or solo to learn systems.
Sessions flex from 20-minute loot runs to multi-hour campaigns. The game autosaves progress on servers, so you can drop in and out freely. Co-op groups often play 1–2 hour sessions; hardcore survival can consume entire weekends.
Yes, if you start solo or on a forgiving server. The lack of tutorials means some trial and error, but systems are intuitive and death penalties are light in PvE. Avoid hardcore PvP servers until you understand crafting and combat basics.
No—solo play is fully featured and many enjoy the lone-survivor experience. That said, co-op adds strategic depth and makes base-building more rewarding. Public servers offer matchmaking-free multiplayer if you don't have a group.
Genuinely low-end friendly. Integrated graphics (Intel UHD/Iris) hit 60+ FPS at 720p–1080p low settings. Even older dual-core CPUs handle solo and small servers smoothly. 4 GB RAM suffices; install size is under 2 GB.
