How to Survive

 Xbox 360
How to Survive Image
Metascore
59

Mixed or average reviews - based on 18 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
6.4

Mixed or average reviews- based on 48 Ratings

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  • Summary: Featuring a robust crafting system, unique survival guide and a host of playable characters, How to Survive strands players on a remote archipelago off the coast of Colombia in the aftermath of an unexplained accident...but you're not alone. In order to survive, you must fulfill the mostFeaturing a robust crafting system, unique survival guide and a host of playable characters, How to Survive strands players on a remote archipelago off the coast of Colombia in the aftermath of an unexplained accident...but you're not alone. In order to survive, you must fulfill the most basic of needs - seeking out food, water and shelter, as well as crafting dozens of tools and weapons from fishing rods to Molotov cocktails. Players can also team up with other survivors in local and online multiplayer story and challenge modes to take on a growing array of the infected.… Expand

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How to Survive - Kovac's Rules Trailer

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 4 out of 18
  2. Mixed: 13 out of 18
  3. Negative: 1 out of 18
  1. Gaming Nexus
    Oct 23, 2013
    90
    How To Survive is more than just a solid zombie role-playing game, it's also one of the best games of the year. With its mix of Diablo-esque hack and slash and dual-stick shooter action, 505 Games' newest Xbox Live Arcade game is a real surprise. It has a deep crafting system and a world you can't help but want to explore. How To Survive rewrites the book on zombie RPGs!
  2. Multiplayer.it
    Oct 28, 2013
    78
    A zombie survival game with a good crafting system and an action-rpg like gameplay. Too bad for the technical and graphical issues and its monotone action.
  3. SpazioGames
    Apr 13, 2014
    70
    Despite using the overused topic of zombies, everything in the game is targeted toward survival through the skillful use of a good system of loot and crafting. Nevertheless, these two elements are not sufficient to make the title an excellent game, as the title has some technical issues.
  4. Hardcore Gamer
    Oct 23, 2013
    60
    Still, it’s worth checking out if the concept intrigues you as and it’s a fine gateway game for those who are intimidated by the survival genre.
  5. ZTGD
    Oct 31, 2013
    60
    I wanted there to be more to How to Survive. It plays well, has some cool ideas and the combat is satisfying, but none of it ever evolves beyond that.
  6. XGN
    Dec 4, 2013
    55
    How To Survive is a great game, on paper. With too little challenge and some stupid characters, it doesn’t get to its full potential. A shame, because EKO Software could have made a great zombie game with this.
  7. Metro GameCentral
    Oct 25, 2013
    30
    Surviving zombies is fairly easy but the real enemy here is tedium and a shopping list of design mistakes that makes this one of the worst zombie games of the year.

See all 18 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 4 out of 6
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 6
  3. Negative: 1 out of 6
  1. dabeast6
    Nov 23, 2013
    10
    i like the game. But the "boomers" are to over powered and they should spawn less. But good game. The fps is kinda low tho. The phicks arei like the game. But the "boomers" are to over powered and they should spawn less. But good game. The fps is kinda low tho. The phicks are good but bad at the same time. Again good game..… Expand
  2. OGALOTRANQUILAO
    Mar 3, 2019
    10
    concept:
    How to survive is a survival horror game with RPG elements, in the game we can aim, hit, shoot, run and finish.
    story: the story    concept:
    How to survive is a survival horror game with RPG elements, in the game we can aim, hit, shoot, run and finish.
    story:
    the story is that on a boat far from inhabited land, shipwrecked leaving only three survivors, abby, jack and kenji they stop on an island probably in Europe, on this island there were zombies like a plague, those who seem to have come for black magic since there are no inhabitants on the island, but many cemeteries.
    zombies:
    There are several types of normal zombies, runners, giraffes, very tall and tough zombies, big boys are fat and explode when hit, zombie ostriches, deer zombies and tanks are immense strong and sturdier, slower to compensate for stones or corpses.
    characters:
    the most memorable of them is the kovac is not playable, does not change the fact that he is crazy, friend, companion and teacher
    Jack is the strong one that he has attacks that attract enough life His tree of skills is based on melee attacks Kenji is a persongen focused on abilities with blades and silent weapons like bow and abby crosbow is balanced has of the two so I recommend it from start
    Worth it?:
    yes, it's a fun, cheap game with a great offline cooperative, several things to do, the most well done replay factor I've ever seen with ironman mode and challenge, more excuses I can not tell if online mode is good because I did not play, but I imagine it's a lot of fun    … Expand
  4. HiroKitsune
    Dec 8, 2013
    9
    For starters, the game is only a 15$ price tag, and that being said, it is worth that 15$.
    It is a simplistic twin-stick zombie survival game    For starters, the game is only a 15$ price tag, and that being said, it is worth that 15$.
    It is a simplistic twin-stick zombie survival game with a neat little crafting system and great local co-op. It could probably get more praise if they did the co-op over xbox live, but it is still good fun in the end.
    The story takes more of a backseat as you find the real fun comes from the survival elements amd crafting. While it is simple, it never claimed to be anything more and I think 505 delivered exactly what they wanted. It could do with a few minor tweaks like the online co-op, controller re-mapping, and better checkpoints (no clear way to tell when it is safe to quit) Overall I think this game is deserving of a decent score do to the fact that it is well targeted towards casual gamers, and uses it's elements well. I see a tiny bit of replay value with the ironman and challenge modes, but the story is short and forgettable. It is deserving of it's price tag and I recommend you check it out if you want a fun casual survival experience or a really good co-op fling if you are having a friend over.    … Expand
  5. Deadlysheep
    Oct 24, 2013
    8
    I Played this game for 4 hours now. There are some nice things, like crafting, skills, and i love this need to drink, sleep, eat, and ofc.I Played this game for 4 hours now. There are some nice things, like crafting, skills, and i love this need to drink, sleep, eat, and ofc. have live. There could be added one more need, which is having heat, by staying at fires.

    I know a competitive game, it was a mod on a strategy game the map was called "island troll tribes", whats what i miss on how to survive:

    - crafting system need to be 5 times bigger
    - something like a storage box would be nice, my inventory is full since island 2 ...
    - crafting fires and tents would be nice, and this items should not already exist in the environment
    - more different items (I would say 500 different items would be perfect)
    - experimental crafting for example mixing different mushrooms with different effects... (but then, many more mushrooms needed)
    - it would be nice to have a much bigger skill tree
    - it would be nice to have a 4v4 "mini game", where you need to find stuff, get levels and skills, build a base, defend the base and attack the enemy base, ofc. zombies should not be missed.

    What do i like:
    - the idea of the game is good, i was waiting for a game like this since i played island troll tribes the first time.
    - i really liked the movie-clips
    - i hope for someone who make all my ideas and maybe some more... happen!

    and why i am scoring so high:
    - i had to laugh many times, i like the humor of the game
    - its worth to play

    (sorry for my English or mistakes, its not my main language)    … Expand
  6. TheTastyPotato
    Nov 1, 2013
    7
    Good game...but it can be more. I like survival games a lot! And this game let you to go however you want (open world can I say). It's a greatGood game...but it can be more. I like survival games a lot! And this game let you to go however you want (open world can I say). It's a great game...hmmm...not really. If they make a sequel or a remake or another company to do something like this game with a lot of posibilities and more creative would be great. Nice things but the game was made in haste.… Expand
  7. NorthEndNinja
    Oct 28, 2013
    1
    The only point this game gets is for what they tried to achieve. The game is terribly linear, has horrible animations, and bad sounds andThe only point this game gets is for what they tried to achieve. The game is terribly linear, has horrible animations, and bad sounds and voice overs. The graphics are sub par. Now I know people are going to use the "but it's only $10" argument, but it's not really an excuse for a bad game. I have many games that are cheaper in price, but are far superior in quality.

    Plus the developers and their forum cheerleaders are not very nice when you cordially express in your own opinion that the game is lackluster. They banned me from the Steam forums for "Flaming" when in fact I was the one being flamed and harassed and just defending my point of view. I never even resorted to name calling, like the assailants did to me.

    I would not suggest this game to anyone but my worst enemy. It's comparable the whole WarZ debacle. A complete NO GO.    … Expand

Trailers

Awards & Rankings

95
#95 Most Shared Xbox 360 Game of 2013