A living world full of surprises, secrets and danger awaits in The Survivalists, an adventure-filled survival sandbox set in The Escapists universe. Explore, build, craft and even train monkeys with up to three friends in a desperate bid to survive. Have you got what it takes to be a Survivalist...?

The Survivalists is a retro '90s looking game that is a lot of fun. Waking up on a deserted island, you'll quickly have to learn how to survive. You'll need to craft crude tools and weapons to chop down trees and rocks and keep beasties at bay. Gather and cook food at your campfire and explore your surroundings for useful items.

On your travels you'll find the local inhabitants; monkeys who can be trained to carry out many of your tasks. They are eager to learn and mimic you, and can be useful allies left to chop down trees or rocks, gather harvested items, crafting items at your workbench, or help you in battle.

Threats come in the guise of tribes on the island that will attack you on sight, armies that visit your shores as they are passing, and all manner of wildlife roaming the undergrowth and island's caves.

The first task is build yourself a place to sleep. Once you've crafted your bed you can save the game at any time. Next you'll be shown how to fashion rudimentary tools and weapons. As you progress through the game you'll be able to craft stronger weapons and tools (not to mention a more comfortable bed). When going to bed you have the choice of sleeping, saving or sleeping and saving. Saving, obviously saves your game so that you can pick up the action again at the same point later, while sleeping allows the island to rejuvenate (some of the trees, rocks, plants etc grow back).

As you wander around the island you'll occasional spot shells, pick these up and you'll either be given a game hit or a treasure map (with will lead you to one of the island's many secrets). Get quests from a Mysterious Stranger or find them washed up on the shore. Prepare to trek into a procedurally generated wilderness, with a variety of biomes, for an adventure that’s unique to every player.

There are temples, crashed vehicles and all manner of surprises awaiting you on your journey. And you don't have to play alone. Complete joint adventures, gain loot, trade and ultimately survive together and as you and up to three fellow castaways explore fantastical islands.

If you die then you drop all of the items you are carrying, ready to be picked up once you respawn and pass by the spot again. You can save the game by sleeping on any the beds you've made and dotted around the island. Storage is also available in the form of chests that you can craft and then leave wherever you fancy. You can even pick up a full chest and transport it elsewhere.

Despite it's retro look and feel, The Survivalists is a wonderfully modern game that keeps on rewarding you the more you play it.

8

Darren Rea