DayZ
Games like State of Decay 2
State of Decay 2 doubles down on the survival mechanics that the first one held near and dear to its heart. Players must constantly scavenge and manage resources and bring them back to base. There’s a finite limit to what you can carry, so there’s a perpetual balance between movement speed and loot reward. DayZ is another game which holds this strict survival mentality in high regard. The game is incredibly brutal, with one wrong move often meaning certain death. It’s a gritty, grounded zombie game set in a sprawling open world.
DayZ has been in Early Access since 2013 and has since seen a slew of great features and tweaks to the gameplay. It’s a little rough around the edges, something which will no doubt feel right at home for State of Decay players, but does manage to capture just how compelling survival mechanics are when implemented correctly.