Cataclysm dark days ahead is to zombie survival what doom is to demon shooting or monster hunter is to monster hunting. Project zomboid? Can't even play that garbage now. Cataclysm actually gives you the reigns. Out in the wild? Use the very deep crafting system to go from practically neolithic to the iron age out of a cabin you found . Not strong enough to take on dozens of zombies you've attracted raiding a city? Climb a drain pipe and run across the roof tops. Tired of living out of a run down cabin you found? Build an in depth base with it's own power grid or build your own car. Or train.

Rain world is one of the best games ever, reaching the highest point in that game is an experience everyone should feel.

Lunacid is an old school dungeon crawler with vibes that are completely immaculate.

Kenshi is a genre all it's own. Be a wuxia style master of whatever style of combat you like most (I'm partial to martial arts and punching off limbs), build up your base, create an army, and go to war against the holy nation.

Cassette Beasts is a monster tamer that is full of charm, had the best soundtrack of any game last year, and had great gameplay to boot. Comparing it to Pokemon (because duh), the type match ups matter so much more due to a reactive system that can change up gameplay instead of just altering damage. the fact that it went unnoticed last year is a crime!