There’s something about British Columbia. Maybe it’s the cinematic landscapes, maybe it’s the creative independence. Either way, it seems to lend itself to the art of survival — not just in the wilderness, but on-screen, in pixels. Two standout studios from the province, Hinterland Studio and Klei Entertainment have helped redefine the survival game genre, and the world is taking notice.
Vancouver’s Hinterland Studio recently earned a spot on Game Rant’s list of the most influential survival games with The Long Dark, a title that redefined what survival can look like in a quiet apocalypse. Last year, Klei’s Don’t Starve received the same honour. In a genre often defined by familiar loops, exploring, crafting, and base-building, both of these games managed to do something distinct and enduring.
The Long Dark, Hinterland Studio
The Long Dark: Quiet, Harsh, and Unforgettable
The Long Dark is a thoughtful, exploration-survival experience that challenges solo players to think for themselves as they explore an expansive frozen wilderness in the aftermath of a geomagnetic disaster. There are no zombies — only you, the cold, and all the threats Mother Nature can muster.
Don’t Starve, Klei Entertainment
Don’t Starve: Dark, Clever, and Creatively Brutal
Don’t Starve is an uncompromising wilderness survival game full of science and magic. Enter a strange and unexplored world full of strange creatures, dangers, and surprises. Gather resources to craft items and structures that match your survival style.
The creative fingerprints of The Long Dark and Don’t Starve point to something larger happening in British Columbia: a quietly confident game development scene that prizes originality over formula. This is a place where studios are small enough to take risks, yet skilled enough to shape global trends — and where survival games, often seen as a niche, become vessels for artistry and storytelling.
