PCGame

Don't Starve

Single-player wilderness survival in randomly generated worlds with permanent death

Klei Entertainment · Released Apr 23, 2013

AdventureIndieSimulation

Reviews
Overwhelmingly Positive
96% of 104K
Recent reviews
Very Positive
92% of 281 in 30 days
Players
1,468
daily peak, Nov 7, 2026
Steam Deck
Playable
Last update on Steam
3 years ago
Oct 26, 2023
Minimum PC
HD5450
0.5 GB disk
Full requirements

Metacritic: 79/100 (critic reviews)

What is Don't Starve?

A single-player survival sandbox set in a randomly generated wilderness of strange creatures and hazards. As Wilson, a scientist trapped there by a demon, you gather resources, craft tools and structures, hunt, farm, research, and fight while seeking a way home.

For you if...

  • +you enjoy open-ended gathering, crafting, and exploration
  • +you like harsh survival runs built around trial and error
  • +you prefer planning ahead over constant combat

Not for you if...

  • −you want multiplayer survival
  • −you dislike losing a run after one mistake

What players say

96% of 104,219 reviews are positive · 92% of 281 in the last 30 days

Players praise the sketch-like art, odd creature designs, and day-to-day rhythm of collecting resources and planning ahead. Their most common complaint is the lack of in-game explanation, which often sends them to outside guides. Several also say the game feels dated beside Don't Starve Together, citing less content and a clunkier crafting menu.

Players over time

▲ +45% vs a month ago

Players online on Steam, one sample a day.

Highest since Sep 2026: 1,808 players on Oct 25, 2026.

Show the data
DayPlayers
Nov 7, 20261,468
Nov 6, 20261,188
Nov 5, 20261,265
Nov 4, 20261,285
Nov 3, 20261,283
Nov 2, 20261,282
Nov 1, 20261,788
Oct 31, 20261,630
Oct 30, 20261,289
Oct 29, 20261,298
Oct 28, 20261,287
Oct 27, 20261,588
Oct 27, 20261,314
Oct 26, 20261,363
Oct 25, 20261,808
Oct 24, 20261,209
Oct 23, 2026919
Oct 22, 20260
Oct 21, 2026752
Oct 20, 2026792
Oct 19, 2026842
Oct 18, 20261,067
Oct 17, 2026940
Oct 16, 2026806
Oct 15, 2026783
Oct 14, 2026787
Oct 13, 2026804
Oct 12, 2026791
Oct 11, 20261,088
Oct 10, 2026870
Oct 9, 2026839
Oct 8, 2026795
Oct 7, 2026971
Oct 6, 2026977
Oct 5, 20261,064
Oct 4, 20261,135
Oct 3, 20261,063
Oct 2, 2026939
Oct 1, 2026935
Sep 30, 2026785
Sep 29, 2026808
Sep 28, 2026794
Sep 27, 20261,045
Sep 26, 2026958
Sep 25, 2026968
Sep 24, 2026769
Sep 23, 20261,268
Sep 23, 2026637
Sep 22, 2026635
Sep 21, 2026821

Screenshots and trailer

Don't Starve screenshot 1

Don't Starve system requirements

Minimum: HD5450, 0.5 GB of disk space.

As published by the developer.

Can my PC run Don't Starve?

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Minimum

OS
Windows XP/Vista/Windows 7/Windows 8
Processor
1.7+ GHz or better
Graphics
Radeon HD5450 or better; 256 MB or higher
Memory
1+ gigs of RAM GB RAM
Storage
500 MB HD space

Does Don't Starve have co-op or multiplayer?

No: single-player only, no multiplayer modes declared.

Does Don't Starve run on Steam Deck?

Playable Playable: it runs on Steam Deck with some adjustments.

  • Default controller config not fully functional
  • Sometimes shows mouse, keyboard or non-Deck controller icons
  • Some text entry requires manually opening the on-screen keyboard
  • The native resolution is not the default one
  • In-game text is legible on Steam Deck
  • Default graphics settings perform well on Steam Deck
  • External controllers are not supported for the primary player

PC version details

DRM
None declared on Steam
Controller
Full controller support
Platforms
Windows, macOS, Linux
Steam features
Workshop, Cloud saves, Family Sharing, Trading cards
Languages
Full audio: English, Simplified Chinese.

Does Don't Starve use AI-generated content?

No AI-generated content is disclosed on the game's Steam page.

Self-reported by the developer under Steam rules: it covers AI content that ships in the game, not tools used to make it. Steam page checked on Nov 6, 2026. How to filter AI games on Steam

Tags

Recent updates

4 DLC available.

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