Pacific Drive stands out as an innovative survival game centered on vehicular gameplay. What sets it apart is the necessity of manually performing tasks—like turning the key to start your car—that are often automated in other titles. This seemingly mundane action becomes engaging within the context of the game.
The objective is to navigate a treacherous zone filled with bizarre anomalies that pose threats, with your car being both your shield and vehicle of exploration. You must scavenge for scrap to repair and enhance your vehicle, enabling you to venture deeper into the hazardous environment.
While unique in its execution, Pacific Drive shares core mechanics with several other games that focus on crafting, inventory management under pressure, and vehicle maintenance. If you appreciate these elements, you might find satisfaction in the following titles.
10 Dredge
Is This The Pacific?
Dredge features gameplay that closely mirrors Pacific Drive, yet operates within distinct parameters. Instead of a car, players control a fishing boat, dredging up materials from the depths of the sea rather than scavenging on land.
This game simplifies vehicle operation, offering a more arcade-like experience compared to the simulation of Pacific Drive. Both titles require you to embark on loot runs, gathering resources to enhance your vessel and explore increasingly perilous areas, supported by a similar inventory system. Each game immerses you in a mysterious narrative that fuels your desire to uncover more about the world.
9 My Summer Car
Some Assembly Required
In My Summer Car, players engage in a hands-on experience of assembling a vehicle, similar to Pacific Drive but with added complexity and humor. The game introduces elements that can frustrate players, like the need to manage bodily functions, adding a whimsical twist to the challenges of car repair.
Unlike the straightforward upgrades in Pacific Drive, you’ll need to handle numerous components for your engine assembly—pistons, head gaskets, and more. The depth of this game makes it a unique experience, requiring players to become familiar with detailed mechanics and perhaps consult guides along the way.
8 Fallout 76
One Man’s Trash…
Crafting from junk takes center stage in Fallout 76, which expands upon the crafting mechanics introduced in Fallout 4. This time, players put to use all the clutter found throughout the game, transforming what was once mere inventory weight into valuable crafting materials.
Not only can players create superior weapons and armor with these resources, but they can also build and fortify their bases, which, while lacking the mobility of a vehicle, still require careful management to fend off enemies during crafting sessions. Hoarding is no longer just a quirk; it’s an essential game strategy.
7 Escape From Tarkov
Do I Really Need Toilet Paper?
Although inventory management may seem mundane, it transforms into an exhilarating challenge in Escape From Tarkov. This extraction shooter places players in high-stakes situations where loot collections depend on survival against hostile NPCs and players alike. One misstep could lead to losing everything you’ve collected.
The tension mounted by potentially losing hard-earned loot creates a gripping experience that parallels the more relaxed pace of Pacific Drive but amplifies the urgency and stakes significantly.
6 Mad Max
The Magnum Opus
The Mad Max game harnesses the connection between survival and vehicular necessity, embodying an urgency akin to Pacific Drive. Players traverse a post-apocalyptic wasteland where mobility is crucial for survival, especially against hazards like War Boys and scavenging enemies.
While Max boasts combat skills, his car, the Magnum Opus, remains essential. With the ability to upgrade your vehicle for enhanced performance, you’ll find a vehicle-centric progression that mirrors the survival mechanics found in Pacific Drive, albeit with less intricate crafting.
5 Raft
Where Does It Keep Coming From?
In Raft, players focus on survival by upgrading a floating base using debris from the ocean. The game uses a plastic hook to gather materials like wood, plastic, and barrels, facilitating the construction of essential survival items such as kilns and water purifiers.
The game features a shark that stalks the player’s raft, adding a layer of challenge to the gathering process. While less intense than combat scenarios found in Pacific Drive, the laid-back nature of Raft can be quite appealing.
4 Starfield
A Mobile Home
Starfield, despite some criticisms, excels in its vehicle customization, allowing players to craft a personalized spaceship functioning as a mobile base. The various modules you can assemble each provide distinct advantages, making your ship as versatile as a home on the go.
From habitable modules that house crafting stations to cargo modules that expand storage, this system shares a resemblance with the vehicle upgrades in Pacific Drive, fostering a similar exploration-driven gameplay experience.
3 Dave The Diver
I Have To Go Back Already?
Dave The Diver parallels Pacific Drive through its core mechanic of timed runs—replacing loot runs with diving expeditions. Players must gather resources during limited dives by day and manage a sushi restaurant by night, emphasizing strategic inventory decisions.
The game also reveals mysteries surrounding the underwater environment, adding layers to the narrative that keeps players engaged.
2 Jalopy
Will It Make It?
Jalopy is a driving simulation game where players aim to navigate Eastern Europe with a car that deteriorates as you drive. Frequent repairs are necessary, offering a hands-on experience somewhat similar to Pacific Drive.
This light-hearted take on vehicular management makes it an inviting alternative, devoid of the harsh threats found in Pacific Drive, allowing players to enjoy serene drives while still needing to be cautious of the traffic.
1 Subnautica
Deep Mechanics
If you’re looking for a game rich in depth, both literally and figuratively, Subnautica fits the bill. Set in a vast alien ocean, players must dive to gather resources essential for survival and crafting.
Similar to the vehicle mechanics of Pacific Drive, submarines in Subnautica act as mobile bases that protect you from dangerous sea creatures while you extract necessary materials for upgrades and maintenance.
Though the repair mechanics may not be as detailed as those in Pacific Drive, you will still engage in essential maintenance tasks, ensuring a diverse and immersive gameplay experience.
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