We Love It's Guide to…
Scavenge a hostile island, craft gear and build a base, then cooperate with or fight other survivors for resources.
Released 08 Feb 2018
Build and Raid Bases
Trade or Hunt Survivors
Wire Up Your Base
The only aim in Rust is to survive. Everything wants you to die - the island’s wildlife, other inhabitants, the environment, and other survivors. Do whatever it takes to last another night.
Developed by Facepunch Studios · Published by Facepunch Studios









You begin on an island with little more than a rock and a torch. Gather materials, find food and water, manage exposure to heat and cold, and watch for wildlife and other survivors as you explore abandoned settlements and monuments.
Craft tools, weapons, and armor, then build a base to shelter yourself, store loot, and defend your territory. Research a tech tree and develop systems such as farming, electricity, and automation to support your progress.
The island is shared with other players, who can become allies, trading partners, or opponents. Travel by vehicles, cooperate to build a settlement, or raid rival bases; gathered resources and constructed defenses can be lost in these encounters.
Players who praise Rust often describe its high-stakes tension: resources and loot matter because they can be lost, while winning a difficult fight, defending a base, or completing a raid feels rewarding. Reviews also enjoy the unpredictable encounters and stories that emerge from cooperation, conflict, and betrayal. Many reviewers also stress that the same risks can make the game demanding, especially when bases are raided while players are away.
The only aim in Rust is to survive. Everything wants you to die - the island’s wildlife, other inhabitants, the environment, and other survivors. Do whatever it takes to last another night.
Rust now enters its 13th year of continued expansion and has had over 395 content updates, with a guaranteed content patch every month. These include regular balance fixes, improvements to AI, and graphics, as well as updates to environments and the frequent addition of content such as new maps, more weapons, extra vehicles, and a plethora of utility items. Keep an eye out for regular seasonal events, as there’s always something interesting or dangerous (or both) happening on the island.
Updates to the game include:
Procedurally generated worlds with community map editor support
Host your own servers and with server-side modding support
Transportation: horses, modular cars, hot air balloons, helicopters, bikes, trains, boats, and more
Base Building and Raiding
New factions, enemies, and wildlife
Advanced underwater areas to discover
Complex electrical, farming, and automation systems
New monuments, terrain, and areas to explore
Large overground and underground train networks
Musical instruments and the ability to perform to players
Massive recent graphics upgrade and environment overhaul
Primitive game mode, siege weapons, and vehicles added
New Jungle biome with more wild animals, missions, and monuments
2026 New addition: Modular boats, the deep sea, tropical islands, floating cities, and more!
And much more to come throughout the year, including an update to the player’s character model, an apartment complex monument, more animals, and upgrades to the caves and tunnels !

You wake naked on a mysterious island, armed only with a rock and a torch. You’ll need to brave environmental dangers and deficiencies (from heat and cold to thirst and starvation), build a shelter, eat (or be eaten), and scavenge materials. Explore the island and its abandoned settlements, mysterious monuments, and the factions that occupy them.
But, above all, watch out for other survivors…

Design and build bases to store your loot, defend your territory, and control the resources of the island. Research the tech tree, grow farms, command electricity, and commandeer various forms of transportation to traverse the island. Whatever it takes to get ahead.

There are no rules in Rust but the ones you make for yourself. Craft tools, armour, and weapons to defend yourself. Cooperate with friends, make alliances, and build a settlement together. Explore the island and what’s happening in it, trade with other players, or prey on them, raiding their bases and taking their hard-won goods.

| Platforms | Windows, macOS |
|---|---|
| Achievements | 116 |
| Age ratings |
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| Players | From 1 (maximum not specified) |
| Play modes |
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| Other modes |
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| Multiplayer | Rust is an online multiplayer survival game played on servers with other players. It supports both cooperative and competitive play: players can survive alone, team up with friends, form alliances or clans, and fight other players. The store page lists Online PvP, Online Co-op, Cross-Platform Multiplayer, MMO, Steam Workshop, and server hosting with server-side modding support. Reviews describe servers with up to several hundred players, community and official servers, group-limited servers such as solo/duo/trio, and monthly force wipes. |
| Multiplayer & mods | The description states players can host their own servers and use server-side modding support, with community map editor support. Steam features include Steam Workshop. Reviews mention many community servers, modded PvE servers, and server rulesets such as solo/duo/trio limits. |
| Controller required | No |
| DLC / extras | 5 listed on Steam |
| DRM / EULA |
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| Content notices |
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| Metacritic | 69/100 View on Metacritic |
| Website | Official website |