Grounded is the best PS5 starting point for players searching for an Aloft-like co-op sandbox today, while ARK: Survival Ascended and 7 Days to Die are the closest immediate matches for Conan Exiles’ harsher building-and-threat loop. The games named in the question are both waitlist titles on console: Aloft is planned for PS5 in early 2027 as its complete 1.0 release, and Conan Exiles Enhanced is planned for PS5 and Xbox Series X|S in early 2027 as a free upgrade for existing console owners. Neither has an exact date, PS5 price, or announced physical disc yet. This guide separates the cozy floating-island fantasy from the brutal Hyborian sandbox, then shows what you can play now and what to watch for before upgrading.
At a glance
| Name | Best for | Key spec | Free plan / price | Platforms | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aloft | Cozy creative co-op and skyship building | Floating islands become flying ships; solo or groups of up to 8 | PS5 price not announced; new purchase | PS5 (early 2027); PC Early Access | Oct 2026 |
| Conan Exiles Enhanced | Brutal fortress building, thralls and PvP-capable servers | Unreal Engine 5 upgrade; Exiled Lands and Isle of Siptah travel on one character/server | Free upgrade for existing PlayStation owners; price for new buyers not announced | PS5 and Xbox Series X|S (early 2027); Legacy on current consoles; PC Enhanced | Oct 2026 |
| Grounded | Best first survival game and closest cozy substitute | Colorful four-player co-op with hunger, thirst and base defense | Price not stated | Native PS5 | Oct 2026 |
| Abiotic Factor | Co-op survival with a humorous science-fiction setting | Facility exploration, crafting and base defense for a crew | Price not stated | Native PS5 (2025) | Oct 2026 |
| No Man’s Sky | Gentler survival at galactic scale | Resource, hazard and life-support management across a vast universe | Price not stated | Native PS5 | Oct 2026 |
| ARK: Survival Ascended | Conan-style taming, building and environmental danger | Creature taming, large bases and a demanding progression loop | Price not stated | PS5 | Oct 2026 |
| 7 Days to Die | Fortifying against predictable horde attacks | Scavenge and build before the Blood Moon | Price not stated | PS5 | Oct 2026 |
| Dune: Awakening | A live Funcom survival MMO already on PS5 | Heat, scarcity, sandworms and an online-world structure | Price not stated | Native PS5 | Oct 2026 |
| V Rising | Castle building with action combat | Sunlight is a survival clock; construct and defend a vampire castle | Price not stated | Native PS5 | Oct 2026 |
| Subnautica | Atmospheric solo exploration | Oxygen management and underwater base construction | Price not stated | Native PS5 | Oct 2026 |
When are Aloft and Conan Exiles Enhanced coming to PS5?
Both games are targeting early 2027, but Funcom has not published a month, day, PS5 price or physical-edition information. The 27 October 2026 PlayStation Blog announcement says, “We’re excited to bring two more of our open-world survival adventures to PlayStation 5 in early 2027,” and adds that release dates and more details will come later. Both games can be wishlisted on PlayStation Store.
They are not two versions of the same idea. Aloft is a colorful, restoration-focused co-op sandbox in which islands become airships. Conan Exiles Enhanced is a severe Hyborian-world survival sandbox built around fortresses, thralls, server communities and optional PvP. Choose the former for creative cooperation and the latter for pressure, conflict and long-term server life.
What is Aloft on PS5?
Aloft is Astrolabe Interactive Inc.’s floating-island survival game, published by Funcom. Its PC version has been in Steam Early Access since 15 January 2025; the PS5 launch is planned to coincide with the complete 1.0 release in early 2027 rather than shipping as an unfinished console port.
How does Aloft’s survival loop work?
The central trick is that any island can become a flying ship. You place a helm, rudder and sails, turn the island into a mobile home, farm on it and carry your base through the skies. Gliding links islands together, while wildlife care, crafting and ecosystem restoration provide goals beyond simply staying alive. Fungus has corrupted parts of the world, so curing that corruption is a major progression thread.
Storms and combat create danger, but the design is intentionally forgiving. The Steam description calls it “a feel-good, cozy survival game set in the clouds, where you can transform any island into a flying ship and explore the vast skies.” It also says the game’s survival is “more about rewarding positive action than punishing mistakes.” That makes Aloft a better fit for players who dislike permadeath-style punishment or constant PvP pressure.
What content is included at the PS5 launch?
The console edition is scheduled to include every Early Access update plus the 1.0 stories, new content and systemic improvements. Five major content updates during Aloft’s PC Early Access — Funcom / PlayStation Blog, 2026 — added wildlife, puzzles, combat improvements, glider customization and expanded exploration. The launch package is therefore the complete game as described by the studio, not a reduced first chapter.
Its development took six years, from a small group of friends to Astrolabe Interactive — PlayStation Blog, 2026. The team says, “Launching the complete game on PS5 marks an exciting new chapter for us. Aloft has always been a passion project fueled by the unwavering support and love of our community. Reaching this milestone is incredibly exciting, as this will mark a new era for the game – we really hope you will be part of our flight.”
Can you play Aloft solo or in co-op?
Yes. Aloft supports solo play, private joining and public lobbies, with groups of up to 8 players (you plus up to 7 other players). The announced information does not confirm the PS5 player cap beyond that PC store-page figure, nor does it confirm cross-play with PC, cross-save with Steam or DualSense-specific features.
How much will Aloft cost, and will there be a disc?
There is no announced PS5 MSRP, physical disc, Steelbook or collector edition. Steam’s Early Access page says the price will likely increase for the 1.0 release, but that statement concerns the PC version and is not a PS5 price. Until a retailer lists a console SKU, treat Aloft on PS5 as a digital-pending release and do not assume Steam progress will transfer.
For context only, 84% of 1,978 English user reviews rated Aloft Very Positive — Steam, 2026 (page accessed 30 October 2026). Among 27 reviews posted in the last 30 days, 70% rated it Mostly Positive — Steam, 2026. Those are user-review snapshots, not a PS5 score or a forecast of the final console reception.
What is Conan Exiles Enhanced on PS5?
Conan Exiles Enhanced is the current-generation edition of Funcom’s long-running survival sandbox. The original game launched on 8 May 2018. Funcom’s PC Enhanced update arrived as a free Steam update in May 2026; the console release is planned for early 2027 on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S.
What changes in the Enhanced edition?
The PC version moves the game to Unreal Engine 5 with Lumen Global Illumination, Nanite Geometry and Virtual Shadow Maps. Officially cited improvements include foliage, water, lighting, ground materials, armor and building pieces, plus a redesigned interface and quality-of-life systems. The PC client was trimmed to 68GB from 120GB — Funcom Enhanced FAQ, 2026.
Enhanced also lets one character and server move more seamlessly between the Exiled Lands and Isle of Siptah, provides three single-player/co-op save slots, supports crafting and building from storage, and includes other interface revisions. Isle of Siptah remains a separate purchase. On console, the Giant-Kings story arc is planned for the Enhanced launch. Part Three of Legacy of the Giant-Kings is dated 10 November 2026 on PC; that PC date is not a confirmed PS5 patch date.
The tone is much harsher than Aloft. Robert E. Howard’s A Witch Shall Be Born describes people who are “… not all men seek rest and peace; some are born with the spirit of the storm in their blood, restless harbingers of violence and bloodshed …” The quotation is story-world tone, not a Funcom gameplay statistic, but it captures Conan’s emphasis on danger, conquest and hard-won territory.
Is Conan Exiles Enhanced free on PS5?
Existing PlayStation owners receive the Enhanced version for free. Buying the PS4 or PS5 version grants access to both generations’ versions, so a new buyer does not need to purchase separate PS4 and PS5 copies. The announcement does not state a new-buy price for the Enhanced console edition.
Scott Junior, Funcom’s CEO, said: “We’ve heard loud and clear from our console community that they want to experience the Enhanced version of Conan Exiles. We’re very happy to finally confirm that it’s on the way, and we can’t wait for players on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S to experience the Exiled Lands at their best.” Funcom also says it plans to support Enhanced with new content across platforms throughout 2027 and beyond.
Will Conan Exiles Enhanced have cross-play?
Full cross-play is planned soon after launch, not guaranteed for day one. The final platform matrix and exact go-live date have not been announced, so do not buy the console version on the assumption that PC, PlayStation and Xbox players will share servers immediately.
What are the best Aloft-like survival games on PS5 right now?
For the floating-island game’s combination of friendly tone, building and co-op, start with Grounded. Abiotic Factor is the stronger alternative for a joking science-fiction crew, while No Man’s Sky scales the same gentler resource loop to an entire galaxy.
1. Grounded — best first survival game
Grounded shrinks players to backyard scale and combines colorful exploration with real hunger, thirst and base-defense decisions. It supports co-op with up to three friends, giving a smaller, easier-to-organize group than Aloft’s announced eight-player ceiling. Its onboarding is unusually clear for the genre, which is why Games Genie named it “Best for newcomers to the genre” and rated it 88% in its 5 September 2026 list.
It is a native PS5 release, so it avoids the uncertainty of older PS4-only survival games. If you want a physical purchase while waiting for Aloft, an honest current search path is the standard Grounded PS5 product listing; no Aloft disc has been announced.
2. Abiotic Factor — best for a crew that wants humor
Abiotic Factor moves survival into a beleaguered science facility. The loop is still gathering, crafting, defending a base and pushing into dangerous areas, but its jokes and laboratory setting make it less grim than Conan. Games Genie rated it 84% and called it “Best for co-op survival with a crew.” It arrived natively on PS5 in 2025 and is the most direct current choice for a group that wants shared objectives without a medieval or prehistoric setting.
3. No Man’s Sky — best for a softer, enormous sandbox
No Man’s Sky uses resource gathering, environmental hazards and life-support management, but its survival pressure is gentler than Conan’s. The reward is scale: planets, bases and long-distance exploration rather than one contested fortress. Games Genie rated it 86%, and the PS5 version is native.
4. Minecraft — the flexible honorable mention
Minecraft offers the cleanest survival foundation: gather materials, craft shelter and decide how much danger to enable. Its optional pressure makes it approachable for new players, while the building system can absorb hundreds of hours. It is widely available on PS5, but it does not impose the same guided restoration arc Aloft promises.
What are the best Conan-like survival games on PS5 right now?
ARK: Survival Ascended is the closest substitute for Conan’s taming, construction and environmental threat. 7 Days to Die is better if a predictable siege night is the main attraction. Dune: Awakening is the choice for a living Funcom online world, and V Rising compresses fortress management into a sharper action game.
1. ARK: Survival Ascended — best for taming and huge bases
ARK combines creature taming, resource scarcity, environmental threats and sprawling construction. Like Conan, it can be played as a private server project or as a long-term multiplayer commitment, and progression can become a substantial time investment. Games Genie listed it as an honorable mention at 81%. It is a current-generation PS5 survival analogue; physical PS5 copies are a standard retail option.
2. 7 Days to Die — best for scheduled sieges
7 Days to Die gives every week a clear defensive deadline: scavenge by day, fortify your position and survive the Blood Moon horde. That rhythm makes base design immediately meaningful. Games Genie rated it 84%. The PS5 build remains rougher than the PC version according to the cited list, so players should expect more technical friction than in a polished first-party-style sandbox.
3. Dune: Awakening — best live Funcom alternative
Dune: Awakening is already on PS5 as of Funcom’s 27 October 2026 announcement. It combines heat management, scarcity, sandworms and an MMO-shaped online structure, making it the most relevant way to sample Funcom’s current survival direction before Conan Enhanced arrives. It is a native PS5 release and was an 83% honorable mention in Games Genie’s 2026 list.
4. V Rising — best castle-and-combat hybrid
V Rising turns survival into vampire territory control. Sunlight is a literal survival clock, while castle construction, crafting and action combat give every expedition a clear purpose. Games Genie rated it 84%; the PS5 release is native. It has less of Conan’s open desert wandering but a similarly strong sense of building a power base.
Which solo survival games set the quality bar?
If co-op is optional rather than essential, Subnautica is the strongest atmospheric recommendation. The Long Dark and Green Hell are harsher wilderness tests, while Pacific Drive offers a distinctive road-trip structure instead of a conventional settlement sandbox.
Subnautica — best atmospheric solo exploration
Games Genie ranked Subnautica first at 91% and named it “Best for atmospheric solo exploration.” Oxygen is the central threat: every dive, blueprint and base module is measured against the possibility of drowning. Its native PS5 version makes it a strong technical-generation choice even though it is neither an Aloft-style co-op game nor a Conan-style fortress MMO.
The Long Dark — best hardcore wilderness
The Long Dark earned 89% and focuses on cold, supplies and route planning. Its Interloper difficulty is among the hardest survival experiences in the list. The PS5 edition is available through backward compatibility rather than as a native PS5 release.
Pacific Drive — best genuinely different loop
Pacific Drive earned 85% and was Games Genie’s “Best for something genuinely different.” Your vehicle is the moving shelter and workshop, so route selection, repairs and scavenging replace the usual fixed medieval base. It is native PS5 and is a better fit for a solo player seeking atmosphere than for a large co-op group.
Green Hell and Don’t Starve Together
Green Hell is a punishing jungle survival game, while Don’t Starve Together turns harsh systems into a stylized multiplayer challenge. Games Genie identifies both as backward-compatible titles rather than native PS5 releases. Green Hell and The Long Dark Interloper are the hardest choices in the cited recommendations.
Which games support co-op, and how many people can play?
The practical split is private group co-op versus persistent or competitive server play. Aloft’s announced group size is the largest among the clearly specified cozy options, while Grounded is easier for a four-person household or friend group.
| Game | Co-op model | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Aloft | Solo, private join and public lobbies; up to 8 players announced | Shared skyship, farming, restoration and exploration |
| Grounded | Up to three friends | Small-group exploration, hunger/thirst and base defense |
| Abiotic Factor | Co-op crew play | Facility crafting and defense with comedic science-fiction tone |
| 7 Days to Die | Co-op and server play | Joint scavenging and Blood Moon fortification |
| V Rising | Online co-op and PvP-capable servers | Shared castle building and action combat |
| No Man’s Sky | Online multiplayer | Exploration and bases across a large galaxy |
| Don’t Starve Together | Co-op survival | High-pressure systems through backward compatibility |
Conan Exiles Enhanced is designed for official servers, private servers and PvP-capable communities, but the final console cross-play matrix is still open. Aloft’s cross-play status is also unconfirmed, so neither title should be treated as a guaranteed cross-platform purchase yet.
Which survival games are native PS5 releases?
Native PS5 versions include Grounded, Abiotic Factor, No Man’s Sky, Pacific Drive, V Rising, Subnautica, Dune: Awakening, 7 Days to Die and ARK: Survival Ascended. The Long Dark, Don’t Starve Together and Green Hell are available through backward compatibility. Aloft and Conan Exiles Enhanced are announced PS5 releases for early 2027, not currently playable console versions.
| Generation status | Games |
|---|---|
| Native PS5 | Grounded; Abiotic Factor; No Man’s Sky; Pacific Drive; V Rising; Subnautica; Dune: Awakening; 7 Days to Die; ARK: Survival Ascended |
| Backward compatible | The Long Dark; Don’t Starve Together; Green Hell |
| Announced for early 2027 | Aloft; Conan Exiles Enhanced |
What should a new survival player start with?
Start with Grounded. Its colorful presentation, readable objectives, four-player co-op and forgiving onboarding teach hunger, thirst, crafting and defensive building without dropping a new player into Conan’s server politics or ARK’s sprawling systems.
- Choose Grounded if you want a guided first lesson and a small co-op group.
- Choose Abiotic Factor if your group prefers science-fiction humor and facility exploration.
- Choose Subnautica if you want to learn survival systems alone and value atmosphere over multiplayer.
- Choose ARK: Survival Ascended if you already know you want taming, large bases and a demanding long-term commitment.
- Wishlist Aloft if the appeal is specifically floating islands, ecosystem restoration and an eight-player skyship.
How do Conan Exiles players prepare for the Enhanced migration?
Conan’s upgrade is generous but not reversible in every case. Prepare your saves and purchases before loading Enhanced, especially if you own Isle of Siptah or still intend to use the Legacy Bazaar.
- Record your current characters and bases. Official Exiled Lands characters, followers and bases carry forward.
- Move or document Isle of Siptah possessions. Isle of Siptah bases cannot be preserved because integrating the island changed its physical coordinates.
- Spend Legacy Crom Coins before the cutover. After Enhanced launches, Crom Coins are no longer valid in Legacy and the Legacy Bazaar is disabled. Enhanced purchases do not apply back to Legacy.
- Back up single-player saves if your console allows it. A single-player save loaded in Enhanced cannot be reopened in Legacy. If you cannot copy the save file, that one-way change is permanent.
- Decide whether you still need Legacy. Legacy remains playable in single-player and private servers, but receives only critical-bug updates. It will have no new major content, Bazaar or official servers after the cutover.
- Check the server and edition you actually own. Isle of Siptah is still a separate purchase, and cross-play is planned only soon after launch rather than promised on day one.
Funcom’s older Enhanced FAQ still describes PlayStation and Xbox support as something under consideration. That wording predates the 27 October 2026 console announcement; use the current Funcom and PlayStation announcements for the release window and the older page only for the PC technical details and migration mechanics.
How should you choose between waiting and playing now?
Use the game’s social model and tone, not just the word “survival,” to make the decision.
| If you want… | Start with… | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Floating-island co-op immediately | Grounded, or Abiotic Factor for science-fiction humor | Both are playable native PS5 substitutes while Aloft remains unreleased |
| Conan’s fortress and PvP pressure now | ARK: Survival Ascended or 7 Days to Die | Both provide demanding building and multiplayer threat without waiting for Enhanced |
| A current Funcom survival MMO | Dune: Awakening | Already launched on PS5 with heat, scarcity and online-world systems |
| A solo atmospheric benchmark | Subnautica | Its oxygen and exploration loop is focused and native on PS5 |
| The exact announced experiences | Wishlist Aloft and/or Conan Exiles Enhanced | Both target early 2027; neither has an exact date or PS5 price yet |
How were these recommendations selected?
The list separates the two reference games by the decisions they ask players to make: Aloft-like games emphasize creative construction, gentle exploration and private co-op; Conan-like games emphasize scarcity, fortification, taming, server communities or PvP-capable threats. Availability was then separated into native PS5, backward-compatible and announced-for-2027 releases. Games Genie editorial scores from 5 September 2026 provide a quality signal for the current list, but they are that publication’s ratings rather than Metacritic, OpenCritic or laboratory results.
Games Genie scored Subnautica 91%, The Long Dark 89%, Grounded 88%, No Man’s Sky 86%, Pacific Drive 85%, Abiotic Factor 84%, 7 Days to Die 84%, V Rising 84%, Don’t Starve Together 83% and Green Hell 82%. Those figures describe the cited site’s editorial opinions and should not be read as platform-specific PS5 review averages.
Frequently Asked Questions
When can I wishlist Aloft on PS5?
Aloft is scheduled for an early 2027 PS5 debut, and the PlayStation Blog announcement directs players to wishlist it on PlayStation Store now. The listing does not establish a release day, final price or a boxed edition.
Will my Aloft Steam save carry over to PS5?
There is no confirmed Steam-to-PS5 cross-save feature. Treat the console version as a separate progression path until Astrolabe Interactive or Funcom publishes a specific transfer system.
Can I keep an Isle of Siptah base in Conan Exiles Enhanced?
No. Funcom says Siptah bases cannot be preserved because combining the islands changed their physical coordinates. Exiled Lands characters, followers and bases do carry forward.
Does Conan Exiles Enhanced replace Legacy immediately?
Legacy remains playable in single-player and private servers after the cutover, but it receives only critical-bug updates. It loses official servers, new major content, Crom Coin validity and the Bazaar.
Are there physical PS5 copies of Aloft or Conan Exiles Enhanced?
No physical disc or collector SKU has been announced for either early-2027 release. Current physical buying options apply to available alternatives such as Grounded, ARK: Survival Ascended, 7 Days to Die and Subnautica.