RAFT by Axolot Games

A cooperative survival game developed by Redbeet Interactive and published by Axolot Games. It takes the familiar survival formula and drops it into the middle of an endless ocean, where your only safe ground is a small floating raft and your biggest enemy is the sea itself. What starts as a few wooden planks quickly turns into a moving home, a research station, and sometimes a chaotic mess of bad decisions.

As a community, Raft stands out because it shines brightest when played together. It is not about individual skill alone, but about teamwork, planning, and adapting when things go wrong.

Our Experience

From the first minutes, Raft pulls you into a steady rhythm. Someone is always collecting debris, someone else is managing food and water, and someone is usually yelling about the shark. Progress feels gradual but rewarding, especially when the raft starts to grow from a fragile platform into a multi-level floating base.

Raft has a surprisingly strong sense of atmosphere. Calm ocean moments make you feel safe, while storms, limited resources, and story locations remind you how vulnerable you really are. Playing together amplifies everything. Success feels shared, and mistakes are immediately noticeable.

Gameplay and Survival System

Raft focuses on core survival mechanics without overwhelming the player.

Gathering resources by hooking debris from the ocean

Managing hunger, thirst, and health

Crafting tools, weapons, and survival equipment

Expanding and upgrading the raft over time

Defending the raft from constant threats

Food and water management are always present, especially in the early game. Later on, automation and upgrades make survival easier, which allows the group to focus more on exploration and story progression.

Exploration & Story

Raft’s story unfolds gradually through large handcrafted locations scattered across the ocean. These areas break up the open-sea survival loop and introduce puzzles, environmental storytelling, and new threats.

Exploring these locations together was one of the strongest parts of our experience. They reward preparation, communication, and curiosity. The story itself is subtle rather than forced, encouraging players to piece things together at their own pace.

While the ocean can feel empty at times, these story moments give purpose to the journey and make progression feel meaningful.

Final Thoughts

Raft is not about constant action or high difficulty. It is about the journey, the teamwork, and the satisfaction of building something together from almost nothing. As a community, we found it to be one of the most enjoyable cooperative survival experiences, especially for groups that value collaboration over competition.

If you enjoy survival games that reward planning, communication, and shared progress, Raft is an easy recommendation.

Verdict - 7.9/10