Raft

Raft is a first-person ocean survival sandbox for PC, developed by Redbeet Interactive and published by Axolot Games. The current Steam storefront still uses the name Raft; The Final Chapter is a major content update and completion milestone, not a separate rebrand or replacement edition. Its defining idea is simple: turn drifting debris into a working home while navigating a flooded world alone or with friends.

Survival Starts With the Hook

Raft opens with almost nothing: a small floating platform, a plastic hook, and open water in every direction. The first priority is collecting debris before it drifts away, then converting those scraps into tools, storage, cooking equipment, water systems, and new foundations.

The central loop combines resource gathering, hunger and thirst management, crafting, and raft expansion. Every plank, rope, plastic bundle, and barrel can affect your next decision. Do you spend materials on a larger deck, improve your water supply, build a weapon, or save resources for navigation equipment?

The raft itself is both vehicle and base. As it grows, it can support workstations, crop plots, animal facilities, storage rooms, defensive structures, engines, and decorative building projects. Players who enjoy turning limited resources into a functional home will find a similar satisfaction in first-person island survival sandboxes such as Project Castaway, although Raft keeps the floating base at the center of nearly every activity.

Ocean Exploration and Story Progression

Raft is not only an endless drifting simulator. Navigation gradually leads to story destinations, where players search abandoned structures, solve environmental puzzles, collect clues, and unlock the next stage of the journey. The Radio Tower establishes the mystery, while locations such as Balboa Island, Vasagatan, Caravan Island, and Tangaroa expand the setting with different hazards and objectives.

Story islands provide a useful change of pace from open-water gathering. You may leave the raft to explore forests, derelict ships, research facilities, villages, and submerged areas before returning with new blueprints or information. These locations reward preparation because food, weapons, healing items, and spare equipment matter when the ocean is no longer the only threat.

The progression is driven by discovery rather than a traditional character class system. The Research Table converts collected materials into new recipes, while exploration unlocks blueprints that broaden construction, farming, cooking, navigation, and combat options.

Diving, Farming, Trading, and Threats

Underwater scavenging is one of Raft's most important supporting systems. Dropping anchor near an island lets you dive for clay, sand, scrap, seaweed, metal, and other materials, but oxygen and hostile wildlife limit how long you can stay below the surface. The underwater layer makes island visits more than a quick stop for trees and fruit.

Survival also depends on building a reliable onboard routine. Water purifiers, grills, crop plots, beehives, cooking stations, and animal pens turn the raft into a self-sustaining production space. Later systems such as the Recycler and Trading Posts give unwanted materials a practical role, allowing players to convert collected junk into useful currency and supplies.

The most recognizable danger is Bruce, the shark that attacks the raft and pressures players to protect their foundations. Other creatures, environmental hazards, and story-location enemies create different problems, so Raft is not purely a peaceful building game. Combat is functional and preparation-focused, supporting exploration rather than replacing the survival loop.

What Is Included on PC?

The current PC storefront presents Raft as a paid standalone game with single-player and online co-op. The listing does not present a separate paid DLC catalog or renamed definitive edition. The Final Chapter content is part of the main Raft experience, alongside the game's story locations, crafting systems, exploration, farming, trading, and building tools.

There is no class-based progression or conventional loot treadmill. Long-term goals come from completing the story, researching every useful recipe, improving the raft, collecting achievements, and experimenting with different layouts. After the story objectives are complete, the building and optimization loop remains available for players who enjoy creative survival projects.

Online co-op is built around shared worlds rather than competitive matches. Players can divide responsibilities, with one person steering, another collecting debris, and others handling cooking, farming, diving, or construction. The game supports large groups in practice, although the official support documentation notes that the realistic player count depends on the host's hardware and internet connection.

PC Features and Input Support

Raft is distributed through Steam and uses the Steam client ecosystem. The current listing includes Steam Cloud, Steam Achievements, Family Sharing, single-player, and online co-op. Saved worlds and player data are stored locally within the Redbeet Interactive folder, while Steam Cloud can help synchronize supported save data.

Input is an important consideration. Redbeet Interactive's support documentation states that Raft does not currently support controllers, so PC players should plan to use keyboard and mouse. The game is presented from a first-person perspective and does not advertise built-in VR, cabinet, or specialized peripheral modes.

The storefront lists English interface, full audio, and subtitles, with French, Italian, German, Spanish from Spain, Japanese, Korean, Polish, Brazilian Portuguese, Russian, Simplified Chinese, and Swedish available for interface and subtitles. English is the only language listed with full audio.

Who Should Play Raft?

Raft is a strong fit for players who want co-op survival, gradual base building, approachable crafting, and a clear exploration route. Its best moments come from shared problem-solving: expanding the deck while someone keeps the water flowing, diving for materials while watching the shark, or returning from a story island with a blueprint that changes the entire raft.

It is less suitable for players looking for deep melee combat, competitive multiplayer, extensive character builds, or a controller-first experience. The survival systems are approachable, but resource collection and repeated maintenance remain central throughout the game. Players who prefer a calmer construction loop with environmental transformation may also enjoy co-operative survival builders like The Planet Crafter, while Raft places more emphasis on mobility, navigation, and shared base management.

Similar Survival Games on PC

Raft occupies a specific space between open-world survival, crafting sandbox, and story-led exploration. Harder first-person survival experiences such as Green Hell share the focus on gathering, crafting, shelter, and physical vulnerability, but they are more demanding in their environmental simulation and jungle setting.

The closest alternative depends on what you value most. Choose Raft for a mobile floating base, ocean travel, online co-op, and structured story destinations. Choose The Planet Crafter for a more automation-friendly transformation loop. Choose Green Hell for harsher wilderness survival. Choose Project Castaway for an island-focused castaway setting with psychological pressure.

Raft FAQ

Is Raft still the current PC name?

Yes. The current Steam listing uses Raft. The Final Chapter is the name of a major content update and completion milestone, not a separate renamed edition.

Is Raft single-player or multiplayer?

Raft supports solo play and online co-op. The shared-world structure lets players build, gather, explore, dive, farm, cook, and defend the raft together.

Does Raft support controllers on PC?

No. Redbeet Interactive's official support documentation states that controller support is not currently available, so keyboard and mouse are the intended PC inputs.

Does Raft have a story?

Yes. Players follow a sequence of story destinations connected by clues, navigation, exploration, puzzles, and new blueprints. The story progression exists alongside open-ended raft construction and survival.

Does Raft have paid DLC?

The current PC storefront presents Raft as a standalone paid game and does not list a separate paid DLC lineup. The Final Chapter content is part of the main Raft experience rather than a separate edition.

What languages does Raft support?

Raft lists twelve supported languages. English includes interface, full audio, and subtitles, while French, Italian, German, Spanish from Spain, Japanese, Korean, Polish, Brazilian Portuguese, Russian, Simplified Chinese, and Swedish are listed for interface and subtitles.