Yeah, “survival” is about as watered down a term as “roguelike”, especially when it’s “survival-crafting” (a meaningless distinction - crafting mechanics were popularized by survival games in the first place). I play and enjoy both casual and hardcore survival games, though I have to shut my brain off not to get annoyed at some of the former.

There’s a recent trend in the genre where eating isn’t required for survival, food just gives temporary stat bonuses. At least Subnautica has proper hunger and thirst mechanics, even if you’re set for life for both within the first hour.

I can count the games that get the survival gameplay loop right on one hand. Hardcore survival is a sadly neglected niche.