Weird topic title, I know. I've been playing NV a lot recently. And I still haven't had any playtrough where it was more about survival. It's always been about getting caps, finishing missions and getting the best weapons. And yes, I played trough hardcoe (more annoying than a challenge).

How to increase my feeling for survival in this game? I've seen some Fallout machinimas about lone wanderers giving out everything for a bottle of water.
I want my next playtrough be more about survival. Any tips?

it'll be more of a survival experience if you approach it that way. it's not what the game does, its your perspective on it. if you keep playing the same way (getting caps, finishing missions and getting the best weapons) then your gameplay experience is going to remain the same. try something new and different, something you wouldn't think of doing normally

I would suggest getting the Project Nevada mod, it can really make this harder if you alter the values of enemy health and whatnot.

1 word: Roleplay. It works wonders.

Or you could Gimp your character, like give him/her a phobia of having more than 100 caps on him/her at any given time.

Some mod recommendations: New Vegas Bounties 1 & 2, Electro-City + Strip Overhal + Strip with no dividers, Project Nevada, Increased Wasteland Spawn, A World of Pain

Roleplay: For Example: A True Grit [censored] - Kickin' COWBOY. Only wear cowboy-like outfits (which have very little to no DT) like Ranger Vest Outfit or Daniel's Outfit with some sort of Cowboy like hat and only use weapons covered by the Cowboy perk.

Make it so you can only get food that you pick up in the desert. Make sure you can only grab food when you are only hungry