Being a survival horror fan isn’t easy. We’ve scoured dark hallways, come face-to-face with countless monstrosities, and pressed on even as our hearts raced. Each of the best survival horror games threaten to push us closer to that proverbial edge, to a point where we have to tap out for tamer, more lighthearted gameplay.
Even more difficult than being a survival horror fan is choosing which games are the best in the genre. With a library of entries that defined and redefined what it’s like to be terrified in a digital world, having to select only a few is more nerve-wracking than Mr. X’s rhythmic, pounding footsteps.
Yet here we are, poised and ready to deliver on what many are sure to agree are the titles that help explain why we love survival horror games. To avoid a repetitive list comprised of just one or two franchises, we’re only choosing one game per franchise.
The Best Surival Horror Games
25. Days Gone
Developer: Bend Studio
Publisher: Sony Interactive Entertainment
Platform(s): PC, PS4
The Pacific Northwest is a place of beauty, with towering redwoods and the snowy peaks of Mount Hood. Surprisingly, it’s still pretty nice looking even after hordes of mutated freaks move in.
Days Gone traverses the backwoods beauty of Oregon in the wake of an apocalyptic event that left much of the world turned into ravenous Freakers. As Deacon St. John, players rev up the engine of their customizable motorcycle and head out into the open world, hoping to find some semblance of peace in one corner of the country.
Human and humanoid enemies impede your path to salvation, but the friends you make along the way doing missions and side quests will be invaluable to your survival. Days Gone is a standard zombie game, but the touch of motorcycle traversal, stunning landscapes, and numerous hordes lend to a memorable survival horror experience.
24. Murder House
Developer: Puppet Combo
Publisher: Puppet Combo
Platform(s): PC, PS4, Switch, Xbox One
Puppet Combo’s dive into 1990s-style survival horror doesn’t mince words about where you’ll be or what to expect. As part of a local news crew, you break into an abandoned home hoping for evidence of the paranormal. Unfortunately for them, the one thing they find in the house is living—and it quite loves murder.
Can you escape the infamous Easter Ripper, a horrifying fiend long thought dead? This old-school horror title pulls inspiration from the greats of the 20th century, tank controls and all. From the retro synth tracks to the cinematic camera angles, Murder House is like a digitized nostalgia for anyone that grew up with the classic Resident Evil and Silent Hill games.
The game is designed for late-night fun, so long as you don’t mind having nightmares of giant murderous rabbits.
23. The Evil Within
Developer: Tango Gameworks
Publisher: Bethesda Softworks
Platform(s): PC, PS4, PS3, Xbox One, Xbox 360
After leaving Capcom, Resident Evil’s director Shinji Mikami landed back into survival horror pretty hard with The Evil Within. There are obvious hints of inspiration pulled from the ongoing series, but The Evil Within puts a psychological spin on the horrors tormenting Sebastian Castellanos.
Help Sebastian over the nightmare he’s thrust into and battle a blood witch and other monstrosities. The Evil Within handles horror so well, making players feel completely inadequate for the challenges that lie ahead. Every beast is terrifying and every twist unravels even more of the mysterious situation Sebastian finds himself lost in.
Mikami pulls no punches with his return to pure horror, which lends to a gruesome and frightening good time.
22. Alan Wake
Developer: Remedy Entertainment
Publisher: Remedy Entertainment
Platform(s): PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X & S, Xbox 360
Tortured writer Alan Wake simply wanted to enjoy his time away from the typewriter, but his wife, Alice, had other plans. As did the supernatural force residing in Cauldron Lake, as the moment the pair arrives, things go haywire. The evil that emerges shrouds the Pacific Northwest in darkness, sending its deadly Taken to stop Alan from uncovering the truth behind its existence.
Alan Wake is an effective survival horror game that relies on light. The Taken are a dark entity known for their taunts, but a strong beam of light is enough to weaken them enough to be destroyed. The closer Wake gets to defeating the darkness, the more he unveils just how connected he is to evil decimating the world around him.
A blend of swift third-person shooter combat and the occasional fright help make Alan Wake a must-play experience, with a sequel on the way.
21. Condemned: Criminal Origins
Developer: Monolith
Publisher: SEGA
Platform(s): Xbox 360
The seedy streets of the fictional city of Metro is full of all sorts of horrors. Brutish killers roam the streets, but they’re no match for the serial slayers that drew Serial Crimes Unit Agent Ethan Thomas into the equation.
Condemned is an evenly-paced horror title that succeeds in delivering heavy-hitting combat and a decent amount of jumps to keep players on their toes. Thomas has his own demons, but they’re not enough to keep him from investigating a brash of killings throughout Metro. The closer he gets to the truth, the more he wishes had stayed home as he’s somehow stumbled upon something far worse than a human killer.
Condemned is gritty, real, and brutal as its focus on melee combat creates tense close-quarters moments in Metro’s deepest, darkest alleys and abandoned buildings. There’s definitely something wrong in Metro. Are you willing to risk your life and sanity to uncover the truth?
20. The Thing
Developer: Computer Artworks
Publisher: Black Label Games Konami
Platform(s): PC, PS2, Xbox
Video games based off of movies are almost always guaranteed to be duds. However, Computer Artworks found a way to capture the tone of John Carpenter’s The Thing, at least enough to make an enjoyable title set in the same universe.
Taking place after the incident at Outpost 31, players control Captain J.F. Blake as part of a U.S. Special Forces recon team sent to investigate the American camp. It doesn’t take long for the creature to emerge and Blake’s mission to go awry.
To increase the tension, players not only have to deal with extraterrestrial lifeforms, they also have to ease their allies’ fears. Lose their trust, and they may assume you to be The Thing and open fire without question. There’s also the likelihood that someone in your team is infected, leading to unexpected conflicts that only further hinder Blake’s mission.
19. Ghosthunter
Developer: SCE Cambridge Studio
Publisher: Namco
Platform(s): PS2
It’s not going to scare you out of your wits, but there are a few moments in this PS2 exclusive shooter that will have you moving cautiously.
Ghosthunter is headlined by unwitting spectral trapper Detective Lazarus Jones. While on a routine call investigating unusual noises, Lazarus unknowingly releases imprisoned ghosts and his partner, Anna Steele (no, not that Anna Steele), is taken.
Equipped with an arsenal of special ghost-trapping weapons and gadgets, Lazarus sets out to recapture the spirits he let loose and rescue Steele. There are so many parallels to a certain quartet of ghost wranglers from New York, which lends to the charm of Ghosthunter.
Some of the set pieces, such as a haunted school, ghost ship, spooky prison, and creaky manor, lend to the game’s creepier moments. When you can get past Lazarus’ frequent quips, there’s a ton of atmosphere to find yourself immersed in.
18. Haunting Ground
Developer: Capcom
Publisher: Capcom
Platform(s): PS2
Serving as a spiritual successor to Capcom’s Clock Tower series, Haunting Ground is a familiar experience with an added perk – a white Shepherd named Hewie. Players are joined by their faithful canine companion as they evade pursuers on their trek to escape the mysterious castle that protagonist, Fiona Belli, woke up in.
With limited physical attacks at their disposal, players must primarily rely on the protective pup and Fiona’s ability to run to escape the horrors of the castle. When Fiona is attacked or is in a dangerous situation, she’ll start to panic, which diminishes player control and sends her running off on her own.
Capcom focuses heavily on atmosphere and a sense of helplessness to leave players feeling uneasy. There aren’t many monsters to fear in Haunting Ground, but Capcom’s use of sound and pacing creates an effective survival horror title that receives more love now than it did at release.
17. Obscure
Developer: Hydravision Entertainment
Publisher: DreamCatcher Interactive
Platform(s): PC, PS2, Xbox
Two-player survival horror experiences aren’t easy to come by, but Hydravision Entertainment found a way to make it work. Set in the nefarious Leafmore High, Obscure gives players five different characters to control. At all times, a player is accompanied by an AI-controlled character, which a second person can jump in and control.
It’s a story we’ve seen and played through before, but Obscure is just different enough to appeal to survival horror fans. You’ll gather weapons and combine items as you guide five high school stereotypes through the horror-filled halls of Leafmore, doing your best to keep every character alive. Lose one, and that’s the end of their story and your chance at using their helpful skill.
Playing with a friend doesn’t ease the effectiveness of occasional scares, especially if they’re just as unnerved as you are during your playthrough. The game could use some polish for a smoother experience, but it’s the video game equivalent of 90’s horror movies with a cast of teens you can’t quite decide if you want to die.
16. Parasite Eve
Developer: Square
Publisher: Square Electronic Arts
Platform(s): PS1, PSP
Parasite Eve serves as the sequel to Hideaki Sena’s novel of the same name, sharing similar thematic elements. It’s a unique game for several reasons, and not just because it’s the follow-up to a book. First, it was SquareSoft’s first Mature-rated title. It also was one of the first times the survival horror genre was crossed with role-playing.
As Aya Brea, an NYPD rookie, players battle a host of terrifying monsters all tied to the titular antagonist. From the grisly opening moments throughout Aya’s quest across New York to put a stop to Eve, players are immersed in a story-heavy survival horror game that has Square’s signature weirdness and unforgettable cutscenes.
Combat is a mix of real-time and turn-based action, which helps make up for its slower pacing and appeal to a broader range of players.
15. Call of Cthulhu: Dark Corners of the Earth
Developer: Headfirst Productions
Publisher: Bethesda Softworks / 2K Games
Platform(s): PC, Xbox
There may be an unwritten rule that says any horror list must include one Lovecraftian entry. For ours, it’s Call of Cthulhu: Dark Corners of the Earth.
Players fill the role of private investigator Jack Walters as he responds to a missing person case in the eerie town of Innsmouth. Did we forget to mention that’s after he’s forced to leave the police force in response to witnessing two aliens emerging from a portal and immediately losing his mind?
The real horrors of Dark Corners of the Earth are the xenophobic residents of Innsmouth, who have it in for Walters the moment he enters the town. Deadly sea creatures aside, you never feel at ease from the moment you arrive at the coastal town. Locals are clearly plotting something, and in one very tense segment that completely changes the game, you find out what that is.
14. Nightmare Creatures
Developer: Kalisto Entertainment
Publisher: Activision
Platform(s): PC, PS3, PS1, N64
Kalisto Entertainment went belly up in 2002, but thankfully that was five years after its team of developers gave us the gothic horrors of Nightmare Creatures. Playing as either Ignatius Blackward or Nadia Franciscus, you’re tasked with hunting down the sinister occultist Adam Crowley before he turns all denizens of London into a horde of nightmare creatures.
The only really scary thing about Nightmare Creatures was its often punishing difficulty level, but the dark setting and creature design fit right at home in the survival horror genre. The game thrived on atmosphere, from the blood-soaked streets of 19th-century London to the monster-filled sewers beneath.
Even with now clunky gameplay, Nightmare Creatures is a classic worth returning to.
13. Alien: Isolation
Developer: Creative Assembly
Publisher: Sega
Platform(s): PC, PS4, PS3, Xbox One, Xbox 360, Switch
Just when fans of Ridley Scott’s Alien thought there was no hope for even a decent game in the franchise, Creative Assembly steps in with a bonafide horror title that puts the pacing and horror of the first movie in the forefront.
Alien: Isolation builds off Scott’s creation with Amanda Ripley, the daughter of Ellen Ripley. In Isolation, Amanda is a capable engineer that gets trapped aboard the Sevastopol station with a tenacious xenomorph. Unable to kill the fully-grown alien, Ripley must sneak her way through the rickety station, battling deadly androids and unhinged survivors along the way.
Creative Assembly took cues from the movies by making the alien capable of using the station’s many vents to pop up literally almost anywhere. Make too much noise and the slick black figure will be on you in minutes, ready to plunge its inner jaw into your forehead. From the blip of the motion tracker to the rumbling in the ceilings, Isolation has plenty to make gamers shaky.
12. Dino Crisis
Developer: Capcom
Publisher: Capcom
Platform(s): PC, PS1, PSP, Dreamcast
Dino Crisis may have used many elements from the Resident Evil series, but it’s a terrifying horror title that deserves to stand separate from Capcom’s zombie-romp.
In fact, the original Dino Crisis is, at times, even scarier than the two Resident Evil games that preceded it. Velociraptors may not be rotting corpses, but their persistence and ability to crash through doors, leaving you with little choice but to expend precious ammo on them, gave gamers quite the jump. Even the lumbering tyrannosaur, a dinosaur many of us have treasured since adolescence, found ways to be scary.
Though many movies have tried, Dino Crisis is the first across any medium to successfully root dinosaurs in horror (though Jurassic Park came really close).
11. Alone in the Dark
Developer: Infogrames
Publisher: Infogrames
Platform(s): Various
While the original Resident Evil is often considered the game that defined survival horror, Alone in the Dark came about four years earlier and quietly paved the way for games like Capcom’s unending franchise. The 1992 title was the first 3D survival horror game to release, but that’s not what earned it a spot on a “best of” list.
Though “first” in no way means “good,” Alone in the Dark was a critical success. It was one of the first games to utilize atmosphere to create fear and dread, though its clunky visuals may be more laughable today.
When played upon release, it was easy to get sucked into the forbidding Derceto mansion.
10. Clock Tower
Developer: Human Entertainment
Publisher: Human Entertainment
Platform(s): PC, PS1, SNES, WonderSwan, Wii U
If you were a young gamer in the mid-90s, chances are you had nightmares of Scissorman. It’s always fascinating to think how a slow-paced point-and-click adventure could once create fear, but Human Entertainment did exactly that drawing upon the style of famed Italian horror director, Dario Argento.
As Jennifer Simpson, players must navigate the Clock Tower mansion while being stalked by the murderous Scissorman. With no weapons, Jennifer can only survive by hiding whenever the scissor-wielding fiend is near. He’s not the only terror young Jennifer has to face as Clock Tower is filled with other murderous beings that, to avoid spoilers, will remain nameless.
Through a lack of ambient music, Human Entertainment builds anticipation for those key jump-scare moments.
9. Dead Space
Developer: Visceral Games
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Platform(s): PC, PS3, Xbox 360
Before Electronic Arts became a meme in the horror community, they were publishing games like Dead Space, a horror title that became the Resident Evil of the early 2000s.
As voiceless protagonist Isaac Clarke, gamers respond to the distress signal of the planet-cracker starship USG Ishimura. Clarke initially finds the expected nothingness until a pivotal moment when all hell breaks loose.
Necromorphs were unlike anything gamers had seen when Dead Space launched. A grotesque enemy that could only be killed via dismemberment was a relatively new concept that made steady aim essential to survival.
Combine the creaks, groans, and hisses of the Ishimura with Necromorphs bursting out of vents and you have yourself a recipe for a classic survival horror game.
8. SOMA
Developer: Frictional Games
Publisher: Frictional Games
Platform(s): PC, PS4, Xbox One
The concept of being trapped in an underwater facility with no hope of escape is enough of a horror scenario. Frictional Games ups the ante with an assortment of deadly humanoid machines, some of which make truly unsettling noises.
SOMA is all about solving puzzles and doing so stealthily. As Simon Jarrett, players are equipped with nothing but their wits as they explore the derelict station, dodging savage entities that stalk the sunken halls.
As if only being able to run from enemies wasn’t bad enough, Frictional Games toys with you quite a bit with pure psychological horror. Screen distortion warns of incoming enemies and further increases the fear factor of being chased.
7. Outlast
Developer: Red Barrels
Publisher: Red Barrels
Platform(s): PC, PS4, Xbox One, Switch
Though it had been done before, many would likely credit Outlast for popularizing the concept of strictly stealth gameplay in survival horror.
Investigative journalist Miles Upshur, much like the players controlling him, had no idea what was in store for him at the ominous Mount Massive Asylum. Armed with just a video camera, Miles entered a hellish labyrinth filled with unstable patients, cannibals, and towering brutes for the story of the century.
Players may not have to worry about ammo, but when they run out of batteries, they say goodbye to their precious night vision. One can imagine the feelings of unease while navigating a pitch-black psychiatric hospital filled with loons that have all sorts of plans for human remains.
Outlast is relentless, forcing players to look over their shoulders every second to see what wretches may be lumbering their way. When you find a comfortable hiding spot, it’s a chore to pull yourself away for you know something is lurking nearby, waiting to do God-knows-what to you.
6. System Shock 2
Developer: Irrational Games / Looking Glass Studios
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Platform(s): PC, Dreamcast
Before we had BioShock, there was System Shock.
While System Shock innovated first-person shooters, its sequel was a treat for survival horror fans. The true horror of System Shock 2 can be chalked up to the sound and level design. Everything seems so dark and empty, but somewhere you can hear the steady breathing of a hybrid stalking you. It’s in these moments that you know your doom is imminent.
It’s a game that can get in your head and strike without warning. Though it may not appear to be an outright horror title at first, especially with its heavy focus on role-playing gameplay, System Shock 2 surprises in the best ways. With headphones on and the volume turned up, it’s easy to get sucked into the atmosphere, but be wary of the game’s love of sudden loud noises.
5. Amnesia: The Dark Descent
Developer: Frictional Games
Publisher: Frictional Games
Platform(s): PC, PS4, Xbox One, Switch
When people say “it’s survival-focused, much like Outlast,” what they’re really doing is crediting Amnesia: The Dark Descent. Following the success of Frictional Games’ Penumbra series, Amnesia kicks things up a notch with the protagonist, Daniel’s, fear of the dark. Stay in a dark spot for too long, and it will contribute to his declining sanity.
While the tension is built around stealth gameplay, Amnesia also introduces auditory and visual hallucinations to get under the player’s skin. It creates a perfect storm of horror by forcing gamers to try and avoid the terrorizing Gatherers while keeping the defenseless Daniel from losing his mind.
As well as being great YouTube content, The Dark Descent is just generally one of the scariest games ever made.
MORE HORROR: Best Modern Horror Movies
4. Eternal Darkness: Sanity’s Requiem
Developer: Silicon Knights
Publisher: Nintendo
Platform(s): Gamecube
Not only was Eternal Darkness distributed by Nintendo, but it was also an exclusive on the GameCube, a console intended for family fun and to continue the Super Mario legacy. That didn’t stop Silicon Knights from throwing everything it had into this quirky title, which features some of the best survival horror in the genre.
The core gameplay fits well under the action-adventure umbrella, but the game’s sanity meter ingrained it into the history of survival horror. When a character goes insane, so, too, does the player.
Some of the changes are so subtle as to make players question what they’re seeing while others break the fourth wall and are intended to downright mess with whoever’s behind the controller. It may not leave hearts pounding, but not knowing what’s real is a unique horror that isn’t typically used (effectively) in gaming.
3. Fatal Frame II: Crimson Butterfly
Developer: Tecmo
Publisher: Tecmo
Platform(s): PS2, Xbox
In the abandoned Minakami Village, Mio and Mayu Amakura confront restless ghosts of the past in what is still one of the scariest (and best) survival horror games to date. Swap out firearms for the mysterious Camera Obscura and embark on a slow-burn ghost-busting adventure as Mio as she searches for her sister and unravels the dark reality behind the Crimson Sacrifice Ritual.
Tecmo created the perfect atmosphere for its Japanese horror ghost story and filled it with truly horrifying enemies and memorable jump scares. There’s just something about battling ghosts through a camera lens that makes the experience even scarier.
If you cowered at the bent-neck lady of The Haunting of Hill House, just wait until you encounter the broken-neck woman of Fatal Frame II, which some view as the high point of the Fatal Frame series.
2. Silent Hill 2
Developer: Konami
Publisher: Konami
Platform(s): PC, PS2, Xbox
Sometimes it seems that video games are the one place where the adage “nothing beats the original” doesn’t apply. There is no denying the greatness of Konami’s first entry in the Silent Hill series, but its follow-up is far and away the better experience.
Silent Hill 2 follows James Sunderland as he’s drawn to Silent Hill by a letter from his deceased wife. What follows is a game that chips away at the player’s psyche with twisted monsters, incredible atmosphere, and a tragic but phenomenal story.
Silent Hill 2 receives extra credit for bringing Pyramid Head into existence and featuring one of the most unsettling scenes in the entire series. A symbol of guilt and sexual frustration, Pyramid Head is a horrifying and sadistic creation that nobody wants stalking them. Not even in a digital world.
1. Resident Evil 2 (1998)
Developer: Capcom
Publisher: Capcom
Platform(s): PC, PS1, N64, Gamecube, Dreamcast
Believe it or not, we’re not talking about the critically acclaimed 2019 remake. As undeniably good as it was, there is no topping the original, tank controls and all.
Sure, Resident Evil 2 (1998) may not hold up well by today’s standards, but it was a revolutionary survival horror title that took the success of the original and built upon it tenfold.
By introducing iconic characters like Leon S. Kennedy and Claire Redfield and opening up the world beyond Arklay Mountains, Resident Evil 2 solidified the course of the series more so than any other entry. The sequel feels as if it is part of a bigger universe thanks to the museum-turned-police department that served as the primary setting and expanded list of mutated horrors.
Stalking the halls of the RCPD are memorable B.O.W.S. like the licker, the mutated form of William Birkin, and the relentless Mr. X. Together with an incredible story and well-done atmosphere (for 1998), Resident Evil 2 became an unforgettable survival horror classic from Hideki Kamiya, Shinji Mikami, and Capcom.
READ NEXT: Biggest Upcoming New Horror Games of 2021 & Beyond
Some of the coverage you find on Cultured Vultures contains affiliate links, which provide us with small commissions based on purchases made from visiting our site.
