Summary
- True horror games focus on survival, not combat, creating a feeling of helplessness for the player.
- Still Wakes the Deep, a game with no weapons, forces players to use stealth and quick-time events to survive.
- Immersive horror games like Darkwood offer constant dread with atmospheric sound, lighting, and music.
Horror is one of the most popular genres of video games, from big-budget franchises to popular indie gems. What exactly makes a horror game can be hard to define, as the genre can incorporate everything from action-packed single-player games to multiplayer co-op titles or story-driven narrative pieces. However, one style of game stands out as a pure horror experience more than any other.
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At their best, survival horror games put players at a disadvantage to create a feeling of defenselessness. Through tight corridors, ancient ruins, or dark forests, these games favor survival over fighting. While some may have combat mechanics, this is often only a last resort. Survival horror games are some of the most immersive titles on the market and are a refreshing change of pace from the many action-based games available today.
8 Still Wakes the Deep
A Modern Body Horror Classic
Still Wakes the Deep
- Released
- June 18, 2024
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- The Chinese Room
- Genre(s)
- Survival Horror
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong
Still Wakes the Deep is a psychological, narrative-driven horror game where players control Cameron "Caz" McLeary, a man hiding out on an oil rig while being wanted by the police.
There are no weapons in the game, and the player only has a flashlight to find his way through dark areas. Players must either use stealth to evade the mutated monsters roaming the corridors or complete quick-time events. Caz is also able to look behind him while he is running away. Still Wakes the Deep tells a rich story with well-rounded characters in a horrific situation. The game is gory and brilliantly over the top. Fans of John Carpenter’s The Thing (1982) will love this fun horror tale. While the game can be excessively linear, this is a recent standout horror release.
7 Amnesia: The Bunker
Another Frictional Classic
Amnesia: The Bunker
- Released
- May 16, 2023
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Frictional Games
- Genre(s)
- Survival Horror
- Platform(s)
- PC, PS4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong
Amnesia: The Bunker is the fourth installment in the acclaimed series and takes players to the trenches of the First World War. Here, players control French soldier Henri Clément, who is hunted by a terrifying monster through an abandoned bunker.
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While Amnesia: The Bunker keeps many of the terrific elements the series has become known for, the game is a big departure for the developers. The game moves away from the narrative-driven gameplay of Dark Descent and Rebirth, concentrating more on a single-location survival experience. While the player has access to weapons, these do little damage to the monster. Players must find enough fuel to keep the generators and lights running. When the lights go off, the monster starts to hunt. Amnesia: The Bunker is a claustrophobic, tense, and addictive gaming experience that is a must for all horror fans to play.
6 The Forest
Build, Scavenge, Survive
The Forest
- Released
- April 30, 2018
WHERE TO PLAY
The Forest blends survival horror and hardcore survival mechanics in a large open world. In the game, while looking for his son, the player character crash lands on a mysterious island filled with cannibals and dangerous mutants. While players have access to weapons, such as axes and bows and arrows, The Forest is all about survival.
Enemies are fast and hard to kill and often roam in packs. It is often better to avoid them completely while exploring the game. Players can build complex bases for protection, set traps for enemies, and create armor necessary for survival. Players must also constantly forage and hunt for food and water while enemies stalk the surrounding woods. The Forest is an immersive horror game that is both addictive and challenging and will appeal to horror fans looking for a genuine survival experience.
5 Alien: Isolation
The Feeling of Being Hunted
Alien: Isolation
- Released
- October 7, 2014
WHERE TO PLAY
This classic survival horror game puts players in control of Amanda Ripley, Ellen Ripley's daughter, who, while on the trail of her missing mother, lands on the Sevastopol space station, only to find it near-deserted and in chaos. She soon discovers something big is killing people and is now hunting her.
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Alien: Isolation perfectly follows the original 1979 movie, with the aesthetic, music, and sound design all lovingly recreated for the game. However, it's the gameplay that really shines here. While Ripley has access to weapons, they do little damage to the Alien and will attract its attention if fired. The game is all about survival by running, hiding, or crafting makeshift tools to escape the Xenomorph that is actively hunting the player. While Alien: Isolation is a little overlong, it is an extremely immersive game that never gets boring. Fans eagerly await any news of a long-hoped-for sequel to this classic title.
4 Outlast
A Survival Horror Classic
Outlast
- Released
- November 4, 2013
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Red Barrels
- Genre(s)
- Survival Horror
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC, Linux, macOS
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong
One of the scariest games ever made, Outlast is a psychological survival horror game that has become a genre classic. Players control Miles Upshur, an investigative journalist looking into Mount Massive Asylum. After gaining entry, Miles discovers the inmates are running the asylum, and all the staff have been killed and mutilated.
To escape, players must venture deeper into the building while avoiding the many deranged enemies prowling the corridors. Players only have their wits and a camcorder with night vision to help them. There is no combat in Outlast, players can only run and hide to avoid enemies. While Outlast relies a little too much on jump scares, the game is a masterclass in survival horror.
3 Darkwood
Survive The Woods
Darkwood
- Released
- August 18, 2017
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Acid Wizard Studio
- Genre(s)
- Survival Horror
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong
Darkwood is one of the most atmospheric horror games available and a cult classic that every horror fan should play. Played from a top-down perspective across a semi-open world, players control The Stranger, who has become lost in the mysterious woods, where evil things lurk in the dark. The game is set over many days, where players must explore in the day and then survive the night. The game only saves after each day has been completed.
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While players have access to weapons, combat is difficult in the game. Fuel must be found to keep the generator running, while resources for health and other items must also be scavenged. Darkwood isn’t about jump scares but a constant sense of dread that is always present. The sound, lighting, and music come together perfectly to create a truly unnerving experience.
2 Soma
Survive the Depths
SOMA
- Released
- September 15, 2015
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Frictional Games
- Genre(s)
- Horror
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong
From the developers of the classic Amnesia series, Soma is a psychological survival horror game that, quite literally, goes deeper than any other title. Soma follows the story of Simon Jarrett, who, after having his brain scanned in 2015, wakes up in a ruined underwater facility in 2104.
Soma offers an engaging story, with excellent writing, that delves into subjects such as survival, identity, and what it means to be alive. The world is dark, atmospheric, and immersive, while the monsters stalking the facilities are always terrifying. Players have no weapons in the game and can only hide from enemies. Soma is one of the best horror games ever made and a must-play for any fans of the genre.
1 Amnesia: Dark Descent
A Groundbreaking Release
Amnesia: The Dark Descent
- Released
- September 8, 2010
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Frictional Games
- Genre(s)
- Survival Horror, Indie Games, Adventure, Action, Puzzle
Amnesia: Dark Descent became a cult classic that helped change the genre into what we know today. It was one of the first games to popularize survival gameplay over combat. In the game, players control Daniel, who wakes up in a windy, desolate castle with no memory. The game follows the character as he uncovers who he is and why he is there.
In Amnesia, the most dangerous enemy is the dark, which will cause the character to suffer hallucinations and lose sanity. Players must find tinderboxes and oil around the game to light torches, candles, and the lantern the player carries. The limited resources in Amnesia mean players must be careful when they use light sources. There are also no weapons in the game and players must run or hide from any enemies they find. Amnesia: Dark Descent remains one of the scariest games ever made and a genre classic.
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