Halloween is just around the corner, and naturally, people like to celebrate this holiday by going trick-or-treating, watching scary movies, or, better yet, playing creepy video games. Over the last few decades, developers have managed to terrorize gamers around the world by using many tools and techniques, with clever implementation of light and/or darkness (the lack of it) being one of the most common methods.
Best Survival Horror Games Of All Time, Ranked
These are the best survival horror games of all time that you'll absolutely want to check out if you're a fan of the genre.
There are many high-quality video games out there that are already quite good on their own, but they become an unforgettable experience when they’re played under specific circumstances, preferably in a room with all the lights off. This is true whether they belong to the horror genre or not; it’s just a matter of atmosphere and presentation. A lot of games are perfect to play in the dark, but the following examples are the best and most notorious examples.
Limbo
A Creepy 2D Platformer With Black And White Graphics
Limbo
- Released
- July 21, 2010
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T For Teen due to Animated Blood, Mild Violence
- Developer(s)
- Playdead
- Genre(s)
- Platformer
Playdead excels at making creepy but inventive 2D platformers with ominous atmospheres, and the studio’s debut game, Limbo, is a perfect showing of its many talents. With one look at this game, it immediately becomes evident why it stood out so much when it launched. For one, its graphics are entirely in black and white.
Naturally, video games with this color palette work perfectly in the darkness, and Limbo is no exception. It doesn’t stop there because, despite this being is a 2D platformer that plays similarly to an old-school Mario game, Limbo is full of shocking and unexpected twists that are further elevated by its creepy atmosphere and gloomy presentation.
Amnesia: The Dark Descent
This Survival Horror Classic Has Aged Very Well
Amnesia: The Dark Descent
- Released
- September 8, 2010
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ // Blood and Gore, Language, Nudity, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Frictional Games
- Genre(s)
- Survival Horror, Indie Games, Adventure, Action, Puzzle
Back in the late 2010s, it was impossible to navigate the internet without hearing about a game called Amnesia: The Dark Descent. It exploded in popularity during a time in which many mainstream survival horror IPs (like Resident Evil or Silent Hill) were not selling particularly well.
Amnesia has no combat system. Instead, it focuses on one thing: making the player feel like they’re going insane and scaring them in clever but unpredictable ways. The lighting and the atmosphere of this game are absolutely perfect, and they have both aged surprisingly well, meaning that this fifteen-year-old survival horror classic is still worth playing today. Needless to say, Frictional Games have revolutionized the entire genre and have gone on to make many solid Amnesia sequels, like Rebirth and The Bunker, but The Dark Descent is often considered the best and creepiest entry in the series.
Five Nights At Freddy's
A Clever Idea Executed Cleverly
Five Nights at Freddy's
- Released
- August 8, 2014
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- m
- Developer(s)
- Scott Cawthon
- Genre(s)
- Survival Horror
Nowadays, the Five Nights at Freddy's IP is linked with absurd fan theories and a slew of disappointing sequels, but the truth is that these games became so massively popular for one simple reason: they present a unique idea that is executed brilliantly. Because of this, the original Five Nights at Freddy's from 2014 is still an absolute classic that deserves to be celebrated.
Players take control of a newly-hired security guard at a rundown location, Freddy Fazbear's Pizza, and they’ll have to keep a close eye on the security cameras to avoid being killed by the restaurant’s creepy and bloodthirsty animatronics. Not only is this style of gameplay very simple but very effective, but the juxtaposition between the dark lighting of the restaurant and its colorful, kid-friendly imagery is really disturbing and helps create this game’s signature atmosphere, which sadly hasn’t been replicated by any of its sequels.
Alien: Isolation
Makes Perfect Use Of The Legendary Horror IP
Alien: Isolation
- Released
- October 7, 2014
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood, Strong Language, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Creative Assembly
- Genre(s)
- Survival Horror
The timing of Alien: Isolation’s release was absolutely perfect. It arrived nearly two years after the disaster that was Aliens: Colonial Marines, not to mention that it finally gave fans of the Alien film franchise the dark and intense survival horror game most of them had always dreamed of.
Unlike other Alien video games, the combat in Isolation is more of an afterthought, as the game focuses mainly on delivering big scares and intense moments by making players hide from one big, deadly Xenomorph. This, of course, is easier said than done. The alien uses a sophisticated type of artificial intelligence that allows it to learn from the player’s previous actions and adapt its hunting strategies, so they will never really feel safe. Most Alien: Isolation fans will testify that playing it in a dark room while hoping that the in-game Xenomorph won’t find their hiding spot is a blood-pumping and unforgettable horror experience.
Bloodborne
An Incredible Action Game With A Chilling Victorian Era Setting
Bloodborne
- Released
- March 24, 2015
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Violence
- Developer(s)
- From Software
FromSoftware usually implements elements from the survival horror genre to make its Soulslike games feel more challenging and more impactful. As a result, most of the studio’s projects are surprisingly creepy, even if they are still technically action RPGs. Bloodborne is the best example of this remarkable (but brilliant) practice.
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In this PS4 exclusive, players take control of a hunter who has to find and defeat the many horrific monsters terrorizing the city of Yarnham. The adventure starts with regular horror-themed enemies, like werewolves and ogres, but the hunter eventually has to face disturbing creatures based on Lovecraftian literature. Bloodborne is first and foremost an action game, but its atmosphere, imagery, themes, story, and setting make it the perfect video game to play in the dark during Halloween, especially for those who find the survival horror genre way too creepy or overwhelming.
Resident Evil 7: Biohazard
The Scariest Game In This Iconic Survival Horror Franchise
Resident Evil 7: Biohazard
- Released
- January 24, 2017
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- Mature 17+ / Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Strong Language, In-Game Purchases
- Developer(s)
- Capcom
- Genre(s)
- Survival Horror, Psychological Horror, First-Person
Resident Evil is, without a doubt, the most famous and popular survival horror game series in the entire world. Naturally, many of its entries could easily be on this list. However, Resident Evil 7: Biohazard is the best game in this franchise to play in the dark, as it’s the one that focuses on scares and atmosphere the most, while the action takes a major backseat. This, of course, was done entirely on purpose by Capcom. This is the game that “saved” the Resident Evil franchise after the action-heavy disappointment that was Resident Evil 6.
Every member of the Baker Family—from Jack to Marguerite and even Lucas—is creepy and unpleasant in their own way, so exploring their house without knowing when or where they will pop up and suddenly attack the player is especially terrifying. Resident Evil 7’s many environments look absolutely hideous, which works in favor of the game’s unnerving atmosphere, and the entire experience is reminiscent of another classic horror story, The Texas Chain Saw Massacre. This is definitely the scariest Resident Evil game, and every fan of this franchise should try it out at some point.
Dead Space
Like Resident Evil, But In Space
Dead Space
- Released
- January 27, 2023
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- Rated M for Mature for Blood and Gore, Strong Language, and Intense Violence.
- Developer(s)
- EA Motive
- Genre(s)
- Survival Horror
Titles like Alien: Isolation and System Shock already prove that sci-fi and survival horror can be combined to create a distinct and bone-chilling experience, but Dead Space will always be the best example of this particular blend of genres. The original game from 2008 still holds up to this day, but its recent 2023 remake is superior thanks to its modern graphics and polished mechanics.
Dead Space is clearly based on Resident Evil 4, which came out just three years before the original game, and it flawlessly replicates that game’s intense third-person shooter gameplay. It’s important that players master both this combat system and the many unique weapons Isaac Clarke can wield, because the Necromorphs—parasitic aliens that can possess and mutate human corpses—are some of the most disturbing video game enemies ever created. With its empty futuristic environments and its unsettling sci-fi atmosphere, Dead Space strikes a perfect balance between action and survival horror gameplay.
Alan Wake 2
Uses Darkness And Lighting As Core Gameplay Mechanics
Alan Wake 2
- Released
- October 27, 2023
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ Due To Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Nudity, Strong Language
- Developer(s)
- Remedy Entertainment
- Genre(s)
- Survival Horror
Both Alan Wake and Alan Wake 2 are perfect candidates for this list. These two survival horror games are notorious for using darkness and lighting as key parts of their core gameplay, and the recent 2023 sequel is widely considered the better of the two. This is reflected by the many awards it has received since its release.
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In Alan Wake 2, players take control of both the titular character and FBI agent Saga Anderson, who fight shadowy enemies called Taken by making them vulnerable to their attacks with the beams from their flashlights. Naturally, the entire game is cloaked in darkness, and playing it in a dimly lit room improves the experience. However, it’s also important to point out that Alan Wake 2 tells a unique story that’s full of incredible and weird moments that perfectly exemplify how brilliant the developers at Remedy Entertainment are.
Silent Hill 2 Remake
A Bone-Chilling Psychological Horror Masterpiece
Silent Hill 2
- Released
- October 8, 2024
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ // Blood and Gore, Language, Sexual Themes, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Bloober Team
Silent Hill is synonymous with the psychological horror subgenre, and Silent Hill 2 is definitely the absolute best game in the entire franchise, because it tells a more personal and more emotional plot than any of the other entries. There’s no denying that the original PS2 title is still a masterpiece, but it hasn’t aged particularly well, which is why the recent 2024 remake has become such a critical and commercial success.
While the iconic fog that envelops the titular town was a technical necessity back in the day—used to hide the low-poly textures and remove the need for draw distance—in the remake, it’s instead used to create an unsettling atmosphere in which hideous monsters can pop out and attack James Sunderland at any moment. The only way to somewhat tell when it’ll happen is by listening to his radio, which crackles with static when enemies are near. Of course, the Silent Hill 2 remake didn’t single-handedly revitalize the franchise just because of its creepy creature design and its dark presentation. The game’s story features many shocking twists and turns, not to mention that it stars a cast of tragic characters with devastating backstories that will never leave the player's memory.
No, I'm Not A Human
An Experimental Indie Horror Game With A Unique Art Style
No, I'm not a Human
- Released
- 2025
WHERE TO PLAY
The indie scene is jam-packed with excellent horror games, and one of its best and most notorious offerings was released as recently as September 2025. Developed by a small independent studio based in Russia, No, I'm Not A Human has become the internet’s latest viral sensation, and it definitely deserves that reputation.
In this anxiety-inducing title, the world has been invaded by creatures known as Visitors that can disguise themselves as humans, so the player has to hide in their house and decide who they’ll allow inside to take refuge, not knowing who’s an innocent person and who’s a Visitor that's trying to invade. This premise is quite inventive, but No, I'm Not A Human stands out mainly due to its strange presentation. Its dirty textures, unusual lighting effects, and disturbing character designs succeed at making the player feel uncomfortable and uneasy, which will influence their decision-making at crucial moments.
Horror Games All About Jump Scares
If there's one surefire way to frighten a player, it's with a jump scare, something that these horror games embrace wholeheartedly.