Summary
- The exhaustion in horror games comes from surviving against monsters & psychological terrors, not just physical combat.
- Games like The Forest & Soma can leave players physically & mentally tired after intense survival challenges.
- Horror games like Resident Evil 7 & Outlast make players feel drained by constantly facing life-threatening situations.
Horror games can be some of the most stressful to play, especially those that put the player into intense moments of survival. While these games are great for some players, even the best horror games can be quite exhausting to experience. Being exhausted isn't always a bad thing, especially when playing a horror game, as these exhausting moments put the player directly into the shoes of the protagonist as they fight for their life.
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These horror games have the power to keep players up at night for days on end, and they will make you feel genuine fear.
This exhaustion when surviving can either come from a player having to defend themselves against various monsters or other foes, as well as horror games being just as exhausting when a player is forced to survive while also having no way to defend themselves. These are the best horror games where surviving is exhausting, ranked by how exhausted a player is likely to be after experiencing the terrors.
The Forest
Being Stuck In The Wilderness Is Tiring
The Forest
- Released
- April 30, 2018
WHERE TO PLAY
Starting off strong, it's no surprise that survival horrors can be some of the most exhausting, though great, horror games to survive within. Players are likely to be exhausted from the start when trying their luck with The Forest, as players are crash-landed on an island and expected to create shelter for themselves quickly.
Players don't just have to worry about finding the resources needed to keep themselves alive, but also make sure they are well-protected enough to fight off against the foes that stand behind their wooden walls. In The Forest, players will not only encounter cannibals that will keep returning every night, but also, eventually, mutants that will really test the player's limits before it's time to take a break.
Soma
Psychological Terrors That Tire The Mind
SOMA
- Released
- September 15, 2015
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- t
- Developer(s)
- Frictional Games
- Genre(s)
- Horror
Soma is another horror game that players will likely find themselves feeling exhausted while playing. Although a survival horror like The Forest, the exhaustion from playing this title doesn't come from fighting off various foes, but instead the psychological toll it takes on the player.
Those who are familiar with the game Amnesia will be somewhat prepared for the horrors ahead when playing Soma, which was created by the same developers. As players delve deep under the water in this sci-fi horror, they will unlock some horrible truths while being on edge at every interaction, tiring the mind of the player.
Barotrauma
Spend Countless Hours In A Submarine
Barotrauma
- Released
- March 13, 2023
WHERE TO PLAY
Players usually get exhausted when playing solo. However, games like Barotrauma can not only exhaust one player, but also all their friends. In this survival horror game set within a submarine in a sci-fi world, players must work together to keep their ship from exploding while navigating horrific underwater tunnel systems and the monsters that can be found within them.
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Even when a team of players thinks they have full control, that doesn't stop the stresses that come along with this entertaining title. Every part of the ship must be maintained and controlled. When danger hits, the team is likely to go into a panic, which can leave many players tired afterward. Depending on the role a player has in Barotrauma, they feel that more rely on them, making the hours of exploration much more exhausting.
Darkwood
Both Day And Night Are A Horror To Explore
Darkwood
- Released
- August 18, 2017
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- m
- Developer(s)
- Acid Wizard Studio
- Genre(s)
- Survival Horror
There is never a moment of peace in Darkwood as players will always find themselves on the edge of their seats while playing. Every night in Darkwood, the player must make sure their lights stay on inside and the windows are barricaded to prevent the creatures that can be found in the forests from getting into the player's house. Hiding in a corner with a gun aimed at the doorway is the only way to make sure the player doesn't end up dead.
After such an exhausting night, the player doesn't even get a break during the mornings of Darkwood as they are forced to explore the horrific overgrown forest and the buildings within to find the resources they need to survive. Playing Darkwood for long periods of time is likely to tire a player both physically and mentally, making this horror game, although perfect, one that a player should take plenty of breaks with.
Resident Evil 7: Biohazard
Plenty Of Intense Moments Around The House
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
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch, PC, iOS
- Genre(s)
- Survival Horror, Psychological Horror, First-Person
The Resident Evil franchise has been one of the best horror franchises to be released, with many players adoring almost every title available, including those such as Resident Evil 7: Biohazard, where Capcom attempted to bring the world of Resident Evil into the first-person. With this all-new point of view, players could feel far more immersed in the world of Resident Evil 7, as they fight for their lives against the Baker family and the other horrors around the house.
Resident Evil had been scary in the past, but Resident Evil 7: Biohazard brought a whole new sort of intense fear. Any moment, the father of the house could crash through a wall and refuse to die no matter how many bullets the player wasted, not to mention the other strange happenings around the house. Players could even play this title in VR for those who want to be even more exhausted.
Silent Hill 2
Feel Only Despair As The Player Digs Deeper
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
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, PC
Although many of the greatest but exhausting horror games tend to tire players due to intense survival moments, some games, such as Silent Hill 2, instead exhaust players as they fall deeper into the despair of the themes covered in such a touching yet frightening game.
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Players often have to rely on their fight-or-flight instincts to survive in these games where ammo is sparse or non-existent.
Silent Hill 2 returned to the eyes of players in 2024 after the classic title was remade. With an entirely new look to it, players can experience the trauma of those stuck within Silent Hill all over again. This horror title still has combat elements to it that can be quite intense at moments, but the real exhaustion comes from exploring the dead, silent town of Silent Hill.
Alien: Isolation
Avoid Being Hunted By Aliens And More
Alien: Isolation
- Released
- October 7, 2014
WHERE TO PLAY
One of the most common ways a horror game makes surviving exhausting is through the persistent threat of danger. In Alien: Isolation, players are constantly being hunted by a Xenomorph that uses its senses to track down the player no matter where they are hiding. The alien isn't stupid and pays attention to how the player tries to avoid it, or the hiding places they favor the most to catch an unexpected player.
As players navigate the space station in Alien: Isolation, the player should always be cautious about the noise they make or where they look, become a moment of life or death. Although players do have ways to defend themselves, some moments are better avoided, keeping the player's energy up.
Outlast
Players Only Have A Camera To Record Horrors
Outlast
- Released
- November 4, 2013
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- Mature // Intense Violence, Blood and Gore, Sexual Content, Nudity, Strong Language
- Developer(s)
- Red Barrels
- Genre(s)
- Survival Horror
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC, Linux, macOS
By far, out of all the incredible horror games created over the years, the game that is still one of the most exhausting to survive in is Outlast. Trapped within an Asylum looking into a story, Outlast doesn't hold back from scaring its players. As the start of a popular and successful franchise, Outlast, even though it tires its players through all sorts of stress, continues to pull players back to its horrifying scenarios.
Outlast is another horror survival experience where the player has no way to defend themselves. This leaves the main character with only their camera on hand to record the experiences they encounter while running for their lives to avoid the monstrous people inside, such as Chris Walker, who could easily break the player in half.
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