Summary
- Indie horror games like Cannibal Abduction offer nostalgia with VHS glitches and fixed camera angles.
- Fear the Spotlight by Blumhouse Games combines low-res art with horror storytelling.
- Conscript drops players into WW1 chaos with unique survival horror gameplay.
Survival horror remains one of the most popular genres of video games today. Many of its classic titles not only changed the horror genre but also innovated video games in general. From the fixed camera classics, Resident Evil and Silent Hill, to more modern series such as Amnesia and Outlast, survival horror offers immersive gaming experiences that are not easily forgotten.
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While the genre has moved forward, with cleaner graphics and gameplay, the demand for retro-style experiences remains. Many developers, inspired by the horror titles of old, have released new visions of terror, complete with fixed-camera POVs, disturbing monsters, and nostalgic low-res or pixel-style game worlds.
9 Cannibal Abduction
A Short Indie Horror Gem
- Platform(s): PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Microsoft Windows, Linux, Xbox Series X|S, macOS
- Developer(s): Selewi, Tomás Esconjaureguy
- Released: 2023
Inspired by the slasher movies of the 80s, complete with VHS glitches and cinematic fixed camera angles, Cannibal Abduction is a fun indie horror game from the developers of Night of the Scissors. In the game, players control Henry. After his car breaks down in the middle of nowhere, he finds himself hunted by a very hungry family.
Cannibal Abduction is a great example of the thriving indie horror scene. With its short playtime, challenging survival gameplay, and fun puzzles, horror fans will love this gruesome and addictive horror experience.
8 Fear The Spotlight
A Short Survival Horror From Blumhouse Games
Fear the Spotlight
- Released
- September 15, 2023
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Cozy Game Pals
- Publisher(s)
- Blumhouse Games
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong
Fear the Spotlight is a fun survival horror game that, like many on this list, takes inspiration from early Resident Evil and Silent Hill games. With its low-res art style and fixed camera angles, this short game is oozing atmosphere.
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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.
While it may be somewhat lacking in the scare department, Fear the Spotlight’s story easily holds the player's attention throughout. Split into two chapters, the game follows Vivian and Amy, who, after sneaking into school after dark, must survive a seance gone wrong. Published by horror movie masters, Blumhouse, Fear the Spotlight will appeal to a wide horror audience looking for a quick horror title to enjoy.
7 You Will Die Tonight
A Love Letter To Horror Classics
- Platforms: PC
- Developers: Spiral Bound Interactive LLC
- Released: 2022
Blending the top-down survival horror of genre icons with classic arcade-style combat, You Will Die Tonight is a love letter to gaming history. Set in a cursed 19th-century mansion, players control members of the Aires Division, an elite special forces team tasked with uncovering the sinister secrets of the Breckenridge Estate.
You Will Die Tonight will appeal to all long-time horror gamers, with its tense action and nostalgic gameplay. While the game may seem like a cheap Resident Evil knock-off, You Will Die Tonight brings a fresh take, with players controlling every member of the team, with each subsequent death impacting the playthrough.
6 Alisa
A Nostaglic & Atmospheric Offering
- Platforms: PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Microsoft Windows, Linux, Xbox Series X|S, Mac OS
- Developers: Casper Croes
- Released: 2020
Highly inspired by the horror classics of the late 90s, Alisa follows an Elite Royal Agent on her mission of capturing a wanted criminal when she finds herself trapped in an old Victorian mansion. Set in a unique 1920s-inspired fantasy universe, Alisa brings all the survival horror action fans of the genre love.
Players can use various weapon loadouts, change their dresses and armor for different stat boosts, and explore the strange and horrific world filled with hidden secrets. Alisa is a solid survival action horror that feels like a lost gem from another generation.
5 Tormented Souls
An Immersive Survival Horror With Challenging Puzzles
Tormented Souls
- Released
- August 27, 2021
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Dual Effect Games
- Publisher(s)
- PQube
- Genre(s)
- Horror
- Platform(s)
- PC, PS5, PS4, Switch, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One
- OpenCritic Rating
- Fair
This immersive fixed-camera horror game is a love letter to the classic titles of the 90s. Players control Caroline Walker as she explores an abandoned hospital in search of her twin sister.
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Filled with horrifically deformed creatures and complex puzzles, Tormented Souls is a challenging game, with save points accessible only through rarely found save tapes. While the save mechanic can be frustrating, Tormented Souls perfectly recreates the tense horror of Resident Evil and Silent Hill and is a must-play for die-hard survival horror fans.
4 Crow Country
A Striking PS1-Inspired Survival Horror Experience
Crow Country
- Released
- May 9, 2024
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- SFB Games
- Publisher(s)
- SFB Games
- Genre(s)
- Survival Horror
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong
Set in 1990, players control Mara Forest as she explores the horrors of Crow Country Amusement Park. The park was abandoned after its founder, Edward Crow, vanished mysteriously. Players must uncover the truth behind the disappearance while fending off enemies and solving puzzles.
With its fixed camera style, maze-like levels, and darkly vibrant design, Crow Country offers a unique take on retro-style horror while maintaining its nostalgic feel. Heavily influenced by the early Resident Evil and Silent Hill games, this is a title genre fans are sure to love.
3 Conscript
Exploring The Horrors Of War
Conscript
- Released
- July 23, 2024
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Catchweight Studio
- Publisher(s)
- Team17
- Genre(s)
- Survival Horror
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series S, Xbox Series X
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong
This top-down survival horror game drops players into the real-life hell of the First World War. Set in 1916 during the battle of Verdun, players control a French soldier fighting their way through the labyrinth of trenches as they search for their missing friend.
Inspired by survival horror classics, Conscript is a unique take on the genre, effectively using the harrowing chaos of WW1 over fantastical monsters. Players must battle their way through enemy soldiers, with challenging melee and ranged combat, and solve various puzzles across the large world. Conscript is a memorable and effective hidden gem that will easily please die-hard horror fans.
2 Darkwood
Survive The Hidden Dangers Of The Wood
Darkwood
- Released
- August 18, 2017
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Acid Wizard Studio
- Publisher(s)
- Crunching Koalas
- Genre(s)
- Survival Horror
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong
One of the most atmospheric horror games available today, Darkwood is a masterclass of sound and visual horror that rarely relies on jump scares. In the game, players must explore and survive a large semi-open world as they attempt to escape the mysterious wood.
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Played from a top-down perspective, with no quest markers or objectives available, players must search for resources while uncovering the many secrets hidden in the game. Darkwood is challenging, with the game saving only at the end of each day. For horror fans looking for a tense survival experience, Darkwood is a must-play experience.
1 Signalis
Brilliant Sci-fi Horror
Signalis
- Released
- October 27, 2022
WHERE TO PLAY
- Genre(s)
- Survival Horror, Indie Games, Adventure, Shooter
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Microsoft Windows, Xbox Series X/S
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong
Inspired by the classic novel The King in Yellow, this fantastic survival horror game brings players to a darkly surreal dystopian future. Players control Elster, a ship technician Replika unit. After crash landing, she searches for her missing crew in an underground facility filled with nightmarish monsters.
While Signalis uses many of the classic survival horror tropes of the early Resident Evil games, including a fixed camera and save rooms, the game is a stylish and unique take on the well-worn genre. Horror fans will love the atmosphere, mystery, and classic combat that make Signalis one of the best modern horror games available today.
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