10 Best Third-Person Horror Games, Ranked

Third-person horror games have been a staple in the horror genre since the 90s. From early groundbreaking releases, using a fixed camera perspective, these titles offered tense gaming experiences that would dominate the horror industry. Third-person horror games contain some of the most disturbing visuals, complex puzzle-solving, and immersive gameplay fans could want and continue to be a big part of the horror genre.

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In modern gaming, the first-person perspective has become the standard for survival horror. However, third-person games continue to be a major force in the genre, with standout remakes, groundbreaking new releases, and hidden indie gems. The best third-person horror games have come to define the genre, engaging players each year with tense and immersive horror experiences that stick with players longer after.

10 Tormented Souls

A Nostalgic Indie Gem

• Metascore: 72

Players of the original Resident Evil and Silent Hill games will love this fixed-camera third-person horror title. Tormented Souls follows an amnesiac woman named Caroline, as she investigates the disappearance of twin sisters in an abandoned hospital. She soon discovers horrific abominations stalk the halls of the hospital as she struggles to uncover the truth.

Tormented Souls is not as slick as other modern horror games. However, the simple graphics, immersive story, and dark atmosphere create a memorable horror experience. Players may have access to only a few weapons, but combat is generally best avoided. While some puzzles can be rather obtuse, Tormented Souls is a worthwhile horror game filled with nostalgic charm.

9 The Evil Within

A Disturbing Survival Horror

• Metascore: 75

While the Resident Evil franchise moved more into action, The Evil Within offered a pure horror experience for genre fans. Players control Sebastian Castellanos, a detective investigating a mass murder, whose world soon becomes filled with horrific monsters and chainsaw-wielding madmen. Separated into 15 chapters, The Evil Within blends tense horror, stealth mechanics, and tough combat, with numerous weapons available to players.

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On release, the game was a hit with horror fans, with its gory content and emphasis on survival rather than action. The Evil Within has grown into a classic of the genre, with a sequel following in 2017. While never outshining the bigger franchises, The Evil Within remains a major release in horror gaming.

8 Fatal Frame 2: Crimson Butterfly

A Terrifying Journey Into Japanese Folklore

• Metascore: 81

Fatal Frame 2 is often considered one of the scariest video games ever. The game was highly influenced by the emergence of Japanese horror at the time, through films such as Ringu in 1998 and Ju-On: The Grudge in 2002. It follows twin sisters, Mio and Mayu, as they investigate paranormal events around an abandoned village. Using their enchanted Camera Obscura, the sisters can exorcise the dangerous spirits they find.

Fatal Frame 2 became a favorite among horror fans, with some unable to finish the game because it was too scary. It would go on to become a successful franchise with multiple sequels following. While the franchise has yet to reappear in the modern era, Fatal Frame 2: Crimson Butterfly remains a genre classic.

7 Alan Wake 2

The Long-Awaited Story Continues

• Metascore: 89

The cult favorite psychological action game, Alan Wake, took players on a strange and disturbing journey, as the troubled crime author Alan Wake searches for his missing wife. Released over ten years later, Alan Wake 2 builds on everything that came before and improves on it.

Delving further into survival horror, the game is rich in atmosphere and narrative, revealing many twists and secrets as the game progresses. Fans of the original game will not be disappointed, as Alan Wake 2 delivers an experience well worth the long wait.

6 Dead Space (2023)

Breathed New Life Into A Sci-Fi Classic

• Metascore: 89

Originally released in 2008, Dead Space is a horror classic. The game drops players into the terrifying world of the Ishimura, a colossal planetary spaceship known as a Planetcracker. Controlling engineer Isaac Clarke, players must explore the doomed ship to discover the fate of the crew. Dead Space is a gory game, where players must dismember enemies to kill them. The aggressive Necromorphs can attack from any direction and are fast and powerful.

While the original remains a classic, the 2023 remake proved to be the superior version. Dead Space was revitalized for a new audience, using modern graphics, sound, and lighting. It provided seamless transitions between levels and expanded the central character to include voice lines.

5 Silent Hill 2

A Benchmark in Psychological Horror

• Metascore: 89

The Silent Hill series is well-established as one of the best in horror gaming, with Silent Hill 2 firmly standing as a genre classic. This masterclass in survival horror delves deep into the psychology of its protagonists and features some of the most disturbing enemies in gaming history.

Players control James Sunderland as he explores the mysterious town of Silent Hill looking for his deceased wife. The sparse nature of the game, mixed with its bleak atmosphere and emotional narrative, created a classic game that pushed survival horror to new places. With the upcoming Silent Hill 2 remake, this popular franchise is once again at the forefront of horror gaming.

4 Resident Evil 2 (2019)

A Classic For A New Generation

• Metascore: 91

The original Resident Evil 2 was a high point in survival horror. As the zombie outbreak spreads throughout Raccoon City, the protagonists, Leon Kennedy and Claire Redfield, are trapped in the local police station. The maze-like building holds many secrets connected to the virus and is soon attacked by deadly creatures and unstoppable monsters.

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While the original is a genre classic, in 2019, the remake was released to critical acclaim. Far from just a modern remaster, the game was remade from the ground up. Every aspect of Resident Evil 2 was improved, from the gameplay to the graphics and sound, to changing the original fixed camera style to an over-the-shoulder perspective. These improvements breathed new life into the series and introduced a horror classic to a new generation of gamers.

3 Resident Evil 4 (2023)

One of the Best Action Horror Games Ever Made

• Metascore: 93

The Resident Evil series was well-established as one of the biggest names in horror gaming when Resident Evil 4 was released in 2005. The game was not only a classic in the survival horror genre, but a reinvention. It took the series into an action-orientated style while retaining all the fun and scares of the original games.

Following their trend of high-quality remakes, Capcom re-released Resident Evil 4 to critical acclaim. This exceptional remake improves every aspect of the original and seamlessly brings in new gameplay elements, such as parrying and stealth mechanics. The horror has been ramped up, with improved lighting, sound, and graphics, creating even more atmosphere and elevating the many iconic moments featured in the game.

2 The Last of Us Part 2

A worthy Sequel to a Classic Game

• Metascore: 93

Repeating the success of The Last of Us was always going to be a tough proposition for the developers. However, The Last of Us Part 2 succeeds on every front, while never quite living up to its predecessor. While parts of the story became divisive among some fans, the game is undoubtedly a colossal achievement.

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The Last of Us 2 features heart-pounding horror, explosive action, and tense stealth sequences. The emotional storytelling hits just as hard as the original, while the landscape remains as beautiful and desolate as ever. The creature design is just as memorable, with the Rat King boss fight being a standout moment. Fans of the franchise will love this unforgettable game that stays with players long after completion.

1 The Last of Us

A Landmark in Action Horror Gaming

• Metascore: 95

Few games have achieved the heights of The Last of Us. Blending stealth, action, and horror with an engaging and emotional narrative, The Last of Us, without a doubt, is one of the best games ever made. Players follow the story of Joel and Ellie, as they travel across post-apocalyptic America, searching for the elusive and rebellious fireflies.

The game works on every level, from the immersive world ravaged by the Cordyceps fungus to the characters, enemy design, narrative, and gameplay. The horror is tense, while the action is exciting. It is now one of the best-known video game franchises in the modern era, with the successful TV adaptation further cementing The Last of Us’s place in popular culture.

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