If you have always been curious about playing survival horror games, but never had the courage (or the patience) to face them, your problems are over!
I have always been a huge fan of the genre and have eaten everyResident Evilfor breakfast since I was a little kid, always fascinated with their engaging stories and immersive atmospheres.
Silent Hill 2 Vs. Resident Evil 4: Which Game Is Best?
Both Silent Hill 2 and Resident Evil 4 are the top giants in the survival horror industry – but which game is better?
So I have the perfect recommendations, from post-apocalyptic scenarios to dystopian futures, that will scare you just enough to get you hooked.
Get ready to face some challenging resource management and bizarre creatures lurking in the dark – and take a look at 10 games that will absolutely turn you into a survival horror fan.
10Resident Evil 2
Chaotic First Day
Resident Evil 2
The originalResident Evil 2was my very first experience with survival horror, so there is nothing more fair (and even poetic) for me to recommend it for newcomers, too.
But I will do it a little differently, pointing to the 2019 remake instead, since the newer version has perfectly modernized the classic and was truly groundbreaking – even convincing Capcom to doa whole series of remakesfor Resident Evil.
And this experience has everything: two main stories, an amazing over-the-shoulder third-person camera perspective, a well-crafted and contained level design, engaging puzzles, and a scary tall guy that chases you.
Existential Horror
I like to describeSomaas a younger brother toBioShock, who is into survival horror. And I say that mainly because this game is breathtaking in terms of atmosphere, being capable of evoking a real sense of dread in a claustrophobic, dark setting.
Basically, you need to explore an underwater facility, while having someexistential crisisand knowing that something is lurking around the corner. It does an incredible job at keeping you on edge with that idea.
So it is quite short and narrative-driven, presenting a unique story with great voice acting, that is a true must-play title for any psychological horror enthusiast.
8Crow Country
Retro Horror
Crow Country
Crow Countryis about exploring an abandoned theme park that works as a puzzle box, where dark secrets are lurking around every corner, while dealing with limited resources and enemies trying to get you.
What I love about it is that it is a love letter to iconic survival horror games of the past, due to its retro style and isometric perspective, but still manages to do its own thing.
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It is a concise and satisfying experience with a great atmosphere and clunky combat that fits perfectly with the crazy ideas of the plot. Probably one of the most fun horror experiences I have had in a while.
7The Evil Within
Hide And Seek
The Evil Within
Let us spice things up withThe Evil Withinto get a little scarier and more tense experience, with a nice action touch.
You play as a detective who is investigating a mysterious mass murder that happened at a creepy hospital – and, obviously, everything turns to shit pretty quickly.
It has a complete grotesque (and I mean it as a compliment) atmosphere and unsettling vibe, which actually made me feel very tense and anxious while playing it, alongside a solid gunplay where each shot literally tears enemies limb from limb.
6Dino Crisis
Scary Big Teeth
Dino Crisis
Dino Crisisis like Resident Evil on steroids for me, since Capcom basically took something already established and gave it a more frantic vibe, with faster pacing and more ferocious enemies (because dinosaurs, right?).
That results in a wild ride that makes you feel a constant mix of tension and dread. Also, the fact that you become more susceptible to enemy attacks when bleeding is simply spine-chilling and adds a thicker layer to the intense atmosphere.
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It is a classic, it is tense, it is scary – and Regina has got to be one of the most badass female protagonists in the gaming universe.
5Alan Wake II
Alan Wake 2
Ever wanted a survival horror kind ofTwin Peaks-esque? Well, what the hell are you still doing here if you are not already playingAlan Wake II?
Jokes aside, this game basically encapsulates everything I love the most about classic survival horror, while adding engaging puzzles and a very creative and original story to it.
Sure, it has a little problem with giving too many resources in some sequences, but the atmosphere makes up for it, since it is a masterclass in building tension andsubverting players’ expectations.
Disturbingly Poetic
Signalisis one of those games that make you feel terribly empty after finishing, since it delivers a melancholic and emotionally devastating experience – that is totally worth it, of course.
It goes beyond building jump scares and tense sequences, creating an uncomfortable atmosphere, and a deep journey about a kind of biomechanical humanoid created by a repressive totalitarian society.
Its dystopian setting is incredible and blends elements from cosmic horror to retro-futuristic sci-fi. And what I love the most about it is that the game manages to be incredibly human, even talking about machines.
3Fatal Frame II: Crimson Butterfly
Being Ghosts With A Camera
Fatal Frame 2: Crimson Butterly
I have this silly fear of horror stories with kids, since they can make everything even scarier for me. ButFatal Frame II: Crimson Butterflytakes that idea to a whole other level.
It follows the story of two twin sisters, Mio and Mayu, who are trapped in a ghost-filled village cursed by a failed ritual – and from this premise alone, you already know that you will find a chokingly thick atmosphere around here.
And I am also obsessed with its gameplay, because it is complex and scary on its own, revolving around a magical camera that can drain and exorcise spirits.
2Silent Hill 2
A Like Foggy In Here
Silent Hill 2
The originalSilent Hill 2is beyond unique for its time – and for the survival horror genre in general, since it is recognized as a massively influential work on story-driven and surreal, psychological experiences.
The game truly makes you feel James Sunderland’s mental state (or the lack of it…) while playing with its gloomy atmosphere, alongside creepy scenarios andspine-chilling monster designs. And even the tank controls fit perfectly with that weird vibe.
I will cheat a little bit and also recommend its modern remake, developed by Bloober Team, which is a total must-play too and basically made SH2 set the bar for survival horror twice in its lifetime.
1Resident Evil 4
Detrás De Ti, Imbécil!
Resident Evil 4
I hope you took enough Spanish classes for this one, since we are talking aboutResident Evil 4, which is a landmark not only for the Resident Evil series, but also for the survival horror genre.
Leon’s journey is amazing at building a breathtaking atmosphere filled with tension and a surreal vibe. Its pacing is great; everything is so quiet and mysterious at the beginning for gradually leaning towards more action, with a lot of variety of enemies and scenarios.
And every action sequence is excellent at creating even more tension, especially because going with guns blazing drains ammo pretty fast and your inventory is limited. So you need to be smart, making your life depends on your organization.
That said, it is a horror game at its core and does have its terrifying moments – and will make you fall in love with the genre.
10 Best Survival Horror Games For Beginners
Want to get started in the survival horror sphere? These games are great for beginners to the genre.
