For the better half of horror games’ history, developers have put players into the shoes of young and vulnerable protagonists who often feel helpless in dark and twisted realities. However, modern games bring a fresh spin to drive recognition of the idea that, for the evil forces of nature, age is just a number.

The 2010s saw the advent of renowned horror game franchises that have gone for a more mature tone and setting that naturally employs weathered middle-aged protagonists, who have had their fair share of challenges in life and now must face some more in the face of psychological, supernatural, and personal horror. Here are the best horror games that feature middle-aged characters that just can’t catch a break.

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5 The Evil Within 2 – Sebastian Castellanos (41)

Metacritic Score: 82

A detective turned a mere survivor in a world of nightmares that holds his daughter captive, Sebastian Castellanos must embark on an emotional and deeply personal journey in The Evil Within 2. His background in the crime division gives him an analytical and perceptive edge when navigating the twisted world of the game. The personal stakes and path towards redemption from his traumatic familial past usher him forward through all the terrors that befall him, culminating in a profound story of a loving father and husband.

The game itself is delightfully thrilling with a semi-open world design that will keep players on their toes. Resource management and upgrade paths have a great deal of depth to them, while some of the boss encounters make superb use of the game mechanics in a strategic manner. Sebastian’s journey is one that all survival-horror enthusiasts must try.

4 Resident Evil Village – Ethan Winters (37)

Metacritic Score: 84

Resident Evil Village is the second installment in the planned trilogy for Ethan Winters and one which, arguably, has the most character development for a protagonist in a Resident Evil game. In contrast to Leon, Jill, Claire, and Chris among other younger protagonists of the popular horror franchise, Ethan Winters stands out as an ordinary and average everyman character who is not a skilled military operative and has just begun to face the horrors that befall his family. There is no flashy last-second parrying here. In fact, Ethan merely uses his hands to defend against attacks, tying it back to the middle-aged nature of the protagonist.

Right from the opening hours of Resident Evil Village, Ethan has to witness the loss of his wife, Mia, as well as his kidnapped daughter, Rosemary. From this moment on, Ethan’s parental instincts drive him through a series of hellish trials, with every step edging him closer to finding the truth about the situation and, with that, a closer look at his own reality. It is a satisfying, surprisingly weighty narrative that makes Resident Evil Village stand out among the rest in the series.

3 Dead Space (2023) – Isaac Clarke (47)

Metacritic Score : 89

Isaac is one of the more resilient protagonists on this list given the action-horror setting of Dead Space Remake. His years of experience and academic background make him an excellent engineer and problem-solver, which plays into the maintenance and repair objectives that players will undertake throughout the game. Isaac’s bulky suit and heavy weapons don’t do his age any favors and that is felt in his relatively slower movement speed compared to other action survival horror titles.

Dead Space Remake revamps the atmospheric horror and sound design of the original to the best effect. Its immersive UI, long-winded animations, no pauses, and seamless transition to cinematic scenes make the game a uniquely immersive horror experience unlike any other. Lastly, the sci-fi setting must be the icing on the cake for fans of that genre.

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2 Alan Wake 2 – Alan (45)

Metacritic Score: 94

Remedy was already challenging stereotypical heroes with the first Alan Wake game, which puts players in the shoes of a writer who could barely sprint for more than 5 meters without panting. The sequel, which thankfully improves Alan’s cardio, lets the player know that Alan has been in a very bad place for 13 years. In the darkest depths of his nightmares, The Dark Place, Alan has lost his wife and his perception of reality as the lines between fiction and the real world continue to blur.

The 45-year-old writer has gone through many renditions of The Return manuscript that he desperately tries to finish in hopes of his escape from The Dark Place but to no avail. In the midst of all this insanity, there’s a rich, cinematic, and layered narrative encompassing themes of duality, cycle of evil, and self-identity set against the backdrop of a Twin-Peaks-inspired town in the American Pacific Northwest, Bright Falls.

1 The Last of Us – Joel Miller (52)

Metacritic Score: 95

The Last of Us presents a personal story, one between a child and her guardian, one of survival, upbringing, and hope. Joel and Ellie's captivating and emotionally charged journey in 'The Last of Us' is a testament to its powerful storytelling and relatable characters. Its successful adaptation to the small screen, loved by critics and fans alike, highlights the game’s writing to resonate beyond the confines of gaming.

At the heart of what makes the narrative tick is a flawed and vulnerable character, Joel, who takes the responsibility of escorting Ellie to a safe refuge, a duty he couldn’t fulfill for his deceased daughter. What follows is a story that tugs at the heartstrings and is equal parts terrifying with its varied designs of the fungal-infested monstrosities that were once human, as well as touching, with moments of serene beauty that demonstrate life in a lifeless world. Fans of traditional horror games may feel the scares are far-and-wide in between, but Naughty Dog makes sure some of the moments in The Last of Us are nail-bitingly tense thanks to visceral audio design and high fidelity of environments and enemy designs for maximum immersion.

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