The survival horror genre is an arguably under-used video game genre, with many horror titles leaning more toward cinematic horror games and walking simulators packed with jump scares. Survival horror classics like Silent Hill and Resident Evil are known for their non-linear designs, dense atmospheres, unsettling narratives, and ridiculous puzzles.
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Most of the time, these games also include gameplay loops centered around resource management and exploration. Scouring the map for key items and scrounging for ammunition aren't uncommon activities in survival horror games, often done between solving puzzles and fighting horrific creatures.
8 Hidden Deep
Side-Scrolling Horror In A Mysterious Underground Facility
- Platform(s): PC
- Released: 2022
- Developer(s): Cogwheel Software
- Genre: Horror
This side-scrolling, action-packed horror game has players delving into a dark and mysterious underground mining facility. Hidden Deep is a particularly unique experience thanks to the ability to control multiple characters.
Hidden Deep follows a mission-based structure with limited lives, which can be frustrating at times. However, this life limit adds to the tension of the game, standing in for typical survival-horror mechanics such as limited saves (as seen in Resident Evil). All in all, the Aliens-inspired story, satisfying movement controls (including a grappling hook), and simulated physics make Hidden Deep a distinctive horror adventure that's worth a look.
7 Dino Trauma
A 90s-Inspired FPS With A Focus On Resource Management
- Platform(s): PC
- Released: 2023
- Developer(s): Phobia Interactive
- Genre: FPS, Horror
This 90s-inspired, indie first-person shooter features a lo-fi, pixelated aesthetic and slow, methodical FPS combat. Dino Trauma takes clear inspiration from games such as Dino Crisis, with its eerie atmosphere and iconic dinosaur enemies.
Dino Trauma may be a lower-budget experience, and it's still in Early Access, but it provides a dense and often unsettling atmosphere. Quiet exploration of Dino Trauma's overgrown and abandoned environments is frequently broken up with stints of dangerous combat.
6 Gloomwood
A Combination Of Survival Horror And Immersive-Sim
This combination of immersive-sim and survival horror takes inspiration from titans in both genres, such as classic titles like the original Thief and Resident Evil 4. Although Gloomwood isn't the scariest of games, it does feature many survival-horror elements.
Gloomwood utilizes limited resources that must be managed carefully, along with an abundance of strong enemies that can kill the player extremely fast. Combined with the immersive-sim gameplay loop that offers expansive sandbox environments to progress through, Gloomwood is a survival-horror experience like no other.
5 Lake Haven - Chrysalis
A Cinematic Prologue Inspired By Silent Hill
- Platform(s): PC
- Released: 2023
- Developer(s): Encrypt Games
- Genre: FPS, Horror
Lake Haven - Chrysalis is a cinematic, narrative-focused indie survival horror game with a retro look and feel. The game's old-school PlayStation aesthetic, user-interface, and gameplay take clear inspiration from classic survival horror titles like Silent Hill. As such, any fans of Silent Hill should feel right at home here.
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Lake Haven - Chrysalis is unfortunately a very short prologue to what's planned to be a larger experience, but the low price tag makes it worth checking out for any fan of survival horror. While it doesn't feature much in the way of combat or resource management — though elements of these mechanics are hinted at — Lake Haven does a tremendous job of focusing on the puzzle-solving gameplay of classic survival-horror games. Furthermore, the creative camera work and surreal narrative make for an engaging experience that doesn't overstay its welcome.
4 Nightmare Of Decay
A Boiling Pot Of Survival Horror Influences
- Platform(s): PC
- Released: 2022
- Developer(s): Checkmaty
- Genre: FPS, Horror
Nightmare Of Decay is a boiling pot of survival horror influences that frequently pays tribute to titans in the genre. Most predominantly, Nightmare Of Decay takes influence from the Resident Evil franchise, both in its original form and the latter released first-person titles.
Nightmare Of Decay itself is a first-person survival horror game that, like the original Resident Evil, takes place in a zombie-infested mansion. However, Nightmare Of Decay also features gun-wielding cultists that manage to inject a little variety into the experience. Newcomers to the genre may not find much to like here, but Nightmare Of Decay is packed with satisfying references that elevate an otherwise standard gameplay loop.
3 The Night Of The Scissors
A Short And Sweet Third-Person Survival Horror Game
- Platform(s): PC
- Released: 2022
- Developer(s): Tomás Esconjaureguy
- Genre: Horror
This short and sweet survival-horror game takes clear inspiration from horror icons such as the original Resident Evil games and Silent Hill. As mentioned, The Night Of The Scissors is a short experience, but one that's worth having for any fan of old-school horror games and the VHS-aesthetic of recent indie horror games.
The game's dingy environments and dark, creepy atmosphere, combined with the fuzzy VHS effects, make for a consistently eerie tone. However, while the game's visual style complements its horror gameplay, it certainly won't appeal to all fans of the survival horror genre.
2 Witch Hunt
Immersive, Non-Linear Horror Set In The 18th Century
- Platform(s): PC
- Released: 2018
- Developer(s): Gua
- Genre: FPS, Horror
This immersive, non-linear horror game puts players in the shoes of a witch hunter in the 18th century. Witch Hunt features sandbox elements and a dense atmosphere, with a gameplay loop that focuses on exploration and resource management.
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Witch Hunt's open world is consistently eerie, with brilliant sound design and lighting that provide a frequently unsettling atmosphere. What's more, Witch Hunt's lack of hand-holding adds to the sense of dread and encourages patience on the part of the player.
1 Project Zomboid
A Deep Simulation Of Survival In A Zombie Apocalypse
Project Zomboid
- Platform(s)
- PC
- Released
- November 8, 2013
- Developer(s)
- The Indie Stone
- Genre(s)
- Survival Horror
This dense, heavily simulated survival game has been in Early Access since 2013. Project Zomboid takes place during a violent zombie apocalypse and features a permanent death mechanic as well as online multiplayer, resulting in a highly replayable experience.
Project Zomboid simulates many survival elements, providing a challenging sandbox in which players must worry not only about being torn apart by zombies, but where their next meal is going to come from. Players must manage their resources carefully and ensure they don't try to take on too many zombies at once, as just one bite can spell the end of any given character.
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