Survival Horror became popularized thanks to games such as Resident Evil. Over time, more franchises were made such as Silent Hill, Dead Space, Amnesia, etc. This article will focus on the top 15 survival horror games for you to buy on Steam. Just prepare to be spooked if you choose to buy any of the games on the list.
15. Eldervale
Eldervale gameplay
A short, but amazing indie game made to resemble survival horror games from the early 2000s. This dark game follows Ophelia Delaney who has been haunted by her past, so she eventually returns to a town she grew up in to find out the details of what happened in the past. The game has you explore this town while surviving against horrifying creatures.
The game is in the third person with a similar camera view to that of Resident Evil 4. Just like in an average survival horror game, you must solve puzzles to access new areas. You can obtain weapons throughout the game to defend yourself from monsters. The game is good, but the areas can be very dark, so you have been warned.
Ophelia encountering and fighting a nurse monster.
14. Hello Neighbor
This game has you play as a boy if investigates a creepy neighbor’s house after the boy hears a scream and sees the neighbor locking up someone in the basement. The boy eventually gets caught and has to find a way out of the house after he finds that the neighbor created a large fence around the house preventing any victims from escaping.
You must find key items to access new areas in the house while avoiding the neighbor. Although you can’t kill the creepy neighbor with a handgun or a rocket launcher, you can use a toy rifle or traps to stun the neighbor. To mix things up for the player, the AI of the neighbor changes what they do base on the player’s previous actions. This makes the player want to explore the house through different routes to avoid the traps placed in previous routes taken.
The player trying to avoid a giant version of the neighbor during Act 4.
13. Five Nights at Freddy’s
You play as a night guard named Mike Schmidt who watches over Freddy Fazbear’s Pizza at night. Unfortunately, his life is at risk because the animatronics roam and night trying to kill Mike. Mike has to go through the nights while avoiding being killed by the animatronics.
The gameplay is from a first-person perspective. In each level (called nights), you keep an eye on the animatronics’ locations by viewing the camera via computer and keeping them out by shutting down the doors. However, doing those two things drain batteries, so you must only view the rooms and shut down doors when you need to.
One of the animatronics attacking the player.
12. Bendy and the Ink Machine
Bendy and the Ink Machine gameplay
You play as a retired animator who returns to a studio he once worked for, but finds himself in a horrifying situation as cartoon characters, that are brought to life by an ink machine, are out to kill him. You must solve puzzles while fighting off the cartoon characters in the dark studio.
The game is from a first-person perspective. As already mentioned, you explore the studio trying to find out what is going on while avoiding monsters such as Bendy himself. There are weapons you can use to defend yourself against monsters. The monsters in the game are terrifying.
Although the game got mixed reviews from critics, gamers praised it overall thus giving it a cult following. This game may make you not want to watch old black & white Disney movies.
The player encounters a monstrous version of Bendy.
11. Dead Space
Dead Space gameplay
You play as an engineer named Isaac Clarke who goes with a group of space soldiers to a spaceship called Ishimura only to find that it is infested with aliens called “Necromorphs.” Throughout the game, you explore the ship and do light puzzles; as you do those things, you must watch out for the Necromorphs as they might be around the next corner or breaking into the room from the ceiling.
The game is in the third-person over-the-shoulder view. You do have an arsenal of weapons ranging from the plasma cutter to a space assault rifle. There is a store in the game where you can buy ammo, weapons, or upgrade weapons you already have. Like other games on the list, this is a terrifying game; often you will be walking in a hall or room, and then Necromorphs break into the room from a ceiling or wall without warning.
A Necromorph about to attack Isaac in the elevator.
10. Dead Space 2
Dead Space 2 gameplay
In the sequel of the first Dead Space, you play as Isaac Clarke again as he must survive another Necromorph outbreak that is taking place in a space city called “The Sprawl.” Just like in the original, you explore dark areas in fear that Necromorphs are right around the corner. If a spaceship infested with Necromorphs didn’t scare you enough, how about a space city filled with Necromorphs?
The game overall plays like the original where the camera view is over-the-shoulder in third-person. You can upgrade your weapons, buy ammunition, buy new guns, and buy new armor for Isaac. The Necromorphs are terrifying like in the original; Dead Space 2 adds new monsters such as the Stalker that hides before striking you once they have the chance.
Isaac about to fight a boss called the Tormentor.
9. Dying Light
Dying Light gameplay
In this open-world game, you play as an agent named Kyle Crane who must survive in a city filled with zombies. You can fight off the horrifying zombies with weapons or you can avoid them by doing parkour on buildings. The zombies are not too bad during the day time, but they become more dangerous at night and certain special zombie types appear and move as fast as you.
This game was developed by the company that developed Dead Island. Like Dead Island, this game is in the first-person view. You can gain weapons and repair them. There are different types of zombies in both day and night time. You also can get experience points which you can use to upgrade your abilities.
The big emphasis on this game is parkour. You can avoid the zombies by climbing up buildings and jumping over obstacles. Nighttime is where the zombies become more dangerous, and some zombies can move fast and do parkour like you. The good news is that you can get a boost in experience points by exploring at night.
If you like open-world games and are interested in parkour then you won’t be disappointed with Dying Light.
A volatile chasing the playing during the night.
8. Amnesia: The Dark Descent
Amnesia: The Dark Descent gameplay
In this first-person survival horror game, you play as Daniel who finds himself in a castle. Playing as Daniel, you explore the dark castle while avoiding horrifying monsters. You have no means of defending yourself, so you must hide from the monsters or run away from them, but they will keep searching for you for a while.
Just like in many games, you have a health bar that can be depleted if hit by a monster, but health is not the only thing you have to worry about. You have to worry about maintaining your sanity which can be depleted by looking at monsters and being in the dark.
Luckily, you can find items such as tinderboxes which can light up an area. Overall this game, especially the monsters, is terrifying.
The player encountering a monster.
7.Dead by Daylight
Dead by Daylight gameplay
In this game, you can as a killer (in first-person) and hunt down survivors, or you can be a survivor (in third-person) and escape from the killer. As a survivor, you team up with three other people as you try to avoid getting caught by the insane killer who is trying to sacrifice you to a monster called the “Entity.”
The goal of survivors is to repair generators so that they can unlock the exit. The killer can catch a survivor, take them to the sacrifice ground, and hook them to begin the sacrifice. Survivors can use items against the killer such as a flashlight that blinds the killer.
There are many characters (both survivors and killers) in the game to play from. There is DLC for the game that brings in new maps and characters. One DLC brings in Heather Mason (from Silent Hill 3) as a survivor, and pyramid head (from Silent Hill 2) as a killer.
A killer looking for survivors.
6. SOMA
SOMA gameplay
This game has you play as Simon who finds himself in a submarine research facility. You must find out what is going on while avoiding terrifying monsters such as the leviathan. Throughout the game, you can find clues to piece together what is going on.
This game was developed by the same company that made Amnesia, and it plays like Amnesia. If you liked Amnesia, then you are likely to enjoy SOMA.
The player encountering and being grabbed by monster.
5. The Evil Within
The Evil Within gameplay
This game has you in the shoes of Sebastian Castellanos who finds himself in a realm filled with monsters. You must explore the nightmarish world, and find key items while dealing with the horrific monsters.
This game was directed by Shinji Mikami, the same person who created the Resident Evil series. The game is over-the-shoulder third-person gameplay like Resident Evil 4 (which was directed by Mikami himself). You can gain weapons to defend yourself from enemies, but you must manage your resources because they are limited.
Mikami did a good job making it scary; the monsters (such as the Keeper) and the areas are really scary and disturbing. If you are a fan of Resident Evil, then check out The Evil Within.
Sebastian trying to escape from a monster wielding a chainsaw.
4.The Evil Within 2
The Evil Within 2 gameplay
In the sequel to The Evil Within 1, you once again play as Sebastian Castellanos. He has left the police force but goes into another nightmarish realm to rescue his daughter named Lily who he thought was dead. Like in the first game, you must explore the horrifying world while dealing with disturbing looking monsters.
The game plays like the first overall when it comes to the general gameplay. This game does have a crafting system where ammunition can be made. If you like the first game, then you will like its sequel.
Sebastian facing off against a monster called the Obscura.
3. Resident Evil 7: Biohazard
Resident Evil 7: Biohazard gameplay
This return to Resident Evil’s survival horror roots has you in the role of an engineer named Ethan Winters who must survive in a farmhouse against a fungus-infected family. The family stalks Ethan throughout the house as Ethan tries to survive and figure out what is going on.
Unlike other Resident Evil games, this game is in the first-person view. Puzzles must be solved to access new areas while avoiding the family who may be around the corner. The game is very scary, and even scarier if the game is played in VR (which is the best way to experience this game).
Ethan shooting at monsters called Molded.
2. Resident Evil 2 (2019)
Resident Evil 2 gameplay
You play as a rookie cop Leon Kennedy and college student Claire Redfield who are trying to survive in a city infested with zombies and other monsters. The two survivors must solve puzzles to access new areas as they fight against monstrosities that are out to eat them or kill them. Managing resources (such as ammunition) is a must or you will not be able to defend yourself against bosses you come across.
This is a remake of Resident Evil 2, but goes with the third-person camera angle (like in Resident Evil 4)) instead of the fixed camera angle that was in the original Resident Evil 2. As already mentioned, there are different kinds of monsters ranging from zombies to the ivy plant monsters. As a Resident Evil game is supposed to be, this game is very scary and fun to play.
Leon encountering a G Adult monster in the sewer.
1. Resident Evil (2002)
Resident Evil gameplay
Sitting in first is the remake of the first Resident Evil game. You play as STARS members Chris Redfield and Jill Valentine and they must survive a mansion filled with zombies and other creatures. Puzzles must be solved to go to new areas, and you will encounter many kinds of horrifying monsters along the way. Although you have weapons to defend yourselves, you must preserve your ammunition as it is limited.
The remake expands on the areas from the original Resident Evil 1 by adding new rooms. New monsters have been added such as the crimson head. It also introduced defense items such as grenades and daggers. This game is very terrifying and considered to be one of the scariest games.
Chris encountering a plant monster called Plant 42.
