Halloween is some people's favorite time of year. Candy is everywhere, people can indulge in cosplay, and it's an excuse to watch terrifying movies and play ultra scary video games. But the classic franchises like Resident Evil, Silent Hill, or F.E.A.R. might be overwhelming for gamers who find horror classics like The Thing, The Exorcist, or even Get Out bone-chilling.
But there are plenty of survival horror games that are perfect for that particular brand of horror aficionado. These games will help ease players new to the genre or the aforementioned not-so-brave souls into a deeply unsettling mood that still allows them to sleep at night.
10 Limbo
PlayDead has since released another similar game known as Inside, but Limbo was their first big success. The German Expressionist-styled game features a minimalist approach to both presentation and mechanics. But that doesn't mean it's a boring or shallow experience. In fact, many fans of the game applaud the game's ability to suck players into its world.
The controls are simple, but the atmosphere is spooky as heck. The animation effect of using shadows and backlighting makes the appearances of puzzles, new characters, and things that want to kill the player all the more surprising (and a bit scary). Fans of the game love it so much that there's even a Borderlands mod for it.
9 The Forest
The open-world survival horror game known as The Forest released in 2018 and focuses most heavily on the survival with a dash of horror thrown in for flavor. Though there is a plot to the game, players can also just focus on exploring, building, and challenging the cannibals found throughout the forest.
One of the best parts about the game is that it allows for up to eight concurrent players at a time. As any horror fan will tell those new to the genre, splitting up is not recommended. Playing a creepy game with friends can ease the lurking fear of beasties in the night.
8 Subnautica
If The Forest is the ultimate test of surviving the terrors lurking on dry land, this is the zenith of the same challenge in the deep ocean. Players must overcome challenges like wild animals, uncharted depths, and equipment crafting.
With tons of positive reviews, Subnautica offers a new take on survival horror in a totally unique setting with mechanics familiar enough for veteran and new players. Just maybe don't go into open water any time soon after playing it.
7 Luigi's Mansion 3
This game's designation as "survival horror" is a hotly contested title among the gaming community. It's best described as "baby's first survival horror game" or a kid-friendly horror game which it definitely excels at being.
The latest entry in the franchise sees Luigi return to fight off spooky ghosts and rescue the likes of Princess Peach, Mario, and Toad from being turned into paintings by a skeletal, witchy woman. While a bit kitschy at times, this classic franchise helps ease people into games that have ambiances of crawling dread — the best kind of dread.
6 Alan Wake
Although Control is a spiritual successor to the original Alan Wake entry, Control isn't super scary or all that bizarre despite taking cues from a definitely scary game: SCP Containment Breach. In contrast, Alan Wake builds and builds the ominous atmosphere to a point where the player can almost feel the sweat on Alan's forehead.
With the unique approach of playing as a writer with amnesia, the game drops the player into an unfamiliar, eerie setting that developer Remedy created as a counter to the world of Max Payne. But the worldbuilding in Alan Wake is so much bigger than the game can capture.
Though it debuted in 2010 originally, the game remains a classic among the survival horror and action-adventure genres. Many fans speculate that the connection to Control could signal a long-awaited sequel for the beloved IP.
5 Pathologic (Or Pathologic 2)
MandaloreGaming did a great in-depth review of the original game and its sequel released in 2019. What's wild is that the original game came out in 2004 with an HD remaster released in 2015. The game isn't without its flaws, but it is S-tier when it comes to setting a tone and being just plain "out there."
That said, the original Pathologic may be too slow-paced for some gamers. Pathologic 2 is a bit of a remake and a bit of a sequel, but it features updated graphics, new plot elements, and more. Veteran players may find the gameplay slow versus something like Bloodborne, but players who don't want too many jump scares or outright monstrous characters will find Pathologic 2 a nice middle ground that puts world-building before the frights.
4 Death Stranding
The latest work from narrative master Hideo Kojima, the mind behind the Metal Gear franchise, puts loneliness at the forefront of his game Death Stranding. Though the game initially saw middling sales, gamers slowly but surely developed an interest in the game that placed such importance on connection in a disconnected world.
Primarily an exploration game and walking simulator, the game does two things exceptionally well. One is the incredible graphics produced by the Decima engine and two is how the game interweaves horror elements into its survival mechanics. Players new to the horror genre won't have to deal with jump scares, but some of the battles against BTs will give them goosebumps.
3 The Last of Us
The groundbreaking game from Naughty Dog definitely favors narrative elements. But it serves as an excellent foray into the survival horror genre thanks to its atmosphere, monster/zombie mechanics, and necessity to choose battles and engagements wisely for fear of losing player health.
The fact that The Infected can be triggered by sound makes for stellar stealth gameplay. This, in turn, envelops the player and immerses them completely in the beautifully realized world that Joel and Ellie explore together. The engaging storyline is just icing on the proverbial cake (which, in this case, isn't a lie).
2 Don't Starve/Don't Starve Together
Originally released in 2013, Don't Starve still stands out in the now saturated survival horror game market. Its follow up, Don't Starve Together, added multiplayer support, so that friend groups could challenge themselves (and maybe their friendships).
But the basic principle of the game is simple: don't starve! The painterly animation style pits the player's character against weird creatures, harsh elements, and other "surprises."
Much like Limbo, it establishes an ambiance very early and imbues the horror into every fabric of the game, so it doesn't feel as scary like a game like Slender or Five Night's at Freddy's might feel.
1 Prey
Though based on a previously released game from 2006, this game is more of a spiritual successor to the System Shock franchise. The setup is similar enough to Dead Space in that it involves a singular adventurer and it is set in space. But the game also features creatures that can mimic anything in the environment.
Prey makes for some decent jumpscares initially, but it challenges the players to sharpen their reflexes and shape abilities to best handle the Mimics. But don't let the vivid, inviting Art-Deco style fool the senses. Prey a level-up in terms of scariness from a Limbo or a Don't Starve.