Silent Hill is one of survival horror's most influential titles, to say the least. In fact, it's safe to say that it shaped the future of gaming in general. The dense, ominous atmosphere of the eponymous town creeps into your heart and head as you navigate your way through each story, torn between focusing on solving the mysteries and surviving.

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Even age hasn't managed to take away from the series, with near-decrepit graphics managing to give a thrill that most modern titles can't even get close to. But luckily, the soul of Silent Hill has spread far and wide in the gaming industry, and there are several titles that seem to take a bit of its soul for their own. This list encompasses a handful of those.

Updated October 20, 2022 by Ritwik Mitra: Silent Hill is one of the greatest video games series of all time, despite having its fair share of duds in recent times. The fact that P.T.'s promise amounted to nothing was a source of great dismay for many fans, although fans are still hopeful that Konami's recent announcement of more Silent Hill games might bring the series back from the depths of obscurity. Here are some of the best games fans can play to remember the series until the latest games come out.

20 Dead Space

Dead Space trams

Dead Space is a game that needs no introduction. Most people remember the isolated halls of the USG Ishimura and how this setting inspired a level of dread that most other horror games have yet to replicate. It helped that Isaac Clarke was a pretty riveting character whose personal story tied into the narrative really well, despite him not even saying a single word.

The second game is definitely more action-packed, but there's something truly chilling about the atmosphere of the first game that will still manage to send shivers down your spine even today. Dealing with a horde of necromorphs and uncovering the mysteries that lie within this title makes for a great time indeed.

19 System Shock 2

The moment you meet Shodan in System Shock 2.

System Shock 2 is one of the greatest immersive sim titles ever made. The fact that Ken Levine took everything he learned from this title into the developer of BioShock makes it clear how influential and groundbreaking this game really is. Just like Dead Space, System Shock 2 also uses the isolation of space to tell a compelling story where you need to watch your back at every corner.

With the System Shock remake coming out sooner rather than later, most people will either get their first glimpse into the series or try out a game that was highly dated until now. Hopefully, this will get more people to check out System Shock 2 as well, which is highly playable despite its graphics being a bit dated.

18 P.T.

A screenshot from the famous P.T. demo

It would be impossible to talk about games like Silent Hill without mentioning the legendary horror experience that is P.T. Kojima, Norman Reedus, and Guillermo Del Toro were on route to creating something special before Konami pulled the plug on the new Silent Hills project, leading to P.T. becoming one of the rarest video games around.

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The only avenues to access this game are to either have it downloaded and never removed from your PS4, purchase an overpriced console that has the game loaded on it, or hack your PlayStation console to get P.T. illegitimately. All of these things might seem like a lot of effort... but any horror game aficionado would agree that going the extra mile is worth it if the end result is checking out one of the most groundbreaking horror games out there.

17 The Mortuary Assistant

Raymond in mortuary looking out the window after the second night and telling Rebecca that this will never end in the mortuary assistant

Silent Hill is all about unsettling places and disgusting actions — remember that bit in Silent Hill 2 when you have to put your hand into a mysterious oozing hole? If you're looking for that same skin-crawling feeling, The Mortuary Assistant is right up your alley.

This first-person horror game casts you as, well, a mortuary's assistant. Your job is to prepare dead bodies for burial, which is already creepy enough; throw in some randomized demonic encounters, and you have a recipe for a truly terrifying experience.

16 Deadly Premonition

Deadly Premonition's main character, Detective Francis York Morgan, looks at a sign that reads "Welcome to Rainy Woods"

One of Silent Hill's clearest predecessors in tone and content is David Lynch's iconic television series Twin Peaks. Think about it: both are about small towns consumed by the forces of darkness, both feature incredible music, and both have dialogue and performances that are a little, uh, quirky.

Deadly Premonition goes even further with the surreal Twin Peaks vibe. You play as Francis York Morgan, an FBI Agent investigating a spate of murders in a small town in Washington. The writing is off-the-wall, the characters are bizarre, and the combat is unintuitive — it's classic survival horror, alright.

15 Siren

character avoiding a shibito in siren

While many survival-horror games take inspiration from Silent Hill, the series' developers didn't work on many other horror games after leaving Konami. Siren is the rare exception to this trend. This PS2 horror classic was directed by Keiichiro Toyama, one of the creators of the Silent Hill series.

Siren follows a group of characters who develop telepathic abilities, allowing them to see through the eyes of others — which is useful, since they're trapped in a village that's infested with undead monsters called shibito. You'll have to use your telepathy in order to avoid the shibito and survive. The game's dark, haunting atmosphere is directly reminiscent of Silent Hill.

14 Tormented Souls

Tormented Souls torture room

While horror games in general have had a bit of a renaissance in recent years, most modern entries in the genre bring new innovations like a first-person perspective or a dynamic, controllable camera. These are great ideas, but part of the power of old-school survival horror was in its use of fixed camera angles to force your perspective. Enter Tormented Souls.

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This spooktastic homage to horror games like Silent Hill 2 and Resident Evil follows Caroline Walker, who's trapped in an eerie abandoned hospital and must search for a way out. You'll have to carefully conserve your resources, solve puzzles, and avoid terrifying enemies in order to survive.

13 Rule Of Rose

Silent Hill — particularly the second game in the series — is characterized by a focus on psychological horror and symbolism, and the PS2 cult classic Rule Of Rose takes those ideas and runs with them even further. The game's depiction of childhood trauma and cruelty generated controversy when it was originally released, and as a result it sold very poorly; secondhand copies will cost you a pretty penny nowadays.

But it's worth seeking this one out. Its emotional story and disturbing atmosphere are both beautiful and terrifying, while its slow-paced gameplay forces you to feel powerless and afraid.

12 The Medium

Marianne exploring in The Medium

As unabashed fans of Silent Hill, the developers at Bloober Team wear their inspiration on their sleeves. Their game, The Medium, is no different. With a score composed by legendary Silent Hill composer Akira Yamaoka and a reality-bending world, The Medium certainly leans into the comparison.

The eerie horror adventure is set in 1980s Poland and sees the main character, Marianne, flipping between the real world and the spirit world underneath — a dynamic that will be familiar to any Silent Hill fanatic. While the two-world setup isn’t perfect, it is a fine substitute until Silent Hill fans get their hands on a new title in the series.

11 The Evil Within 2

Sebastian from Evil Within 2 escaping a horde of monsters

The Evil Within 2’s horror bona fides are not to be doubted. Coming from legendary director Shinji Mikami of Resident Evil fame, the game turns you loose in a massive, surreal world. The uncomfortable blend of the real and the imagined takes center stage, much like in Silent Hill.

The Evil Within 2 harkens back to an era of survival horror where you needed to count every resource; one bullet is often the difference between life or death. If you dig Silent Hill's explorations of trauma, unreliable narrators, and flimsy realities, The Evil Within 2 could be what the (spooky, pyramid-shaped) doctor ordered.

10 Amnesia: The Dark Descent

Main character in Amnesia: The Dark Descent holding a lantern.

When he awakens in the looming halls of the Prussian Brennenburg Castle, Daniel can only remember three things about himself: his name, where he lives, and that he is being hunted. And so begins the haunting events of Amnesia: The Dark Descent.

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Similar to Silent Hill, Amnesia draws heavily from its atmosphere. You're not given any weapons and must instead rely on your wits to hide or escape from monsters. And if that wasn't enough, Amnesia's game-changing sanity mechanic adds in a layer of psychological horror that lingers long after you turn the game off.

9 Fatal Frame

Two girls running from Fatal Frame

Fatal Frame begins with Mafuyu Hinasaki going missing while searching for his tutor Junsei Takamine and his assistants. You play as his sister, Miku, as you search for him in the haunted Himoru Mansion. As you explore, you'll face off against hostile ghosts — with only a spirit-sensing camera to protect you.

Fatal Frame's photography mechanic forces you to look directly at its terrifying ghosts, leaving you virtually helpless against the aggressive spirits. There are puzzles to solve and mysteries to uncover that are reminiscent of those found in Silent Hill.

8 Alan Wake

Alan Wake holding a flashlight in Alan Wake Remastered

In Alan Wake, you play as the titular author, whose wife has disappeared in the eminently spooky town of Bright Falls, Washington. The game uses Bright Falls as a playground for psychological thrills by filling it with enemies called the Taken, which are created when darkness possesses humans, animals, and objects.

Each Taken is protected by a layer of darkness that must be destroyed by the light before they can be defeated. Alan carries a flashlight that requires batteries to stay on, as well as a small variety of other items, but you'll need to use environmental light sources and think critically about each of your decisions.

7 Until Dawn

Main Characters of Until Dawn from left to right: Emily, Michael, Matthew, Sam, Hannah, and Ashley

After a prank gone wrong results in the tragic loss of twin sisters Hannah and Beth Washington, the remaining protagonists of Until Dawn drift apart. But then, they receive invitations to a party on the anniversary of the sisters' deaths. For better or for worse, the group finds themselves back together for one night. But as the party wears on, they begin to suspect that they are being stalked by a masked assailant.

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Until Dawn is like a playable slasher movie, putting the story in your hands. Each of your choices impacts the characters' relationships and the outcome of their adventures. Whether they survive — and whether they uncover the root of the mystery — is up to you.

6 Detention

Girl sitting under a spotlight in a dark theatre in Detention

In 1960s Taiwan, Wei Chung Ting falls asleep in class. When he wakes up, he finds that an incoming typhoon has left the campus completely deserted. Well, almost. He finds a senior, Fang Ray Shin, sleeping in the auditorium. Together, the two of them discover that the place they once knew has become a nightmarish version of itself that's infested with evil creatures.

Detention utilizes similar tactics to Silent Hill with the twisted, nightmarish version of the school versus the ordinary one. The story unveils itself similarly as well: slow and subtle but with an undeniable impact.

5 Resident Evil

Jill standing alert with her gun in Resident Evil

The eponymous first installment in the Resident Evil series follows partners Chris Redfield and Jill Valentine as they struggle to survive in a zombie-infested mansion while trying to figure out where the zombies came from.

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Each character has their own strengths and weaknesses, making the mansion feel like two completely different places. And even though it's the first Resident Evil game, it features a deep, intricate plot that continues throughout the series. Resident Evil charted the course for the entire genre — so much so that Silent Hill was originally created to capitalize on its success.

4 Heavy Rain

Ethan standing in the rain in Heavy Rain

Heavy Rain's devastating story is kicked off by Ethan Mars and his son Jason being struck by a vehicle, which Jason doesn't survive. Ethan becomes consumed with guilt and trauma, which in turn cause him to experience blackouts. Then, his other son, Shaun, is kidnapped by the notorious Origami Killer.

While it's not a straight horror game, Heavy Rain's story has similar elements to several Silent Hill games. Its dark and moody atmosphere will instantly appeal to fans of the classic horror series.

3 Haunting Ground

Enemy chasing after the player character in Haunting Ground

When Fiona Belli awakens in a mysterious castle, her memories are foggy at best and the eerily docile servant, Daniella, makes her uneasy. Something isn't right. She has to leave. Luckily, she finds someone that she can trust: a dog named Hewie. Together, they might just be able to escape.

Haunting Ground is a psychological thriller as well as a classic survival horror game. As Fiona, you'll rely on hiding, crafting small items, setting traps, and Hewie. She's also prone to panic, leaving you unable to control her until she relaxes. Her vulnerability and the truly twisted nature of her story are beautifully woven throughout the game.

2 Clock Tower

Jennifer from Clock Tower being attacked by Scissorman

In September 1995, Jennifer Simpson is adopted by the wealthy, reclusive Simon Barrows, along with three others, Laura, Anne, and Lotte. The four of them are taken together to his sprawling mansion, the Clock Tower. Shortly after their arrival, one of the girls is killed, and Jennifer finds herself being hunted by the Scissorman, a child brandishing a large pair of scissors.

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Clock Tower is one of the earliest survival-horror games ever made. While its foreboding atmosphere and intricate mystery are similar to Silent Hill, Clock Tower is also similar to Haunting Ground in that Jennifer can't fight, and must rely on hiding and setting traps, while trying to avoid panic mode.

1 Outlast

Richard Trager from Outlast

Outlast kicks off with investigative journalist Miles Upshur receiving a tantalizing anonymous tip through e-mail and heading to Mount Massive Asylum to check it out for himself. He breaks into the abandoned building to find that the staff's bodies litter the halls, which are now stalked by dangerous inmates.

Outlast uses its environment as a powerful gameplay mechanic. Attempting to fight results in death. The only equipment is a battery-powered camcorder that gives you night vision and ratchets up the difficulty. The story is layered and complex, revealing a deep plot that reaches far beyond a simple asylum-based horror game.

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