NOTE: There may be spoilers ahead for the games included in this feature, so if you see us beginning to discuss a game you don’t want spoiled, turn back.

SILENT HILL 2 REMAKE

Bloober Team’s remake of Silent Hill 2 was on the receiving end of plenty of skepticism, which, given the developer’s spotty track record up to that point, wasn’t hard to understand. It’s fair to say, then, that the game turned out to be far, far better than the overwhelming majority of us anticipated. Bloober Team and Konami’s Silent Hill 2 remake has been compared to the likes of fellow horror remakes in Resident Evil 2 and Dead Space– and yes, it is that good.

Alien Isolation

Developer Creative Assembly knocked it out of the park with Alien: Isolation, which is undoubtedly one of the best games to have come out of the Alien label in quite some time. It puts you in the shoes of Amanda Ripley who must do everything and anything in her might to outsmart the Xenomorph, and because of the fact that you can’t really kill him – the best bet is to hide under tables and behind closets and hope that the alien doesn’t notice that. Of course, that’s easier said than done because the Xenomorph AI learns from your past runs and adapts itself based on those inputs which ensures that players are always on their toes.

DEAD RISING 2

Capcom brought Dead Rising back earlier this year with Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster earlier this year, which was a remake in nearly all but name, and we’d love for the company to do the same with Dead Rising 2. Whether or not that happens will, of course, depend entirely on whether the aforementioned Deluxe Remaster’s commercial performance matches the critical acclaim it enjoyed, but our hope is that it does, not only because it would mean more Dead Rising, but also because we’d love to play an enhanced form of Dead Rising 2, an excellent game in its own right.

Still Wakes the Deep

A shoo-in for scariest game of 2024 so far, Still Wakes the Deep duties you as electrician Caz aboard a bleak, ocean-rusting North Sea oil rig before an accident occurs and situations go awry. It’s best not to know too much before stepping aboard, but safe to say The Chinese Room have delivered an atmospheric horror for the ages, replete in equal measure dread and mystery.

]]> 601622 https://gamingbolt.com/10-horror-experiences-that-give-resident-evil-a-run-for-its-money Wed, 15 May 2024 16:48:33 +0000 https://gamingbolt.com/?p=586555 Resident Evil series is usually one of the first names that come to mind when talking about horror games, but there’s so many other titles that offer equally great if not even better experiences to this particular contemporary. To that end, we present 10 of the best horror games that are arguably better than Resident Evil.

The Evil Within 2

Shinji Mikami’s Tango Gameworks did an excellent job with the original The Evil Within, and many of those foundations were built upon in new and interesting ways with the sequel that came out in 2017. The Evil Within 2 is one of the very few games that manage to blend pure survival horror with an open-world design without one element overpowering the other. The biggest achievement of The Evil Within 2 is how these contrasting genres complement one another, making exploration enticing and horrifying at the same time. It’s a rather unique kind of game that deserves to be experienced by every horror fan.

Bloodborne

FromSoftware’s 2015 release Bloodborne feels like a loving tribute to the works of H.P. Lovecraft, and the admiration for the author can be seen throughout Yharam’s gothic architecture and horrid creature designs that will continue to haunt your nightmares long after the credits roll. What makes Bloodborne so special is its ability to induce a sense of mechanical dread that goes hand in hand with the general tropes and jumpscares that you would see in any traditional horror game. Bloodborne’s horror is not only limited to facing that threat in the first place but also perfecting your grasp of its complex mechanics to the point that you are actually able to defeat that monstrosity.

Silent Hill 2

Silent Hill 2 is easily one of the best entries in the long-running survival horror franchise, and that statement alone speaks volumes about the quality of the experience considering the series is home to some of the best games of this ilk. The protagonist James Sunderland’s’ search for his missing wife leads him to the desolated town of Silent Hill, which kickstarts the events of this truly horrid nightmare. Everything from the atmosphere to the jumpscares and the story are all bone-chilling in their own right, and Silent Hill 2 also adds an element of eccentricity to the whole affair which makes it one of the most memorable horror experiences.

The Last of Us Part 1

The Last of Us Part 1 takes place in a post-apocalyptic rendition of America where you step into the shoes of Joel, a cynical middle-aged man who must escort a girl named Ellie to a hospital in hopes of finding a cure for the Cordyceps virus. The Last of Us excellently blends stealth elements into the survival horror gameplay blueprint, and what we get is a rather fresh action-adventure experience that also doesn’t fall short on the horror element as well. But what’s most interesting about The Last of Us Part 1 are the characters which are some of the best that we have seen in recent memory, and the narrative does an excellent job of portraying the sheer brutality of a post-apocalypse without holding much restraint.

Alan Wake 2

The original Alan Wake was more of an action-adventure experience, and developer Remedy Entertainment switched things up for the better with the sequel – making it a full-blown survival horror experience. And that feels like a natural fit for this kind of slow and more methodical gameplay where you have to use your flashlights to first weaken the Taken and then proceed to hit headshots with an actual weapon. Alan Wake 2’s biggest strength, however, lies in its narrative, which is best summarized by the statement, “It’s not a lake, it’s an ocean”. The rabbit hole of The Dark Place goes really deep, and you probably won’t be able to grasp the depth of the meta narratives and subplots that make it one of the most intriguing games that you will ever experience.

Dead Space (2023)

EA Motive’s modernization of the original Dead Space was just what fans wanted out of such an experience, and it beautifully presents the crippling survival horror of the original in a way that would placate a brand-new audience. The fresh coat of paint helps to really bring out the horrors to life, and there’s a palpable sense of tension pervading each step that you take through the dingy smoke-infested corridors of the USG Ishimura. It’s definitely along the lines of Resident Evil in terms of the moment-to-moment experience, but Dead Space takes the lead in terms of the narrative which is arguably a lot more engaging and structured than other offerings.

Outlast

Red Barrel’s Outlast is a consistently thrilling ride through a menace-infested Asylum as you try to uncover its deepest secrets. Outlast boasts an incredible atmosphere that ensures that you are constantly being unnerved by disturbing imagery and weird sounds. The game has some great environmental storytelling, and the fact that you can’t really stand your ground against the many horrors that persist also serve to keep adrenaline levels high throughout. Adding to the horror is the distinct visual presentation that’s largely dominated by shades of green and black thanks to the night-vision camera.

Eternal Darkness: Sanity’s Requiem

Silicon Knights’ Eternal Darkness: Sanity’s Requiem easily stands tall as one of the most creative horror games of the last couple of generations, and a lot of that can be attributed to the many ingenious design tricks that the team uses to unnerve the player from the very core. You have a Sanity meter that continues to rise as you face the many horrors peppered throughout the game, and once you reach a certain level – the game starts to play tricks on you like lowering the volume or bugs starting to crawl on the screen and much more. The primitive visuals and tank-style controls do mean that the game hasn’t aged all that well, but Eternal Darkness was definitely one of the most horrifying games of its time.

Amnesia: The Dark Descent

Frictional Games’ Amnesia series is home to some of the best survival horror games of all time, and 2010’s Amnesia: The Dark Descent definitely stands out amongst other entries in the franchise. Daniel’s story about recovering his lost memories whilst exploring a dark and desolate castle is one that will stay with you long after the credits roll, and Amnesia does a really good job with its thick atmosphere and jumpscares that never fail to keep you guessing.

Alien: Isolation

Creative Assembly delivered one of the most horrifying experiences of recent memory with Alien: Isolation, a game that manages to capture the essence of cat and mouse chase so perfectly over the course of its entire runtime. Its biggest achievement lies in the design of Xenormorph’s, which has its own independent AI brain that can sniff out the player based on what you did in previous runs. That element of uncertainty forces you to be dynamic with your survival strategy, which isn’t something that you can say about many traditional horror games. In addition to this, there’s also the story of Amanda Ripley who never fails to keep you glued to the edge of your screen at all times.

Resident Evil 2 Remake

Resident Evil 2 Remake is an excellent re-imagining of the survival horror classic, and it stands tall as one of the best remakes of recent memory. The game presents a striking rendition of the familiar Raccoon City, complete with new puzzles and third-person shooting mechanics that make this experience a lot different than the original. While the campaign is definitely on the shorter side, plenty of side content, including but not limited to Ghost Survivors, should keep you occupied for a long time.

#15. CONDEMNED: CRIMINAL ORIGINS

Condemned: Criminal Origins really doesn’t get the love and attention it deserves. Perhaps it’s because it came out at a time when survival horror games seemed to be headed to an early demise, but it’s an incredibly underrated game. At the time, it was leaps and bounds ahead of most of its peers in terms of everything from its visuals to its AI, and with its visceral combat and genuinely terrifying scares, it ranks as one of the most uniquely memorable games in the genre to date. Hopefully, Sega will be encouraged by the current state of the genre and decide to bring the franchise back.

#14. DINO CRISIS

The folks over at Capcom are, of course, the masters of the survival horror genre, but though the Resident Evil games are obviously the ones that gave them that crown, others in the company’s catalogue have also put their talents on display. Dino Crisis remains a fan favourite to this day, even now, more than two decades on from its launch- and how can it not? A game with the survival horror design and mechanical sensibilities of Resident Evil that replaces zombies with dinosaurs? That’s a premise that’s as good in execution as it is on paper, especially in the series’ very first outing. To this day, we’re keeping our fingers crossed that Dino Crisis will eventually return.

#13. SOMA

Frictional Games has established itself as one of the best developers of horror games over the last decade or so, and as those who’ve played it will gladly tell you, SOMA definitely ranks as one of the studio’s best outings to date. A chilling setting that’s absolutely seeping with atmosphere, an incredibly told story that keeps you captivated until the very last second, gameplay mechanics that evoke genuine terror and dread from start to finish- in more ways than one, SOMA exhibits an immaculate understanding of what makes survival horror games tick.

#12. ETERNAL DARKNESS: SANITY’S REQUIEM

Boy, the GameCube really was an incredible console for fans of survival horror games, wasn’t it? And even though there were obviously quite a few games in that category on the console that are probably way more iconic (more on that in a bit), Eternal Darkness: Sanity’s Requiem still deserves its flowers. It can be an uneven experience at times, but when it comes to things such as its story and its atmosphere, it’s hard to find fault with it, while its combination of survival horror gameplay and insanity mechanics also deserves special praise.

#11. AMNESIA: THE DARK DESCENT

Frictional Games exploded onto the scene of the survival horror genre back in 2010, when a little game known as Amnesia: The Dark Descent took players by storm and delivered what is still one of the most uniquely terrifying games we’ve ever played. The first game in what is now an iconic horror franchise, Amnesia: The Dark Descent had an incredible knack of making players feel constantly vulnerable and helpless, and thanks to a combination of de-emphasized combat and nightmare-inducing stalker mechanics, it ended up crafting an experience that could easily keep you on the edge of the seat from the first second to the very last.

#10. ALIEN: ISOLATION

Speaking of stalker mechanics- it’s hard not to bring up Alien: Isolation when you talk about pursuer enemies, or about survival horror games in general, really. Creative Assembly’s 2014 gem didn’t get the praise that it deserved back when it first launched, but the further away we get from its release, the more it becomes apparent that it was a special game. From how perfectly it fit into the Alien franchise to how incredibly tense it was to play, from how well its levels were designed to how deftly it balanced its horror elements with exploration, there was just so much about it that one couldn’t help but love. Does it fall off a cliff towards the end? A little bit- but as they say, it’s about the journey, not the destination.

#9. THE EVIL WITHIN 2

We’ve spoken about quite a few underrated gems in this list, and yes, The Evil Within 2 is yet another one of those- an incredible survival horror experience that got neither the critical praise nor the commercial success that it so clearly deserved. Coming from the horror connoisseurs at Tango Gameworks, it built upon the foundations of its predecessor in some truly incredible ways. The way its resource economy was balanced, how well the progression mechanics worked, how rewarding and engaging exploration was in the semi-open world sections, how tense and enjoyable combat was (especially in the boss fights)- The Evil Within 2 was a massive leap over its already impressive predecessor, and we genuinely hope to see more of this franchise in the not-too-distant future.

#8. SYSTEM SHOCK

Immersive sim, first person shooter, survival horror- System Shock is many games in one, and yet in spite of that, no one aspect of it feels diluted by any means. Nearly three decades on from launch, the absolute genius of this game still stands tall, in spite of the fact that many elements of the gameplay have obviously aged quite a bit. But when it comes to things like the sense of place of Citadel Station, the eerie atmosphere that constantly looms over your head, and how uncomfortable the game constantly makes you feel, it feels like System Shock hasn’t aged a day. We can only hope that its upcoming remake will be able to do it justice.

#7. RESIDENT EVIL 7

After delivering the most mindlessly action-oriented Resident Evil game Capcom could have ever made, the company decided to go in the exact opposite direction with its successor in an attempt to take the series back to its roots- and did so with rousing success. Resident Evil 7 is exactly what Resident Evil should be, but this time, through the lens of a first person perspective. An emphasis on exploration, backtracking, and puzzles, combat that feels slower paced and deliberate, incredible atmosphere, and above all, genuine scares- these have been hallmarks of the franchise for as long as it has been around, and Resident Evil 7 has all of that in spades. While its direct sequel, Village, might be better as an all-round package, as a survival horror game, RE7 is one of the best games we’ve played in recent years.

#6. SILENT HILL 2

The Silent Hill franchise has frequently been regarded as one of the pillars of the survival horror genre, and Silent Hill 2 remains its absolute zenith to this day. The story of James Sunderland is still one of the greatest stories ever told in a video game, and the way it ties his character arc with the horrors that we as players witness in the titular town of Silent Hill simply cannot be praised enough. Add to that the game’s stellar atmosphere and, of course, its gameplay loop – which remains consistently compelling in spite of how little the game emphasizes combat – and it all comes together in truly masterful ways, to the extent that even today, going back to this classic is heavily recommended for any fan of the genre. Its upcoming remake has big shoes to fill, to say the very least.

#5. RESIDENT EVIL REMAKE

Speaking of remakes with big shoes to fill, the original Resident Evil remake may have come a long, long time before Capcom’s more recent reimaginations in the franchise, but time has done very little (if anything) to dull its brilliance. While its tank controls might make it a harder game to go back to for some in today’s day and age, where Resident Evil truly shines is in things that are of timeless quality- the level design, the puzzles, the sheer oppressive atmosphere of Spencer Mansion, how the story unfolds bit by bit as you slowly navigate the horrors of the setting. If palpable dread and constant tension are what you are looking for in a Resident Evil game, look no further than the RE1 remake.

#4. RESIDENT EVIL 4 REMAKE

Resident Evil 4 Remake might be most recent release out of all the games in this list, but it’s also undoubtedly one of the best- which is no surprise, given how excellent its source material already was. Yes, the game moves away pretty significantly from the series’ horror roots in order to deliver a very different experience, but the experience it does deliver is nothing short of masterful. Resident Evil 4 is a masterclass in pacing, in building tension through combat, incredible encounters, and excellent enemy design and variety. The constant ramping up of stakes and tension in RE4 stands peerless even now, and all of the game’s biggest strengths are only amplified further in its 2023 remake.

#3. THE LAST OF US PART 2

To call The Last of Us Part 2 a divisive game would be something of an understatement, but those who love it absolutely love the crap out of it- and we certainly fall in that camp. Story and storytelling have always been Naughty Dog’s biggest strengths, but it’s not just in those departments that The Last of Us Part 2 succeeds. It’s also a gigantic leap forward over its predecessor in terms of gameplay- the level design, the incredibly tense combat, the expanded stealth mechanics, the horror elements, and how it blends all of those different mechanics together so deftly. It’s a constant thrillride from start to finish, and for fans of survival horror games, an absolutely unmissable experience.

#2. DEAD SPACE REMAKE

It only makes sense to place extra value on horror in a list about survival horror games, and when viewed through that lens, it’s hard to think of many games that are better than Dead Space. The USG Ishimura ranks as one of the best survival horror settings of all time, and spending even a little bit of time in the derelict ship is enough to prove that beyond any doubt. Every time you turn a corner, every time you hear a loud thud, every time you see a flickering light, your heart can’t help but skip a beat. Isaac’s decaying mental state combines with the horrors of the hellish nightmarish he finds himself trapped in perfectly to create one of the most unforgettable experiences this genre has ever delivered- and the remake has only made it better, which we didn’t think would be possible.

#1. RESIDENT EVIL 2 REMAKE

If someone somewhere decides to teach a class on how a survival horror game should be made, Resident Evil 2’s 2019 remake could easily be the one and only game they look at, because this game just nails every single aspect of what makes the genre tick with absolute perfection. Combat? Every single shot you fire at a Licker or a zombie feels immensely satisfying (thanks in no small part to the game’s incredible gore). Exploration? The RPD, the sewers, and NEST are immaculately designed locations that are made all the more compelling to traverse thanks to excellent lock-and-key design and expertly designed puzzles. Horror? Resident Evil 2 does atmosphere better than most other games in the genre, while the ever-present threat of Mr. X injects massive doses of tension into the experience, even if he is nowhere around you and all you can hear are his distant booming footsteps. For Resident Evil as a franchise, for Capcom as a developer, for video game remakes, and for survival horror games as a whole, 2019’s RE2 remake is the absolute benchmark to follow.

The Evil Within

Tango Gameworks made a splashing debut with The Evil Within back in 2014, which went down as one of the best horror games of the generation. While the game is still playable by modern standards, the graphics and gameplay have started to show some noticeable cracks. As such, a modern remake with updated graphics and smoothed-out gameplay mechanics would really make fans want to re-experience the classic all over again.

Darkwood

Despite having over 12,000 user reviews on Steam and good critical acclaim, Darkwood is still somewhat of a niche survival horror title. Its open-world structure changes during the day, presenting eerie characters and various secrets as you scavenge for materials. At night, nightmarish creatures roam, prompting you to fight for survival. It’s frantic and doesn’t provide too much guidance, but Darkwood is worth sticking with for its unique aesthetic and extensive lore.

Ghost of Tsushima Director’s Cut

Ghost of Tsushima is many things. A great action-adventure title with stellar sword combat. A well-told story with strong characterization and memorable events. And to top it all off, the stealth is incredibly on point, whether assassinating enemies from above, poisoning them from afar, or using smoke bombs to slit their throats at close range. While stealth helps trivialize the game as one gets further in, it helps reinforce the legend of Jin as the Ghost, becoming a fiercer foe as his skills improve.