The Best Survival Horror Games of All Time [2023 Edition]

Though it seemed for a good decade or so that survival horror games were well and truly dead, the genre has enjoyed a resurgence the likes of which we couldn’t have imagined even in our wildest dreams these last few years. Kickstarted by the renewed success of the Resident Evil franchise, the survival horror genre has entered a new golden age and has seen a string of excellent releases, with many more still to come. With so many great new additions having lifted the genre to higher highs than ever before, we felt it’s time to take of stock of where things stand right now and reassess the best of the best it has ever had to offer. So here, that’s exactly what we’re going to do, as we count down the fifteen greatest survival horror games of all time in our estimation, as things stand right now. 

#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.

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