The original Dead Space launched in 2008. The reboot of the space-based survival horror series is due to land tomorrow, 27 January. But even before the originator was a thing, the survival horror genre had been around for a very long time indeed. Resident Evil‘s 1996 release on the PlayStation One is credited with being the first to use the title but older games, like Infogrames’ Alone in the Dark, offered similar gameplay mechanics as far back as 1992.
Since then, the genre involving impossible odds, monstrous foes, and limited resources to overcome both has proved immensely popular. So much so that the trickiest bit about coming up with this list was to stop adding to it. Resident Evil could have populated the whole thing. We could have stuck to just Japanese games (Resi, Fatal Frame, Silent Hill) and pumped out an excellent list. Instead, we’ve gone for a spread of East and West that will keep you up at night, no matter where your survival horror allegiances lie.
The Last of Us (2013)
If you’re not familiar with The Last of Us then you haven’t been paying attention to the hottest new TV show in town. But before it was The Mandalorian versus the Plant People, it was an exclusive Sony video game on the PlayStation 3. And PlayStation 4. And PlayStation 5. The game follows the main tropes outlined by the survival horror genre by plonking players into a devastated world populated by monsters (both human and… not). Stealth is a serious requirement, since it’s easy to get swarmed, and players experience this situation in a third-person view. Joel and Ellie are the two main protagonists. You’ll know what they got up to if you finished the game (or are watching the series). There’s more than a little Uncharted in this one’s DNA, meaning it’s not quite a constant high-tension ride to Fear Town.
Resident Evil 2 Remake (2019)
It’s almost impossible to create a remake of a game that’s considered better than the source. Tony Hawk almost managed. Resident Evil 2, on the other hand, knocked it out of the park. It thoroughly modernised everything about the 1998 original, removing the fixed camera angles and tank controls and replacing them with systems folks actually use. And yet, somehow, it managed to retain the claustrophobic sense of navigating the mansion in Racoon City (and other locations), keeping up the pressure on players right until the very end of the game. Tyrant is creepy as hell and sucks just enough that you think you can take him. And, as is traditional, playing with the second character both fills holes in the plot and provides a different-enough experience that you’d be keen to dive right back into this modern-day survival horror classic.
Until Dawn (2015)
Is Until Dawn a survival horror game? We’re going with yes, though it’s a very different take on one. It crams in almost every American teen horror movie trope known to man, but it’s the execution (this is sometimes literal) that matters here. Players take control of a group of teenagers in an isolated location. They’re stuck in all sorts of situations that are a) familiar and b) utterly terrifying when you’re in the moment. Since it’s possible for everyone to survive the outing (and also possible for everyone to die) we’ve got no problem with adding this one to the annals. In addition to being scary, it’s also entirely enjoyable. That’s a very strange mix to nail but developer Supermassive Games nailed it. Right to the wall, in fact.
Alien Isolation (2014)
Some of the best survival horror games are those that make you all but helpless against the threat. Alien Isolation, staying as true to the motion pictures as possible, is one of those. Yes, you can kill a Xenomorph. But you’ll burn through weapons, ammo, and resources to do it. Whether you can survive a larger encounter after freaking out and killing that straggler becomes the question. It’s far easier to cower in a cupboard and save your flamethrower for when you’re really in trouble. Only… you have to be able to see trouble coming in order to avoid it and that’s not always possible…
Outlast (2013)
Chalk up another one in the ‘you can’t do much to survive’ column. Outlast, and the whole series of games it spawned, makes it hard to see, impossible to fight, and difficult to escape. The result? An elevated heart rate and a regrettable tendency to jump at the slightest noise. Players take on the role of a journalist trapped in an insane asylum. If you want to see anything, you have to use the night vision in your camera. Want to escape? We… suggest you run. And don’t even think about fighting. That’s not an option. The game got its title for a reason. You have to avoid enemies long enough to escape using a combination of stealth and cunning. Shotguns? Shotguns are for people with heart conditions. This is survival horror. Weapons don’t really come into it.
Forbidden Siren (2003)
Forbidden Siren, also known as Siren, is a stand-in for a whole bunch of Japanese games. Masses of atmospheric horror combine to form this creepy tale of a village attempting to understand what caused the massive disaster plaguing the region. Players are able to fight enemies, known as Shibito, but are far better off running. Varying objectives, branching paths, and some excellent storytelling help this PlayStation 2 release stand out. If you’d like something just as spooky but you’re armed only with a camera as a weapon, check out the whole Fatal Frame series (otherwise known as Project Zero).
Alan Wake (2010)
Could you call Alan Wake a survival horror game? Actually, yes, you could. It’s not nearly as hard as the regular run of these titles unless you’ve cranked up the difficulty. But Remedy’s excellent storytelling, level design, and combat more than make up for the fact that it’s possibly the easiest game here. You take on the role of the titular writer and attempt to find out what has happened to your missing wife. Wake’s design owes a little to Alone in the Dark: The New Nightmare‘s Ed Carnby but by the time you’ve finished your first enemy encounter you’ll know that this one’s all Remedy. With a little Stephen King thrown in. If you missed it the first time around, Alan Wake Remastered is out… just saying.
Silent Hill 2 (2001)
We could have populated most of this list with Silent Hill games. Yes, there’s a stinker here and there but mostly they’re gloomy, creepy voyages into demented minds of various stripes. Silent Hill 2 is maybe the most demented of the lot. After you’ve avoided confronting (or confronted) protagonist James Sunderland’s past, you’ll be led to one of several endings. Most of these are not very nice. But if you persevere, you’ll also encounter an ending so strange that it makes all the creepy things you’ve had to put up with seem rather trivial by comparison. If you’d like to preserve your fear, we suggest stopping before you get that far. Don’t worry if you weren’t born yet when Silent Hill 2 was released. There’s a remake coming from Konami. Eventually.
Call of Cthulu: Dark Corners of the Earth (2005)
Chances are good you don’t remember this one. That’s because, on release, it was up against F.E.A.R, Shadow of the Colossus, Quake 4, Call of Duty 2, and Resident Evil 4. We don’t blame you for missing it. But if you like your survival horror cosmic-flavoured, you would do worse than head back to 2005 and give it a try. This is a (very) rare example of a first-person survival horror game but it stands out in another way as well. Injuries have to be treated, from splints to morphine (it’s set in 1915, that’s basically cough syrup for them) and those treatments have an impact on protagonist Jack Walters. There’s also a sanity meter. See too much strange stuff (and in Innsmouth, there’s plenty of that) and you’ll go mad. That makes it harder to move and escape and fire your gun. But since you’re up against cosmic abominations, that gun’s not especially useful. But hang onto it. You might need it later when all hope is lost.
Dead Space (2008)
You didn’t think we’d ignore Dead Space, did you? At launch, the game seemed like Resident Evil in Space™ but it proved itself to be a capable addition to the survival horror genre. Players take on the role of engineer Isaac Clarke, who, armed with nothing but a plasma cutter and some stompy boots, wipes out every threat that comes his way on the semi-derelict Ishimura mining vessel. These creatures are called Necromorphs and, unlike zombies, they don’t go down to a bullet in the brain. Dismemberment is the name of the game because if it has no legs it’s really easy to cave its skull in. Gory, tense, and capable of ratcheting right up to terrifying, the original Dead Space is still an amazing play. Stick around to see Stuff‘s review of the 2023 remake, which should be on the website tomorrow.
