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10 Survival Horror Games That Will Give You Nightmares


Films can be frightening, but only in a manner which is essentially vicarious. With games, it’s your responsibility to descend into the basement, rescue the damsel in distress, and escape the monster lurking somewhere in the darkness. If you don’t push forward on the controller, nothing happens. You’re in complete control of your own destiny, and that prospect is utterly terrifying, especially when you consider the dire consequences of your actions.

Sometimes, that responsibility is too much. Sometimes, you have to pause the game, take a breath and revaluate your surroundings, turn on the lights and have a glass of water. Sometimes, you have to stop playing altogether, or else risk having a panic attack in the middle of your living room. Occasionally, you might even play something so frightening that it prevents you from sleeping, and gives you severe nightmares for weeks.

Horror and video games are a great match. In fact, video games do horror better than any other medium, and that’s unlikely to change anytime soon. So, without further ado, here are 10 survival horror games that will give you nightmares, or at least give you the spooks…

  1. Alien Isolation

    Released in 2014, Alien Isolation has singlehandedly convinced publishers that the survival horror genre is more than a niche. In fact, the sales of the game were so encouraging that the genre is slowly being recognised as a lucrative source of untapped revenue, a source largely ignored by an otherwise FPS obsessed industry.

    So, why was Alien Isolation so successful? Well, because it’s genuinely terrifying, a classic survival horror that understands the core appeal of the genre. It emphasises restrictive gameplay and claustrophobic environments, pitting the player against a single, omnipotent creature of extra-terrestrial proportions. It essentially dumps you in an unnatural environment, keeps you constantly at a disadvantage, and forces you to fend for yourself, usually against vastly superior opponents.

    Verdict: Alien Isolation will give you nightmares because it essentially mimics the nature of a dream. You’re stuck somewhere sinister, unable to escape, fleeing an opponent that can disappear and reappear anywhere around you. You’re defenceless, and while you have a handful of items with which to defend yourself, those items aren’t all that useful. 

  2. Amnesia: The Dark Descent

    Developed for PC by Frictional Games, Amnesia: The Dark Descent is a survival horror in which players take on the role of Daniel, an amnesiac who after awakening in an unfamiliar setting, discovers that he has deliberately erased his own memory for reasons unknown. Trapped inside the strange, and deeply unsettling halls of a mysterious castle, Daniel must descend to its depths in order to confront The Baron, Alexander.   

    Amnesia involves physical interactions with the environment – such as picking up objects, creating barricades and opening doors – most of which is done in order to solves puzzles, or simply avoid being discovered by monsters. However, Amnesia also champions a mechanic by which the player must manage Daniel’s sanity, preventing him from staring directly at the monsters, or allowing him to spend too much time in dark places. If Daniel’s sanity is sufficiently reduced, he will hallucinate and attract unwanted attention.

    Verdict: Much like Alien Isolation, Amnesia keeps the player at a constant disadvantage, forcing them to adapt to meet the demands of each new situation. If nothing else, the monsters depicted in the game will give you nightmares; they’re terrifying, but the face that you can’t actual observe them makes them even more sinister.

  3. Resident Evil

    The quintessential survival horror, Resident Evil has enjoyed decades of praise and celebration since it was released back in 1996. It’s certainly evolved considerably since then, and recently devolved in terms of overall quality, but you really can’t fault the very first entry in the series. I mean, it defined the term survival horror, and though there were games that existed long before it, it will always be remember as the defining example of the genre.

    In the game, players take control of either Chris Redfield or Jill Valentine, two members of Raccoon City’s elite Special Tactics and Rescue Services, tasked with the investigation of a series of unexplained, gruesome murders. Arriving on the outskirts of the city, the team is quickly attacked and separated, forcing them to take shelter inside a nearby mansion, which unbeknown to them is actually the source of the infection.

    Verdict: Cheesy, laughable and often downright absurd, Resident Evil has influenced everything from Dead Space and Silent Hill, to Fatal Frame and The Evil Within. It’s certainly dated, but the non-linear exploration, unnerving sound design and terrifying bosses are all more than capable of giving you nightmares for weeks.

  4. Eternal Darkness

    Spanning several centuries, Eternal Darkness: Sanity’s Requiem is an ambitious, psychological horror which revolves around the character of Alexandra Roivas, a young woman investigating the death of her grandfather, Edward Roivas. The story itself is divided between twelve playable characters – each of whom is introduced through a series of flashbacks – and revolves around an ancient God attempting to manifest himself on Earth, feast on the souls of the living and plunge the planet into a state of eternal darkness.

    The gameplay revolves around a sanity metre which is decreased by various factors, such as being seen by an enemy, or witnessing traumatic events. If the sanity metre drops too low, the player will begin to experience “sanity effects”, which subtlety alter the environment and cause random, bizarre events to occur. Some of the most popular examples of sanity effects include the television reverting to a blue screen, the volume being slowly lowered, the walls in various rooms beginning to bleed, and statues’ heads swiveling to follow the player.

    Verdict: Eternal Darkness broke the fourth wall quite convincingly, meaning that the game was actually trying to affect the player directly. It wasn’t going after your character, it was going after you, and that might be more terrifying than anything else imaginable.

  5. Alone in the Dark

    Developed and published by Infogrames Entertainment, Alone in the Dark is a survival horror game released in 1992 for DOS. The story revolves around the suicide of Mr. Jeremy Hartwood – a former artist whose death is quickly dismissed by the authorities despite its mysterious circumstances, and Edward Carnby, a private investigator employed to investigate the possible scene of the crime.

    The game itself is puzzle orientated, requiring the player to explore the environment, uncover certain objects and overcome numerous obstacles. In the game, combat is an option, but is best avoided; there are several enemies that cannot actually be beaten, and others that are rendered less difficult by the completion of various puzzles, an element which has influenced everything from Silent Hill to Resident Evil.

    Verdict: Alone in the Dark may seem dated, but don’t let that foul you. The game is more than capable of delivering a good scare, and relishes the opportunity. You may consider yourself unaffected, but the reality of being stuck in haunted mansion will dwell in your mind, maybe even causing you the loss of some sleep.

  6. Resident Evil (GameCube Remake)

    A remake of the original Resident Evil, Resident Evil for the GameCube was developed by Capcom back in 2002, and aimed to revitalise the franchise for a new generation. Ultimately, it was commercial failure, and resulted in Capcom taking the series in a whole direction, a direction which would eventually culminate in Resident Evil 6.

    Not only were the graphics completely overhauled, Resident Evil also revised several key story elements, including the manner in which certain characters were killed. The game also introduced several new features, including the Crimson Heads, a powerful new form of undead that would actively pursue the player, sprinting after them and lunging to attack. There were also new story elements, including a side mission involving the mutilated test subject, Lisa Trevor, who had undergone a dramatic transformation prior to your arrival.

    Verdict: A more intense, visually stunning experience than the original, and a game that somehow managed to introduce new concepts into an already perfected formula. It’s also hugely uncanny, seeing as how it adapts aspects of the original. You might actually find yourself expecting one thing, only to be completely surprised by something altogether different. And in the end, isn’t that the essence of a nightmare?

  7. Clock Tower

    Developed by Human Entertainment in 1995, Clock Tower was a point-and-click survival horror in which players must navigate their way around the environment, avoiding the disfigured, murderous psychopath known as Scissorman. The gameplay itself revolves around solving puzzles, and exploring the clock tower itself, uncovering information and gathering various objects in order to overcome obstacles.

    In each room, the player has a small chance of encountering Scissorman himself, who will actively pursue the player. This will trigger a ‘panic phase’ in which the protagonist must flee, or lash out momentarily against her pursuer. In either case, the player is at a disadvantage, unarmed and completely ignorant to her situation.

    Verdict: Clock Tower was the first point-and-click to feature an antagonist who would actively stalk the player, even during puzzle sequences. Scissorman is also capable of hiding anywhere, meaning he can surprising the player at any time, from any location. Additionally, Scissorman is grotesque in appearance, and his movements are strangely childlike, making his a genuinely disturbing adversary. He may appear comical, but his image will dwell in your mind, possible even when you’re tucked away at night.

  8. Resident Evil: Revelations

    After numerous failed attempts to recapture the spirit of the series, Resident Evil: Revelations managed to achieve a modicum of success. It wasn’t perfect, and it couldn’t really be described as a return to form, but it was certainly a vast improvement on Resident Evil 5. For one thing: it was genuinely frightening at times, maintaining a tense, unnerving atmosphere, and simultaneously emphasising tight, claustrophobic environments.

    The game also featured one of the most genuinely unnerving creatures in gaming history: The Scagdead, a lumbering monster with a cavernous mouth, and a single mutated arm which functions similarly to a buzz-saw. Of course, the cruelest aspect of The Scagdead’s biology is that it functions without completely superseding the consciousness of the host. On its left shoulder, the Communications Office can be heard calling desperately for help. 

    Verdict: Revelations has its moments, and the whole is pretty twisted, but The Scagdead alone is worth of a few nightmares. It is genuinely one of the most disturbing, underappreciated bosses in the history of the franchise, and a standout moment in itself.

  9. Resident Evil 3: Nemesis

    Released in 1999, Resident Evil 3 was a critical and commercial success, selling approximately three million copies worldwide. In the game, players take on the role of Jill Valentine, a former operative of S.T.A.R.S, tasked with escaping Raccoon City, which has recently been turned into a thriving metropolis of undead.

    The game itself takes place prior to the events of Resident Evil 2, and introduced multiple new enemies – including Nemesis, a hulking behemoth capable of actively stalking the player across multiple environments, a first for the series.

    Verdict: Being chased by something is the most common nightmare imaginable. After all, it’s universally relatable. No one enjoys being chased, and escaping something potentially dangerous is our first instincts as intelligent animals. As such, a relentless stalker of unstoppable proportions has to be the primary antagonist in most dreams. In Nemesis, that stalker is real, and he really wants to murder you. There are few things scarier.

  10. Silent Hill 2

    Developed by Team Silent, and published by Konami, Silent Hill 2 involves navigating the town, solving puzzles and overcoming physical obstructions, as well managing dwindling resources and avoiding enemies. With that said, it’s the story that really distinguishes the game, and it’s the imagery that will effectively haunt your dreams.

    In the game, players take on the role of James Sunderland, a husband travelling to Silent Hill in search of his wife, who also happens to be dead. Arriving in town, James encounters a host of strange, otherworldly townsfolk, as well horrifying creatures – including Pyramid Head, an enormous, hulking brute with a pyramid for a head, and a humungous sword.

    Interestingly, the various parts of Silent Hill represent aspects of James’ psyche. The nurses represent his frustrated sexuality, while Pyramid Head himself is essentially the manifestation of James’ guilt, as well as his subconscious desire to be punished. The townsfolk are essentially shadows of memories, explaining their strange behaviour, and the town itself is one large, self-imposed perdition in which James can forever torment himself.

    Verdict: Silent Hill 2 is terrifying, but for reasons deeper and more complex than anything else featured on this list. Everything about the game is themed, and there are so many disturbing details, and tiny, seemingly inconsequential fragments that inform upon the larger narrative. In many ways, the game invites you to explore it; it sucks you in, and affects you in ways few games could possible hope to. It truly is the stuff of nightmares.  

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