By I’m not a big fan of horror games, especially ones with jump scares.
But if a game has zombies or weird monsters, I’m there for it.
There’s something oddly satisfying about chopping down zombie heads and dismembering monsters; actually, it’s better than therapy.
You’ll find some of my favorites in this list. These are the best survival horror games on PC and consoles featuring zombies, monsters, creatures, and some with spooky, suspense-filled gameplay.
Many of these games are so good that I ended up replaying them a couple of times. A few are only good for a single playthrough. They are that scary.
Check out the games below and see if you’ve played any of these.
1. Alien Isolation
Alien Isolation is a game that pretty much nails every aspect of a perfect survival horror game.
It features suspense-filled gameplay with a very claustrophobic environment for you to navigate while trying to survive from one of the scariest monsters in the history of films and games.
Even though the game came out in 2014, it still holds up in terms of visuals and quality. It’s also one of the most ported games available, which is on everything from PC to every console and even mobile.
Alien Isolation 2 was also just announced, and it will likely be out next year.
2. Dead Space
Dead Space is one of the most iconic games that helped define the whole survival horror genre back in the day.
First released in 2008, Dead Space received a remake treatment in 2023, making it even scarier and creepier than ever before.
In Dead Space, you explore an abandoned spaceship where you encounter weirdly mutated creatures and mysteries beyond imagination. It combines science fiction, aliens, and mythologies to create a truly immersive experience.
Dead Space is also popular for introducing the iconic Cutter, a weapon that was so memorable that only seconds to the Gravity Gun from Half Life.
3. Resident Evil 4
Resident Evil 4 is arguably the best title in the entire series. It combines zombies and mutated creatures with spooky environments to offer a surreal vibe unmatched by any other game.
In RE4, you play as Leon, who’s on a mission to rescue the president’s daughter. For this mission, you must explore a spooky village full of possessed villagers, mutated creatures, and terrifying monsters unlike anything you’ve seen before.
Capcom truly nailed the scary vibe of the game with the RE4 remake. The visuals now look much creepier than the original game, and controls are smoother as well.
4. Dying Light
Dying Light is one of my favorites, and arguably the best zombie game of all time. This game has helped me relax and de-stress during some of the toughest times in my life.
Whenever I feel down, depressed, or even angry, I jump into Dying Light for a quick session of smashing zombie skulls and chopping down zombie legs, so I get to watch them crawl.
Other than the gory-filled melee and shooting gameplay, Dying Light also features an engaging story campaign with incredibly well-designed missions.
The first Dying Light game is the best in the series. Dying Light 2 is also great if you want to experience more zombie-killing action.
5. Sons of the Forest
The sequel to the widely successful survival horror, The Forest is a must-play for survival horror fans. This game is an actual survival horror simulator!
In Sons of the Forest, you are sent to a remote island to find a missing billionaire, except you end up finding yourself surrounded by weird, mysterious creatures and demons that are out to get you every day.
You must build, craft, and survive the changing seasons in this dense forest to find your way through the island.
Sons of the Forest is perfect to play together with friends, but it’s great for solo players as well.
6. Cronos: The New Dawn
Chronos: The New Dawn offers a unique survival horror experience where you explore a retro-futuristic world as a “traveler” who must go back to the 1980s in Poland to save the future.
In this game, you control a slow-pacing character who wears a diver-style suit while surviving weird monsters and creatures.
Chronos does a great job of making you feel like you’re in actual danger while exploring each section of the game. The creatures that are able to merge with one another to receive the dead also make you second-guess every move you make.
While taking inspiration from games like Dead Space, Chronos also establishes its own identity through its unique environments and gameplay mechanics.
7. The Callisto Protocol
Callisto Protocol is another great sci-fi-themed survival horror game that was released to mixed reactions from players.
This game takes a lot of inspiration from Dead Space and features very similar gameplay mechanics, environments, and overall spooky vibes.
In Callisto Protocol, you are a prisoner trying to escape from a high-security prison in space. You must avoid and endure harsh traps, weird creatures, and more through the escape run.
Some players enjoy Callisto Protocol while others hate it. If you can play this game without comparing it to Dead Space, you’ll likely enjoy it more.
8. Outlast 2
Outlast 2 is one of the scariest games you’ll ever play. While it has some jump scare moments, this game is a masterclass on creating eerily scary moments that gets your heart racing.
Outlast 2 is the sequel to the first Outlast game and it’s set in the same universe of the first game. If you haven’t played the first game, I highly recommend giving it a try. Both games go on sale quite often.
Outlast 2, however, is more advanced than the first game in many aspects, including the realistic visuals, audio, and gameplay. Some of the segments in this game will instantly get your heart pounding.
9. Silent Hill 2
Silent Hill 2 is another iconic title in the horror genre. This game captures that spooky ghost town vibe perfectly and actually lets you explore it freely.
The remake features much more authentic graphics that lets you get immersed in its creepy environments and has enhanced combat and gameplay mechanics as well.
In this game, you will discover what it means to play an actual scary game. I mean, what would you do if you received a letter from your dead wife?
10. Pacific Drive
Pacific Drive is a different type of survival game with some light horror elements. It’s perfect for folks who enjoy spooky vibes but without scary ghosts.
In this game, you take a journey through a sci-fi world in your car. This vehicle takes the center stage of the game, which you have to upgrade and customize in order to progress further.
Pacific Drive offers a unique experience that’s different from most other survival games.
11. Days Gone
Even though this is ranked further down on the list, don’t mistake Days Gone for a bad game. In fact, it’s one of the best zombie games I’ve ever played.
Days Gone combines three of my favorite things together, zombies, guns, and motorcycles, to offer a highly engaging gameplay experience. In this game, you explore a zombie-infested world on your bike to look for your missing wife.
Days Gone has a really great story campaign as well as combat mechanics. Zombie hordes in this game are one of the coolest things you’ll find.
12. Darkwood
Darkwood is a creative horror survival game featuring a classic top-down perspective. In this game, you get to freely explore a dark and spooky world that is out to get you.
Don’t let the cartoony graphics and the top-down view fool you; this is a pretty scary game. Darkwood is a highly immersive game where the choices you make can have an actual impact on the story.
In this game, you have to explore graveyards, catacombs, and various other scary places to complete quests and survive. There are no quest markers or guides in either, you have to find your own path.
