Spooky month is upon us, and what better way to spend the crisp fall nights than with a horror survival game that will chill and thrill you. Horror survival games take us into worlds filled with danger that will keep you on your toes as you navigate the story. So grab your controller and maybe a buddy and explore these five games.
Content Note: All games listed below have been rated M for Mature 17+ by the ESRB for various reasons, including blood, gore, nudity, language and violence.
Silent Hill 2 (2024)
Let’s begin with the recently released Silent Hill 2 remake. Developer Konami is bringing us back into the foggy world of Silent Hill. The remake retains all the elements that made the original game so great to play. The remake remains very faithful to the original source, while the up-to-date graphics will definitely help immerse players in this world. The gameplay remains relatively the same as you fight against monsters you encounter in the world. As Konami continues to revitalize this franchise, I hope to spend many more hours navigating the world of Silent Hill.
A Quiet Place: The Road Ahead (2024)
We move on to a world where silence is the only way to survive. A Quiet Place: The Road Ahead, by developer Stormind Games, drops us inside the world of the Quiet Place franchise. We play as Alex Taylor, an asthmatic college student who has to navigate this world to reach a safe zone. The gameplay is stealth-based and relies on the player having the patience to navigate this world with limited tools and careful steps. You will encounter the same creatures from the movies and must get past them without alerting them by making noise. This game does not have active combat, so players should expect scenarios where they must hide or stay perfectly still while the danger passes.
Control (2019)
Next, let’s step into the weird and mysterious world of Control, brought to us by developer Remedy Entertainment. This game takes place within the walls of the Federal Bureau of Control, which has been taken over by the hiss. There you’ll become the director and face the monumental task of clearing the FBC. The gameplay heavily relies on combat and skill development. You’ll upgrade your weapon and skills to fight against the foes you encounter as you progress through the story. This game is for people who love combat-heavy games with a dark science fiction feel.
Alan Wake 2 (2023)
If you enjoyed Control, then you’ll also love Alan Wake 2. From developer Remedy Entertainment, this game was widely anticipated by fans of the Alan Wake franchise. This second installment in the series brings us back into the Alan Wake world, this time you will play two separate characters with their own storylines. The two characters’ stories, while separate, do intertwine in various ways. Players will navigate with both characters and defeat enemies along the way. If you were a fan of the original Alan Wake, this second game does not disappoint. The game received very positive reviews and has even been nominated for several game of the year awards.
MADiSON (2022)
Last on our list is a game that was recognized by The Science of Scare Project as the scariest game of all time. MADiSON will get your heart pounding at rates of up to 131 beats per minute. MADiSon was developed by Bloodious Games and, upon release, made it to the top 20 highest-selling games in July 2022. In the game, you will play as Luca, with the aid of an instant camera, you will navigate a large house, solving puzzles and uncovering hidden truths. MADiSON is a game for people who love dark and creepy environments, jump scares and linear gameplay.
Borrow MADiSON on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4 or PlayStation 5.