10 games like Resident Evil to scare you silly

If you’ve beaten Resident Evil Village and are looking for more games like Resident Evil, don’t fear. While Capcom’s Resident Evil is considered regarded the most important horror video game series ever, there are tons of horror games that will keep the scares coming long after you’ve beaten all the RE titles. 

The Resident Evil series has been incredibly influential on the video game industry, helping to spawn other horror franchises that have some serious fear factor. If you love being scared while you play games but want to venture beyond the world of Chris Redfield or Lady Dimitrescu, we can help with that. We can’t guarantee these titles won’t scare the bejeezus out of you – but that’s the point, isn’t it?

From Dead Space to The Last of Us, here are ten games like Resident Evil that will deliver satisfying scares. We’ve warned you!

Dead Space

Games like Resident Evil - Dead Space

(Image credit: EA)

Developer: Visceral
Platforms: Xbox One, Xbox Series X, PS4, PS5, PC, Mac, Nintendo Switch

Kicking off our list is Dead Space, a third-person survival-horror game set in… well… space. Creepy monsters are scary enough, but when you have to deal with them in the blackness of space, the horror is amplified. Dead Space came out during a time when fans were starving for true survival-horror in a modern sense.

In 2008 when it first launched, there wasn’t anything quite like it. Sure, the original Resident Evil games were scary, but haven’t aged as well due to their rigid tank controls. Dead Space feels like a modern game, while still calling back to the claustrophobic nature of the level design from Resident Evil. It’s the best of both worlds, and fans are desperately hoping for a Dead Space revival soon. 

Days Gone 

Games like Resident Evil - Days Gone

(Image credit: Sony Bend)

Developer: Bend Studio
Platforms: PS4, PS5, PC

Days Gone sometimes gets a lot of hate, but most of it isn’t justified. Sure, it might not be of the same quality as the rest of Sony’s first-party lineup, but Days Gone is still a blast. It takes a lot of the shooting elements of the more recent Resident Evil games, but adds in a heartfelt story and a massive open world. 

Regardless of how this game compares to other PlayStation exclusives, there’s no denying that its action gameplay is satisfying. It features an in-depth progression system, tons of missions, and a nuanced crafting system that makes it feel like a survival game. If you like the more action-oriented Resident Evil games, you should definitely give Days Gone a try. 

The Last of Us

Games like Resident Evil - The Last of Us

(Image credit: Naughty Dog)

Developer: Naughty Dog
Platforms: PS4, PS5

When discussing iconic horror games, it’s tough not to mention The Last of Us. This game (and its sequel, The Last of Us Part 2) lean more into cinematic storytelling, and include survival mechanics that make every encounter feel dire. 

In one moment, you’ll be scrounging around for ammo and supplies, and then the next, you’ll get hit with a massive story beat that changes the course of the game’s narrative. Everything from the acting, performances, writing, and combat in the Last of Us are impeccable, and a testament to Naughty Dog’s skills as a developer. 

Dying Light 2

Dying Light 2

(Image credit: Techland)

Developer: Techland
Platforms: Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5, PC,

A gigantic sequel to the original Dying Light, Dying Light 2 is the newest game on this list. With hours and hours of playtime in its open area alone, Techland has delivered a giant world to explore freely. Dying Light 2 takes the open-world zombie game formula and expands upon it, offering you countless opportunities to pick up missions, discover collectibles, and decide whether or not you want to fight a horde or zombies or run off into the night. 

The parkour mechanic that made Dying Light so special is still here and even better than before, and with your first-person view of the zombie-infested world, you’ll viscerally feel every rooftop leap and grappling hook glide.

Alien Isolation

Games like Resident Evil - Alien: Isolation

(Image credit: Creative Assembly)

Developer: Creative Assembly
Platforms: Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5, PC, Nintendo Switch

As we’ve mentioned already, there’s something to be said about the creepiness of horror in space. That’s where Alien Isolation comes in, surprisingly taking an existing IP and becoming arguably the best in the entire franchise. Alien Isolation puts you in the shoes of Amanda Ripley, the daughter of Ellen Ripley, which gives it a canonical significance. 

Aside from its story, the gameplay is tense, as the deadly Xenomorph is always lurking around. This raises the stakes and makes you have to approach every situation carefully. The game is less action oriented than others on this list, with an emphasis on running and hiding more so than all-out battle. 

Silent Hill

Games like Resident Evil - Silent Hill

(Image credit: Konami)

Developer: Konami
Platforms: PlayStation, PS2, PS3, Xbox 360

Resident Evil and Silent Hill often go hand-in-hand when it comes to horror. Both debuted for the original PlayStation around the same time, and pushed the limits on the hardware at the time. 

Silent Hill has practically an identical combat system as the earlier Resident Evil entries, allowing players to stop and shoot their foes with a variety of firearms. Of course, the creatures in Silent Hill are much more abstract, taking inspiration from what you’d see in your nightmares. This is yet another series fans have been clamoring to see return, and rumor has it we might get that wish soon.  

BioShock 

games like Resident Evil - Bioshock

(Image credit: 2K)

Developer: 2K Games
Platforms: Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5, PC, Nintendo Switch

At first, saying BioShock is one of the games like Resident Evil might seem like a stretch, but the two have more in common than you might think. Though BioShock takes place in a fantastical world, horror is at the heart of the experience. The enemies known as Splicers are grotesque, and although they might not look like zombies, you’ll want to avoid them all the same. 

BioShock has some of the most satisfying gameplay, encouraging you to explore and collect resources as you make your way through the world of Rapture. Much like recent Resident Evil titles, BioShock shines in its environmental storytelling, making its world feel like a real place. 

Left 4 Dead

Games like Resident Evil - Left 4 Dead

(Image credit: Valve)

Developer: Valve
Platforms: Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PC

Valve truly capitalized on an idea that other developers have struggled to replicate. Even Back 4 Blood the 2021 spiritual successor to Left 4 Dead, may not pop as much ass the original. Left 4 Dead somehow managed to combine satisfying first-person shooting with a challenging, yet comedic array of campaigns that all felt unique. 

The flow of a campaign would vary due to the random placement of enemy zombies, but would usually offer a satisfying balance of difficulty and fun. Resident Evil is often remembered for being silly and wacky, so if that’s your thing, Left 4 Dead (and its sequel) will be up your alley if you’re looking for one of the games like Resident Evil. 

The Medium

Games like Resident Evil - The Medium

(Image credit: Bloober Team)

Developer: Bloober Team
Platforms: Xbox Series X/S, PS5, PC

The Medium is a fascinating psychological horror game from Bloober Team. Much of it is focused on narrative, so we won’t spoil that here. It falls more in line with Resident Evil’s creepier elements, often delving into the main character’s psyche. 

Its main mechanic has players control two realities at once, using a split-screen presentation. This opens up the door for lots of clever puzzles that are one of the reasons The Medium gets a spot on this list of games like Resident Evil. It doesn’t have the same level of polish as Capcom’s games, but it’s absolutely worth checking out, if nothing else than for including a unique idea.

The Evil Within

Games like Resident Evil - The Evil Within

(Image credit: Bethesda)

Developer: Tango Gameworks
Platforms: Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5, PC

The Evil Within series is a spiritual successor to Resident Evil. In fact, it was directed by Shinji Mikami, the creator of the Resident Evil series. After playing both series, you can definitely tell they come from the same creator. The Evil Within leans more into the psychological horror elements, presenting you with off-the-wall creatures and situations that don’t exist in reality as we know it. 

But from a gameplay perspective, The Evil Within is a greatest hits representation of the Resident Evil games that came before it, combining stealth with action, all under the frame of survival horror. If you only play one entry on this list of games like Resident Evil, it has to be The Evil Within. 


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