The survival horror genre has its share of beloved games, but there are plenty of other titles that have fallen into obscurity. While survival horror games existed before 1996, this is the year the genre really broke out. This was largely due to the arrival of the original Resident Evil game, which in many ways laid out the genre’s formula.

In the 30 years since, it’s been fascinating to see the changes survival horror has gone through. From the evolution of the Silent Hill franchise to the arrival of first person horror titles like Amnesia or Outlast, it continues to play on gamers’ deepest fears. Sadly, there are also some survival horror gems that even fans have missed out on.

10

Call Of Cthulhu: Dark Corners of the Earth (2005) – Xbox, PC

Possibly the best game based on H.P. Lovecraft’s work is also one of the most obscure. This 2005 title features a private eye with a troubled past heading to Innsmouth on a case, and being drawn into a sanity-testing mystery. Dark Corners of the Earth is a little clunky around the edges, but it’s also genuinely terrifying in places.

There’s a harrowing chase sequence through a hotel, and a level where a boat is attacked by creatures from the deep. It’s got all the survival horror tropes (inventory management, reading diary and text entries, etc), but Call of Cthulhu’s oppressive atmosphere and sanity mechanics mark it out as something special.

9

Silent Hill: Shattered Memories (2009) – Wii, PSP, PlayStation 2

A loose remake of the original Silent Hill, Shattered Memories is the saga’s most experimental outing. It follows Harry Mason as he looks for his daughter in the titular town, but the classic imagery and mechanics have been (largely) stripped away. Much of the game follows Harry exploring Silent Hill, which is occasionally interrupted by therapy sessions.

The answers players give during these sessions has an impact on the game world and the look of the creatures Harry encounters. Shattered Memories is a more psychological and vibes-heavy outing, and while rarely genuinely scary, it’s a very absorbing entry that rewards multiple playthroughs. The score by series composer Akira Yamaoka is also outstanding.

8

The Suffering (2004) – PlayStation 2, Xbox, PC

The Suffering is a little controversial amongst survival horror purists, who feel it’s too action-oriented to deserve the label. While combat plays a huge role, it’s also a gory, disturbing and bleak title that ticks (nearly) all the requirements of the genre.

The game sees a violent prisoner being taken to a hellish island prison, which is soon overrun by demonic creatures. The monster designs came from the late, great Stan Winston (The Terminator), and they really are a revolting bunch. The combat itself is intense and satisfying, and the ability to switch between first and third person is real useful.

7

Deep Fear (1998) – Sega Saturn

Deep Fear is a top-notch survival horror that was doubly cursed by its exclusivity to the Sega Saturn and being released near the end of that console’s life. The game is set in an underwater research facility that becomes overrun by mutants, and anyone who’s played classic titles like Resident Evil will be right at home in Deep Fear.

It’s got the third-person perspective, a horde of slimy monsters and a healthy arsenal of weapons to deal with them; it also has cheesy FMVs and bad acting. The game also features an interesting oxygen mechanic, which is a nice way of keeping players moving while generally adding stress.

6

Parasite Eve 2 (2000) – PlayStation, PSP

Parasite Eve is an odd franchise, where all three entries are quite different from each other. The second game tends to get mixed reviews, but it’s a beautiful-looking, expansive horror actioner with unique monster designs and combat. Its cutscenes are also fantastic considering they come from the original PlayStation.

The story sees returning heroine Aya battling Neo-Mitochondrial monsters in a Los Angeles skyscraper, before heading to a desert town. The game leans towards action, but it still conjures a creepy atmosphere, especially when events move to the desert. Despite some irritating design choices, Parasite Eve 2 deserves a little more love.

5

The Evil Within 2 (2017) – PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC

The original The Evil Within tagged itself as the savior of retro survival horror, but many of its design choices were annoying instead of challenging. The Evil Within 2 greatly refines the experience. This finds returning hero Sebastian being plugged into another simulated hellscape, this time to save his missing daughter.

The sequel gives players control over a small open world, allowing them to choose between stealth or combat, whilst rewarding exploration. The game achieves a nice mix of action and sneaking, but still tells a surprisingly emotional story. Despite being superior to the original in every way, The Evil Within 2 underperformed.

4

OverBlood (1996) – PlayStation

Arriving the same year as Resident Evil and being overshadowed by it completely, OverBlood is still a horror gem. The story follows a man who awakens from cryosleep with no memory, and while exploring a hidden (is there any other kind?) research laboratory, finds himself attacked by zombie-like creatures.

OverBlood hasn’t aged that gracefully, but it’s still a compelling title. It builds a great atmosphere, the story is surprisingly fleshed out (though the final twist is obvious), and players will fall in love with the hero’s little robot pal. The game’s combat and horror could have been refined, but it’s still worth a curio playthrough.

3

Cursed Mountain (2009) – Wii, PC

The Wii didn’t have an abundance of either FPS or horror games. That’s not a huge shock, but hidden deep inside its library is Cursed Mountain, a total gem of a horror experience. The setup finds the main character heading to a mountain in Tibet to find his missing brother, and finds himself battling the environment and relentless ghosts.

The game pulls heavily from Tibetan culture and folklore, and is a blend of exploration and combat. The combat isn’t great thanks to the Wii remote, but hey, bad combat is a staple of most survival horror titles anyway. Sadly, Cursed Mountain came and went with little fanfare in 2009, but it’s a haunting title that deserved better.

2

Kuon (2004)

J-horror became red-hot thanks to movies like The Ring and The Grudge (and their American remakes) during the early 2000s, so it makes sense developers would lean into that trend. Kuon is one such example; it’s a deeply eerie game set in Japan’s Heian period, where players battle monsters attracted by noise.

While not quite as terrifying as the Fatal Frame games, Kuon is one of the most undersung survival horror games. It’s got an incredible mood, the setting gives it a different flavor than other horror titles and the narrative is presented in a unique way, being split across three playable characters. Sadly, finding a physical copy nowadays doesn’t come cheap.

1

Hellnight (1998) – PlayStation

First person survival horror video games that don’t allow you to fight back might seem like a 21st-century innovation, but Hellnight (AKA Dark Messiah) got there early. This game sees the player escape from a relentless, Nemesis-like pursuer in the sewers beneath Tokyo. The game itself is made up of either 3D tunnel mazes or 2D stills representing different rooms.

Hellnight is a game that only the real survival horror heads know of, and it’s one of the most distinctive outings on this list. Despite its dated presentation and gameplay, it’s one of the scariest, too. Walking around those empty tunnels with only the sound of dripping water, only to be confronted by the game’s monster, is still heart-pounding.