Horror games are some of the most popular games on Steam, with games such asAmnesia,The Evil Within, and the recentResident Evilremakesbeing just a few examples. Survival horror, in particular, has proven a popular genre among horror fans.
However, larger studios seem to have held the torch for many years, with most games inthe survival-horror genrebeing household names for many horror fans. With game development becoming more accessible and indie games becoming more mainstream, more developers are exploring genres such as survival horror.
Endoparasiticis a somewhatminimalist indie gamethat takes the classic formula of survival-horror games and adds a truly unique twist to its standard gameplay loop. InEndoparasitic, players must solve simple puzzles, fight dangerous monsters, and manage limited resources all while attempting to stave off a deadly parasite.
This parasite acts as a ticking timer for the player, forcing them to seek out antidotes and inject themselves to slow it down. However, this parasite isn’tEndoparasitic’sonly twist, nor is it the biggest; in the game, players take on the role of a character whose only remaining limb is a single arm. This forces the player to use their mouse to drag themselves around, meaning they can’t move when they’re using a weapon. Combined with manual reloading and a handful of intricacies this brings to the gameplay,Endoparasiticmakes for a genuinely distinct survival-horror experience.
6Nightmare Of Decay
Steam User Rating: 96%
Despite its low-budget appearance,Nightmare Of Decayis a surprisingly competent survival-horror indie game. Although it’s a perfectly serviceable game in and of itself,Nightmare Of Decayfrequently pays homage and makes reference to notable games in the genre, paying service to fans of survival horror.
Similarly to the originalResident Evil,Nightmare Of Decayhas players exploring a large manor packed with deadly zombies.Nightmare Of Decayalso leans into its old-school influences with relatively hardcore survival-horror gameplay in which managing resources is key to success.
5Stay Out Of The House
Steam User Rating: 95%
A limited inventoryand an equally limited number of saves makeStay Out Of The Housea particularly hardcore, old-school survival-horror game. However, it seems to combine these influences withimmersive sims such asDeus Exand first-person horror games likeAmnesia.
Stay Out Of The Housefeatures a dense, eerie atmosphere facilitated by itsold-school aestheticand unsettling character designs. The game’s immersive sim gameplay allows the player to use their limited resources in creative ways, and players will need to do this if they’re to be successful. This creates a uniquely engaging survival-horror experience in which the player needs to frequently think for themselves in order to succeed.
This survival-horror rogue-like features permanent death and a deeply hostile, unforgiving post-apocalyptic world.Project Zomboidis full of intricacies and complex mechanics, facilitated by its attention to detail and commitment to a deeply simulated experience.
Project Zomboidis reminiscent of hardcore,classic rogue-likes such asCataclysm: Dark Days Ahead, but offers a more streamlined and modernized approach to its systems. Like any good survival-horror experience,Project Zomboidis a game about managing resources and fighting off dangerous enemies, though it lacks the puzzles that linear survival-horror games are often associated with.
Crow Countryis a love letter to early survival-horror games such asResident EvilandSilent Hill, filled to the brim with old-school charm and crafted with close attention to detail. AlthoughCrow Countryis a decidedly old-school experience, it does feature a handful of modernizations that help to make it more palatable for modern audiences. The most notable of these modernizations is its entirely optional tank controls.
AmongCrow Country’sgreatest strengths are its intuitive controls, dense atmosphere, and overwhelming sense of retro style. While it may not be the scariest game on the market,Crow Countryis a consistently atmospheric game with classic survival horror mechanics that are sure to satiate any fan of older horror titles such asSilent Hill.
This top-down survival-horror game features a unique aesthetic and a consistently unsettling atmosphere that blends perfectly with its visuals.Darkwoodis a game of resource management, exploration, and slow, methodical combat.
Darkwood’sgameplay loop hinges around a day/night cycle. In the daytime, players explore the open world and gather resources before returning to their shelter and preparing for the night. This includes everything from unlocking new skills and perks to setting up deadly traps. During the night, however, players are forced to defend their shelter from all manner of nasty creatures.
Signalisis a streamlined indie title with an extensive amount of visual flair, predominantly thanks to its stylized aesthetic. Gameplay-wise,Signaliskeeps close to the classic survival-horror experience, with a few subtle twists that allow it to stand out.
Signalisis most notable for its intriguing, well-written narrative and immersive, unsettling atmosphere. However, its gameplay is almost as polished as its visuals. As with any good survival-horror game,Signalishas players managing a finite number of resources as they explore claustrophobic environments, solve puzzles, and take down dangerous foes.Signalisis arguably one of the best survival horror games of recent years, offering an experience that stays true to the genre while simultaneously offering its own ideas.
