Best survival horror game for beginners

The survival horror genre isn't quite as saturated as the more popular sub-genres of horror, but there's no denying its popularity; games such as Resident Evil and Silent Hill is almost synonymous with survival horror, and both franchises have a plethora of devoted fans.

These games are traditionally defined by their focus on resource management, facilitated by hefty limits on the player's ammo and health. Puzzle solving and exploration are also common occurrences in survival horror, adding variety to the game and providing a respite from fear. However, the limited resources given to the player usually make them more vulnerable than in other action games and as a result these games can be somewhat inaccessible. The horror factor of these games can also put off more cautious players, so in either case, survival horror titles that lean closer to action than horror tend to be more accessible and are better entry points for beginners.

Just to be clear, this article is not about games suitable for people who don't like horror. Instead, we'll focus on survival horror games that are relatively accessible to newcomers to the genre who enjoy a good scare. So we're going to include some really scary games.

7

Until Dawn (original or remake)

The ideal survival horror game for slasher movie fans

Until Dawn is a complicated recommendation. On the one hand, the game offers arguably the most cinematic horror experience in gaming, making it perfect for beginners who like scary movies but haven't delved into survival horror yet. Conversely, Supermassive's project is very much a unique experience that doesn't reflect the standard gameplay of most survival horror games, making it a relatively poor introduction to the genre overall. At most it will prepare players for Supermassive's Dark pictures and The quarry.

Still, Until Dawn is truly accessible, while delivering thrills, horror, and gruesome deaths. Gameplay is minimal and mostly stress-free; however, players must constantly make decisions that determine the progression of the story. If anyone has always wanted to make a slasher movie, Until Dawn allowing them to fulfill that desire.

The remake is mostly good too, and its controls are closer to a traditional, modern survival horror game.

6

Resident Evil 2 (2019)

A modern classic survival horror experience

Resident Evil 2 is an infamous entry in the survival horror genre, set in the iconic Raccoon City and offering players a nail-biting experience in a variety of memorable locations. Resident Evil 2 can be an intimidating game, especially for those unfamiliar with the genre or franchise. Much of this horror is aided by dynamic enemies, immersive lighting, brilliant sound design, and the infamous Mr. X.

Exploring the halls of the Raccoon City Police Station when Mr. X might be lurking nearby creates a tense, palpable atmosphere that is consistently exciting. The remake also offers an incredibly modern experience without compromising the original design. Resident Evil 2 is classic survival horror, with lots of exploration, puzzles, resource management and frenetic combat. For gamers who want an experience that is accessible while staying true to the genre's definition, Resident Evil 2 is a safe card.

5

Resident Evil 4

A fast-paced and action-packed experience

Resident Evil 4 isn't the scariest of survival horror games, but this works to its advantage when it comes to attracting new players to the genre. The original edition of Resident Evil 4 was hailed for reviving the survival horror genre and more specifically Resident Evil franchise, offering a non-stop, action-packed adaptation of the traditional survival horror game. The latest remake is even more accessible, offering modern controls and nice graphics that make the game slightly scarier, but also even more beginner-friendly than its 2005 counterpart.

Resident Evil 4 puts players in the shoes of Leon Kennedy, on a mission to rescue the president's daughter from a variety of zombie-adjacent villagers, cultists, and horrifically mutated creatures. The game's story is mostly straightforward and told in such a way that newcomers to the franchise can follow along with ease. Although there is a lot of action, Resident Evil 4 also has tons of resource management, adding to the tension and overall horror of the experience. Total, Resident Evil 4's a more linear approach to design and action-packed gameplay make it a solid entry into the genre.

4

Dead Space

A unique battle system and iconic environment

This iconic sci-fi survival horror game takes place on a mining spaceship overrun with horrible creatures called Necromorphs. Dead Space is best known for its environmental storytelling, well-placed jump scares and incredibly immersive and memorable environments – USG Ishimura. The ship's rooms and halls are dense with eerie lighting, zero-gravity areas and spooky elevators, offering a delightfully tense atmosphere.

Dead Space has limited ammo and health pickups that add an element of resource management to the game. Combined with the deadly creatures and the creepy atmosphere, Dead Space offers a survival horror experience that is close in tone Resident Evil 4. About like Resident Evil 4what does Dead Space so accessible to beginners is its action-oriented gameplay. There are plenty of nasty enemies to take down Dead Spaceand the game features a unique combat system that allows players to carve their enemies apart limb by limb, as opposed to simply shooting them until they drop, making the combat feel more deliberate than some other entries in the genre.

3

Crowland

A brief retro experience with modern controls

Crowland is a recently released indie survival horror game that takes clear inspiration from genre staples such as Silent Hill. The game has an old school aesthetic that combines the visuals of games like the original Resident Evil with early 3D models Final Fantasy game. The game's story follows Mara Forest as she tries to investigate a mystery in an abandoned amusement park.

Crowland has plenty of old-school design, but has modernizations that make it more accessible, such as optional tank controls and a rotating camera. Players also get to refill their ammo by going back to the beginning of the game, making resource management a bit more forgiving. Crowland is also a relatively short experience, giving newcomers a lively but well-crafted survival horror adventure to whet the appetite for the genre's other offerings.

2

Survive

An introduction to modern survival horror

While Amnesia: The Dark Descent wrote the blueprint for modern first-person survival horror games, Survive popularized it to the point that it seemingly influenced most of the genre's efforts over the past decade. Instead of presenting a protagonist who moonlights as an action hero, these projects emphasize their vulnerability and strip them of all defensive mechanisms. You have to sneak, explore, run and hide. Fighting back is not only a bad idea, it's actively impossible.

Predominantly committed to a mental institution, Survive is truly terrifying and consistently intense, so this is definitely not a game for people new to horror. Its mechanics are pretty straightforward, though, and the run-and-hide strategy is about as straightforward a concept as they come. Survive is a good choice for horror fans who are new to gaming.

1

Alan Wake 2

Stylish, story-driven survival horror

This highly polished, long awaited sequel to Alan Wake is a high-budget entry into the survival horror genre from Remedy Entertainment, the team behind games such as Verify and Max Payne. The game features plenty of survival horror tropes, such as limited resources that force players to manage their ammo and health carefully. There is also no shortage of quiet escape rooms, which provide welcome breaks from the horror.

Alan Wake 2 is a story-driven adventure, and its greatest strength is its presentation; in-engine and live-action cutscenes, immersive lighting and a cinematic sense of style do Alan Wake 2 a visual treat throughout. This, along with its consistently engaging story and modern controls, does Alan Wake 2 a perfect starting point for newcomers to survival horror and is even accessible to those who haven't played the first Alan Wake.