Since the genre’s initial burst of popularity with iconicgames likeResident EvilandSilent Hill, the survival horror genre has become both broad and varied. There are a variety of experiences to be had, especially on one of the most popular online storefronts, Steam. However, Steam isn’t every survival horror fan’s preferred way to purchase games. Thankfully, GOG (Good Old Games) also provides a solid selection of survival horror titles.
While some of these games are available on both Steam and GOG, others aren’t available on the Steam Store at all. These recommendations apply to users of both platforms, as there are some worthwhile titles on GOG that Steam users could be missing out on at the time of writing.
Amnesia: The Bunkerisa great first-person horror gamethat takes place in a dark WW1 bunker haunted by a horrific beast. While theAmnesiagames are known for making players feel afraid through a lack of defensive options,Amnesia: The Bunkerchanges the formula by giving players access to a gun. However, this does little to defend players against the game’s dynamic, stalking creature, ensuring the experience is up to par with previous entries in the franchise.
Sound design does a lot to help the horror ofAmnesia: The Bunker, but it’sthe threat of the aforementioned stalkerthat’s likely to put players on edge. In this way,Amnesia: The Bunkeris similar to the survival horror gameAlien: Isolation, though it could be argued thatAmnesia: The Bunker’sshorter run-time prevents its stalking enemy from becoming stale over time. As a result, some players may findAmnesia: The Bunkera more frightening experience overall.
Developed by Tango Gameworks and ledby survival horror legend, Shinji Mikami,The Evil Withinis a strange and often haunting experience. In the game, players take on the role of a detective named Sebastian Castellanos, who stumbles into a horrifying alternate reality while investigating the crime scene of a mass murder.
Featuring third-person action and a slew of horrifying creatures, as well as a plot that twists and turns in frequently unsettling ways,The Evil Withinis a relatively unique addition to the survival horror genre. Although the game is available on Steam, players can also pick upThe Evil Withinon GOG.
This third-person, sci-fi survival horror game has playersexploring the halls of a space station(the USG Ishimura) overrun by horrific creatures dubbed Necromorphs. In order to defeat these creatures, the player must sever their limbs one-by-one using a variety of cutting-edge weaponry.
Dead Spacefeatures an immersive atmosphere facilitated by its evocative sci-fi setting, environmental storytelling, and cinematic lighting.Dead Spaceis known for its weighty, action-oriented gameplay that focuses on visceral and gory combat. As a result, players looking for a more methodical, slower-paced experience should likely look elsewhere. However,Dead Spaceis a classic for a reason, andthe recent remake has only made it more accessible.
The recent remakes and the HD remaster ofthe originalResident Evilprovide great survival horror experiences that are loyal to the franchise while generally being more accessible to newcomers. However, it could be argued that certain elements of the series were lost in translation, making it an entirely different experience to go back and play the original releases of the first three games. This is especially so forResident Evil 2andResident Evil 3, with the latter’s remake being dramatically different from the original.
The remakes cut content and, more notably, changed the perspective and overall feel of both the second and third games. As a result, fans of theResident Evilremakes that have never played the original trilogy should certainly consider taking a look at theResident Evilbundle available on GOG. Even if fans don’t wish to play the entire original trilogy, it’s almost certainly worthwhile taking a look atResident Evil 3, which is a far cry from the recent remake. While GOG hasn’t releasedResident Evil 2orResident Evil 3at the time of writing, they are set to release later in 2024.
WhiletheSilent Hillfranchiseis more known for its first and second entries, withSilent Hill 2being one of the most popular survival horror games of all time,Silent Hill 4: The Roomis still a worthy entry in the iconic series. With such high expectations to live up to, it’s unsurprising that it’s often the least talked aboutSilent Hillgame, but fans of the series and survival horror as a whole should almost certainly consider giving it a go.
Silent Hill 4: The Roomis, at the time of writing, unavailable on Steam. However, thankfully, the game is available on GOG. Although its accessibility makes it tempting to jump straight intoSilent Hill 4: The Roombefore other games in the series, it’s generally recommended to play the previous games first. With aSilent Hill 2remake on the horizon, there’s never been a better time to explore (or return to) this iconic franchise.
