5 Survival Horror Games to Play While Waiting for 'Resident Evil Requiem'
We’re officially in countdown mode for Capcom’s highly anticipated Resident Evil Requiem, but there are still a few weeks to fill before its Feb. 27 release. So, what better way to get in the swing of things than to play some other survival horror titles to set the mood?
I’ve selected five for your consideration with the following caveat. I won’t be including any past games in the Resident Evil franchise—if you’re excited for Resident Evil: Requiem, you’re probably already familiar with previous entries in the series. With that in mind, here are five survival horror games that are worth playing before launch:
5) The Callisto Protocol
Let’s kick things off with a hot take: I liked The Callisto Protocol. It’s not a universally shared opinion, to be sure, but the spiritual successor to Dead Space delivered for me. Even three-plus years later, it’s one of the best-looking games available, a true showcase for modern hardware. The atmosphere and gore deliver as well. Granted, the melee-based combat is shallow, and it makes you feel a little too powerful for traditional survival horror. Still, it’s crisply paced and doesn’t overstay its welcome thanks to an eight-hour run time.
4) Cronos: The New Dawn
Cronos: The New Dawn found a spot on the list of my 10 favorite games from 2025 courtesy of its bleak world and interesting gameplay. It starts a bit slow, and the actual plot doesn’t push the envelope, but the world-building is first-rate. If you played and enjoyed the 2024 remake of Silent Hill 2, which appears later on this list, Cronos is made by the same developer, though this original effort has an expanded focus on action.
3) SIGNALIS
Clearly inspired by franchises like Resident Evil and Silent Hill, SIGNALIS is a 2022 release designed to look like something from the PlayStation 1 era. The atmosphere is the highlight as you explore the remains of a space vessel with limited ammo and even less space to operate as you choose whether to engage or bypass the horrors you find. Shooting is admittedly a bit clunky, a suboptimal development when taken in concert with resource scarcity, but it’s not enough to detract from all the things this unnerving game does well.
2) Silent Hill 2 (2024)
When you talk about traditional survival horror, Silent Hill is usually the other series that comes up alongside Resident Evil. While I’ve long preferred the latter thanks to its gameplay, Silent Hill created its share of memorable moments over the years, and its recent upswing featured developer Bloober Team’s 2024 remake of Silent Hill 2 and the all-new Silent Hill f. While both are well worth your time, I’m going with the remake. The graphical leap is massive, and the shaky controls have been revamped, all while preserving its grim tone.
1) Dead Space (2023)
I’ve always been partial to the Dead Space series and the sci-fi offshoot of survival horror—just in case that wasn’t clear from the fact that four of the five games on this list hail from that specific subgenre. The original was very good; the 2023 remake was vastly superior. Beyond the expected graphical upgrades, it includes a fleshed-out story, a redesigned ship that allows you to explore more freely, and even some Metroidvania elements where your enhanced security clearance grants access to previously locked doors.