The Resident Evil franchise is one of the biggest and scariest in the gaming industry, with the original 1996 release spawning several follow-ups, spin-offs, and even multiple movies since its debut.
There's so much to it, with enough content to keep you going for years. That said, the quality of the games hasn't always been there, which might mean you don't want to play through every single game in the series.
Perhaps you're after an alternative? Well, with Halloweeen approaching and now being a great time to enjoy some horror, here are some of the best games like Resident Evil around (in no particular order).
Best Games Like the Resident Evil Franchise
- Outlast — available on PlayStation, Xbox, Switch, PC
- Alan Wake 2 — available on PlayStation, Xbox, PC
- The Last of Us — available on PlayStation, PC
- Silent Hill 2 Remake — available on PlayStation, PC
- Dead Space Remake — available on PlayStation, Xbox, PC, Amazon Luna
Read a full summary of each game below.
Outlast
Why we chose Outlast
Like most of the Resident Evil series, Outlast is absolutely terrifying. There are certainly differences between the games, but there's no denying that on a fear-factor scale, both games are pretty equal.
One of the reasons Outlast is so scary is that, unlike in Resident Evil games, you don't get a weapon to defend yourself. Stealth, and keeping out of site from some of the most evil video game characters around, are your only keys to success as you navigate Mount Massive Asylum as a journalist trying to uncover exactly what happened to the hospital before it was closed down.
Your only ally is your camcorder, and even then you're governed by its battery life. Fail to find batteries, you're pretty stuck, as you often have to rely on its nightvision setting to see in near-pitch black rooms.
The game is seriously creepy, and is a must-play if you're a fan of the Resisdent Evil series in our opinion.
Alan Wake 2
Why we chose Alan Wake 2
Alan Wake 2 was a long time coming when it debuted in 2023. Though you're not necessarily battling zombies here, the third-person horror perspective makes it a compelling alternative to play to the Resident Evil franchise.
A sequal to the original, the story follows novelist Alan Wake while trapped in the alternative dimension. The goal is to escape by finishing a horror story involving an FBI agent Saga Anderson, the game's co-star. The key word in that sentence is "horror", because you'll encounter your fair share of jump scares along the way — sound a bit like Resident Evil? We thought so too.
The Last of Us
Why we chose The Last of Us
Although massive as a game, The Last of Us has become globally recognizable after HBO dropped its TV show adaptation of one of Naughty Dog's most decorated releases. Getting a TV show is a testament to just how good the first game (also known as Part 1) was and still is, and anyone who's played it will say there are similarities between it and Resident Evil for sure.
The gameplay is mostly third-person shooter, which is a direction the Resident Evil games went in in its various sequels. But the key difference is that, in The Last of Us, Joel and Ellie (the games main characters) are right in the heart of a world where infected humans rule the land, and any non-infected must struggle to survive to avoid a similar zombified state.
The Last of Us has an insane narrative filled with twists and turns too, which only adds to its appeal as a great alternative to play instead of Resident Evil.
Silent Hill 2 Remake
Why we chose Silent Hill 2 Remake
Silent Hill 2, specifically the 2024 remake with its improved graphics and modern controls, is a must-play game if you love the Resident Evil series. The two share some incredible similarities, including with their combat systems and overall scariness, yet both are different and worth playing in equal measure.
You follow James Sunderland in this one, a widower, who eerily receives a letter from his deceased wife, Mary, who claims to be waiting there for him in Maine. Of course, all is not as it seems, but that's for you as a player to uncover, all while navigating and defeating some pretty terrifying monsters.
We wouldn't recommend playing this one alone at night, but definitely give it a whirl if you love the Resident Evil franchise.
Dead Space Remake
Why we chose Dead Space Remake
Last but not least, we come to the Dead Space Remake; a truly terrifying horror title that draws a lot of parrells with the Resistent Evil franchise, albeit with more of a Sci-Fi twist.
For this game, you're stuck on the USG Ishimura, a mining spaceship that you quickly discover has been overun by monsters known as Necromorphs following the discovery of an artifact called the Marker. Playing as Isaac Clarke, you must fight off these Necromorphs while fighting to keep growing psychosis at bay.
Being stuck in space creates a lonely atmosphere like non-other, and feeling like you're the only one who can save themselves is daunting and horryfying in equal measure. It's a feeling that's very similar to Resident Evil, which is why it's worth giving Dead Space a go if you're into your horror games.
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