Summary
The survival horror genre has seen something of a resurgence in recent years, withtheResident Evilseriesgetting back to form with its most recent entries. This is after the genre went on something of a hiatus. Developers preferred the action-horror game route after the commercially successfulResident Evil 4.
Unlike action horror, survival horror only truly works if the player feels as if their character’s life is always on the line. This is accomplished by ramping up the tension and capitalizing on the jump scares at the right time. In that vein, these scary games get their jump scares right.
Updated by July 02, 2025, by Michael Llewellyn:Video games have a way of drawing players into their worlds and fully immersing them in an experience, unlike books and movies. This is why horror games effectively build tension and create memorable and terrifying jump scares. This list has been updated to include new galleries, specifications, and two exciting remakes to keep players on the edge of their seats.
The originalDead Spacefollowed on from the success ofResident Evil 4’saction oriented take on the survival horror genre. The 2023 remake revisits the classic with a new coat of paint and somehow manages to be a far scarier game with more jump scares. This is in no doubt helped by the stunning visuals and updated environments and and more convincing looking monsters.
The only drawback to the scares in this science fiction horror is that the protagonist, Isaac, is well-armed and quite capable of defending himself with the sci-fi tech weaponry available in Dead Space. However, the encounters with the grotesque Necromorphs aboard the ship are randomly generated bythe Intensity Directormechanic. This feature keeps the game unpredictable, ensuring that the horror remains fresh and the scares are less likely to lose their impact.
Until Dawn: Rush of Bloodis a horror spin-off to the original interactive movie and survival horror gameUntil Dawn.Unlikethe first game,Rush of Bloodis an on-rails experience for PlayStation VR, placing players on a roller coaster ride filled with various horrors.
There are connections to the original to keep fans happy, but players can enjoy the game as a singular horror experience.Until Dawn: Rush of Bloodis filled with numerous jump scares and tense moments. The spiders, especially, are horrifying and are certainly not suitable for those with a severe fear of arachnids.
It’s no surprise that the originalUntil Dawnis mentioned, given that the PSVR spin-off Until Dawn: Rush of Blood also made the list. However, it’s a completely different game from the PSVR title, as it has more in common withTelltale’s Walking Dead.
The game effectively puts the player in the director’s chair of their very own horror movie. It features a star-studded cast with stars like Rami Malek (Bohemian Rhapsody)and Hayden Panettiere (Heroes).Players can easily become immersed in the story and connect with the characters, making it especially impactful if or when a character meets a tragic end based on the choices made. The originalUntil Dawnwas remade for the PS5with some updates to character models, lighting, and extended interactions between the cast.
The Project Zero/Fatal Frame series debuted on the PlayStation 2 back in 2001. It takes a similar approach to horror and scares totheSilent Hillseries. It borrows elements from the playbook of Japanese horror movies, drawing inspiration from classics likeThe GrudgeandThe Ring.
The frights and the scares build up over time. They’re also all the more effective because players are put in the shoes of a fairly helpless protagonist, armed with nothing more than the mystical Camera Obscura. The camera serves as her sole protection against the hostile spirits stalking her.
Released as a demo in 2014 for the PlayStation 4,P.T. (Silent Hills)was a “playable teaser” for the now-canceledSilent Hillreboot. It was developed in collaboration between Hideo Kojima and acclaimed film director Guillermo del Toro.
Although merely a demo, P.T. managed to evoke genuine terror as players found themselves stalked within a suburban home by a malevolent spirit named Lisa. The corridors and halls would continuously loop until the player could figure out the final puzzle. Sadly, despite its positive reception and circumstances that led to Kojima leaving Konami, the studio shut the demo down and called off development for the full game.
TheResident Evil 2 Remakewas easily one of the best games from 2019 and one of the scariest entries in the long-running famed zombie horror franchise. The remake gave the classic original a cinematic makeover with modern visuals and fully 3D environments.
One reason for its success was how well Capcom adhered to the original game’s formula. For some, it felt like the series lost focus on what initially attracted fans to the franchise due to its more action-oriented entries. By going back to the series' origins and harnessing the impressive RE 7 engine, the horror elements were significantly enhanced, bringing the pre-rendered original’s environments vividly to life.
In the realm of psychological terror, Silent Hill 2 continues to set the standard for the horror genre. Despite its roots as a PlayStation 2 title, this game remains impressive with some of the most creative and disturbing visuals in the genre.
Despite looking similar toResident Evilwith its pre-rendered visuals, puzzles, and clever utilization of camera angles,Silent Hill’sstory takes a different and more thought-provoking approach to horror than its rivals. The atmosphere and the gradual escalation of terror are executed flawlessly, with pacing and a somewhat tighter experience than the excellent remake.
Horror sequelThe Evil Within 2took all the positive aspects of the first game and crafted a more polished and expansive experience. More crucially, the game’s tension is relentless, adopting a more psychological angle to its horror.
WhileThe Evil Within 2is not lacking in visual horror, the design of the monsters and demons is impressively terrifying in its own unique way. Additionally, the game takes a smarter approach to its jump scares. They are few and far between, but the tension remains high throughout. When they do happen, the scares have much more impact.
Alien Isolationremains the most faithful and the best videogame adaptation of theAlienfranchise ever released. The game’s story occurs 15 years after the first movie, with players taking on the role of Amanda Ripley, daughter of Ellen Ripley, portrayed by Sigourney Weaver in the first four films.
The game’s atmospheric levels and film-accurate sound design, combined with its hide-and-seek mechanics, reflect the themes and tension of the first movie. The Xenomorph’s artificial intelligence reacts realistically and unpredictably to the player’s movements and actions, which is what pulls in the scares. A highly anticipatedsequel toAlien: Isolationis currently being developed, with the original team, Creative Assembly, at the helm.
7Paranormal Activity: The Lost Soul
Paranormal Activity: The Lost Soulis a virtual reality game based on horror films of the same name. The visuals are some of the best on the PSVR and early Meta Quest headsets. Conveying a sense of genuine exploration within a haunted house to the player.
In addition to the visuals, the sound design is incredible with a good set of headphones or a surround sound system. Hearing knocks, bangs, and movement coming from the other rooms or footsteps on the floorboards above really taps into the player’s fears and manages to be far more terrifying than its source material.
