Best Supernatural Survival Horror Games, Ranked

Survival horror games are usually littered with combat encounters and, as a result, need compelling adversaries. Many games, such as those in the Resident Evil series, throw a variety of generic mutants and zombies at the player with vague, fictional science. However, other games refuse to explain much at all to the player or use supernatural elements as context.

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5 Most Immersive Survival Horror Games

Survival Horror games are elevated to greater heights when their gameplay mechanics and eerie atmosphere combine into one immersive experience.

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By  Harry Ted Sprinks

Icons in the survival horror genre, such as Silent Hill, rely on supernatural elements to elevate their horror and provide psychologically thrilling experiences. Supernatural fiction often includes ghosts, spirits, manifestations, and inexplicable events that contradict reality or science, leaving the player to accept these paranormal horrors as part of their immersion.

6 STALKER: Shadow Of Chernobyl

Supernatural Anomalies In A Decaying Urban Landscape

Though light on horror elements, STALKER: Shadow Of Chernobyl features enough creepy environments, freaky creatures, and limited resources to appease many fans of the survival horror genre. The game puts players in the role of a Stalker, roaming the hostile "Zone," completing missions for various NPCs. The aforementioned Zone is full of supernatural horror, primarily in its anomalies but also in its variety of monsters.

The Bloodsuckers are one such example; extremely dangerous enemies that are able to turn invisible. However, it's Shadow Of Chernobyl's variety of anomalies that add to the supernatural tone and make exploring its decaying urban landscape so hazardous — and thrilling.

5 Deadly Premonition

Supernatural Survival Horror In The Style Of Twin Peaks

This strange and supernatural survival horror game is one of the genre's most divisive releases. Deadly Premonition features aged graphics and clunky gameplay that are likely to turn many players away, but it's still a worthwhile survival horror experience, thanks to an ensemble cast of quirky characters and an intriguing, supernatural story.

Much of Deadly Premonition's supernatural side comes from the variety of otherworldly enemies that the player must face as FBI agent Francis York Morgan. The game's various realities also delve further into the supernatural throughout the game. For fans of supernatural fiction, particularly in the vein of Twin Peaks, Deadly Premonition is worth a shot.

4 The Evil Within

Alternate Reality, Unstable Minds, And Manifestations

Fans of survival horror and supernatural fiction should go into The Evil Within without any prior knowledge of its plot, but for those that are curious, The Evil Within (and its sequel) are tremendous survival horror games with plenty of action and supernatural themes. The supernatural elements of The Evil Within are mostly centered around alternate realities and elements of mind control (which the plot makes generous use of).

The Evil Within is a deranged, psychological trip that won't be for everyone, nor for every survival horror fan, but it's an extremely unique horror experience with a distinctive plot. Furthermore, for players who are still skeptical, The Evil Within has some real pedigree behind it; the game was developed by Tango Gameworks and directed by its founder, Shinji Mikami. For those unfamiliar, that's the same director behind the original Resident Evil — as well as Resident Evil 4.

3 Condemned: Criminal Origins

Grimy, Visceral Psychological Horror With Supernatural Themes

Condemned: Criminal Origins begins as a seemingly traditional FBI narrative, following the story of Ethan Thomas, an agent on the run after being framed for the killings of two police officers. However, things soon start turning out of the ordinary when dead birds begin dropping from the sky, and the plot begins to thicken. Its narrative is nothing ground-breaking, but Condemned has a few surprises in store, and it's worth playing the game without prior knowledge to enjoy them fully.

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By  Harry Ted Sprinks

Condemned: Criminal Origins keeps its supernatural elements fairly obscure; however, with plenty of psychological horror thrown in, the experience is frequently unsettling. For the most part, Condemned: Criminal Origins delivers its supernatural elements through loading screen text, explaining the reasoning for the hyper-violent goons that get thrown at players throughout the game.

2 Alan Wake 2

Survival Horror From The Creative Minds Of Remedy Entertainment

Developed by the weird and wonderful minds that brought players Max Payne and the supernatural action game Control, Alan Wake 2 is a sequel to Remedy Entertainment's 2010 action game of the same name. However, Alan Wake 2 pushes the IP into the survival horror genre with limited resources, manual save stations, and a consistently unsettling atmosphere and tone. In spite of this new horror direction, Alan Wake 2 never gets too terrifying. As a result, it manages to be a relatively accessible survival horror experience.

Alan Wake 2 is an extremely strange experience, thanks in large part to the creativity of its developers; Alan Wake 2 blends live-action and in-engine cutscenes to jarring effect, but it's the iconic Dark Place that makes Alan Wake so distinct. This otherworldly dimension is the source of Alan Wake 2's supernatural elements, with one of its main protagonists — the titular Alan Wake — having being physically trapped there for the past 13 years.

1 Silent Hill

An Iconic Masterpiece Of Survival Horror

Silent Hill is still talked about today, especially among fans of survival horror. This is thanks to its one-of-a-kind, immersive atmosphere and a supernatural story packed with psychological horror. The characters and the iconic town itself are etched into the memories of many fans, and the supernatural elements deepen the game's sense of dread.

The thick fog and quiet, eerie locations of Silent Hill are both memorable and frequently terrifying, all in spite of its aging (but equally charming) PS1 visuals. While it could be argued that its sequel, Silent Hill 2, surpassed the original in terms of quality, the original game still holds a place in the hearts of many horror game fans. For those who have still yet to enjoy the psychological thrills of Silent Hill, it's an easy recommendation for any fan of supernatural horror in the vein of David Lynch's Twin Peaks.