Best Survival Horror Game Franchises

What qualifies as the best survival horror franchise of all time? Many factors and nuances affect the answer. Does a series with only two or three incredible titles beat out a long-running franchise with multiple great games diluted by some notable stinkers?

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Do bad spin-offs bring down the overall rating? There is so much to consider here. Regardless, it is hard to go wrong with the series here if one goes with the best of what each has to offer. While some of the franchises here are gone and buried, others are still going strong.

7 The Evil Within

Only Two Games But They Became Cult Classics

The Evil Within is so high on the list because it only consists of two games and its future is entirely uncertain. The first game in the series is a solid spiritual successor to Resident Evil 4, appropriate since it was directed by Resident Evil creator Shinji Mikami.

The second game expands upon the gameplay significantly with open areas and a focus on stealth. The Evil Within 2 is a cult classic that has fans clamoring for more. Time will tell if a third game will come, but as it stands now the series consists of two great games.

6 Outlast

Spine-Tingling First-Person Horror

Some survival horror games have lackluster combat, but the ability to resist in some way is essential to the experience. Outlast does away with conventional combat and forces players to run and hide instead of confront enemies.

The series also employs a found footage aesthetic, making great use of night-vision modes. The Outlast Trials adds a cooperative multiplayer element to the mix, though it can still be played solo. Outlast is not a fun romp of a horror game, as its story takes some twisted turns and spares no character from torment and suffering.

5 Alone In The Dark

Almost Invented The Genre, But Has Not Found Modern Recognition

Alone in the Dark is historically relevant, having almost invented the survival horror genre single-handedly. It innovated the idea of detailed 3D character models against 2D environments. The original games, admittedly, are hard to play today with their outdated controls and obtuse puzzles.

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The PS1 title, The New Nightmare, updated the series for its time to positive reception. The 2008 reboot had neat ideas but technical issues hampered its success. The 2024 remake of the original game was met with a mixed reception but might become a cult classic one day. While its importance in gaming cannot be trivialized, it unfortunately seems like it cannot get a foothold in modern times.

4 Dino Crisis

Turns Out Dinosaurs Are Terrifying

The first Dino Crisis is simply Resident Evil with dinosaurs. It feels like so much more than its premise, however. The second game focuses more on action and adds some arcade mechanics, feeling like a precursor to Resident Evil 4 with its economy and progression system.

The third game came and went on the original Xbox. Dino Crisis 2 holds up particularly well because of how original it feels even today. The gameplay is also faster and more forgiving.

3 Dead Space

Space Is Scary By Itself Even Without Necromorphs

It is easy to sell Dead Space as Resident Evil 4 in space. There is more to the concept, though, with unique enemies that still come at the player even as their limbs are removed with futuristic weaponry.

The first two games are intense survival horror stories through dreary and grimy spaceships. The third game is more fast-paced and focuses on cooperative multiplayer, a shift that rubbed some fans the wrong way. The 2023 remake was a return to form, making the brutal combat against the Necromorphs more disgusting and scary than ever.

2 Silent Hill

Effectively Focuses On Psychological Scares

Even if every other game in the series was complete trash, Silent Hill would make this list purely for Silent Hill 2. Released in 2001, it is considered one of the games of that year that revolutionized the gaming medium, along with Grand Theft Auto 3 and Metal Gear Solid 2.

The games immediately before and after it are also incredible contributions to the genre. Afterward, however, it starts becoming more hit-and-miss. They are not all stinkers after Silent Hill 3, but players have to be more aware of the series' faults and temper their expectations.

1 Resident Evil

It Stays Fresh By Constantly Reinventing Itself

When it comes to main entries, it is almost impossible to go wrong with Resident Evil. The sixth entry is the only one most considered deplorable. The genre and tonal shifts between entries have managed to keep the series fresh throughout the years and also means there is something for almost any type of player.

On top of that, the older games hold up so well even after the original three games have been remade. Players also should not ignore the spin-offs, though there are some to avoid like Survivor and Umbrella Corps. The world of Resident Evil has grown so big, it means the devs can take it in so many directions and it will always still feel distinctly like Resident Evil.

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