Best Games Like Resident Evil (By Era & Horror Style)

The gaming landscape is blessed with quality offerings, with the horror category also having a wide range for players to choose from. Resident Evil has perfected almost every facet of this genre, with the original games being a blend of horror and action. Resident Evil 4, 5, and 6 veered primarily toward action with the occasional scary moment, while Resident Evil 7: BioHazard returned to horror but shifted to a first-person perspective. Village aimed to find a middle ground between the two, largely succeeding in the process; in the meantime, Capcom has revisited a few classics through generally fantastic remakes.

Resident Evil is undoubtedly the most famous horror gaming franchise of all time, to the point that there might be fans of Capcom's series that have largely neglected most of the genre's other offerings. Consequently, they are missing out on some of the best horror games like Resident Evil.

Updated February 22, 2026, by Mark Sammut: Resident Evil Requiem is nearly here! Oh, it has been too long. While I assume most people are just waiting for the upcoming release, some folks might be looking for similar horror games to play. I've added a section that recommends titles based on Resident Evil's eras.

Best Games To Play By Resident Evil Era

While we will get to the individual games in a second, let's first dedicate a section to relatively quick recommendations based on different Resident Evil eras. Every IP that lasts for decades goes through its share of changes, but Capcom has taken this franchise in so many different directions that fans of one period might not necessarily enjoy another, and that extends to these recommendations as well. Therefore, we will try to simplify things.

Best Games Like Classic Resident Evil (Survival Horror Era from RE1-RE3)

Starting from the PS1 and extending into the early 2000s, Resident Evil's original era is still highly regarded and beloved, even if the games very much feel like products of a bygone time. People looking for similar games will want fixed camera angles, classic survival horror vibes, and maybe even controls. Here are a few good options to get you started.

• Tormented Souls (Both games) – Blatantly inspired by classic Resident Evil, both games are antiquated but can really hit the mark for players craving something modern that feels old-school. The sequel is the superior experience, but the first one is also enjoyable.
• Crow Country – Now, here is a 2020s horror game that wears its Resi influence on its sleeve. We are talking fixed isometric camera angle, tense atmosphere, creepy designs, and optional tank controls. Crow Country is just a great game in general, but it is made for Resident Evil fans.
• Signalis – Another fantastic modern survival horror game inspired by the past, Signalis has fixed camera angles, optional tank movement, deliberately slow combat, and tight corridors that punish hesitation or waste. The inventory system prioritizes tense management like the early Resident Evil games, and Signalis features plenty of puzzles.

Best Games Like Action-Horror Resident Evil

Although earlier games dabbled in action, Resident Evil 4 marked the start of the action-horror era, with "action" coming ahead of "horror." While Resident Evil 5 and especially 6 are not to everyone's tastes, this period still produced its share of brilliance, and later releases like the Resident Evil 3 remake are reminiscent of this period. To be similar, a game naturally needs to be action-heavy, somewhat empowering, and feature over-the-shoulder angles.

• The Evil Within (Both Games) – Shinji Mikami's baby, The Evil Within, came out at a time when Resident Evil was at its lowest point. Although definitely inspired by Resident Evil 4, this series leaned more into horror, with players not always being able to take on threats head-on. The original game is closer to Capcom's franchise, but the sequel is the better game.
• Dead Space – Probably the most obvious recommendation possible, Dead Space was born out of RE4's success, and it is arguably a better horror game than Capcom's masterpiece. Set in a desolate spaceship and featuring enemies that are basically sci-fi zombies, Dead Space is intense, creepy, and claustrophobic. The sequels are also good, but they are more action than horror.
• The Last of Us – Naughty Dog's game lacks a lot of what makes Resident Evil so beloved. It barely features puzzles or bosses, while the tone is dead-serious rather than campy. The Last of Us also emphasizes stealth, something that isn't really a thing in the action-horror era. However, the game is still a pretty easy recommendation, albeit as a companion piece that leans heavily into narrative drama and characters.

Best Games Like First-Person Horror Resident Evil

After all but abandoning its horror roots, Resident Evil 7 served as a bit of a reset, including a shift to a first-person angle. Games like Resident Evil 7 and Village are relatively easy to come by, as Capcom was clearly influenced by ongoing trends when crafting these releases.

• Outlast – One of the most popular and beloved first-person horror game franchises, Outlast is known for weak protagonists, nightmare-inducing villains, and photo-realistic environments. Except for RE7, both main Outlast games are scarier than any Resident Evil.
• Visage – A slightly lesser-known recommendation, Visage is inspired by P.T., which also makes it a good pick for people who love RE7. Set in confined interior locations, the game utilizes a slow build through environmental tension.
• Dying Light – While the open-world environments doesn't fit Resident Evil Village, Dying Light combines first-person horror and action just as well as Capcom's release.

The Last Of Us Series

Best Story-Driven Horror Game Similar To The Resident Evil Remakes

One of the most decorated video game properties of all time, Naughty Dog's The Last of Us envisions a world that could realistically be Resident Evil's worst outcome if the viruses were allowed to spread unchecked. Beyond the somewhat similar monsters, the 2013 release is a third-person shooter that is somewhat similar to Resident Evil 4, albeit with a heavier focus on stealth; nevertheless, gameplay-wise, Resi fans should not find it too difficult to adapt to The Last of Us's rhythm, and that also holds for the sequel.

Narratively, Naughty Dog focused more on the games' characters, taking them on personal tales that lean into elevated and psychological horror territory rather than B-movie entertainment. One type of story is not necessarily better than the other, but it does make for very different tones.

Outlast

If You Prefer Resident Evil 7 / Village First-Person Horror

While not particularly similar to classic Resident Evil, Outlast might have influenced Capcom's attempts to soft reboot the franchise with the seventh entry, which marked a shift to a first-person perspective. Resident Evil 7's Baker Family section shares quite a lot in common with Red Barrels' games, including revolving around a protagonist who is largely defenseless against roaming enemies. Capcom found a way to shake up the formula to create an experience that is 100% Resident Evil, but fans of Ethan Winters' first horrifying adventure will want to check out 2013's Outlast and its sequel, assuming they enjoy the first entry.

Set in Mount Massive Asylum, Outlast revolves around a journalist who wants to discover what exactly happened in this hospital before it was closed down. Trapped inside with only a camera, players will constantly find themselves scrambling in the dark to try and stay away from the various horrors that exist within this hell. While some beats can be missed during a playthrough, Outlast tells a fascinating story that is rich in (gruesome) lore.

The Evil Within Series

If You Love Resident Evil 4-Style Action Horror But Want More Horror Than Action

Hailing from one of the minds behind Resident Evil, Tango Gameworks' The Evil Within instantly garnered attention as an IP that could carry the survival horror genre into the future, especially since it debuted during a low point for Capcom's franchise. While perhaps falling short of expectations to an extent, Shinji Mikami's third-person shooter is still an impressive experience by most metrics, and it is genuinely terrifying in a way that very few horror games are.

In 2017, The Evil Within 2 was released, which many players might argue improves upon its predecessor in most areas. Compared to The Evil Within's linear chapter-based presentation, the sequel has a more open-ended structure since it takes place in a large town. Both games are great.

Dead Space

Resident Evil 4 In Space, With More Horror & Less Action

This game displays the impact of Resident Evil 4, where the over-the-shoulder revolutionary feature enabled many future-quality games to see the light of day. Dead Space is like Resident Evil in space, and its “zombies” offer a curiously scary insight into the creativity that can come out of this genre in gaming.

The story is simple enough in that the protagonist has to escape the reanimated bodies of his former crew in space as they seek to devour him. Every foe has a different method of approaching, which makes Dead Space both haunting and impossible to get bored with. The original game is genuinely terrifying, even more so than RE4, while the sequels move into action territory, following in Capcom's footsteps.

The 2023 remake is also fantastic and an easy recommendation for fans of Resident Evil.

Crow Country

A Fresh Throwback To Resident Evil's PS1 Era

While not hiding its influences, Crow Country does a great job of expanding and evolving them to create something modern and unique. Due to its stylistic backdrops and doll-like character designs, SFB's game instantly screams "1998 PS1 survival horror," and an appreciation for classics like the original Resident Evil trilogy will likely be someone's main motivator to pick up this 2024 indie release. However, Crow Country sets itself apart in a few key ways.

Perhaps most importantly, despite what its visuals might suggest, the game wisely opted against copying tank controls, instead delivering a fairly modern interpretation with a few backward-looking nods. The campaign primarily focuses on puzzles, with combat taking a backseat and being largely avoidable if players just want to sprint past enemies. The amusement park setting is a horrifying treat that encourages exploration through its three main regions.

Alien: Isolation

An Intense Sci-Fi Horror Game With A Stalker Enemy That Can Rival Nemesis

A contender for the best Alien game of all time, Alien: Isolation is a survival horror masterpiece. While not completely devoid of weapons, players spend large chunks of the game trying to avoid the Xenomorph.

Alien: Isolation takes one of horror's most iconic villains and revitalizes them, re-establishing this intimidating creature as a force to be reckoned with. This is the Xenomorph from Alien, not Alien vs. Predator. Although not all that comparable to the third-person Resident Evil games, Alien: Isolation should strike a chord with fans of Biohazard and, to a lesser extent, Village.

Shadows Of The Damned

Imagine Resident Evil 5 And 6, But Even More Unapologetically Silly

Produced by Shinji Mikami and Grasshopper Manufacture, Shadows of the Damned went through a tough development cycle that saw it practically transform into a different game by the end. The finished product plays like a comedic version of the action-focused Resident Evil titles, as players guide a demon hunter through the underworld to save his girlfriend.

Putting aside some mini-games that do not deliver, Shadows of the Damned plays fine for a third-person shooter. The game’s stunning environments and creative monster designs are the true stars, although the characters are pretty fun too.

Devil May Cry

An Action Masterpiece Born Out Of Resident Evil's Ashes

As fans of both franchises surely know, Devil May Cry originally started as Resident Evil 4. Ultimately, Hideki Kamiya’s team took the project in too different a direction to pass as another entry in the horror series, leading to the creation of 2001’s Devil May Cry.

Split into missions and pushing action to the forefront, Devil May Cry moves at a blistering pace as players seek to stylishly take out all sorts of enemies by mastering Dante’s various weapons and moves. Similar to Resident Evil, Devil May Cry features plenty of puzzles and a ghoulish setting. The series would expand on the combat in later entries, but the original Devil May Cry is the closest to Resident Evil.

Alone In The Dark: The New Nightmare

Alone In The Dark Adopts Resident Evil's Blueprint

1992's Alone in the Dark was a landmark release in video game horror, and it almost certainly influenced later projects like Resident Evil and Silent Hill. However, the franchise lost steam quickly, and by 1994, its third numbered entry, Alone in the Dark's core concept felt tired. The IP would not return until 2001, and The New Nightmare debuted in a very different climate than its predecessors. Unsurprisingly, the game took some ideas from the popular PS1 survival horror games that redefined the genre, all the while still respectfully retaining the sense of atmosphere that characterized the original Alone in the Dark.

In a franchise that largely consists of great but hard-to-revisit (1992's Alone in the Dark) or terrible releases (Illumination), The New Nightmare might just be the best Alone in the Dark game, or at least the one that modern players might struggle the least to enjoy. Featuring two playable characters and an island setting, the 2001 game is visually impressive for its era, particularly its lighting effects.