Start your New Year right by getting your heart rate up and your blood boiling with these survival horror games that may have already been forgotten but are nothing short of terrifying.
Of course, there are many titles in the market that redefined the survival horror genre over the years, such as "Resident Evil," "Silent Hill," and more, but according to ComicBook Gaming, it is high time to explore unheralded ones.
Top 5 Underrated Survival Horror Games to Play This 2026
'The Evil Within 2'
The Tango Gameworks-developed game, "The Evil Within 2," is one of the most memorable survival horror titles that come to mind because of its excellent horror atmosphere development.
Its predecessor, "The Evil Within," was directed by "Resident Evil" director Shinji Mikami, but this sequel was helmed by John Johanas.
That said, this specific title still gave the world a worthy sequel that hit the right marks in what people looked for in a survival horror, focusing on iconic combat gameplay, high-tension design, expanded mechanics, and more.
While the game saw great reviews overall, it faced criticisms due to the open-world-like experience, which somewhat killed the chills and tension it brought.
At present, "The Evil Within 2" is available to play via the Windows PC platform via Steam.
'Tormented Souls'
DualEffect's "Tormented Souls" is a fairly new game as it only came out in 2021, but it has already made a name for itself as one of the best modern survival horror titles in the industry.
"Tormented Souls" focused on fixed camera angles in its gameplay, and there is an option to use tank controls, which resembles the early "Resident Evil" games.
The game features a short plot where players are left alone to explore a hospital where terrifying enemies and complex puzzles await them.
"Tormented Souls" is available to play via Steam, Nintendo Switch, PS4 & PS5, Xbox One, and the Xbox Series S and X.
After finishing this, and you find yourself wanting more, there is a sequel that was recently released in 2025.
'Haunting Ground'
Capcom may be defined by the "Resident Evil" and "Street Fighter" franchises, but it made one of the most iconic survival horror games way back in 2005 that still gives players nightmares.
This game is called "Haunting Ground," and according to one review, it is one of the "most disturbing" survival horrors Capcom has made.
The Japanese gaming company temporarily stepped away from the action-heavy "RE" franchise to deliver a chilling and ominous new survival horror title, which introduced Fiona and her dog, Hewie.
While Capcom was praised for Fiona's character development, many noted that Hewie is the thorn in this game. That said, this remains one of the most underrated games in the sub-genre.
"Haunting Grounds" may be played via an old copy of the game that works on the PlayStation 2 emulators.
'Obscure'
Another survival game from the mid-2000s era, "Obscure" is a game developed by Hydravision Entertainment featuring five high school students investigating the spooky occurrences in their school.
Players get to play all five characters at a time, with a two-player co-op allowing players to explore the haunted school with friends.
Each character has their own unique abilities and skills, and they need to survive the night in their exploration of the eerie institution.
"Obscure" is available to play via Steam on the Windows PC platform.
'Cold Fear'
In "Cold Fear," players get to suit up as a Coast Guard worker investigating a harrowing incident on a Russian ship traversing the Bering Strait. Here, players come across a zombie-like outbreak and are put into an action-packed survival horror experience.
Darkworks' game features short gameplay where players will uncover a sinister plot behind the outbreak, which involves the CIA and the Russian mafia.
Redditor u/Jasonvsfreddyvs shared that "Cold Fear" was recently taken down from Steam, but it is being speculated that this is in preparation for a remaster of the 2005 game under Atari.
