8 Most Overlooked Survival Horror Games

Survival horror games may be more popular right now than they ever were. The genre has given birth to some of the most iconic franchises in history, as the likes of Resident Evil and Silent Hill have terrified the entire industry for decades now.

Under that creeping horror, however, hidden deep in the darkest pits of video games, some survival horror classics haven't been so lucky. They've been relegated to the shadows, forgotten for all eternity.

That is, until now. It's time to pull back the curtain on some long-forgotten survival horror experiences.

In this list, I'll take a look at 8 forgotten survival horror gems. These games may not have reached the heights of their peers, but they are just as good, if not better, than some of the more well-known classics.

8 Obscure

Name Checks Out

A lot of survival horror games have drawn from various sources. Silent Hill took inspiration from films like Jacob's Ladder, while Dead Space modeled itself after Event Horizon.

Obscure went along a route that more survival horror games should follow, taking its strongest influence from 1980s slasher films. It's a great fit, as Obscure makes excellent use of its diverse cast of characters to power its harrowing events.

It evokes a lot of my favorite horror films of the era, and having replayed it this past Halloween, I found it to be still quite enjoyable. Obscure was a rather unique game for its time, as its focus on teen drama would allow games like Until Dawn to thrive.

7 Haunting Ground

Hide And Seek

Capcom has had quite a fixation on a singular, unstoppable enemy that stalks you throughout an entire game. Ever since Resident Evil 2, this is a concept they've been improving upon to great effect.

Haunting Ground is a sadly forgotten hidden gem that followed that exact same prospect. It also did so to immense success, as Haunting Ground is still one of the most terrifying games I've ever played.

Moving Fiona through the castle actually has a really nice feeling to it, having aged quite gracefully in twenty years. Haunting Ground is one of Capcom's most oft-forgotten survival horror classics, but it is absolutely fabulous in every way.

6 Rule Of Rose

A Forgotten Masterpiece

Rule of Rose is about as close to the definitive example of a cult classic as you can get. It has been tragically stuck on the PS2 since 2006, and there are no signs it's ever going to come back anytime soon.

It deals with some pretty intense themes, but that's when horror is at its best. Child endangerment and trauma are prevalent, as Rule of Rose pens a thought-provoking examination of youth and how children's lives are shaped by both their peers and adults.

Rule of Rose is one of the most compelling, endlessly engrossing survival horror games of all time. It's never afraid to just go for the big moment, and the finale is one of the most haunting endings to a game I've ever experienced.

5 Cold Fear

Swallowed By The Deluge Of 2005 Classics

Unfortunately for Cold Fear, it came out in the fabled year known as 2005. It wasn't just a year of stellar releases; it was also the year that Resident Evil 4 came out.

The real shame of this is that Cold Fear is an exceptional survival horror experience, distinct from its contemporaries in more ways than one. It actually uses alarmingly realistic physics systems to emulate the unsettling sway of a ship, a feat that no other game has attempted before or since.

The atmosphere is fantastic. Roaming the ship, then having to work with the uneasy feeling the ship's physics create to survive, is so entertaining.

It's the kind of game that will actively make your time with it more difficult for the sake of its own absurd reality, but never feels frustrating or awkward. The result is an incredibly unique experience.

4 Lifeline

Innovation Meets Terror

The sixth-generation was a time of fascinating innovation and studios trying new, sometimes questionable things. Online play was becoming more common on consoles, which meant that headsets with microphones were also more frequent.

Enter Lifeline, a PS2 survival horror game that made use of those headsets in order to drive its unusual, but ultimately entertaining experience. Games using voice commands like Lifeline did their best to take off during this time, but the results were mixed.

That said, Lifeline is actually incredibly fun. It isn't without its flaws, and you can certainly see just how much work the concept needed, but it's hard to fault Lifeline for its commitment to something so different.

3 Manhunt

Made To Kill

There was a time when Rockstar was producing incredible titles in a rather short amount of time. The early 2000s were a remarkable time for Rockstar, and one of their most incredible titles came out in this era in the form of Manhunt.

Set in the fictional Carcer City, Manhunt explores the darkest depths of humanity in excruciating detail. Rockstar makes a lot of controversial games, but Manhunt is them at their most unhinged.

The world of Manhunt is filled with sinister figures of all sorts, as protagonist James Earl Cash attempts to escape the grip of a maniacal man known as the Director. In order to do so, he'll need to participate in a grungy snuff film about executing prisoners.

Sneaking around feels intimate and intense. The stealth systems are simple but effective, making use of light and shadows as you perform grisly executions one by one.

2 Echo Night: Beyond

A Gem Out Of FromSoftware's Past Life

I've always been fascinated with FromSoftware's early work. In many ways, I wish they would take a break from their Soulsborne pursuits to return to their roots.

Echo Night: Beyond is a prime example of that. It's best described as a science fiction ghost story, as it takes place entirely on the moon.

The way your character moves adds so much to the game. It feels weighty and incredibly realistic, which adds some well-earned natural fear to the entire game.

Echo Night: Beyond features absolutely no combat whatsoever. The game relies entirely on atmosphere and vibes, which is something that the talented folks at FromSoftware have proven they are rather adept at.

1 Phase Paradox

The Best PS2 Survival Horror Game You've Never Heard Of

Phase Paradox is a sequel to another long-forgotten game, a PS1 arcade-style shooter known as Philosoma. It's largely a story in name only, however, as Phase Paradox is a full-on survival horror game for the PS2.

Unlike Philosoma, Phase Paradox did not release outside of Japan. It does feature English voice acting, however, so it's one that you can certainly play today quite easily.

Phase Paradox takes place on a frigate known as the Gallant, where it makes use of some stunning 2D pre-rendered backgrounds. These were becoming far less common during the PS2 era, so it's always nice to see a game that's still committed to this lovely style.

It feels like a long-forgotten Y2K-era science fiction film made playable. It has cheesy performances, quirky world design, and a lot of charm to it.