The gameplay-reveal trailer ofSTALKER 2: Heart of Chornobylhas left people with an immense desire to play it. It had everything that a gamer could ask from a survival horror genre and more. The aesthetics, design, and attention to detail felt extremely polished, which is why people are waiting to play it. For now, the initial release date forSTALKER 2: Heart of Chornobylis 29 June 2025.
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While nothing can make the months of wait go away, there is something that can certainly make it easy. After all, there are many great survival horror games that players can check out if they’re fans ofsurvival horror games like theSTALKERseries, with many games eliciting the same level of tension and fear that makes these games so immersive in the first place.
Updated on June 09, 2025, by Ritwik Mitra:STALKER is one of the most hardcore and tough survival horror games ever made, with the simple act of exploring the Chornobyl Exclusion Zone being a nerve-wracking endeavor where death awaits the player at every corner. As a result, it takes a while to get into these games… but the feeling of mastering STALKER’s gameplay loop is extremely satisfying, and it’s easy to see why the wait for Heart of Chornobyl is proving to be downright unbearable for many fans. Thankfully, there are more than enough games in this genre that can scratch the itch for players until STALKER 2 finally releases.
15Project Zomboid
It may feel likeProject Zomboidhas been in early access for ages, but that shouldn’t prevent people from checking this amazing game out for themselves. The game’s focus on horror may not seem all that intense until players have to scrounge for resources desperately while trying to avoid a dangerous zombie horde that can tear their player character up in seconds.
The beauty ofProject Zomboidstems from its broad and impressive gameplay systems. Players could approach a situation from various angles depending on their strengths and weaknesses. With updates coming regularly and the game being extremely addictive, it’s clear to see that anyone who loves the tense gameplay of the STALKER series will feel right at home withProject Zomboid.
14Darkwood
Darkwoodisone of the most underrated indie games around, with the top-down perspective making many people think that this game isn’t really all that frightening. However, the addition of a vision cone coupled with some truly insane sound design leads to a game that will shock players to their very core while looking over their shoulders every step of the way.
The atmosphere of this game is unmatched, and the larger-than-life nature of the horrors that plague players is truly nightmarish to behold. Players who get scared pretty quickly will be extremely unnerved by howDarkwoodmanages to weave a horrifying gameplay experience, with its brooding tension paying off in ways that will keep any person alert for the long haul.
13Don’t Starve
Don’t Starveis an indie darling that blew up upon release, with its Tim Burton-esque art style and engaging survival gameplay grabbing the attention of many players. The dichotomy between day and night is shown off very well here, withDon’t Starveforcing players to scavenge as much as possible during the day to create shelters that prevent the denizens of the night from tearing them apart.
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It may seem like a simple gameplay loop that doesn’t really bring anything new to the table, butDon’t Starveconstantly throws curveballs at the player that forces them to adapt with each death. It’s an excellent title that provides hours upon hours of gameplay, and any player who loves the tense gameplay of the STALKER series will findDon’t Starveto be right up their alley.
12DayZ
It was 2013 when people got the chance to try outDayZ. This survival horror open-world title quickly caught the eyes of the fans for its extremely brutal gameplay and realistic gunplay. The reasonDayZis so detailed is mainly because ofARMA 2. Originally, this game was just a favored mod for the popular military simulation video game.
As time went on, the mod became a full-fledged game, thanks to developer Bohemia Interactive. After half a decade of early access,DayZofficially made its way to Windows in 2018.Xbox and PS4 also got their version of the gamenext year.
11Deadly Premonition
If there’s a list of the most-underrated open-world survival horror games,Deadly Premonitionis on it. This classic came out on PS3 and Xbox 360 in 2010 and later on Windows. In the game, players will assume the role of an F.B.I. Special Agent Francis York Morgan, figuring out a big murder mystery.
Deadly Premonitionis a unique game from the puzzles to the design and is certainly worth checking out.
10The Forest
Anyone who has playedThe Forestwill admit that this one brings horror to the survival genre like no other game. From the outside,The Forestwill look like a very polished game. But there’s a lot more to it than just visuals.
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This game is full of crafty gameplay mechanics that give meaning to the survival-horror genre. InThe Forest, players will have to survive cannibalistic mutants while searching for the missing child, Timmy.
9State of Decay 2
Anyone who has played theState of Decay 2will vouch for the fact that it’s a great survival horror game. But what makes it even better is its world and environment.State of Decay 2is a zombie game that is pretty much likeThe Walking Deadin terms of setting.
Players will have to find sources, scavenge, hunt, loot, kill, and survive to progress in the game. It’s truly a fun game that becomeseven better since it has multiplayer.
8We Happy Few
When Gearbox Publishing announced this title, many took it as a second coming of theBioshock or Dishonoredgames. After all, the style, the setting, and the gameplay were quite a nod to those titles.
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However,We Happy Fewturned out to be a different kind of action-adventure survival horror game. It has roguelike features in addition to role-playing and survival gameplay mechanics.We Happy Fewis a must-play for those who want to try a solid alternate-reality dystopian game.
7Metro Exodus
Metrotitles are known for their amazing graphics and environment. However, most enthusiasts can confirm thatMetrogames are more than just an excellent system benchmark. They are a solid first-person shooter with great level design and a deep post-apocalyptic backstory.
Metro Exodustakes everything good about its predecessors and throws it into a semi-open world full of mystery. As of now, players can enjoyMetro Exoduson Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Stadia, Luna, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Linux, and macOS. There’s alsoa sizeable modding community.
6Days Gone
Some people thinkDays Goneis excellent, and others think it’s average. But no one will deny that it’s certainly a fun open-world game.Days Goneoffers a plethora of survival gameplay mechanics alongside motorcycle upgrades and enemy hordes.
It is an incredibly fluid and polished game that is certainly a breath of fresh air in its genre. The best part is this game is no longer a PlayStation exclusive anymore.Days Goneis now available on Windows and has a positive Steam users rating.
