When The Evil Within launched in 2014, expectations were naturally high as it is a game headed by Resident Evil director Shinji Mikami. He intended to take the survival horror genre back to its roots in a modern game.

The Evil Within 2 is a significant improvement over its predecessor. It offers larger environments to explore, and still maintains Shinji Mikami’s unique take on the horror genre, serving as the title’s producer and supervisor. In addition to Resident Evil, Mikami is best known for his work on Dino Crisis and the Devil May Cry series. His influence extends far beyond the titles Mikami has worked on, and there are other games fans of his work should look into on this list.

Updated October 12th, 2022, by Michael Llewellyn: Xbox Game Pass has a strong choice of horror games available to subscribers. However, one of the best available on the platform is The Evil Within 2 and its predecessor. The game is equal parts scary and creepy by bringing the jump scares and psychological dread. This list is updated with more similar horror games, so when you’re finished with The Evil Within 2, your playlist will keep you going until Halloween and beyond.

13 Ghostwire: Tokyo

  • Launched: 2022
  • Platform: PC and PS5
  • Developer: Tango Gameworks

As a game that was pitched as The Evil Within 3, Ghostwire: Tokyo is the perfect horror game for fans of Tango Gameworks’ unique style. More creepy than outright terrifying, Ghostwire Tokyo is a supernatural horror game played with a first-person viewpoint.

Ghostwire Tokyo is played from the perspective of a young man possessed by a spirit called KK to fight back against the malevolent spirits haunting the streets of Tokyo. The possession gifts the protagonist with supernatural powers, and the combat system feels and looks impressive in its execution.

12 Paranormal Activity: The Lost Soul

  • Launched: 2017
  • Platform: Meta Quest, PC, and PSVR
  • Developer: VRWERX

First launched as a VR game, Paranormal Activity: The Lost Soul is a first-person horror experience based on Paranormal Activity films. The game is a much scarier experience than the films and can now be played on a PC without a VR headset.

However, it’s in VR where Paranormal Activity: The Lost Souls shines. The sound design is outstanding, and the sense of being stuck in a haunted house is captured perfectly. The sounds of footsteps on floorboards and banging against the walls make it a terrifying experience from start to finish.

11 The Exorcist: Legion VR

  • Launched: 2019
  • Platform: Metaquest, PC, and PSVR
  • Developer: Wolf & Wood Interactive

The Exorcist: Legion VR is based on the iconic horror series of the same name. The game adapts the 1983 novel Legion into an unmissable VR horror experience. It delivers more than just jump scares, but nails the essence of psychological horror in what is likely the most frightening game on this list.

You know a horror game in VR is good when it immerses you completely in its atmosphere and makes you forget that you’re playing a game. The Exorcist’s story takes place over five chapters, and each chapter manages to up the ante taking the horror thrills to the next level. The sound design is up there with the best, so ensure you have a good set of headphones. Then, prepare to be creeped out by the surrounding sound of voices, whispers, and noises.

10 Alan Wake

  • Launched: 2010 remastered in
  • Platform: PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox 360, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S
  • Developer: Remedy Entertainment

First released in 2010, Alan Wake is a third-person psychological horror game developed by Remedy Entertainment. It is not quite as terrifying as The Evil With 2, but there are some tense moments and jump scares to keep fans happy.

Interestingly, Alan Wake takes place in the same universe as the supernatural action game Control and Xbox exclusive Quantum Break, also created by Remedy. Narratively, Alan Wake features several nods to the works of famed horror author Stephen King.

9 Call Of Cthulhu

  • Launched: 2018
  • Platform: PC, PS4, Switch, and Xbox One
  • Developer: Cyanide

Launched in 2018 for the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One and the Nintendo Switch in 2019, Call of Cthulhu is an investigative psychological horror RPG developed by Cyanide Studio. It is based on the short story written by horror writer H.P. Lovecraft.

As one would expect from a game based on Lovecraft’s work, the focus is a psychological horror and the protagonist’s descent into madness based. The lead character’s sanity changes as Call of Cathulu’s story develops, and there are several clever twists to keep you hooked.

8 Outlast 2

  • Launched: 2017
  • Platform: PC, PS4, Switch, and Xbox One
  • Developer: Red Barrels

Launched in 2017, Outlast 2 is the sequel to the 2013 original. It features a new setting and different characters than its predecessor, but it is just as terrifying and a little more disturbing.

The run and hide mechanics still play a big part in Outlast 2, and although a linear experience, the environments are more open and explorable in the sequel. There are jump scares to keep you on your toes, but the tense atmosphere and disturbing story will leave some feeling mentally exhausted and drained.

7 The Sinking City

  • Launched: 2019
  • Platform: PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S
  • Developer: Frogwares Studios

The Sinking City is a psychological horror game based in the H.P. Lovecraft universe. However, unlike Call of Cthulhu — which launched a year prior — this is a third-person horror-detective game created by Frogwares Studios.

The Sinking City is arguably more tense, scary, and immersive than Cyanide’s Call of Cthulhu. The puzzle-solving and investigation mechanics are more polished and similar to Frogware’s Sherlock Holmes games. The atmosphere and sense of creeping dread that there’s something off about the locals will keep you on your toes throughout.

6 Dying Light

  • Launched: 2015
  • Platform: Linux, macOS, PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S
  • Developer: Techland

Dying Light is a first-person action horror game developed by Techland, the same studio behind the Dead Island series. Dying Light is a much more polished experience than Dead Island, and it incorporates excellent parkour mechanics to assist players with running for their lives.

Dying Light became an even better game after launch, with the developers listening to fan feedback and supporting the game with regular updates to improve its gameplay. Moreover, The Following expansion pack feels like a brand-new game with new characters, storylines, and a dune buggy. If you’re a fan of the more open-world setting presented in The Evil Within, then Dying Light and its sequel Dying Light 2 will tick all the right boxes.

5 Alien: Isolation

  • Launched: 2014
  • Platform: Android, iOS, Linux, Luna, OS, PC, PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, and Xbox One
  • Developer: Creative Assembly

Alien: Isolation launched in 2014 and it is still one of the best-licensed videogames ever developed and — thanks to the Alien setting — one of the scariest. The game captures the horror feel of the original movie by making the protagonist vulnerable and defenseless, as opposed to the space marines that followed in the sequel Aliens.

Alien: Isolation plays in the first person, but it incorporates similar hide-and-seek mechanics to The Evil Within series. The ever-present threat and the unpredictable nature of the alien creature are enough to keep even the most seasoned horror fans on the edges of their seats.

4 The Last Of Us

  • Launched: 2013 with a PS5 remake released in 2022
  • Platform: PS3, PS4 and PS5
  • Developer: Naughty Dog

Originally launched on the PlayStation 3 in 2013, The Last of Us is one of the most highly regarded survival horror action games ever released. The PlayStation exclusive incorporates elements of stealth and third-person shooting and should make players of The Evil Within series will feel right at home.

Furthermore, The Last of Us is one of the most cinematic and well-acted video games in any generation. A remake dubbed The Last of Us Part 1 launched in 2022, and despite not being vastly different from the original, it’s the best way to experience the game.

3 The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners VR

  • Launched: 2019
  • Platform: Meta Quest, PC, and PSVR
  • Developer: Skydance Interactive

First launched for VR systems in 2019, The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners is a contender for one of the scariest virtual reality experiences available. You don’t need to be a fan of either the TV show or the graphic novel series to get the most out of the experience, either.

In addition to being terrifying, Saints & Sinners is a very immersive and dynamic experience with innovative gameplay mechanics that pull you right into its world. The focus on tension and psychological horror is just as prevalent as the experience of getting a jump scare from more than a few zombies.

2 Dead Space 1 And 2

  • Launched: 2008
  • Platform: PC, PS3 and Xbox 360
  • Developer: EA Redwood Shores

The Dead Space series began on the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 in 2008. It takes its gameplay inspirations from Resident Evil 4 and its science fiction horror setting from movies like Alien and Event Horizon.

The protagonist has to traverse a mining ship in space infested with reanimated corpses known as Necromorphs. Additionally, the protagonist is troubled by hallucinations and sounds that echo through its intricately designed sound effects. For this reason, one should play Dead Space with a good set of headphones or a sound system.

1 The Resident 2 And 3 Remakes

  • Launched: 1997
  • Platform: Luna, PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S
  • Developer: Capcom

Before The Evil Within, Shinji Mikami rose to fame after creating the Resident Evil series. So it goes without saying that if you enjoyed The Evil Within, you should try the best games in the Resident Evil series.

Even though the last title that Mikami worked on in the series was Resident Evil 4, his influence is still strong in the Resident Evil 2 and Resident Evil 3 remakes released in 2019 and 2020 respectively. Additionally, Resident Evil 7: Biohazard and Resident Evil: Village adopted many of the series’ classic mechanics and design.

NEXT: Games To Play If You Like The Resident Evil Series