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{{About||the game mode|Survival mode|the survival genre|Survival game|the horror genre|Horror game|the Bring Me the Horizon album|Post Human: Survival Horror{{!}}''Post Human: Survival Horror''}}
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'''Survival horror''' is a [[Video game genre|subgenre]] of [[horror games]]. Although combat can be part of the gameplay, the player is made to feel less in control than in typical action games through limited ammunition or weapons, health, speed, and vision, or through various obstructions of the player's interaction with the [[game mechanics]]. The player is also challenged to find items that unlock the path to new areas and solve puzzles to proceed in the game. Games make use of strong horror themes, such as dark mazelike environments and [[Jump scare|unexpected attacks from enemies]].

The term "survival horror" was first used for the original Japanese release of ''[[Resident Evil (1996 video game)|Resident Evil]]'' in 1996, which was influenced by earlier games with a horror theme such as 1989's ''[[Sweet Home (video game)|Sweet Home]]'' and 1992's ''[[Alone in the Dark (1992 video game)|Alone in the Dark]]''. The name has been used since then for games with similar gameplay and has been retroactively applied to earlier titles. Starting with the release of ''[[Resident Evil 4]]'' in 2005, the genre began to incorporate more features from action games and more traditional [[first-person shooter|first person]] and [[third-person shooter]] games. This has led game journalists to question whether long-standing survival horror franchises and more recent franchises have abandoned the genre and moved into a distinct genre often referred to as "action horror."<ref>{{cite web|title=Survival Horror vs. Action Horror|url=http://www.gamerevolution.com/manifesto/survival-horror-vs-action-horror-10399|publisher=gamerevolution.com|access-date=10 September 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=The Evil Within preview – 'real survival horror'|date=25 June 2013|url=http://metro.co.uk/2013/06/25/the-evil-within-preview-real-survival-horror-3855378/|publisher=metro.co.uk|access-date=10 September 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Horror Show - Survival Horror vs. Action Horror|url=http://www.zero1gaming.com/2013/05/01/survival-horror-vs-action-horror/|publisher=zero1gaming.com|access-date=10 September 2013|archive-date=21 July 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140721110927/http://www.zero1gaming.com/2013/05/01/survival-horror-vs-action-horror/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=6 Upcoming Horror Games That Look Absolutely Terrifying|date=21 April 2013|url=http://bloody-disgusting.com/news/3229453/6-upcoming-horror-games-that-look-absolutely-terrifying/|publisher=blooody-disgusting.org|access-date=10 September 2013}}</ref>

Since the release of the ''[[Resident Evil 2 (remake)|Resident Evil 2]]'' remake in 2019, several journalists and critics have described the current period in time as a "renaissance" for the survival horror genre, citing the renewed popularity of both new titles and remakes of classic games like ''[[Silent Hill 2 (2024 video game)|Silent Hill 2]]''.

== Definition ==
Survival horror refers to a subgenre of [[action-adventure game]] which draws heavily from the conventions of [[horror fiction]].<ref name="horrorfilm">{{cite book | title = Horror Film | editor = Steffen Hantke | author = Richard J. Hand | chapter = Proliferating Horrors: Survival Horror and the Resident Evil Franchise | year = 2004 | publisher = Univ. Press of Mississippi | pages = 117–134 }}</ref>{{Page range too broad|date=June 2025}}<ref name="gamespothistory">{{cite web | author = Brett Todd | url = http://uk.gamespot.com/gamespot/features/pc/history_horror_pt1/p2_01.html | title = A Modern History of Horror Games | website = [[GameSpot]] | access-date = 2007-03-18 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070518141649/http://uk.gamespot.com/gamespot/features/pc/history_horror_pt1/p2_01.html | archive-date = 2007-05-18 }}</ref><ref name="therrien history">{{cite book | title = Horror Video Games: Essays on the Fusion of Fear and Play | editor-first = Bernard | editor-last = Perron | first = Bernard | last = Perron | chapter= Games of Fear: A Multi-Faceted Historical Account of the Horror Genre in Video Games | publisher = [[McFarland & Company]] | year = 2009 | pages = 26–45 | isbn = 978-0786441976 }}</ref>{{Page range too broad|date=June 2025}}  The player character is vulnerable and under-armed,<ref name="fundamentals"/> which puts emphasis on puzzle-solving and evasion, rather than the player taking an offensive strategy.<ref name="fear101"/> Games commonly challenge the player to manage their inventory<ref name="hauntedhouse"/> and ration scarce resources such as ammunition.<ref name="fundamentals"/><ref name="fear101"/> Another major theme throughout the genre is that of isolation. Typically, these games contain relatively few [[non-player character]]s and, as a result, frequently tell much of their story second-hand through the usage of journals, texts, or audio logs.<ref name="ignhistory">{{cite web | author = Travis Fahs | url = http://retro.ign.com/articles/104/1040759p1.html | title = IGN Presents the History of Survival Horror | website = [[IGN]] | date=October 30, 2009 | access-date=2009-11-02}}</ref>

While many action games feature lone protagonists versus swarms of enemies in a suspenseful environment,<ref name="leigh"/> survival horror games are distinct from otherwise horror-themed action games.<ref>{{cite magazine | url= https://www.wired.com/gamelife/2009/04/qa-wii-silent-h/ | title = Silent Hill Re-Imagines Horror Game Clichés for Wii | magazine = Wired | author = Chris Kohler | date = 2009-04-16 | access-date = 2009-05-06 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = http://ps2.gamespy.com/playstation-2/ghosthunter/539712p1.html | title = Ghost Hunter | author =  Justin Leeper | publisher = GameSpy | date = 2004-08-17 | access-date = 2009-05-06 }}</ref> They tend to de-emphasize combat in favor of challenges such as hiding or running from enemies and solving puzzles.<ref name="leigh"/> Still, it is not unusual for survival horror games to draw upon elements from [[first-person shooter]]s, or even [[role-playing video game|role-playing games]].<ref name="horrorfilm"/> According to ''[[IGN]]'', "Survival horror is different from typical game genres in that it is not defined strictly by specific mechanics, but subject matter, tone, pacing, and design philosophy."<ref name="ignhistory"/>

== Game design ==

=== De-emphasized combat ===
Survival horror games are a subgenre of [[action-adventure games]],<ref name="gamespothistory"/> where the player is unable to fully prepare or arm their avatar.<ref name="fundamentals"/> The player usually encounters several factors to make combat unattractive as a primary option, such as a limited number of weapons or invulnerable enemies;<ref name="L4DQA">{{cite web | url = http://uk.gamespot.com/pc/action/left4dead/news.html?sid=6163983&mode=previews | title = Left 4 Dead Q&A - First Details | website = [[GameSpot]] | access-date = 2007-03-10 | archive-date = 2007-09-30 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070930174515/http://uk.gamespot.com/pc/action/left4dead/news.html?sid=6163983&mode=previews | url-status = dead }}</ref> if weapons are available, their ammunition is sparser than in other games,<ref name="gama"/> and powerful weapons such as explosives are rare, if even available at all.<ref name="fundamentals"/> Thus, players are more vulnerable than in [[action game]]s,<ref name="fundamentals"/> and the hostility of the environment sets up a narrative where the odds are weighed decisively against the avatar.<ref name="horrorfilm"/> This shifts gameplay away from direct combat, and players must learn to evade enemies or turn the environment against them.<ref name="leigh"/> Games try to enhance the experience of vulnerability by making the game single-player rather than multiplayer,<ref name="L4DQA"/> and by giving the player an avatar who is more frail than the typical action game hero.<ref name="gama">{{cite web | url = http://www.gamasutra.com/view/feature/2110/postmortem_the_game_design_of_.php | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080227075412/http://www.gamasutra.com/view/feature/2110/postmortem_the_game_design_of_.php | url-status = dead | archive-date = February 27, 2008 | title =  Postmortem: The Game Design of Surreal's The Suffering | author = Richard Rouse III | date = 2004-06-09 | access-date = 2009-02-06 }}</ref>

The survival horror genre is also known for other non-combat challenges, such as solving puzzles at certain locations in the game world,<ref name="leigh"/> and collecting and managing an inventory of items.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://bloody-disgusting.com/news/3234623/horror-declassified-a-look-at-inventory-and-resources/|title=[Horror Declassified] A Look At Inventory And Resources|first=Adam|last=Dodd|date=May 25, 2013}}</ref> Areas of the game world will be off limits until the player gains certain items. Occasionally, levels are designed with alternative routes.<ref name="hauntedhouse">{{cite web | url = http://www.gamespy.com/articles/490/490366p1.html | title = GameSpy Hall of Fame: Haunted House | author = Christopher Buecheler | date = 2002-12-08 | publisher = [[GameSpy]] | access-date = 2009-02-06 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120422180841/http://www.gamespy.com/articles/490/490366p1.html | archive-date = 2012-04-22 }}</ref> Levels also challenge players with mazelike environments, which test the player's navigational skills.<ref name="leigh"/> Levels are often designed as dark and [[claustrophobic]] (often making use of dim or shadowy light conditions and camera angles and sightlines which restrict visibility) to challenge the player and provide suspense,<ref name="fundamentals"/><ref name="leveldesign"/> although games in the genre also make use of enormous spatial environments.<ref name="horrorfilm"/>

=== Enemy design ===
A survival horror storyline usually involves the investigation and confrontation of horrific forces,<ref name="signofthreat">{{cite journal | title = Sign of a Threat: The Effects of Warning Systems in Survival Horror Games | author = Bernard Perron | publisher = COSIGN 2004 Proceedings, Art Academy, University of Split | year = 2004 }}</ref> and thus many games transform common elements from [[horror fiction]] into gameplay challenges.<ref name="fundamentals">{{cite book|last=Rollings|first=Andrew|author2=Ernest Adams|title=Fundamentals of Game Design|publisher=Prentice Hall|year=2006|url=http://wps.prenhall.com/bp_gamedev_1/54/14053/3597646.cw/index.html|access-date=2009-02-06|archive-date=2017-12-31|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171231072651/http://wps.prenhall.com/bp_gamedev_1/54/14053/3597646.cw/index.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> Early releases used camera angles seen in [[horror film]]s, which allowed enemies to lurk in areas that are concealed from the player's view.<ref name="guardian">{{cite news |author=Keith Stuart |date=2008-12-12 |title=Destuctoid on the death of survival horror |work=[[guardian.co.uk]] |url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/gamesblog/2008/dec/12/gameculture-playstation |access-date=2009-04-16}}</ref> Also, many survival horror games make use of off-screen sound or other warning cues to notify the player of impending danger. This feedback assists the player, but also creates feelings of anxiety and uncertainty.<ref name="signofthreat"/>

Games typically feature a variety of monsters with unique behavior patterns.<ref name="hauntedhouse"/> Enemies can appear unexpectedly or suddenly,<ref name="fundamentals"/> and levels are often designed with scripted sequences where enemies drop from the ceiling or crash through windows.<ref name="leveldesign">{{cite book | title = Level Design for Games | author = Phil Co | page = 40 | publisher = New Riders Games | year = 2006 }}</ref>  Survival horror games, like many action-adventure games, are sometimes structured around the [[Boss (video games)|boss]] encounter where the player must confront a formidable opponent in order to advance to the next area. These boss encounters draw elements from antagonists seen in classic horror stories, and defeating the boss will advance the story of the game.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://collider.com/gaming-terms-video-game-slang-explained/|title = Get to Know These Gaming Terms for Cool Kids: From AAA to Roguelike and Beyond|website = [[Collider (website)|Collider]]|date = 18 July 2021}}</ref>

== History ==

=== Origins (1980s&ndash;1996) ===
The origins of the survival horror game can be traced back to earlier horror fiction novels. Archetypes have been linked to the books of [[H. P. Lovecraft]], which include investigative narratives, or journeys through the depths. Comparisons have been made between Lovecraft's [[Great Old One]]s and the [[Boss (video gaming)|boss]] encounters seen in many survival horror games. Themes of survival have also been traced to the [[slasher film]] subgenre, where the protagonist endures a confrontation with the ultimate antagonist.<ref name="horrorfilm"/> Another major influence on the genre is [[Japanese horror]], including classical [[Noh]] [[J-Horror Theater|theatre]], the books of [[Edogawa Rampo]],<ref>{{cite book | title = Horror Film | editor = Steffen Hantke | author = Richard J. Hand | chapter = Proliferating Horrors: Survival Horror and the Resident Evil Franchise | year = 2004 | publisher = [[University Press of Mississippi]] | pages = 117–134 [123–5] | isbn = 9781617034114 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=oAX81WbAcfcC | access-date=2011-05-10}}</ref> and [[Cinema of Japan|Japanese cinema]].<ref name="Perron-Barker">{{citation|title=Horror video games: essays on the fusion of fear and play|author=Bernard Perron & Clive Barker|editor=Bernard Perron|others=contributor: Clive Barker|publisher=[[McFarland & Company|McFarland]]|year=2009|isbn=978-0-7864-4197-6|pages=96, 98, 103–4, 108|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pNaQLQC9XhEC|access-date=2011-05-10}}</ref> The survival horror genre largely draws from both [[Western culture|Western]] (mainly [[Culture of the United States|American]]) and [[Culture of Asia|Asian]] (mainly [[Culture of Japan|Japanese]]) traditions,<ref name="Perron-Barker"/> with the Western approach to horror generally favoring [[Action fiction|action]]-oriented visceral horror while the Japanese approach tends to favour [[psychological horror]].<ref name="leigh"/>

''AX-2: Uchū Yusōsen Nostromo'' was a survival horror game developed by Akira Takiguchi, a [[Tokyo University]] student and [[Taito]] contractor, for the [[Commodore PET|PET 2001]]. It was ported to the [[PC-6000 series|PC-6001]] by Masakuni Mitsuhashi (also known as Hiromi Ohba, later joined [[Game Arts]]), and published by [[ASCII Corporation|ASCII]] in 1981, exclusively for Japan. Inspired by the 1979 Japanese only [[stealth game]] ''[[Stealth game#History|Manbiki Shounen]]'' (Shoplifting Boy) by Hiroshi Suzuki  and the 1979 sci-fi horror film ''[[Alien (film)|Alien]]'', the gameplay of ''Nostromo'' involved a player attempting to escape a spaceship while avoiding the sight of an invisible alien, which only becomes visible when appearing in front of the player. The gameplay also involved limited resources, where the player needs to collect certain items in order to escape the ship, and if certain required items are not available in the warehouse, the player is unable to escape and eventually has no choice but to be caught and killed by the alien.<ref>{{cite book |last=Szczepaniak |first=John |year=2014 |title=The Untold History of Japanese Game Developers |publisher=SMG Szczepaniak |volume=1 |pages=544–573 |isbn=978-0-9929260-3-8 }}</ref>{{Page range too broad|date=June 2025}}

Another early example is the 1982 [[Atari 2600]] game ''[[Haunted House (video game)|Haunted House]]''. Gameplay is typical of future survival horror titles, as it emphasizes puzzle-solving and evasive action, rather than violence.<ref name="fear101">{{cite web | url = http://retro.ign.com/articles/880/880202p1.html | title = Fear 101: A Beginner's Guide to Survival Horror | website = [[IGN]] | author = Jim Sterling | date = 2008-06-09 | access-date = 2009-04-17 | archive-date = 2012-02-17 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120217164343/http://retro.ign.com/articles/880/880202p1.html | url-status = dead }}</ref> The game uses creatures commonly featured in horror fiction, such as bats and ghosts, each of which has unique behaviors. Gameplay also incorporates item collection and inventory management, along with areas that are inaccessible until the appropriate item is found. Because it has several features that have been seen in later survival horror games, some reviewers have retroactively classified this game as the first in the genre.<ref name="hauntedhouse"/>

[[Malcolm Evans (computer programmer)|Malcolm Evans]]' ''[[3D Monster Maze]]'', released for the [[Sinclair ZX81]] in 1982,<ref name="crash05">{{cite journal |author=Broomfield |first=Michael |date=1984-06-05 |title=''New Generation'' Ingredients of a winning team |url=http://www.crashonline.org.uk/05/newgen.htm |journal=[[Crash (magazine)|CRASH]] |issue=5}}</ref> is a [[First-person (video games)|first-person]] game without a weapon; the player cannot fight the enemy, a [[Tyrannosaurus rex]], so they must escape by finding the exit before the monster finds them. The game states its distance and awareness of the player, further raising tension. ''[[Edge (magazine)|Edge]]'' stated it was about "fear, panic, terror and facing an implacable, relentless foe who’s going to get you in the end" and considers it "the original survival horror game".<ref name="e161">{{cite magazine| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070513045033/http://www.edge-online.co.uk/archives/2006/04/the_making_of_3_1.php| archive-date=2007-05-13 | url=http://www.edge-online.co.uk/archives/2006/04/the_making_of_3_1.php | author= Andy Krouwel | title=The Making of... ''3D Monster Maze''| magazine=[[Edge (magazine)|Edge]]| date=2006-04-18}}</ref> ''[[Retro Gamer]]'' stated, "Survival horror may have been a phrase first coined by [[Resident Evil (1996 video game)|Resident Evil]], but it could’ve easily applied to Malcolm Evans’ massive hit."<ref name="rg20140203">{{cite news | url=http://www.retrogamer.net/top_10/top-ten-zx-81-games/ | title=Top Ten ZX 81 Games | work=Retro Gamer | date=2014-02-03 | access-date=21 January 2015 | author=Retro Gamer Team}}</ref>

1982 saw the release of another early horror game, [[Bandai]]'s ''Terror House'',<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://forbidden-siren.ru/index/rannie_japonskie_khorrory_1979_1985/0-70|title=Ретроспектива японских хоррор-игр (1979-1982) - Forbidden-Siren.Ru|website=forbidden-siren.ru}}</ref> based on traditional Japanese horror,<ref>Laurence C. Bush (2001), ''Asian horror encyclopedia: Asian horror culture in literature, manga and folklore'', [https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=lesg5YSXckQC&oi=fnd&pg=PA8 p. 8]{{Dead link|date=April 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }},  Writers Club Press, {{ISBN|0-595-20181-4}}</ref> released as a [[Bandai LCD Solarpower]] [[Handheld electronic game|handheld game]]. It was a [[Solar energy|solar-powered]] game with two [[LCD panel]]s on top of each other to enable impressive scene changes and early [[2.5D|pseudo-3D]] effects.<ref>[https://archive.today/20120709081654/http://asia.cnet.com/photogallery/0,3800005208,62045421-029p,00.htm The Handheld Museum: A tribute to the early history of handheld gaming], [[CNET.com]]</ref> The amount of ambient light the game received also had an effect on the gaming experience.<ref>[http://www.pcpro.co.uk/features/361591/the-top-ten-retro-gaming-secrets/3 The top ten retro gaming secrets], [[CNET.com]]</ref> Another early example of a horror game released that year was [[Sega]]'s [[arcade game]] ''Monster Bash'', which introduced classic horror-movie monsters, including the likes of [[Dracula]], [[Frankenstein's monster]], and [[Werewolf|werewolves]], helping to lay the foundations for future survival horror games.<ref>[https://www.avclub.com/monster-bash-1798210029 Monster Bash], A.V. Club</ref> Its 1986 remake ''[[Ghost House (video game)|Ghost House]]'' had gameplay specifically designed around the horror theme, featuring haunted house stages full of traps and secrets, and enemies that were fast, powerful, and intimidating, forcing players to learn the intricacies of the house and rely on their wits.<ref name="ignhistory"/> Another game that has been cited as one of the first horror-themed games is [[Quicksilva]]'s 1983 maze game ''[[Ant Attack]]''.<ref>{{cite magazine| url = http://www.next-gen.biz/features/making-ant-attack| archive-url = https://archive.today/20120903222651/http://www.next-gen.biz/features/making-ant-attack| url-status = dead| archive-date = 2012-09-03| title = The Making Of: Ant Attack| author = Edge staff| magazine = [[Edge (magazine)|Edge]]| date = 2009-07-31| access-date = 2009-12-08}}</ref>

The latter half of the 1980s saw the release of several other horror-themed games, including [[Konami]]'s ''[[Castlevania (1986 video game)|Castlevania]]'' in 1986, and Sega's ''[[Kenseiden]]'' and [[Namco]]'s ''[[Splatterhouse]]'' in 1988, though despite the macabre imagery of these games, their gameplay did not diverge much from other [[action game]]s at the time.<ref name="ignhistory"/> ''Splatterhouse'' in particular is notable for its large amount of bloodshed and terror, despite being an arcade [[beat 'em up]] with very little emphasis on survival.<ref>[http://www.1up.com/news/egm-heads-splatterhouse EGM Heads to the Splatterhouse] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110915004815/http://www.1up.com/news/egm-heads-splatterhouse |date=2011-09-15 }}, [[1UP.com|1UP]]</ref>

''Shiryou Sensen: War of the Dead'', a 1987 title developed by Fun Factory and published by [[Victor Music Industries]] for the [[MSX2]], PC-88 and [[PC Engine]] platforms,<ref name=Szczepaniak/> is considered the first true survival horror game by Kevin Gifford (of ''[[GamePro]]'' and [[1UP.com|1UP]])<ref name=Gifford>Kevin Gifford, [http://magweasel.com/2009/11/10/i-love-the-pc-engine-shiryou-sensen-war-of-the-dead/ Shiryō Sensen: War of the Dead] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190423041919/http://magweasel.com/2009/11/10/i-love-the-pc-engine-shiryou-sensen-war-of-the-dead/ |date=2019-04-23 }}, ''Magweasel.com'', November 10, 2009</ref> and John Szczepaniak (of ''[[Retro Gamer]]'' and ''[[The Escapist (magazine)|The Escapist]]'').<ref name=Szczepaniak>John Szczepaniak, [http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/wotd/wotd.htm War of the Dead], Hardcore Gaming 101, 15 January 2011</ref> Designed by Katsuya Iwamoto, the game was a horror [[Action role-playing game|action RPG]] revolving around a female [[SWAT]] member Lila rescuing survivors in an isolated monster-infested town and bringing them to safety in a church. It has [[Open world|open environments]] like ''[[Dragon Quest]]'' and [[Real-time game|real-time]] side-view battles like ''[[Zelda II: The Adventure of Link|Zelda II]]'', though ''War of the Dead'' departed from other RPGs with its dark and creepy atmosphere expressed through the storytelling, graphics, and music.<ref name=Gifford/> The player character has limited ammunition, though the player character can punch or use a knife if out of ammunition. The game also has a limited item inventory and crates to store items, and introduced a [[Persistent world|day-night cycle]]; the player can sleep to recover health, and a record is kept of how many days the player has survived.<ref name=Szczepaniak/> In 1988, ''War of the Dead Part 2'' for the MSX2 and PC-88 abandoned the RPG elements of its predecessor, such as [[random encounter]]s, and instead adopted action-adventure elements from ''[[Metal Gear (video game)|Metal Gear]]'' while retaining the horror atmosphere of its predecessor.<ref name=Szczepaniak/>

[[File:SweetHomeInGame1.png|thumb|left|''[[Sweet Home (video game)|Sweet Home]]'' (1989), pictured above, was a [[role-playing video game]] often called the first survival horror game and is cited as the main inspiration for ''[[Resident Evil]]''.]]

However, the game often considered the first true survival horror, due to having the most influence on ''Resident Evil'', was the 1989 release ''[[Sweet Home (video game)|Sweet Home]]'', for the [[Nintendo Entertainment System]].<ref name="UGOsweethome"/> It was created by [[Tokuro Fujiwara]], who would later go on to create ''Resident Evil''.<ref>[http://www.glitterberri.com/developer-interviews/tokuro-fujiwara/ The Man Who Made Ghosts’n Goblins: Tokuro Fujiwara Interview] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180307054415/http://www.glitterberri.com/developer-interviews/tokuro-fujiwara/ |date=2018-03-07 }}, ''Continue'', Vol. 12, 2003</ref> ''Sweet Home''{{'}}s gameplay focused on solving a variety of [[Puzzle video game|puzzles]] using items stored in a limited inventory,<ref name=Sterling>{{cite web|title=Fear 101: A Beginner's Guide to Survival Horror|author=Jim Sterling|website=[[IGN]]|date=June 9, 2008|url=http://uk.retro.ign.com/articles/880/880202p1.html|access-date=2009-08-26}}</ref> while battling or escaping from horrifying creatures, which could lead to permanent death for any of the characters, thus creating tension and an emphasis on survival.<ref name=Sterling/> It was also the first attempt at creating a scary and frightening storyline within a game, mainly told through scattered diary entries left behind fifty years before the events of the game.<ref name=GameSpy>{{cite web|title=GOTW: Sweet Home|author=Max Bert|publisher=[[GameSpy]]|url=http://classicgaming.gamespy.com/View.php?view=GameMuseum.Detail&id=27|access-date=2009-08-28|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100311021955/http://classicgaming.gamespy.com/View.php?view=GameMuseum.Detail&id=27|archive-date=2010-03-11}}</ref> Developed by [[Capcom]], the game would become the main inspiration behind their later release ''Resident Evil''.<ref name="UGOsweethome"/><ref name=Sterling/> Its horrific imagery prevented its release in the Western world, though its influence was felt through ''Resident Evil'', which was originally intended to be a [[Video game remake|remake]] of the game.<ref name=CVG>[http://www.computerandvideogames.com/281325/features/time-machine-sweet-home/ Time Machine: Sweet Home], ''[[Computer and Video Games]]''</ref> Some consider ''Sweet Home'' to be the first true survival horror game.<ref>{{cite book|title=The Sweet Home of Resident Evil|first=Thomas Nowlin|last=Harrison|year=2006}}</ref>

In 1989, Electronic Arts published ''[[Project Firestart]]'', developed by [[Dynamix]]. Unlike most other early games in the genre, it featured a science fiction setting inspired by the film ''[[Alien (film)|Alien]]'', but had gameplay that closely resembled later survival horror games in many ways. Travis Fahs considers it the first to achieve "the kind of fully formed vision of survival horror as we know it today," citing its balance of action and adventure, limited ammunition, weak weaponry, vulnerable main character, feeling of isolation, storytelling through journals, graphic violence, and use of dynamically triggered music - all of which are characteristic elements of later games in the survival horror genre. Despite this, it is not likely a direct influence on later games in the genre and the similarities are largely an example of [[parallel thinking]].<ref name="ignhistory"/>

[[File:Alone in the Dark zombie.jpg|thumb|''[[Alone in the Dark (1992 video game)|Alone in the Dark]]'' (1992) is considered a forefather of the survival horror genre, and is sometimes called a survival horror game in retrospect.]]

In 1992, [[Infogrames]] released ''[[Alone in the Dark (1992 video game)|Alone in the Dark]]'', which has been considered a forefather of the genre.<ref name="hauntedhouse"/><ref name="extinction"/><ref>Travis Fahs, [http://uk.ign.com/articles/2008/06/23/alone-in-the-dark-restrospective Alone in the Dark Restrospective &#91;sic&#93;], [[IGN]], June 23, 2008</ref> The game featured a lone protagonist against hordes of monsters, and made use of traditional [[adventure game]] challenges such as puzzle-solving and finding hidden keys to new areas. Graphically, ''Alone in the Dark'' uses static [[Pre-rendering|prerendered]] camera views that were cinematic in nature. Although players had the ability to fight monsters as in [[action game]]s, players also had the option to evade or block them.<ref name="gamespothistory"/> Many monsters could not be killed, and thus could only be dealt with using problem-solving abilities.<ref name="IGNevolution">{{cite web | url = http://pc.ign.com/articles/906/906852p1.html | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080903151748/http://pc.ign.com/articles/906/906852p1.html | url-status = dead | archive-date = September 3, 2008 | title = The Evolution of the Survival Horror Genre| date = 2008-09-01 | access-date = 2009-04-17 | website = [[IGN]] | author =  Clara Barraza }}</ref> The game also used the mechanism of notes and books as expository devices.<ref name="fear101"/> Many of these elements were used in later survival horror games, and thus the game is credited with making the survival horror genre possible.<ref name="gamespothistory"/>

In 1994, [[Riverhillsoft]] released ''[[Doctor Hauzer]]'' for the [[3DO Interactive Multiplayer|3DO]]. Both the [[player character]] and the environment are rendered in [[Polygon (computer graphics)|polygons]]. The player can switch between three different perspectives: [[Third-person (video games)|third-person]], [[First-person (gaming)|first-person]], and [[Overhead perspective|overhead]]. In a departure from most survival horror games, ''Doctor Hauzer'' lacks any enemies; the main threat is instead the [[sentience|sentient]] house that the game takes place in, with the player having to survive the house's traps and solve puzzles. The sound of the player character's echoing footsteps change depending on the surface.<ref>{{cite web|title=Doctor Hauzer|first=Adam|last=Romano |date=March 8, 2008|publisher=Defunct Games|url=http://www.defunctgames.com/shows.php?id=review-966|access-date=2011-05-12}}</ref>

In 1995, [[WARP (game developer)|WARP]]'s horror adventure game ''[[D (video game)|D]]'' featured a [[First-person (gaming)|first-person]] perspective, [[Computer-generated imagery|CGI]] [[Interactive film|full-motion video]], gameplay that consisted entirely of [[Puzzle video game|puzzle-solving]], and taboo content such as [[Human cannibalism|cannibalism]].<ref name="justadventure">{{cite web|author=Ugur Sener |date=August 28, 2003 |url=http://www.justadventure.com/reviews/D/D.shtm |title=Game Review |publisher=Just Adventure |access-date=2011-05-10 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100305011412/http://www.justadventure.com/reviews/D/D.shtm |archive-date=March 5, 2010 }}</ref><ref name="Eno interview">{{cite web|url = http://www.1up.com/do/feature?pager.offset=0&cId=3169166|title = Kenji Eno: Reclusive Japanese Game Creator Breaks His Silence|website = [[1UP.com]]|date = 2008-08-07|access-date = 2008-08-08|url-status = dead|archive-url = https://archive.today/20121208154024/http://www.1up.com/do/feature?pager.offset=0&cId=3169166|archive-date = 2012-12-08}}</ref> The same year, [[Human Entertainment]]'s ''[[Clock Tower (1995 video game)|Clock Tower]]'' was a survival horror game that employed [[point-and-click]] [[graphic adventure]] gameplay and a deadly stalker known as [[Scissorman]] that chases players throughout the game.<ref name="ignhistory5">{{cite web |author = Travis Fahs |url = http://uk.retro.ign.com/articles/104/1040759p5.html |title = IGN Presents the History of Survival Horror |page=5 |website = [[IGN]] |date=October 30, 2009 |access-date=2011-01-26}}</ref> The game introduced [[stealth game]] elements,<ref>Shane Patterson (2009-02-03), [http://www.gamesradar.com/f/the-sneaky-history-of-stealth-games/a-2009020393535662028 The Sneaky History of Stealth Games], GamesRadar, Retrieved 2009-06-21</ref> and was unique for its lack of combat, with the player only able to run away or outsmart Scissorman in order to survive. It features up to nine different possible endings.<ref>{{Cite journal|title=Nygotha|volume=II|issue=XXXV|author=Alex Lucard|date=May 22, 2006|journal=[[Diehard GameFan]]|url=http://diehardgamefan.com/2006/05/22/48715/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091009033718/http://diehardgamefan.com/2006/05/22/48715/|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 9, 2009|access-date=2011-03-07}}</ref>
[[File:RE1 screen.jpg|thumb|''[[Resident Evil (1996 video game)|Resident Evil]]'' (1996) named and defined the survival horror genre.]]
The term "survival horror" was first used by Capcom to market their 1996 release, ''Resident Evil''.<ref name="GSREH">{{cite web | url = http://www.gamespot.com/gamespot/features/video/res_evil/index.html | title = The History of Resident Evil | author = Justin Speer and Cliff O'Neill | website = [[GameSpot]] | access-date = 2009-04-17 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080906213420/http://gamespot.com/gamespot/features/video/res_evil/index.html | archive-date=2008-09-06 }}</ref><ref>"Enter The Survival Horror... A ''Resident Evil'' Retrospective," ''Game Informer'' 174 (October 2007): 132-133.</ref> It began as a remake of ''Sweet Home'',<ref name=CVG/> borrowing various elements from the game, such as its mansion setting, puzzles, "opening door" load screen,<ref name=Sterling/><ref name="UGOsweethome">{{cite web | url = http://www.ugo.com/games/survival-horror-games-top-11/?cur=Sweet-home | title = Top 11 Survival Horror Games: Sweet Home | date = 2008-05-21 | publisher = [[UGO Networks]] | access-date = 2009-04-17 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080608012310/http://www.ugo.com/games/survival-horror-games-top-11/?cur=Sweet-home | archive-date = 2008-06-08 }}</ref> death animations, [[Types of fiction with multiple endings|multiple endings]] depending on which characters survive,<ref name=GameSpy/> dual character paths, individual character skills, limited item management, story told through diary entries and frescos, emphasis on atmosphere, and horrific imagery.<ref name=CVG/> ''Resident Evil'' also adopted several features seen in ''Alone in the Dark'', notably its cinematic fixed camera angles and pre-rendered backdrops.<ref name="gamespot-mikami">[http://www.gamespot.com/articles/resident-evil-creator-shinji-mikami-reflects-on-th/1100-6435918/ Resident Evil Creator Shinji Mikami Reflects on the Series' Roots], [[GameSpot]] (March 22, 2016)</ref> The control scheme in ''Resident Evil'' also became a staple of the genre, and future titles imitated its challenge of rationing very limited resources and items.<ref name="fear101"/> The game's commercial success is credited with helping the [[PlayStation (console)|PlayStation]] become the dominant [[game console]],<ref name="gamespothistory"/> and also led to a series of ''[[Resident Evil]]'' films.<ref name="horrorfilm"/> Many games have tried to replicate the successful formula seen in ''Resident Evil'', and every subsequent survival horror game has arguably taken a stance in relation to it.<ref name="horrorfilm"/>

=== Golden age (1996&ndash;2004) ===
The success of ''Resident Evil'' in 1996 was responsible for its formula being used as the basis for a wave of successful survival horror games, many of which were referred to as "''Resident Evil'' clones."<ref name="ignhistory-full">{{cite web | author = Travis Fahs | url = http://m.ign.com/articles/1040759 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110820095207/http://m.ign.com/articles/1040759 | url-status = dead | archive-date = August 20, 2011 | title = IGN Presents the History of Survival Horror | website = [[IGN]] | date=October 30, 2009 | access-date=2011-01-26}}</ref> The golden age of survival horror started by ''Resident Evil'' reached its peak around the turn of the millennium with ''[[Silent Hill]]'', followed by a general decline a few years later.<ref name="ignhistory-full"/> Among the ''Resident Evil'' clones at the time, there were several survival horror titles that stood out, such as ''[[Clock Tower (1996 video game)|Clock Tower]]'' (1996), ''[[Clock Tower II: The Struggle Within]]'' (1998), and ''[[Dino Crisis]]'' (1999) for the PlayStation. These [[Clock Tower (series)|''Clock Tower'' games]] proved to be hits, capitalizing on the success of ''Resident Evil'' while staying true to the graphic-adventure gameplay of the original ''Clock Tower'' rather than following the ''Resident Evil'' formula.<ref name="ignhistory5"/> Another survival horror title that differentiated itself was ''[[Corpse Party]]'' (1996), an [[indie game|indie]], [[psychological horror]] [[adventure game]] created using the [[RPG Maker]] engine. Much like ''Clock Tower'' and later ''[[Haunting Ground]]'' (2005), the [[player character]]s in ''Corpse Party'' lack any means of defending themselves; the game also featured up to 20 [[Types of fiction with multiple endings|possible endings]]. However, the game would not be released in Western markets until 2011.<ref>{{cite web|last=Fahey|first=Mike|title=Paranoia, Madness, Suicide and Cannibalism; Who Says 16-Bit Can't Be Scary?|url=https://kotaku.com/paranoia-madness-suicide-and-cannibalism-who-says-16-5854847|website=[[Kotaku]]|access-date=12 June 2012|date=October 31, 2011}}</ref> [[Riverhillsoft]]'s ''[[Overblood]]'', released in 1996, is considered the first survival horror game to make use of a fully [[3D computer graphics|three-dimensional]] virtual environment.<ref name="horrorfilm"/> ''[[The Note (video game)|The Note]]'' in 1997 and ''[[Hellnight]]'' in 1998 experimented with using a real-time 3D [[First-person (gaming)|first-person]] perspective rather than pre-rendered backgrounds like ''Resident Evil''.<ref name="ignhistory5"/>

In 1998, Capcom released the successful sequel ''[[Resident Evil 2]]'', which series creator [[Shinji Mikami]] intended to tap into the classic notion of horror as "the ordinary made strange". Rather than setting the game in a creepy mansion no one would visit, he wanted to use familiar urban settings transformed by the chaos of a viral outbreak. The game sold over five million copies, proving the popularity of survival horror. That year saw the release of [[Square (video game company)|Square]]'s ''[[Parasite Eve (video game)|Parasite Eve]]'', which combined elements from ''Resident Evil'' with the RPG gameplay of ''[[Final Fantasy]]''. It was followed by a more action-based sequel, ''[[Parasite Eve II]]'', in 1999.<ref name="ignhistory5"/> In 1998, ''[[Galerians]]'' discarded the use of guns in favour of psychic powers that make it difficult to fight more than one enemy at a time.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://uk.psx.ign.com/articles/163/163319p1.html |title=Galerians Review |access-date=2010-04-05 |website=[[IGN]] |date=April 5, 2000 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090504204638/http://uk.psx.ign.com/articles/163/163319p1.html |archive-date=May 4, 2009 }}</ref> Also in 1998, ''[[Blue Stinger]]'' was a fully 3D survival horror game for the [[Dreamcast]] incorporating action elements from [[beat 'em up]] and [[shooter game]]s.<ref>{{cite web|title=Blue Stinger - Dreamcast|publisher=Spong|url=http://spong.com/game/11022596/Blue-Stinger-Dreamcast|access-date=2011-05-09}}</ref><ref name="Bartholowstingerreview">Bartholow, Peter. [http://www.gamespot.com/dreamcast/adventure/bluestinger/index.html Blue Stinger review for DreamCast at GameSpot]. ''[[GameSpot]]''. Accessed July 17, 2005.</ref>

[[File:Jamesvspatient.jpg|thumb|The ''[[Silent Hill]]'' series, pictured above, introduced a [[psychological horror]] style to the genre. The most renowned was ''[[Silent Hill 2]]'' (2001), for its strong narrative.]]

[[Konami]]'s ''[[Silent Hill (video game)|Silent Hill]]'', released in 1999, drew heavily from ''Resident Evil'' while using real-time 3D environments in contrast to ''Resident Evil'''s pre-rendered graphics.<ref name="review_gamepro">{{cite magazine|url=http://www.gamepro.com/article/reviews/73/silent-hill/|access-date=2009-04-17|date=2000-11-24|author=Bobba Fatt|magazine=[[GamePro]]|title=Review : Silent Hill (PlayStation)|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081227092743/http://www.gamepro.com/article/reviews/73/silent-hill/|archive-date=2008-12-27}}</ref> ''Silent Hill'' in particular was praised for moving away from [[B movie]] horror elements to the [[Psychological horror|psychological style]] seen in [[Art film|art house]] or [[J-Horror|Japanese horror]] films,<ref name="horrorfilm"/> due to the game's emphasis on a disturbing atmosphere rather than visceral horror.<ref name="review_gamerev">{{cite web|url=http://www.gamerevolution.com/oldsite/games/sony/adventure/silent_hill.htm|access-date=2009-04-17|date=1999-03-01|author=Baldric|title=Game Revolution Review Page - Game Revolution|publisher=[[Game Revolution]]|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080509183659/http://www.gamerevolution.com/oldsite/games/sony/adventure/silent_hill.htm|archive-date=2008-05-09}}</ref> The game also featured stealth elements, making use of the fog to dodge enemies or turning off the flashlight to avoid detection.<ref name="gamesradar-2">{{cite web|title=The sneaky history of stealth games: Hide and seek through the ages|page=2|author=Shane Patterson|publisher=[[GamesRadar]]|date=February 3, 2009|url=http://www.gamesradar.com/f/the-sneaky-history-of-stealth-games/a-2009020393535662028/p-2|access-date=2009-06-21}}</ref> The original ''Silent Hill'' is considered one of the scariest games of all time,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gametrailers.com/player/14536.html|title=Gametrailers.com - GT Countdown - Top Ten Scariest Games|date=2007-10-27|access-date=2009-04-17|publisher=[[GameTrailers]]}}</ref> and the strong narrative from ''Silent Hill 2'' in 2001 has made the [[Silent Hill|''Silent Hill'' series]] one of the most influential in the genre.<ref name="fear101"/> According to IGN, the "golden age of survival horror came to a crescendo" with the release of ''Silent Hill''.<ref name="ignhistory5"/>

A game similar to the ''Clock Tower'' series of games and ''Haunting Ground'', which was also inspired by ''Resident Evil''<nowiki/>'s success, is the Korean game known as ''[[White Day: A Labyrinth Named School]]'' (2001). "White Day" was reportedly so scary that the developers had to release several patches adding multiple difficulty options, and the game was originally slated for localization in 2004 but abruptly cancelled. Building on its previous success in Korea and interest, a remake was developed in 2015.<ref>{{cite web |last=Souppouris |first=Aaron |date=November 4, 2015 |title=Cult horror game 'White Day' is coming to PSVR |url=https://www.engadget.com/2015/11/04/white-day-playstation-vr-remake/ |access-date=5 December 2015 |publisher=[[Engadget]]}}</ref><ref name="gematsu">{{cite web |last=Romano |first=Sal |date=November 3, 2015 |title=Romantic horror adventure game White Day announced for PlayStation VR |url=http://gematsu.com/2015/11/romantic-horror-adventure-game-white-day-announced-playstation-vr |access-date=5 December 2015 |publisher=Gematsu}}</ref>

''[[Fatal Frame (video game)|Fatal Frame]]'' from 2001 was a unique entry into the genre, as the player explores a mansion and takes photographs of ghosts in order to defeat them.<ref name="IGNevolution"/><ref name="UGOfatalframe">{{cite web | url = http://www.ugo.com/games/survival-horror-games-top-11/?cur=Fatal-frame | title = Best Survival Horror Games - Fatal Frame | access-date = 2009-04-17 | publisher = [[UGO Networks]] | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090214005545/http://ugo.com/games/survival-horror-games-top-11/?cur=Fatal-frame | archive-date = 2009-02-14 }}</ref> The ''[[Fatal Frame]]'' series has since gained a reputation as one of the most distinctive in the genre,<ref name="IGNFF2">{{cite web |  url = http://uk.ps2.ign.com/articles/433/433766p1.html |  archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090304014247/http://uk.ps2.ign.com/articles/433/433766p1.html |  url-status = dead |  archive-date = March 4, 2009 | title = Fatal Frame 2 Interview | author = Kaiser Hwang | date = 2003-08-15 | website = [[IGN]] | access-date=2009-04-17}}</ref> with the first game in the series credited as one of the best-written survival horror games ever made, by [[UGO Networks]].<ref name="UGOfatalframe"/> Meanwhile, Capcom incorporated shooter elements into several survival horror titles, such as 2000's ''[[Resident Evil Survivor]]'' which used both [[light gun shooter]] and [[first-person shooter]] elements, and 2003's ''[[Resident Evil: Dead Aim]]'' which used [[light gun]] and [[third-person shooter]] elements.<ref>{{cite web|title=Resident Evil: The Umbrella Chronicles Review|website=[[GameSpot]]|author=Ryan Davis|date=November 15, 2007|url=http://uk.gamespot.com/wii/action/residentevilseries/review.html|access-date=2011-05-07|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090429100856/http://uk.gamespot.com/wii/action/residentevilseries/review.html|archive-date=April 29, 2009}}</ref>

Western developers began to return to the survival horror formula.<ref name="fear101"/> ''[[The Thing (video game)|The Thing]]'' from 2002 has been called a survival horror game, although it is distinct from other titles in the genre due to its emphasis on action, and the challenge of holding a team together.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://ps2.ign.com/articles/368/368448p1.html | title = The Thing | author =  Douglass C. Perry | date = 2002-08-20 | website = [[IGN]] | access-date = 2009-04-23 }}</ref> The 2004 title ''[[Doom 3]]'' is sometimes categorized as survival horror, although it is considered an Americanized take on the genre due to the player's ability to directly confront monsters with weaponry.<ref name="IGNevolution"/> Thus, it is usually considered a [[first-person shooter]] with survival horror elements.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.ugo.com/channels/games/features/doom3/review.asp | title = DOOM 3 Review | author = Jeff 'Finger' Buckland | year = 2004 | access-date = 2009-04-23 | publisher = [[UGO Networks]] | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090802091806/http://www.ugo.com/channels/games/features/doom3/review.asp | archive-date = 2009-08-02 }}</ref> Regardless, the genre's increased popularity led Western developers to incorporate horror elements into action games, rather than follow the Japanese survival style.<ref name="fear101"/>

Overall, the traditional survival horror genre continued to be dominated by Japanese designers and aesthetics.<ref name="fear101"/> 2002's ''[[Clock Tower 3]]'' eschewed the [[graphic adventure game]] formula seen in the original ''Clock Tower'', and embraced full [[3D computer graphics|3D]] survival horror gameplay.<ref name="fear101"/><ref>{{cite web | url = http://ps2.ign.com/articles/392/392242p1.html | title = Clock Tower 3 | author = Jeremy Dunham | access-date = 2009-04-17 | date = 2003-04-03 | website = [[IGN]] }}</ref> In 2003, ''[[Resident Evil Outbreak]]'' introduced a new gameplay element to the genre: [[Multiplayer online game|online]] [[Multiplayer video game|multiplayer]] and [[Cooperative video game|cooperative gameplay]].<ref>{{cite web | last = Marriott |first = Scott Alan | title = Resident Evil: Outbreak | url = https://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=43489 | website = AllGame | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141114174648/https://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=43489 | archive-date = 14 November 2014 }}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|last=Reeves|first=Ben|title=Guinness World Records 2012 Gamer's Edition Preview|url=https://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2011/12/30/guinness-world-records-2012-gamer-s-edition-preview.aspx|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120106132501/http://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2011/12/30/guinness-world-records-2012-gamer-s-edition-preview.aspx|url-status=live|archive-date=January 6, 2012|magazine=[[Game Informer]]|access-date=31 December 2011|date=December 30, 2011}}</ref> [[Sony]] employed ''Silent Hill'' director [[Keiichiro Toyama]] to develop ''[[Siren (video game)|Siren]]''.<ref name="fear101"/> The game was released in 2004,<ref>{{cite magazine | url = http://www.gamepro.com/article/reviews/35092/siren/ | title = Siren Review | author = Pong Sifu | date = 2004-04-16 | magazine = [[GamePro]] | access-date = 2009-04-17|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081009113520/http://www.gamepro.com/article/reviews/35092/siren/|archive-date=2008-10-09}}</ref> and added unprecedented challenge to the genre by making the player mostly defenseless, thus making it vital to learn the enemy's patrol routes and hide from them.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.ugo.com/games/survival-horror-games-top-11/?cur=Siren | title = Best Survival Horror Games - Siren | access-date = 2009-04-17 | publisher = [[UGO Networks]] | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090214005211/http://ugo.com/games/survival-horror-games-top-11/?cur=Siren | archive-date = 2009-02-14 }}</ref> However, reviewers eventually criticized the traditional Japanese survival horror formula for becoming stagnant.<ref name="fear101"/> As the console market drifted towards Western-style action games,<ref name="leigh"/> players became impatient with the limited resources and cumbersome controls seen in Japanese titles such as ''[[Resident Evil – Code: Veronica]]'' and ''[[Silent Hill 4: The Room]]''.<ref name="fear101"/>

=== Transformation (2005&ndash;2018) ===
In 2005, ''[[Resident Evil 4]]'' attempted to redefine the genre by emphasizing [[reflex]]es and precision aiming,<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.gamedaily.com/articles/features/capcoms-re4-reinvigorates-the-franchise/67572/?biz=1 | title = Capcom's RE4 Reinvigorates the Franchise | author = James Brightman | date = 2005-03-02 | access-date = 2009-04-16 | publisher = [[GameDaily]] | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080214160947/http://www.gamedaily.com/articles/features/capcoms-re4-reinvigorates-the-franchise/67572/?biz=1 | archive-date = 2008-02-14 }}</ref> broadening the gameplay with elements from the wider action genre.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.ugo.com/movies/gateway-to-horror/?cur=gateway-to-horror-games-resident-evil-4 | archive-url = https://archive.today/20120605051156/http://www.ugo.com/movies/gateway-to-horror/?cur=gateway-to-horror-games-resident-evil-4 | url-status = dead | archive-date = 2012-06-05 | title = Gateway to Horror | publisher = [[UGO Networks]] | date = 2008-10-17 | access-date = 2009-04-16 }}</ref> Its ambitions paid off, earning the title several Game of the Year awards for 2005,<ref name=nintendopower>{{cite magazine|title=Resident Evil 4|magazine=[[Nintendo Power]]|date=March 2005 |page=105}}</ref><ref name=gameinformer>{{cite magazine|title=Resident Evil 4|magazine=[[Game Informer]]|date=March 2005 |page=134}}</ref> and the top rank on [[IGN]]'s ''Readers' Picks Top 99 Games'' list.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://microsites.ign.com/kfc/top99games/10.html|title=Readers' Picks Top 99 Games|access-date=2009-04-16|website=[[IGN]]}}</ref> However, this also led some reviewers to suggest that the ''Resident Evil'' series had abandoned the survival horror genre,<ref name="extinction">{{cite web | url = http://www.destructoid.com/how-survival-horror-evolved-itself-into-extinction-114022.phtml | title = How survival horror evolved itself into extinction | date = 2008-12-08 | author = Jim Sterling | website = Destructoid | access-date = 2009-04-16 | archive-date = 2009-04-04 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090404021610/http://www.destructoid.com/how-survival-horror-evolved-itself-into-extinction-114022.phtml | url-status = dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine | url = http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=202808 | title = Resident Evil 5 | author = Matthew Pellett | date = 2008-12-06 | magazine = [[Computer and Video Games]] | access-date = 2009-04-16 }}</ref> by demolishing the genre conventions that it had established.<ref name="fear101"/> Other major survival horror series followed suit by developing their combat systems to feature more action, such as ''[[Silent Hill: Homecoming]]'',<ref name="extinction"/> and the 2008 version of ''[[Alone in the Dark (2008 video game)|Alone in the Dark]]''.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/ataris-phil-harrison-interview | title = Atari's Phil Harrison Interview | author = Ellie Gibson | website = [[Eurogamer]] | date = 2008-05-29 | access-date = 2009-04-16 }}</ref> These changes were part of an overall trend among [[console game]]s to shift towards visceral action gameplay.<ref name="leigh"/> These changes in gameplay have led some purists to suggest that the genre has deteriorated into the conventions of other action games.<ref name="leigh"/><ref name="extinction"/> [[James Stephanie Sterling]] suggests that the genre lost its core gameplay when it improved the combat interface, thus shifting the gameplay away from hiding and running towards direct combat.<ref name="extinction"/> Leigh Alexander argues that this represents a shift towards more [[Western culture|Western]] horror aesthetics, which emphasize action and gore rather than the psychological experience of Japanese horror.<ref name="leigh">{{cite web | url = http://kotaku.com/5056008/does-survival-horror-really-still-exist | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080930185914/http://kotaku.com/5056008/does-survival-horror-really-still-exist | url-status = dead | archive-date = September 30, 2008 | title = Does Survival Horror Really Still Exist? | website = [[Kotaku]] | author=Leigh Alexander | access-date = 2009-04-16 | date = 2008-09-29 }}</ref>

The original genre has persisted in one form or another. The 2005 release of ''[[F.E.A.R. (video game)|F.E.A.R.]]'' was praised for both its atmospheric tension and fast action,<ref name="IGNevolution"/> successfully combining Japanese horror with cinematic action,<ref name=designerdiary>{{cite web | date=2005-10-04 | url=http://www.gamespot.com/pc/action/fear/news.html?sid=6134936&mode=previews | title=Music to your ''F.E.A.R.''s | work=[[GameSpot]] | access-date = 2006-10-04}}</ref> while ''[[Dead Space (video game)|Dead Space]]'' from 2008 brought survival horror to a [[science fiction]] setting.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://ps3.ign.com/articles/918/918859p1.html | title = IGN: Dead Space Review | author = Jeff Haynes | date = 2008-10-10 | access-date = 2009-04-16 | website = [[IGN]] }}</ref> However, critics argue that these titles represent the continuing trend away from pure survival horror and towards general action.<ref name="extinction"/><ref>{{cite web | url = http://palgn.com.au/14061/my-favourite-waste-of-time-2/ | title = My Favourite Waste of Time #2 | author = Jason Picker | date = 2008-04-19 | website = PALGN | access-date = 2009-04-23 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://archive.today/20120714114959/http://palgn.com.au/14061/my-favourite-waste-of-time-2/ | archive-date = 2012-07-14 }}</ref> The release of ''[[Left 4 Dead]]'' in 2008 helped popularize [[Cooperative video game|cooperative multiplayer]] among survival horror games,<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.next-gen.biz/reviews/review-left-4-dead-2 | archive-url = https://archive.today/20130115075533/http://www.next-gen.biz/reviews/review-left-4-dead-2 | url-status = dead | archive-date = 2013-01-15 | title = Review: Left 4 Dead | author = Edge Staff | date = 2008-11-20 | publisher = Edge Online | access-date = 2009-04-23 }}</ref> although it is mostly a [[first-person shooter]] at its core.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://reviews.teamxbox.com/xbox-360/1622/Left-4-Dead/p1/ | title = Left 4 Dead Review (Xbox 360) | author = Andy Eddy | date = 2008-11-17 | publisher = [[TeamXbox]] | access-date = 2009-04-23 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090323080021/http://reviews.teamxbox.com/xbox-360/1622/Left-4-Dead/p1/ | archive-date = 2009-03-23 }}</ref> Meanwhile, the ''Fatal Frame'' series has remained true to the roots of the genre,<ref name="extinction"/> even as ''[[Fatal Frame IV: Mask of the Lunar Eclipse|Fatal Frame IV]]'' transitioned from the use of fixed cameras to an over-the-shoulder viewpoint.<ref>{{cite magazine | url = http://www.next-gen.biz/reviews/review-fatal-frame-4 | archive-url = https://archive.today/20120904120030/http://www.next-gen.biz/reviews/review-fatal-frame-4 | url-status = dead | archive-date = 2012-09-04 | title = Review: Fatal Frame 4 | author = Edge Staff | date = 2008-10-15 | magazine = [[Edge (magazine)|Edge Online]] | access-date = 2009-04-23 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = http://reviews.cnet.com/xbox-360-games/resident-evil-5-xbox/4505-11457_7-31470349.html | publisher = [[CNET Networks]] | author = Lark Anderson | title = Resident Evil 5 (Xbox 360) | access-date = 2009-04-16 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.1up.com/do/reviewPage?cId=3173233 | title = Resident Evil 5 (Xbox 360) | website = [[1UP.com]] | author = James Mielke | date = 2009-03-12 | access-date = 2009-04-16 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://archive.today/20120717151110/http://www.1up.com/reviews/resident-evil-5 | archive-date = 2012-07-17 }}</ref> Also in 2009, ''Silent Hill'' made a transition to an over-the-shoulder viewpoint in ''[[Silent Hill: Shattered Memories]]''. This Wii effort was, however, considered by most reviewers as a return to form for the series due to several developmental decisions taken by [[Climax Studios]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://au.wii.ign.com/articles/992/992667p1.html| title=Best of E3 2009 for Wii| author=IGN Nintendo Team| date=11 June 2009}}</ref> This included the decision to openly break the fourth wall by psychologically profiling the player, and the decision to remove any weapons from the game, forcing the player to run whenever they see an enemy.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.destructoid.com/reviews/review-silent-hill-shattered-memories-wii/|title=Review: Silent Hill: Shattered Memories (Wii)|date=December 11, 2009}}</ref>

Examples of independent survival horror games are the [[Penumbra (video game series)|''Penumbra'' series]] and ''[[Amnesia: The Dark Descent]]'' by [[Frictional Games]], ''[[Nightfall: Escape]]'' by Zeenoh,'' [[Cry of Fear]]'' by Team Psykskallar and ''[[Slender: The Eight Pages]]'', all of which were praised for creating a horrific setting and atmosphere without the overuse of violence or gore.<ref name="brighthub">{{cite web | url = http://www.brighthub.com/video-games/pc/articles/52738.aspx | author =  Anurag Ghosh | title = Why You Should Add Penumbra Games to Your Horror PC Game Collection | date = 2010-10-05 | publisher = Bright Hub | access-date= 2010-10-11 }}</ref><ref name="wotithink">{{cite web | url = http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2010/09/07/wot-i-think-amnesia-the-dark-descent/ | author = John Walker  | title = Wot I Think: Amnesia – The Dark Descent | date = 2010-09-07 | publisher = [[Rock, Paper, Shotgun]] | access-date= 2010-10-11 }}</ref> In 2010, the [[Cult video game|cult]] game ''[[Deadly Premonition]]'' by [[Access Games]] was notable for introducing [[open world]] [[nonlinear gameplay]] and a [[comedy horror]] theme to the genre.<ref>{{cite web|title=Review: Deadly Premonition|author=Sterling, Jim|date=February 27, 2010|website=[[Destructoid]]|url=http://www.destructoid.com/review-deadly-premonition-165168.phtml|access-date=May 3, 2010|archive-date=May 4, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100504003107/http://www.destructoid.com/review-deadly-premonition-165168.phtml|url-status=dead}}</ref> ''[[Five Nights at Freddy's]]'' effectively incorporated jump scares into the genre with the [[Five Nights at Freddy's (video game)|first game]] in the series releasing in 2014.<ref>{{Cite web |date=November 10, 2020 |title=Five Nights At Freddy's: 10 Things You Didn't Know About Freddy Fazbear's Pizza |url=https://screenrant.com/five-nights-freddys-pizza-place-facts-trivia/ |website=ScreenRant}}</ref> Further evolution of the genre was carried out via platforms such as [[itch.io]] that allowed independent creators to distribute games more easily and therefore became hives of experimentation, an example of which is the emergence of games with PS1-style low-poly aesthetics, such as those developed by [[Puppet Combo]], that became a genre unto itself which eventually went on to be published on more mainstream storefronts such as Steam.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Summers |first=Steve |date=2020-10-22 |title=Puppet Combo Interview: The Past, Present, & Future of Solo Horror Development |url=https://www.relyonhorror.com/in-depth/interviews/interview-power-drill-massacre-dev-puppet-combo-talks-past-present-future-of-solo-horror-development/ |access-date=2024-06-25 |website=Rely on Horror |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Clayton |first=Natalie |date=2022-03-23 |title=Retro horror games are preparing to go beyond the PS1 |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/retro-horror-games-are-preparing-to-go-beyond-the-ps1/ |access-date=2024-06-25 |work=PC Gamer |language=en}}</ref> Overall, game developers have continued to make and release survival horror games, and the genre continues to grow among [[indie game development|independent video game developers]].

''[[The Last of Us (video game)|The Last of Us]]'', released in 2013 by [[Naughty Dog]], incorporated many survival horror elements into a third-person action-adventure game. Set twenty years after a pandemic plague, the player must use scarce ammo and distraction tactics to evade or kill malformed humans infected by a brain parasite, as well as dangerous survivalists. This was followed by a [[The Last of Us Part II|sequel]] in 2020.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Last of Us: The Kotaku Review |url=https://kotaku.com/the-last-of-us-the-kotaku-review-511292998 |website=Kotaku|date=29 July 2014 }}</ref>

[[Shinji Mikami]], the creator of the ''[[Resident Evil]]'' franchise, released his new survival horror game ''[[The Evil Within]]'', in 2014. Mikami stated that his goal was to bring survival horror back to its roots as he was disappointed by recent survival horror games for having too much action.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2014/oct/17/shinji-mikami-dark-souls-resident-evil-within|title=Shinji Mikami on co-op, Dark Souls and why Suda 51 is like Akira Kurosawa|last=Stuart|first=Keith|date=2014-10-17|newspaper=The Guardian|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077|quote=But co-op seems anathema to the spirit of survival horror; not only does it give you someone to lean on, it usually also alters the design balance in favour of action – see the disappointing Resident Evil 5 and risible Dead Space 3.|access-date=2017-01-11}}</ref> That same year, ''[[Alien: Isolation]]'', developed by [[Creative Assembly]] and based on the ''[[Alien (franchise)|Alien]]'' [[science fiction]] horror film series, was released. The game updated the concept of a single un-killable villain chasing the protagonist throughout most of the game, requiring the player to use stealth in order to survive.<ref name="Going gold">{{cite web |access-date=5 August 2015 |url=http://www.gamespot.com/articles/alien-isolation-goes-gold-new-trailer-shows-off-ga/1100-6422208/ |title=Alien: Isolation Goes Gold, New Trailer Shows Off Game's Brutal World |website=[[GameSpot]] |author=Eddie Makuch |date=9 September 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141001090510/http://www.gamespot.com/articles/alien-isolation-goes-gold-new-trailer-shows-off-ga/1100-6422208 |archive-date=1 October 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2015, ''[[Until Dawn]]'', developed by [[Supermassive Games]], was published by [[Sony Computer Entertainment]] for the [[PlayStation 4]]. The game is an [[interactive drama]] in which the player controls multiple characters and features a [[butterfly effect]] system in which the player's choices can change the story and may dictate who survives the night. All playable characters can survive or die, depending on the choices made. Players explore the environment from a [[third-person perspective]] and find clues that may help solve the mystery.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.polygon.com/features/2015/8/17/9157213/until-dawn-supermassive-games|title=Until Dawn: the surprising ambition and curious fear of Supermassive Games|first=Philip|last=Kollar|date=August 17, 2015|website=Polygon}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2012/08/16/until-dawn-moves-frighteningly-good-horror-debut|title=Until Dawn: Move's Frighteningly Good Horror Debut - IGN|date=16 August 2012 |via=www.ign.com}}</ref> 

Multiplayer [[Asymmetrical gameplay|asymmetrical]] survival horror games gained popularity as well. ''[[Dead by Daylight]]'', released in 2016, features one player taking on the role of a killer and four others play as survivors.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2016/04/22/dead-by-daylight-multiplayer-slasher-horror/|title=Dead By Daylight Bringing 4v1 Slasher Horror To June|last=O'Connor|first=Alice|date=April 22, 2016|website=[[Rock Paper Shotgun]]|access-date=June 6, 2016}}</ref> The game is also notable for featuring multiple characters from other survival horror franchises, such as ''Resident Evil'' and ''Silent Hill''. Other examples which use similar one versus four gameplay include ''[[Friday the 13th: The Game]]'', ''VHS'', ''[[Evil Dead: The Game]]'', and ''[[The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (2023 video game)|The Texas Chain Saw Massacre]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-01-13 |title=Asymmetric multiplayer horror games are brilliantly reinventing the entire horror genre |url=https://www.gamerevolution.com/features/481181-asymmetric-horror-rise |access-date=2022-06-18 |website=GameRevolution}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Brandon Trush |date=2022-05-18 |title='Evil Dead' and Beyond: 2022 Will Be Asymmetrical Horror's Biggest Year Yet |url=https://bloody-disgusting.com/video-games/3715576/evil-dead-and-beyond-2022-will-be-asymmetrical-horrors-biggest-year-yet/ |access-date=2022-06-18 |website=Bloody Disgusting! |language=en-US}}</ref> 

The ''Resident Evil'' series abandoned its action-oriented direction beginning with 2017's ''[[Resident Evil 7: Biohazard]].'' The game utilizes a [[first-person perspective]] and encourages resource management and puzzle-solving, more akin to earlier entries in the franchise.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.polygon.com/e3/2016/6/15/11940734/resident-evil-7-biohazard-e3-2016|title=Resident Evil 7's demo content won't be in the main game, but a new hero will|first=Michael|last=McWhertor|date=June 15, 2016|website=Polygon}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.gamedeveloper.com/design/adding-vr-to-i-resident-evil-7-i-was-like-working-on-two-games-at-once-|title=Adding VR to Resident Evil 7 was 'like working on two games at once'|first=Alan|last=Bradley|website=www.gamasutra.com|date=3 March 2017}}</ref>

=== Renaissance (2019&ndash;present) ===
Following the release of ''[[Resident Evil 2 (2019 video game)|Resident Evil 2]]'', a remake of its [[Resident Evil 2|1998 version]], which sold over 4 million copies in its first month and 15.8 million by April 2025, other video game companies were encouraged to remake their own survival horror franchises. These earlier titles were updated with modern graphics while retaining their survival horror aspects, as seen in the remakes of ''[[Resident Evil 3 (2020 video game)|Resident Evil 3]]'', ''[[Resident Evil 4 (2023 video game)|Resident Evil 4]]'', ''[[Dead Space (2023 video game)|Dead Space]]'', ''[[Alone in the Dark (2024 video game)|Alone in the Dark]]'', ''[[Silent Hill 2 (2024 video game)|Silent Hill 2]]'', and a second upcoming remake of ''[[Fatal Frame II: Crimson Butterfly]]''.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url=https://www.polygon.com/interviews/2018/10/8/17911258/resident-evil-2-remakes-changes-additions-new-interview|title=How Capcom updated Resident Evil 2 for 2019|work=Polygon|access-date=October 9, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181120192112/https://www.polygon.com/interviews/2018/10/8/17911258/resident-evil-2-remakes-changes-additions-new-interview|archive-date=November 20, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>三並達也×三上真司 独占対談. ハイパーカプコンスペシャル (in Japanese). Sony Magazines Inc. June 11, 2002.</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.pcgamer.com/games/horror/silent-hill-2-remake-preview/ | title=The Silent Hill 2 remake feels like the PS2 classic in a Resident Evil 2 remake wrapper, and you know what? That's not bad | work=PC Gamer | date=19 August 2024 | last1=Wolens | first1=Joshua }}</ref> After these remakes were well received and financially successful, this new era of survival horror has been referred to by gaming journalists as a 'renaissance'.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.gamesradar.com/horror-has-made-a-huge-comeback-and-its-not-just-about-nostalgia/ | title=Horror has made a huge comeback, and it's not just about nostalgia | work=Gamesradar | date=22 March 2023 | last1=Gould-Wilson | first1=Jasmine }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://metro.co.uk/2025/09/01/survival-horror-2025-hands-on-hellraiser-crisol-project-spectrum-24043415/ | title=Survival horror 2025: hands-on with Hellraiser, Crisol, Project Spectrum and more | work=Metro | date= 1 September 2025 | last1=Boxer | first1=Steve }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.gamesradar.com/weve-hailed-the-aaa-horror-renaissance-but-it-owes-itself-to-the-indie-horror-boom/ | title=We've hailed the AAA horror renaissance, but it owes itself to the indie horror boom | date=17 July 2023 | last1=Donnelly | first1=Joe }}</ref>

The renewed interest in classic survival horror also contributed to the launch of new games such as [[Signalis|''Signalis'']], [[Crow Country|''Crow Country'']], or [[Cronos: The New Dawn|''Cronos: The New Dawn'']], all original survival horror titles released between October 2022 and September 2025.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Greer |first=Sam |date=25 October 2022 |title=''Signalis'' review - a sumptuously atmopsheric survival horror |language=en-gb |work=[[Eurogamer]] |url=https://www.eurogamer.net/signalis-review-a-sumptuously-atmopsheric-survival-horror |access-date=29 October 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Romano |first1=Sal |title=Crow Country coming to PS4, Switch on October 16 |url=https://www.gematsu.com/2024/10/crow-country-coming-to-ps4-switch-on-october-16 |website=Gematsu |access-date=2 June 2025 |date=2 October 2024}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Nightingale |first=Ed |date=2025-04-17 |title=Bloober has found its feet with Cronos: The New Dawn, its survival horror follow-up to Silent Hill 2 |url=https://www.eurogamer.net/bloober-has-found-its-feet-with-cronos-the-new-dawn-its-survival-horror-follow-up-to-silent-hill-2 |access-date=2025-10-20 |work=Eurogamer.net |language=en}}</ref>

== See also ==
* [[Horror game]]
* [[List of horror games]]
* [[Survival game]]

== References ==
{{Reflist|30em}}

'''Sources'''
* Sam Ozturk. [https://web.archive.org/web/20140201185205/http://www.savvyitinfo.com/scariest-pc-games-of-all-time/ "Scariest PC Games of All Time"]. Savvyitinfo.

{{VideoGameGenre}}
{{Horror fiction}}

[[Category:Horror genres]]
[[Category:Survival horror video games| ]]
[[Category:Video game genres]]
[[Category:1990s neologisms]]
[[Category:1996 neologisms]]
[[Category:Horror fiction]]
[[Category:Popular culture]]

{{Wikipedia attribution|original_title=Survival horror|access_date=2026-02-23}}