Horror games usually fall into two main types. One group is survival horror games (like Resident Evil and Silent Hill), where players must fight off enemies and monsters with limited ammo and weapons. These games encourage combat, but you still have to manage your bullets and resources carefully. On the other hand, there are horror games where you’re defenseless — with no way to fight back — and the focus is purely on hiding and running from monsters.
Another name for these types of games is walking simulator, because when you encounter a monster, you usually only have two options: hide or run. While the adrenaline may not be as high as in typical survival horror, these games can create a deeper sense of fear during monster encounters.
It Steals
- Release Year: 2020
- Developer: Zeekerss
- Platforms: PC
Sometimes, games take a simple concept and twist it in creative ways. It Steals is a great example, with five unique game modes, each built around a different gameplay mechanic. But these mechanics aren’t explained upfront — players must discover them through trial and error using the tools at hand. What sets this game apart is that monsters hide from the player. From invisible phantoms to creatures that vanish into walls, It Steals delivers a truly original experience in the horror genre.
Among the Sleep
- Release Year: 2014
- Developer: Krillbite Studio
- Platforms: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC
In games from Krillbite Studio, player vulnerability is a core theme. Many horror games aim for this, but none do it quite like Among the Sleep, where you play as a two-year-old child. The toddler can’t run for long and often falls down. The goal is to find the child’s mother, and the journey takes you through surreal environments and a creepy house. There are two types of monsters in the game, and of course, a baby can’t fight them — so you’ll need to hide under tables and chairs to stay safe.
Haunting Ground
- Release Year: 2005
- Developer: Capcom Production Studio 1
- Platforms: PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3
A classic survival horror game on the PS2, Haunting Ground puts you in control of Fiona, an 18-year-old girl who wakes up in the dungeon of a mysterious castle after a car accident. She meets a dog named Hewie, who becomes a crucial ally — without him, Fiona can’t do much on her own.
All Fiona can really do is run and dodge, both of which drain her stamina. Hewie can distract enemies, but the best strategy is to avoid encounters entirely. While you can throw items to hurt enemies, Haunting Ground is not a game about fighting — it’s about survival and evasion.
Monstrum
- Release Year: 2015
- Developer: Team Junkfish
- Platforms: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC
Monstrum is a survival horror game with roguelike elements. You’re the only survivor aboard a cargo ship called the Hisa Maru, after everyone else was killed by one of three monsters. One interesting feature is that you never know which monster you’re up against until it reveals itself. Each one has unique abilities and behavior, thanks to their advanced AI.
For example, Brute charges at you directly, while Fiend uses psychic powers to manipulate the environment. The ship’s layout and item locations change every run, so you’ll need to find new escape routes each time. And since you can’t fight back, your only option is to hide and make the best use of the tools you find.
Still Wakes the Deep
- Release Year: 2024
- Developer: The Chinese Room
- Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC
Working on an offshore oil rig is already isolating — and if something goes wrong, escaping can be extremely difficult. This is the premise of Still Wakes the Deep, where you play as Caz McLeary, an electrician trapped on the Beira D rig after a storm cuts off communication and a strange creature rises from the deep.
The game plays like a walking simulator. Caz can run, jump, climb, and use a flashlight to light up dark rooms — but that’s about it. You’ll need to find ways to avoid monsters using only your environment. While the gameplay is simple, the short length and powerful storytelling make the experience feel intense and meaningful.
Outlast
- Release Year: 2013
- Developer: Red Barrels
- Platforms: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC
Voluntarily exploring an abandoned asylum to uncover horrific crimes isn’t something every journalist would do, but Miles Upshur isn’t like most. He’s the protagonist of Outlast, and after entering Mount Massive Asylum, he finds dead bodies everywhere. His only tool is a camcorder with night vision, and he must explore the asylum while escaping its terrifying inhabitants.
Since a camera isn’t much of a weapon, players must hide in closets, under beds, or anywhere available to avoid being seen. Being discovered often means certain death.
Clock Tower
- Release Date: September 14, 1995
- Developer: Human Entertainment
- Platforms: PlayStation, PC
Point-and-click adventure games don’t often blend well with horror, especially after Resident Evil reshaped the genre. But Clock Tower is an exception. You play as Jennifer Simpson, an orphan recently adopted by the Barrows family. When she arrives at their mansion, she discovers the corpse of another girl — murdered by the Scissorsman.
The goal is to escape the mansion and hide from Scissorsman, who is a constant threat. Jennifer can set traps to slow him down, but most of the time she must stay hidden. Despite its age, Clock Tower remains one of the most influential horror games, especially for defining the defenseless walking simulator subgenre. The updated version, Clock Tower: First Fear, is more accessible for modern players.
Amnesia: The Dark Descent
- Release Year: 2010
- Developer: Frictional Games
- Platforms: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC
As the title suggests, the main character Daniel wakes up in Brennenburg Castle with no memory of his past. In Amnesia: The Dark Descent, players guide Daniel through dark hallways, solving puzzles and avoiding monsters. With only a lantern to light the way, your choices are to run or hide.
The game features a sanity meter, which drops if Daniel stays in darkness too long or looks at monsters for too long. But the monsters are drawn to light, so staying in the dark — even though it affects your sanity — can sometimes be the only safe choice. You have to balance visibility, sanity, and stealth to survive, making the fear feel deeply real and immersive.
Alien: Isolation
- Release Year: 2014
- Developer: Creative Assembly
- Platforms: PlayStation 3 & 4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC, Android, iOS
Alien: Isolation is hands down one of the best horror games in recent years. When it comes to hiding from monsters, this game is often the first that comes to mind. The Xenomorph’s AI is incredibly smart and terrifying — if it sees you, you’re dead. And since it adapts to your strategies, you must constantly think of new ways to escape.
You play as Amanda Ripley, who has weapons to fend off other enemies, but against the Xenomorph, you can only distract it briefly. And remember — each escape tactic only works once. If it catches you using the same method again, you’re done for. Hiding and running are your only real options — and even then, survival is never guaranteed.
