The subgenre of horror gaming, named survival horror, was first popularized in the late 1990s, and then again during the 2000s. The success of this genre results from the fact that survival games tend to focus on complex plotlines and gameplays. When we combine this with the horror genre, this type of game becomes even more impactful, with scary mazes and houses featuring as some of the primary sets for such dark adventures. Join us as we go over some of the most iconic survival horror games to be released in the 2000s.

Silent Hill 2

Silent Hill 2 was first released by Konami in 2001 and tells the story of widower James Sunderland. After receiving a letter from his deceased wife, Mary, Sunderland heads to a monster-filled city named Silent Hill. Here he must collect maps, clues, and other findings in order to unveil the mystery surrounding his wife’s letter.

The game was a sales and critical success, registering an average score of 89 on the Metacritic website. Critics and casual players were stunned by the title. Silent Hill 2 showed that this emerging niche was not only capable of scaring players, but also delivering a top-notch story, filled with symbolism, and innovative use of sound and graphics. 

F.E.A.R.

F.E.A.R, unlike the other titles on the list, is a first-person shooter survival horror game. At the time of release, this Monolith Productions title attracted all sorts of attention due to the game’s unparallel gameplay that made it truly scary. The game deals with supernatural topics, involving a fictional special forces team, F.E.A.R, that is trying to uncover the secrets of a paranormal menace named Alma. 

Featuring several dark scenes and plenty of jump scares, the game became popular online, at a time when YouTube was beginning to gain momentum. Reaction clips and gameplay videos of users playing F.E.A.R become popular on the platform and helped spread the word about this new up and rising horror game. 

Dino Crisis

Known as the Resident Evil of dinosaurs, Dino Crisis tells the story of a team that is sent to the Island of Ibis to capture Doctor Edward Kirk, the leader of a secret weapons project. However, as soon as they land on an island, the team, led by Regina, is surprised by a Tyrannosaurus Rex who starts attacking team members.

Any similarities between Dino Crisis and Resident Evil are not a mere coincidence. The game was developed by the same team that was behind the Resident Evil franchise at Capcom. Still, the similar plots did not prevent the game from becoming a massive success, generating a dedicated fanbase, which is still active. 

While these are some of the best from the 2000s, you can also check Resident Evil 4, Eternal Darkness: Sanity’s Requiem, and Alone in the Dark: The New Nightmare.