Sci-fi horror games are fairly numerous these days, but finding the ones of quality is a rewarding experience. Flavored with an eerie atmosphere - blood-soaked hallways, unbearably quiet sequences, and creatures stalking in the shadows - sci-fi horror games can make the toughest players sleep with the lights on. Many of these games took inspiration from the frightening sci-fi horror movies of yesteryear, namely John Carpenter's The Thing or Ridley Scott's Alien.
In many cases though, the sci-fi horror games of today are more frightening than their movie counterparts because they're more immersive. Instead of watching the terror happen to the characters onscreen, players must experience it with the character they're playing. The jump scares, the atmosphere, and the gore is all experienced by both the gamer and the character at the same exact time.
Even within this horrifying genre, there are certain games that stand out as the most terrifying, most disturbing, and hardest to get through without keeping the lights on.
Best Tribute Sci-Fi Horror Game - Alien: Isolation
Being a hunter is one thing, being the prey is a terrifying reality. That's entirely true of Alien: Isolation, arguably the best representation of the original film that frightened audiences in 1979. The environments, the eeriness, the gore, and the impossibly-quiet xenomorph are all elements that throw the player right into that universe seamlessly.
The worst part about Isolation is the run-and-hide mechanic, since the xenomorph can't really be killed. No matter whether players hide in lockers or under desks, the xenomorph will eventually find and kill its prey. For some fans, it's the true sequel to the original film.
Best Mind-Blowing Sci-Fi Horror Game - Soma
Just because it's sci-fi doesn't mean it has to take place in space. Soma is a sci-fi horror game taking place in an underwater facility sometime in the future. It falls into the run-and-hide format of Alien: Isolation, but it also changes the environments and atmosphere to reflect the universe it's in.
Soma is filled with mystery and questions, like who the protagonist really is, what the human-like machines are, and what happened to the crew of the underwater facility. On top of that, Soma has a few twists and turns that should surprise and satisfy horror fans, with some philosophical thoughts that may keep players up at night.
Best Lovecraftian Sci-Fi Horror Game - Moons Of Madness
Taking place on a research facility on Mars, Moons of Madness players jump into the boots of a protagonist trying to figure out what happened to the crew and where the grotesque monsters came from. Although many horror games (most recently The Sinking City) have implemented the stories of Lovecraft's horror writing into video games, Moons of Madness doesn't just act as a strict depiction but instead translates the H.P. Lovecraft style to a futuristic, sci-fi setting.
Best Innovation In A Sci-Fi Horror Game - Prey
Prey is one of those games that stands out for its gameplay mechanics. Similar in a way to Bioshock, Prey takes the idea of varied video game weaponry to a whole new level. Crafting and upgrading all of Prey's weapons makes for a fun, addictive experience, but the horror elements lie in the environment. Creatures called Mimics can hide in plain sight as random objects in any room, creating a sense of tension with every step toward the character's goal.
Best Sci-Fi Horror Game - Dead Space
Still one of the most horrifying and disturbing sci-fi horror games out there, Dead Space stands above the rest as a masterpiece in horror. Taking inspiration from John Carpenter's The Thing, this game is filled with gore, body horror, eerie environments, plot twists, and sci-fi elements for fans of the genre. The protagonist, Isaac Clark, is a space engineer that's part of a crew sent out to fix a disabled mining ship. Once they arrive though, they soon discover the horrors that wait for them within. Although Dead Space was released in 2008, the game still holds up with good graphics and fun gameplay, and it's still worth playing for those who haven't given it a try.