15 First-Person Horror Games Like Alien: Isolation

Phasmophobia

Genre:	First-Person, Horror
Developers:	Kinetic Games
Release Date:	September 18, 2020
Find at:	Steam
Multiplayer:	N/A
Average Playthrough:	19 hours

Phasmophobia is one of the best horror games on Steam. In this game, you and your team of paranormal investigators will explore haunted locales rife with paranormal activity. This game is a four-player online cooperative psychological horror game.

Using your ghost hunting tools, you will gather proof of whatever is haunting the place. The goal is simple. Ultimately, you and your team want to make money from the footage of the paranormal activity. Is it worth the risk, though?

This game provides a fully immersive experience that keeps you on the edge of your seat. One of the reasons I love Phasmophobia is how it frequently makes me forget I’m playing a video game. This probably happens due to the realistic graphics, sound design, and minimalistic UI.

The devs were careful to make the game not feel too repetitive, too. Each investigation will be distinct because there are over 10 different varieties of ghosts. The ghosts have different personalities and traits.

If you like horror games like Alien: Isolation but you don’t want to play them alone, Phasmophobia solves that problem brilliantly. You’re out of excuses now.

Amnesia: The Dark Descent

Amnesia: The Dark Descent is one of those games that changed the horror genre forever when it came out. The horror in this game is completely unique, and fans of games like Alien: Isolation are sure to enjoy it.

You play as Daniel, who wakes up in a castle with no memory of how he got there. As you explore the area, you slowly piece together what happened and realize that something horrifying is stalking you through the halls.

The key to success in this game is stealth, which makes things even more frightening when you don’t know what might be lurking in the dark. However, staying in the dark makes you go crazy, making things even harder.

Amnesia also likes to break the fourth wall to represent the fact that Daniel is losing his mind. This game relies on hiding, exploring, and solving puzzles as gameplay mechanics, but it does so much more through visuals and sound effects to immerse you in its setting and themes.

If you like the idea of playing through a game that will make you doubt everything and toy with you, the player, then Amnesia: The Dark Descent might be the game for you.

Outlast

Outlast is one of the most atmospheric and intense horror games ever made. You play as journalist Miles Upshur, who’s investigating Mount Massive Asylum. Once inside, you quickly realize that the inmates are roaming free in this place, and they’re not happy to see you.

On top of that, things happen that make you question your notions of reality and your own sanity. Outlast is a masterclass in creating suspense and fear, and it’s one of the best horror games in recent memory.

Mechanically speaking, you will be doing a lot of hiding, running, and looking around. The game has a gimmick, though. You have to find batteries to power your camera since it’s the only way you can see in the dark.

The way the game starts is proof enough that the developers know what they are doing. Mount Massive Asylum is seriously creepy and feels off even from the outside. The entire time you’re trying to break in feels wrong and uncomfortable.

Once you’re in that place, you know you can’t leave. Some inmates will come at you when they notice an outsider is around, so every move counts. Your only real defense is running away or hiding for a bit. When night falls, everything goes dark and scary.

When you start hearing screams coming from other rooms, that’s when things get really bad. However, if you want an unsettling game that will keep you terrified, this is the one for sure.

Outlast 2

Outlast 2 is quite different from the first one. It tackles themes like religion, faith, and powerlessness.

You are a cameraman named Blake Langermann who works with your wife, Lynn. You two are following a series of hints that began with the confusing murder case of a pregnant lady.

The course of this investigation has taken you miles into the Arizona desert, where the story unravels and you find a horrendous corruption. The darkness you find is so deep that no one could ever hope to illuminate it.

You do count on your camera just like in the first game, but it is way more important for the narrative here. Outlast 2 brings some new mechanics to make the gameplay better than the franchise’s previous entry.

For instance, you now have a healing mechanic and an inventory system. On top of that, Outlast 2 expands the stealth mechanics by letting you lie on the ground to hide among bushes. The camera mechanics were also improved. Besides the classic night vision, you also have a microphone that allows you to hear enemies from afar.

Soma

SOMA is a science fiction horror video game from Frictional Games, the same people behind Amnesia: The Dark Descent. The game is set aboard the PATHOS-II, an underwater research facility where something has gone terribly wrong. 

As the player explores the facility, things will get more confusing, and dangerous creatures will notice their presence. The player must use their wits to survive and figure out what is happening while dealing with corrupted humans, wicked creatures, deranged robots, and even a mysterious, inescapable AI.

I love how this game is immersive. The first-person view is very fitting since it helps you experience the claustrophobia and paranoia the game wants you to feel. There’s no doubt in my mind that this is one of the best sci-fi games on Steam, and fans of games like Alien: Isolation will love it.

The most interesting thing about this game is how it approaches the many complex themes that only science fiction can let you discuss in such an entertaining but realistic way. Soma is entirely molded by a famous quote by Philip K. Dick: “Reality is which, when you stop believing in it, doesn’t go away.”

This is a game for science fiction fans. At times, it will feel like Alien: Isolation, but it will also have some weird, thought-provoking moments with an overwhelming ambiguity. If you want to start questioning reality and humanity, and be constantly paranoid, make sure to play Soma.

Kona

Kona is a first-person exploration game set in the northern wilderness of Canada during the 1970s. You play Carl Faubert, a private investigator who’s been hired to look into the strange events occurring in the small village in Atamipek Lake.

Unfortunately, after being engulfed in an unexpected snowstorm, Carl becomes trapped. Unable to find anyone in the surroundings, not even his client, he finds himself in a deserted area where mysterious things might have happened.

In that situation, and without a choice, Detective Faubert must shed light on the mysterious events befalling the area. As you explore the frigid environment and uncover the secrets of the local village, you’ll reconstruct what happened using your detective.

At the same time, you’ll be dealing with something that logic and science might not be able to explain. With its unique setting, Kona is one of the most original first-person games I’ve ever played.

Being alone with your thoughts might make you question what you see. Although it might not be scary in the way other games like Alien: Isolation might be, Kona is sinister at times and is certainly worth trying.

Layers of Fear

Layers of Fear is a 2016 psychological horror game from Bloober Team. The game follows a nameless painter in the late 1800s as he descends into madness while trying to complete his Magnum Opus.

The game seems to take inspiration from American author H. P. Lovecraft since it incorporates both literary and visual references to his work. You can’t trust your senses often in this game. Sometimes, reality warps in ways that you question everything you see.

Layers of Fear is a first-person, story-driven experience that aims to send chills down your spine. You’ll find yourself wandering through an ever-changing Victorian house with an increasingly unsettling feeling that something isn’t right.

As you explore the house, reality becomes blurred and broken down. You’ll come across supernatural-looking entities as you descend deeper into madness. The whole experience aims to unsettle you while you see the world through the eyes of a tormented, haunted person.

The game full of with original works of art and music that work well with how the story is told. You can only learn the specifics of the painter’s terrible and gloomy past by thoroughly investigating the house. However, the past is scary, and things become even darker when reality starts to break down.

The Layers of Fear: Legacy edition is one of the best horror games on the Switch, and it’s worth checking out for any fans of first-person horror games similar to Alien: Isolation.

Layers of Fear 2

Layers of Fear 2 is a first-person psychological horror game that features several gameplay mechanics similar to those seen in the first Layers of Fear.

The player controls a Hollywood actor who is preparing for a role in a film directed by an enigmatic figure known only as The Director. The player must explore the film set, which changes as they progress, and uncover the secrets of his own past.

In addition to hearing voices from our history, The Actor can’t ignore The Director. After all, the mysterious figure seems to always be there. Knowing who The Director is and his actual role in the story is one of the greatest mysteries of this game.

Layers of Fear 2 has 3 different endings. The one you will see will depend on your choices. In other words, Decisions matter. The Actor’s actions will influence his destiny, which is a nice touch to a game that focuses on psychological horror. 

Although much of the story is explained, a lot is left open to interpretation, which is something I can appreciate in this genre. Generally speaking, this won’t be that much of a different experience from the first game regarding structure and tropes. However, the story and setting are refreshing, and the game looks even better.

Cry of Fear

Cry of Fear is a psychological horror game for single-player and co-op play. It takes place in a desolate town filled with terrifying animals and nightmare fantasies.

As you navigate the city while progressively slipping into madness, you take on the role of a young man urgently looking for answers in the frigid Scandinavian night.

Originally, Cry of Fear was a Half-Life mod that took inspiration from old-school survival horror games. It took the devs 4 years to fully develop it, but Cry of Fear finally became a full, free-to-play game that everyone can enjoy. Well, not everyone. According to the developers, this game is not for the weak of heart.

Cry of Fear features an 8 hours-long single-player campaign, multiple endings, a co-op campaign, an original soundtrack, and more. I loved playing this indie horror game from start to finish. Especially considering how old it is, this game is seriously impressive.

Like many other games of the genre, Cry of Fear makes you experience reality through the interpretation of a broken mind. You will love this game if you are looking for an insane experience through a dark, gloomy world with terrifying creatures and an ominous setting.

Observer

Observer is a weird, sci-fi, psychological horror game that presents a premise you can’t see in any other genre. In this game, you are a member of the new front line of neural police, the Observers.

In 2084, way too many people perished from the Nanophage, and those who didn’t eventually died during the war. To escape this new world, those who are still alive have turned to narcotics, virtual reality, neurological implants, and other things that make them feel numb and break their minds.

This means that your investigations focus on hacking other people’s minds, which often means diving into broken, inside minds to gather information. You will revisit the worst nightmares of criminals and victims as you hack into their unstable brains in search of information.

This is another first-person game that uses its perspective to make you doubt your reality and your own sanity. Not only is this an excellent thought-provoking exercise due to its sci-fi premise, but it’s also a very unsettling psychological horror story and one of the best story-rich games on the Nintendo Switch for Alien: Isolation fans.

Visage

Visage feels like a spiritual successor to PT, the Silent Hill demo that Konami has been trying to erase. Although PT takes place in a dirty, small apartment, it is easy to see why this game reminds people of Kojima’s last horror project.

In this first-person psychological horror game, you explore an eerie, constantly-changing mansion in an eerie, slow-moving setting. Visage creates a terrifying experience by combining both uncannily comfortable and horrifyingly realistic ambiances.

The game’s setting is a big house where awful things have occurred. Like many horror games, you might never have peace. Weird entities reveal themselves as you wander around the dark hallways, investigate every empty room, and become lost in unimaginable mazes.

Unlike Alien: Isolation, in which you can sometimes fight for your life, players are completely defenseless in Visage. No armor or weapon can protect you from the terrifying creatures that lurk around every corner, behind every door, and even under your boots.

You can gather essential items, engage with the environment, and look for things that might help you escape. However, you must be careful all the time. Some items you find and decisions you make in this nightmare might ensnare you even further within it.

Resident Evil 7

Resident Evil 7 is a terrifying game that will have you on the edge of your seat.

You take the role of Ethan Winters, a man searching for his missing wife on a creepy plantation in Dulvey, Louisiana. The atmosphere is incredibly suspenseful, and the game is filled with jump scares. This is a different Resident Evil.

It’s a return to survival horror, which most fans thought they’d never see after Resident Evil 4. Unlike previous games in the series, which saw players shooting zombies and monsters or taking out their aggressors with guns blazing, this entry aims to keep players scared.

I know I was always afraid of whatever could come next. It’s all about going into new environments cautiously. This is a Resident Evil game, so there will be plenty of puzzles and key items for you to find. As expected, the more you progress into treacherous territory, the more dangers and jump scares await.

The first-person perspective and sound design help create an unsettling environment where the player feels completely vulnerable. This is complemented by the fact Ethan is just a guy instead of a zombie-killing super agent.

Resident Evil Village

Resident Evil Village is one of the best Japanese games on Steam. Not only does it look absolutely gorgeous, but it is also one of the most horrifying experiences ever. It seems that Resident Evil Village borrows a lot from Resident Evil 4.

The European village, the castle in the middle of nowhere, and the unconventional enemies all give the same vibe we felt when Leon first had to deal with the Ganados. This game, however, is a direct sequel to Resident Evil 7.

This time, Ethan has to go looking for his daughter. This game also borrows some ideas from open-world games. The center hub town, which links the game’s important places and optional side missions, is the primary open area.

Despite not being an actual open-world game, Resident Evil Village features several locations where you can explore, roam around, and revisit later if you want. Fans of games like Alien: Isolation will fall in love with this title, I’m sure.