Best games inspired by Silent Hill

When I search for “games like Silent Hill” on Google, usually I am redirected to random forums where people just mention every possible survival-horror game ever made, from Resident Evil and Parasite Eve, to Dead Space and Outlast.

What is that truly made unique Silent Hill?

It was not the camera or the combat system, but its deep, sick and twisted atmosphere. Silent Hill is a surreal-horror game, heavily focused on the psychology and the trauma of the protagonists, touching very delicate and mature topics. Also the enemies are not just simple monsters, but creepy manifestations of the trauma of the main character. These are the features that a psychological horror similar to Silent Hill should have. The following list are games similar or directly inspired by Silent Hill in terms of design, atmosphere, mature topics and enemies.

• Rule of Rose

An underrated gem for PS2, with a sad, twisted and mature plot. This game was nonsensically attacked by censorship and now became one of the rarest game on PS2. Rule of Rose is one of the best example on how to deliver a deep psychological and surreal horror game. The plot is complex and symbolic, in the best Silent Hill style, with creepy monsters dealing with the trauma of the main character. The gameplay is boring and frustrating, but speaking about the plot this game is second only to Silent Hill 2. If you search for a game able to surprise, scare and make you think only with its history, in perfect Silent Hill 2 style, try to rediscover this old gem.

• Siren franchise

Siren (or Forbidden Siren) is an easy suggestion to do. Why? Because was made by the same team and director behind Silent Hill. The game is more focused on mysterious and forbidden folklore, but is able to build an oppressive and nightmarish atmosphere. The game is very slow, heavily focus on the stealth component to avoid enemies. The player can sight-jack the enemies to see through their eyes to avoid them. The creatures, especially in Siren 2, are quiet unique and nightmarish, such as the last bosses. Also the franchise is very original in terms of plot and storytelling, with multiple chapters played by different characters that mixed together in a net of branches and timetables. Multiple tasks will open different chapters or alternative version of previous ones. Only by playing every chapter you can start to have a bit of understanding of the complex plot.

• Claire

There is a thin line between using an inspiration to build something completely new and just imitating it. Claire in this case takes definitely too much inspiration from Silent Hill 2, from the musics to the locations. Even the save point is almost the same, with also a similar sound! Anyway even with its flaws, Claire is an enjoyable experience, especially if you were dreaming of a 2D Silent Hill.

• Detention

A beautiful poetry born in Taiwan. This game has everything you can dream about. The story is mature and intriguing, heavily symbolic and root into the Taiwanese history and folklore. There are also monsters to avoid, but sadly very few. For more info about Detention you can check my reviews (Detention review: a surreal-horror poem).

• Evil Within

Evil Within is very close to Silent Hill and at the same time really far. Part of the design of the levels and the locations are twisted and inspired, nightmarish environments born from a crazy mind. The enemy design is simply brilliant, sick and twisted creatures infused of heavy symbolism. Talking about the enemies, Evil Within is probably the closest game ever made to Silent Hill, especially creatures like Laura or the Keeper (well here the inspiration is really strong). Sadly the game evolves toward the end in an action game, far from the psychological and surreal environment of the beginning. Also flat characters don’t help to create a deep and mature history.

 

• Lone Survivor

Another example of 2D game with a slow paced and disturbing atmosphere. There is a constant nightmarish environment, with twisted and disturbing pixel art monsters. Something happened to humanity and a mysterious plague is now afflicting everybody, except you. The setting is a dreamlike experience, with unexpected surreal scenes and weird  characters, like a man with a carton box on his head.  The game feature an interesting combat and sneak system, using baits to distract the enemies. Lone Survivor also feature a strong survival component, that maybe will not totally fit with Silent Hill. If you like the idea of a pixel-art 2D Silent Hill, with a unique atmosphere and a hardcore gameplay, you should give this game a try.

• Cry of Fear

A free game made with heart and love for Silent Hill, but also an original game with its own personality. The plot is deeply surreal and focused on the psychology of the main character. Nothing new or amazing, but does its job. The creatures design is incredible, with monstrosities born from nightmares and bizarre boss fights (you can check here the Sawrunner and the Stranger). Every enemy is unique, from creatures that will bring you to suicide, to shooting enemy that will instead suicide if you get too close. The game is creepy and scary, only negative point is the first person perspective. The game also feature interesting puzzles, another strong connection with old survival-horror games like Silent Hill.

 

• Downfall

Few games tried to embrace the challenge of building another dark descriptions of a relationship the way Silent Hill 2 made. Downfall is one of the few in succeed as well. The plot is surreal, psychological and twisted, touching very heavy themes like food disorder. Downfall is a dark and brutal tale inside a mysterious hotel, where every room is a creepy surprise. The game is a classic point and click adventure, with not so demanding puzzles and multiple ending. If you are searching for a combat free experience but enriched with a deep psychological plot you should try Downfall.

• The Suffering

There is a lot of action in the Suffering compared with the slow placed atmosphere of Silent Hill. However, the prison in a strong and sick atmosphere, powerful as the famous misty town. The enemy design is also brilliant and symbolic (made by the special effect designer Stan Winston), each monsters is inspired by a specific death penalty or way to execute prisoners. If you want more actions without forgetting a cursed atmosphere with interesting enemies, the Suffering can worth a try.