7 Terrifying Horror Games That Lock You in a Prison

Summary

Horror games often utilize prisons due to their claustrophobic atmosphere.
Some horror games focus solely on prisons, keeping players locked in.
Games like Resident Evil Revelations 2 and The Suffering excel in creating eerie prison environments.

Horror video games frequently incorporate prisons into their collection of chilling and interactive spaces. This makes sense because the confined and oppressive characteristics of prison settings align well with the gloomy ambiance that horror games excel in generating.

Prisons are frequently just mentioned briefly among many locations in a single game, rather than being the main focus. The games listed here, on the other hand, distinguish themselves from others in the genre by centering their stories within or primarily around prisons, keeping players confined behind rusty bars and cement walls for most of their playtime.

7. Resident Evil Revelations 2 – Episode One: Penal Colony

Resident Evil’s First Step Back To Their Glory Days

Release Date	February 25 2015
ESRB	M
Developer	Capcom
Genre	Horror

In the discussion about horror games set in prisons, it’s appropriate to start with “Resident Evil Revelations 2”. This game is divided into separate episodic releases, each offering a standalone experience. The story unfolds when series veteran Claire Redfield and newcomer Moira Burton are abducted by an enigmatic group of armed individuals. Upon regaining consciousness, they find themselves imprisoned in a decaying penal facility.

Following closely on the heels of Resident Evil 6, the gritty atmosphere of this opening episode’s prison setting seemed like an initial stride towards Capcom reclaiming their past brilliance associated with the Resident Evil series. This transition would be fully realized two years later when Resident Evil 7 was released, completing their journey back to former glory.

6. Kletka

Descending Into The Depths Of A Gigastructure

The title refers to a colossal structure where characters play out the roles of imprisoned individuals, as described by developers Callback and In404. This massive complex is often called the “Gigastructure.

It’s likely you’ve figured it out already, but Kletka isn’t your typical penitentiary. Instead, it’s an ever-expanding structure teeming with supernatural oddities. Given that it’s a cooperative horror game, gameplay in Kletka may seem familiar to those who enjoy such genres. The emphasis on finding fuel for a carnivorous elevator recalls the scrap gathering seen in Lethal Company.

5. The Maker of Masks

Surreal Prison Nightmare

Release Date	November 6 2022
ESRB	N/A
Developer	Felix.Kraus
Genre	Horror

In a horror game jam, Felix.Kraus created the game titled “The Mask Maker,” where players find themselves suspended from a meat hook in a mysterious prison, eventually having a mask forcefully placed onto their face.

Exploring “The Creator of Masks” is a captivating experience right from the start, drawing gamers in with its unsettling ambiance and haunting graphics. Best of all, it’s free and takes less than an hour to complete, making it a must-try for anyone looking for a quick yet intriguing gaming fix.

4. Alien 3 – SNES Version

Bug Hunting Platformer

Release Date	June 1993
ESRB	T
Developer	Acclaim Studios London, Bits Studios
Genre	Platformer, horror

In the game inspired by the film titled “Alien 3”, players take on the role of the beloved character Ripley, trying to make it through the challenging environment of the prison colony known as Fiorina 161.

Back in the day, I was absolutely thrilled by the various adaptations of “Alien 3” across multiple gaming platforms. However, it was the SNES version that truly shone among the rest. This game offered a unique blend of platforming and side-scrolling action, immersing players in a tense prison environment as they fulfilled their missions. What made this SNES version particularly special was its innovative approach to objectives, allowing players to tackle them in whatever sequence they preferred – a feature that was quite uncommon at the time.

3. The Callisto Protocol

Trapped On Jupiter’s Dead Moon

2022 saw the debut of “The Callisto Protocol,” but it wasn’t universally praised due to falling short of matching the reputation set by Glen Schofield’s previous space horror, “Dead Space.” However, it did succeed in delivering an impressive environment.

Characters take on the character of Jacob Lee, who finds himself incarcerated in a crumbling high-security facility teeming with mutated beasts. The decaying and horrifying Callisto prison appears meticulously designed amidst the turmoil, with its flesh-like growths, bloodstains, and deteriorating infrastructure.

2. The Suffering

Fighting Off The Apparition Of Executed Prisoners

The Unnoticed Horror Gem, released in 2004, is a chilling tale where players take on the character of Torque, a man who was imprisoned for a heinous crime – murdering his ex-wife and two children. Strangely, he can’t recall committing this act. As he stands on the brink of execution, an unexpected event unfolds: the prison is invaded by monstrous creatures, plunging it into chaos.

In The Suffering, monsters are uniquely designed to embody different methods of punishment used in prisons. This design choice for the game’s antagonists harmoniously enhances the gloomy and eerie ambiance of the prison setting, making it visually distinctive among horror games.

1. Resident Evil Code: Veronica

Trapped On A Prison Island

15 years prior to Resident Evil Revelations 2, Claire Redfield finds herself captured and stranded on a secluded island named Rockfort – much like her predicament in Resident Evil CODE: Veronica.

In line with what one might anticipate from a prison environment, the location where Claire is detained on the island exudes a somber and gloomy ambiance, distinguishing it among other Resident Evil games. Despite the game eventually transitioning to an Antarctic research facility, Code: Veronica confines its players inside the walls of Rockfort for most of the playtime.

2025-05-03 13:38