Best Isometric Horror Games, Ranked

Best Isometric Horror Games, Ranked

Key Takeaways

  • Horror sub-genres vary including psychological, survival, and isometric horror.
  • Unique games like Dead State, Stasis, and Gorky 17 offer innovative gameplay experiences.
  • Projects Zomboid challenges players with open-world survival, emphasizing customization and looting.

As a seasoned gamer with over three decades of gaming under my belt, I must say, these four titles truly stand out in the realm of horror and RPG genres. Each one offers a unique take on the post-apocalyptic, psychological, or zombie survival experience, catering to different tastes and preferences.


Horror video games encompass a wide range of sub-categories, including survival horror and psychological horror. However, another significant factor to consider is the camera angle or perspective from which the action unfolds. This aspect greatly influences the overall gaming experience, particularly in the realm of horror games.

Isometric perspectives aren’t commonly used in horror games, but some daring creators have successfully ventured into this niche subcategory, producing memorable and distinctive titles. The isometric viewpoint presents unique challenges when it comes to creating a scary atmosphere, making horror exploration more challenging than in first-person or third-person formats.

Horror subgenres such as psychological horror and survival horror will be included.

7 Dead State: Reanimated

Steam Rating: 7/10

Best Isometric Horror Games, Ranked
  • Platform: Microsoft Windows
  • Released: December 4, 2014, May 13, 2015 (Reanimated)
  • Developer: DoubleBear Productions, Iron Tower Studio
  • Publisher: DoubleBear Productions

Title “Dead State: Reanimated” is a re-edition of the 2014 game with the same name. The setting of “Dead State” is a post-zombie apocalypse world. Although its visuals might not be breathtaking, it compensates for that in its gameplay. You’ll encounter numerous intriguing characters who gradually join your party; some whose personalities complement the rest of the group, while others exhibit clashing personalities that can lead to conflict.

Beyond the battle scenes, the game Dead State emphasizes resource management, requiring players to decide on a fair distribution of supplies among their team. Should they prioritize certain members or lead impartially?

6 Stasis

Steam Rating: 7/10

Best Isometric Horror Games, Ranked
  • Platform: Microsoft Windows, macOS
  • Released: August 31, 2015
  • Developer: Brotherhood Games
  • Publisher: Daedalic Entertainment

In a chilling futuristic science fiction setting, the game unfolds. You, as the enigmatic protagonist John, emerge from cryogenic slumber on board the Groomlake – a ship that doubles as both your shelter and the ominous stage for the narrative. To your dismay, you discover that the entire crew has perished. The Groomlake itself is the focal point of Stasis, with its stark, metallic design contrasting against the lush overgrowth, debris, and grisly remains that adorn it. As you gradually unravel the ship’s history through abandoned notes left by previous workers, it’s the haunting atmosphere of the Groomlake that truly captivates, with its exceptional use of environmental storytelling.

5 Gorky 17 (Odium)

Steam Rating: 9/10

Best Isometric Horror Games, Ranked
  • Platform: Microsoft Windows, macOS, Linux, Classic Mac OS
  • Released: November 15, 1999
  • Developer: Metropolis Software, CDP.pl
  • Publisher: Monolith Productions

1999 saw the release of “Gorky 17,” known as “Odium” in North America, a tactical horror game with role-playing elements reminiscent of vintage survival horror games. In this game, players become part of a tiny NATO squad summoned to probe the enigma surrounding grotesque creatures emerging near an old Soviet military compound.

In Gorky 17, you’ll find two primary gameplay methods. One is an intuitive exploration style reminiscent of point-and-click adventures, allowing you to roam freely in open spaces. The other is a strategic turn-based combat system where you engage in battles.

4 Death Trash

Steam Rating: 9/10

Best Isometric Horror Games, Ranked
  • Platform: Microsoft Windows, macOS, Linux, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One
  • Released: August 5, 2021
  • Developer: Crafting Legends
  • Publisher: Crafting Legends

In Death Trash, you’re thrown headfirst into an immersive role-playing game experience. Upon starting, you’ll find yourself customizing your character before being plunged into the bleak post-apocalyptic world of Death Trash. When you enter, you’re met by a spooky facility teeming with advanced androids who inform you that you were once part of the society you knew, but are now compelled to depart from it.

As they step outside the facility, the player encounters a fearsome yet apparently benevolent creature called the Fleshkraken. The Fleshkraken asks the player to gather more companions. Subsequently, the player embarks on a journey into the harsh environment of Death Trash, where the inhabitants are hardly as welcoming as the Fleshkraken.

3 Hatred

Steam Rating: 9/10

Best Isometric Horror Games, Ranked

In an unusual twist from typical horror games, “Hatred” doesn’t involve heroes battling monstrous villains. Instead, players assume the role of an unfeeling murderer, on a destructive spree in search of more victims. The protagonist is engulfed in a bloodthirsty rampage, as his intense hatred for humanity reaches its zenith.

In this intense horror game, you’ll find no colors other than black and white. However, it switches to a more dramatic view during cinematic scenes or gruesome killings, breaking away from the usual isometric point of view.

2 Sanitarium

Steam Rating: 9/10

Best Isometric Horror Games, Ranked

Sanitarium is a chilling psychological horror game, where players step into the role of an enigmatic man who regains consciousness following a car accident-induced coma. Confused about his location and identity, the protagonist learns that he’s been admitted to a dilapidated asylum. The other patients, unfamiliar with addressing him, refer to the player character as “Max.

In this intriguing, isometric horror game, you’ll primarily navigate through the environment and solve atmospheric puzzles to progress the narrative using a ‘point-and-click’ interaction style.

1 Project Zomboid

Steam Rating: 9/10

Best Isometric Horror Games, Ranked

In the open-world survival horror role-playing game known as Project Zomboid, players have the opportunity to design their unique survivor from scratch. Initially, players start off with absolutely nothing, not even a spare shirt, which adds an extra layer of realism to the experience. The game emphasizes careful inventory management and scavenging for supplies, as it’s crucial that players always carry essential items when they venture out in search of resources. Although the initial zombie encounter may appear straightforward, the game gradually becomes more challenging over time.

In “Project Zomboid”, players find themselves in a genuine zombie survival scenario where they must begin anew, scavenging for essentials and fending off any undead threats that cross their path.

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2024-09-10 03:34