Best Survival Horror Games With No Combat

Key Takeaways

Survival horror games with no combat challenge players with limited resources, traps, and hostile entities.
Games like Corpse Party and White Day emphasize exploration, management of items, and running from dangers.
Amnesia and Outlast require resource management for light sources, health, and sanity to survive terrifying encounters.

As a seasoned gamer with over two decades under my belt, I must say that the survival horror genre has always held a special place in my heart – and more importantly, kept it pounding like a drum. The games I’ve played throughout the years have provided countless hours of adrenaline-fueled entertainment, but none quite as harrowing as the ones I’m about to discuss.

In the realm of horror games, many players instinctively opt for a confrontational approach, brandishing weapons that provide a sense of security against their ominous adversaries. Games like “Doom 3” enable players to ruthlessly eliminate enemies without fear of ammo depletion, whereas titles such as “SOMA” and the P.T. demo place greater emphasis on storytelling and exploration. However, what occurs when these gameplay elements are eliminated?

As a passionate gamer, I’d like to highlight some top-notch survival horror games that cater to those who prefer a non-violent approach or crave a real test of their survival skills. These games, as their names imply, are rich in survival aspects such as resource management, health bars that deplete with time, and scarce supplies. Despite the possibility of encountering combat scenarios, these games intentionally limit ammunition or inventory space, making it an exhilarating experience even without direct conflict. Here’s a list of some of the best survival horror games devoid of combat for those who enjoy a pacifist challenge.

8. Corpse Party: Blood Drive

Make It Out Of Heavenly Host One Last Time

Platform: Windows, Android, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation Vita
Release Date: July 24, 2014
Developers: Team GrisGris, MAGES

In the video game titled “Corpse Party: Blood Drive,” we join Ayumi, a student character, on her quest to resurrect those who perished at Heavenly Host Elementary School. This adventure blends elements of exploration with visual novel-style gameplay. Enhanced with 3D graphics, “Blood Drive” serves as an ending for the previous games and delves deeper into the franchise’s history.

Players will face numerous perils including traps and ominous dark entities. To survive, they need to locate and gather bandages for healing and talismans for protection. Evading these threats isn’t always beneficial because stamina is finite. Managing batteries carefully is crucial to prevent complete darkness.

7. White Day: A Labyrinth Named School

Carefully Manage Items To Escape A Haunted School

Initially released as a PC game in 2001, “White Day: A Labyrinth Named School” has since been revamped for consoles and mobile devices, boasting enhanced gameplay and graphics. As Hee-Min Lee attempts to secretly deliver chocolates to his sweetheart at Yeondu High School, he unintentionally gets caught up in a maze filled with ghosts and murderers instead.

As they flee, the player might gather healing items like “Medkits” or “Yeondu Coins”. They can utilize these to buy health options such as “Soy Milk” or “Meal Boxes” from vending machines. These can be crucial when facing adversaries, but players need to exercise caution because resources are not abundant and the enemies can be persistent.

6. Silent Hill: Shattered Memories

Navigate Between Reality And A Nightmare Dimension

Silent Hill: Shattered Memories is often overlooked within the Silent Hill series, as it doesn’t fall under the main storyline. However, despite this, it received favorable feedback due to its haunting narrative and eerie ambiance in a combat-free reinterpretation of the original game.

As a gamer, I find myself in the shoes of Harry Mason, a dad on a desperate quest to find his missing daughter. The twist? I’ve got a pesky case of memory loss and a knack for stumbling into the Nightmare Realm, a chilling icy mirror-reality teeming with relentless monsters. In this nightmare, my survival tactics are limited; I can only fend them off using scarce flares that repel these beasts. It’s a nerve-wracking game of cat and mouse, where resources are scarce and every move counts.

5. Five Nights At Freddy’s

Fend Off Animatronics With Limited Electricity

Five Nights at Freddy’s is among the most renowned horror video game series ever made, spawning numerous fan-made and spin-off games, comic books, movies, and more. The enduring popularity of the 2014 original can be traced back to its unique blend of intricate storyline and user-friendly controls.

In this scenario, the player assumes the job of a night watchman at Freddy Fazbear’s Pizzeria. However, the situation becomes precarious when they find out that the animatronics can operate independently, and the doors serving as barriers have limited electric power. To avoid depleting the power supply excessively, players must strategically manage their use of cameras, lights, and doors to prevent losing essential resources beyond just electricity.

4. Phasmophobia

Hunt Hostile Ghosts As A Team

In the world of gaming, it’s possible for both survival horror games and cooperative horror experiences to coexist. For instance, take the game Phasmophobia, a ghost-hunting adventure that can be played alone or with a team of up to four players. The objective in this title is to gather and document proof of supernatural activity across various locations, uncovering what exactly is haunting each site.

Some tools can be utilized multiple times (like the EMF reader and thermometer), whereas others are designed for one-time use. Items such as the crucifix and sanity medication could potentially spare players from fatal situations, but their effectiveness relies on using them prudently.

3. Amnesia: The Dark Descent

In Order To Make It Out, You Must Keep The Darkness At Bay

Psychological horror games often feature ominous settings and chilling backstories, aspects that gamers eagerly anticipate and enjoy. When survival elements are also incorporated, the result can be downright harrowing experiences. For instance, “Amnesia: The Dark Descent” is a game that embodies these characteristics.

In “Dark Descent,” you follow the story of Daniel, a man who has lost his memory and is guided solely by a note that hints he erased his own memory and must eliminate the baron of Brennenberg Castle. Pursued relentlessly by the ominous figure known as The Shadow and grotesque beasts, your goal is to strategically conserve Daniel’s limited resources—like his lantern and health—to avoid plunging into a dangerous insanity.

2. Dead By Daylight

Increase Your Chances Of Survival By Playing With Others

Dead by Daylight is another chilling multiplayer survival horror game where players engage in a battle against various legendary killers with an objective to escape the map. To exit the terrifying setting, they must fix generators to open gates while eluding capture and gruesome injuries inflicted by the relentless killer pursuing them, who wants nothing more than to trap them on a deadly hook.

Clearly, despite its gruesome setting, Dead by Daylight does provide beneficial tools; medkits restore health for injured survivors, firecrackers momentarily disorient the killer, and toolboxes aid in quickening repairs. However, it’s crucial to note that there is no way to defeat the killer permanently. This means that while items can be useful, they should not be solely relied upon. Stealth and strategy are equally vital factors for survival.

When assuming the role of a killer, players can inflict wounds and attacks on the survivors they are pursuing. On the other hand, those opting for the survivor role won’t have the ability to participate in combat.

1. Outlast

Batteries Are Your New Best Friend

Outlast is infamous for being one of the scariest survival horror games because it features gruesome body horror elements and restricts the protagonist’s resources. Players are only equipped with a camera, which has night vision to help them move through dark environments, but using this feature drains the battery.

Scattered throughout the game map are batteries, which can be tricky to locate due to their subtlety and the need for thorough exploration. Players are advised to conserve their camera usage as they may often find themselves navigating in near-darkness. For a harder, more authentic survival horror challenge, players have the option to ramp up the game’s difficulty, placing a weaker Miles against tougher, more vigilant adversaries and reducing the amount of batteries he can gather and carry.

2024-12-07 10:08