10 dark atmospheric games like Dead Space you should play in 2023

Dark atmospheric games are a type of horror-adventure game that are known for their immersive and eerie environments. These games often feature a deep and unsettling atmosphere that is created through a combination of lighting, sound design, and storytelling. They are designed to put players on the edge of their seats, making them feel as though they are a part of the game's world.

Dark atmospheric games are special for a number of reasons. Firstly, they immerse the player in a fully realized world that is both unsettling and captivating. The gameplay often centers around exploration and puzzle-solving, with a strong emphasis on story and atmosphere. Players are drawn in by the sense of dread and unease that permeates the game, making for a truly unique gaming experience.

Another aspect that makes dark atmospheric games so special is the sense of isolation that they evoke. The player is often alone, or at least outnumbered and outmatched, in a hostile environment. This creates a sense of vulnerability that is not found in other types of games. It also allows for a more personal connection to the story and characters, as the player is forced to rely on their own wits and abilities to survive. For these reasons, players who enjoy a good horror story, or just a unique and immersive gaming experience, should definitely check out the dark atmospheric games like Dead Space.

One of the most popular examples of a dark atmospheric game is Dead Space, which the first release in 2008. The game takes place on a spaceship overrun by terrifying creatures known as Necromorphs. Players take on the role of Isaac Clarke, an engineer who must fight for survival against these monsters while uncovering the truth behind what happened on the ship. Dead Space's success has spawned a number of similar games that have attempted to capture the same feeling of dread and unease. In this blog post, we will take a look at 10 games like Dead Space that you should play in 2023. These games will take you on a journey through some of the darkest and most atmospheric worlds in gaming. Get ready to be scared!

Dead Space Remake

Dead Space Remake is a highly-anticipated remake of the original 2008 game, developed by EA Redwood Shores. The game has been completely rebuilt from the ground up, featuring updated graphics and gameplay mechanics. Players will once again take on the role of Isaac Clarke, an engineer stranded on a mining ship overrun by deadly alien creatures known as Necromorphs.

One of the major changes in the 2023 version of Dead Space is that the game will feature new weapons and abilities for players to use in combat against the Necromorphs. The intense and immersive atmosphere of the original game will also be retained, making it a must-play for fans of the genre.

The story of Dead Space Remake follows Isaac Clarke as he fights to survive and uncover the truth behind the Necromorph outbreak. The game is set in the year 2508 and players will explore the abandoned mining ship, the USG Ishimura, as they battle their way through hordes of Necromorphs. The game's unique blend of survival horror, action, and sci-fi elements have made it a classic in the gaming world and the remake is sure to be just as impactful. It is a perfect game for those who want to play a horror game with a lot of action and sci-fi.

As the title suggests, the Dead Space Remake is a complete overhaul of the original game, bringing it up to modern standards. The game's graphics have been completely remastered, making the environments and Necromorphs more terrifying than ever before. The game's controls have also been updated, giving players a more seamless experience. With the addition of new weapons and abilities, the Dead Space Remake is sure to be a hit among fans of the series and newcomers alike. It is a perfect game for those who want to play a horror game with a lot of action and sci-fi.

A Plague Tale: Requiem

A Plague Tale: Requiem is a survival horror game developed by Asobo Studio and published by Focus Entertainment. The game is the sequel to A Plague Tale: Innocence, and follows the story of siblings Amicia and Hugo de Rune as they search for a cure for Hugo's blood disease in Southern France while trying to escape from soldiers of the Inquisition and hordes of rats that are spreading the black plague. The game is available on various platforms, including Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Windows, and Xbox Series X/S.

The gameplay of A Plague Tale: Requiem is similar to its predecessor, but with expanded combat and stealth systems. Players take control of Amicia, who is equipped with weapons such as a knife, a sling, and a crossbow. Players must navigate through large locations and use stealth to avoid detection by enemies. The game also features a progression system, where players can unlock new skills and abilities.

The plot of A Plague Tale: Requiem takes place six months after the events of the first game. The siblings, along with their mother and her apprentice, seek refuge with an organization of alchemists called the Order. However, things take a turn for the worse when an attack causes the Prima Macula to reawaken in Hugo. The group escapes and sets sail for the island of La Cuna, which Hugo has recurring dreams about. The island is home to a pagan deity called the Child of Embers, and Amicia and her companions must navigate the island and uncover the truth about the Macula in order to find a cure for Hugo.

The Callisto Protocol

As humanity continues to push the boundaries of space exploration, the discovery of a new world brings both promise and peril. In the year 2320, players take on the role of a freight transporter named Jacob Lee, whose latest shipment leads to a crash landing on the Jovian moon of Callisto. Stranded and fighting for survival, Jacob must navigate the dangerous terrain and uncover the dark secrets of the prison facility where he is being held. As he battles infected inmates and gathers resources, players will experience intense combat and exploration in a thrilling new intellectual property. Developed by a seasoned team, including the co-creator of the Dead Space series, this action-horror game immerses players in a world of danger and intrigue. Set for release on multiple platforms in December 2022, it's a game that promises to deliver an unforgettable experience.

In the game, players assume the role of Jacob Lee from a third-person perspective. Jacob's health is indicated by an implant on the back of his neck called a "C.O.R.E. Device". Health can be replenished with injectable packs found throughout levels. Jacob can use weapons to combat enemies, as well as a melee system to dodge enemy attacks while looking for openings to strike and kill them. Both combat styles can be mixed up, providing greater variety when facing enemy types. Jacob can collect and review audio logs during gameplay.

As the story unfolds, Jacob finds himself teaming up with an unlikely ally, Dani Nakamura, as they navigate through the ruins of the colony of Arcas and its abandoned prison facility. Together, they uncover the truth behind the biophages, parasitic creatures that have infected the inmates, and the sinister experiments that led to their outbreak. With each new discovery, the stakes get higher and the action more intense, leading to a final confrontation with the Warden of the prison, Duncan Cole. Will Jacob and Dani escape before it's too late, or will they become the next victims of the Callisto Protocol?

Choo-Choo Charles

In "Choo-Choo Charles", players take on the role of a monster-hunting archivist, tasked with upgrading their train's defenses to defeat the game's titular character, Charles. Charles is a terrifying spider-train hybrid monster that wanders the landscape looking for people to eat. The game received mixed reviews from critics and takes around 3-5 hours to complete.

Throughout the game, players must travel across an open world map, completing tasks for non-player characters, collecting loot, and using that loot to upgrade their train in order to fight against Charles. The game's dark atmospheric setting encourages players to use stealth to sneak past human enemies and steal the three glowing eggs needed to complete the game. The final boss battle against Charles is intense and players must use all the weapons and upgrades they've collected throughout the game to defeat him. But, players should watch out for the post-credits scene where Charles has multiple eggs hiding in a cavern, indicating his return.

The Dark Pictures Anthology: The Devil in Me

The latest installment of the Dark Pictures anthology, "The Devil in Me" is a 2022 interactive drama and survival horror game developed by Supermassive Games and published by Bandai Namco Entertainment. It's the fourth and final installment of season one in the Dark Pictures anthology, following "Man of Medan", "Little Hope" and "House of Ashes".

The game features a cast of five playable protagonists and a multilinear gameplay narrative that is influenced by player choice. The game's decision-making scenes can significantly alter the trajectory of the plot and change the relationships between the main characters. Due to these choices, any of the five protagonists can die permanently. The game also introduces new features such as character inventory, tool-based puzzles and new movement capabilities such as running, jumping and climbing.

The game's plot follows a group of documentary filmmakers who receive a mysterious call inviting them to a modern-day replica of serial killer H. H. Holmes' "Murder Castle". As they film their latest episode, they slowly begin to realize things are not quite as they seem and that they are being watched and manipulated. Soon enough, they discover there is much more at stake than just their ratings.

The Devil in Me was released for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows, Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S on November 18, 2022.

Scorn

Scorn is a survival horror adventure video game developed by Serbian developer Ebb Software, inspired by the works of visual artists H. R. Giger and Zdzisław Beksiński. The game is set on an alien planet, where the player controls a humanoid lost in a nightmarish world filled with odd creatures and living techno-organic structures. The player must explore different interconnected regions, searching for answers that will explain more about the game's world. The game features a mix of exploration and combat, with occasional environmental puzzles to progress. The game also offers a variety of biomechanical weapons that attach to a modular base, which players can switch between depending on the situation.

Players of "dark atmospheric games" will find a lot to enjoy in Scorn, with its twisted and unsettling world and emphasis on exploration and combat. The game's setting and creatures are heavily influenced by the works of H. R. Giger and Zdzisław Beksiński, making for a truly unique and terrifying experience. With its challenging gameplay and atmospheric setting, Scorn is sure to keep players on the edge of their seats.

The Quarry

The Quarry is a thrilling interactive game developed by Supermassive Games Studios and published by 2K. Players take on the role of nine teenage counselors who must survive their final night at a summer camp, surrounded by supernatural creatures and violent locals. Players must make crucial choices throughout the game that will impact character development, relationships, and ultimately the story's plot and ending. All nine playable characters may survive or perish, depending on the player's decisions.

Inspired by the classic teen slasher and monster films such as "Friday the 13th" and "The Thing," the game features a talented ensemble cast, including Brenda Song, David Arquette, Halston Sage, Ted Raimi, Ariel Winter, Ethan Suplee, Lance Henriksen, Lin Shaye, Justice Smith, and Grace Zabriskie. 

The gameplay is in third-person perspective, and players take turns controlling the nine different teenagers trying to survive the night at the camp. The player must regularly make different decisions, which can change the character development, the plot, and the relationships between different characters. All nine playable characters may die via multiple ways by the end of the game. Although the game lasts about ten hours, early deaths of certain characters may shorten it.

Due to the game's branching storyline, it has 186 different endings, affected by player choices, performances in quick-time events, and vigilance in finding evidence and clues determine the game's conclusion, as well as the public's perception of the deaths that occurred at the camp. Once the player completes their first playthrough of the game, they will unlock "Death Rewind," which allows them to undo three character deaths in each subsequent playthrough. Players can also disable certain gameplay elements such as button mashing, quick-time events, and aiming and shooting, allowing them to progress in the game with minimal input.

Martha Is Dead

Martha Is Dead is a dark atmospheric game that immerses players in an unforgettable story. Built using advanced texturing techniques and full support for real-time ray tracing, the game is designed to blur the boundary between gaming and reality. The game boasts photo-realism, cinematic visuals and haunting audio, making for a truly immersive experience.

Players can expect to be taken on a journey through a beautifully haunting world, with the game's core focus being on photo-realism and advanced texturing techniques. The use of real-time ray tracing further adds to the game's realism, making it a standout in the genre of atmospheric games. With a focus on bringing human stories to life, players can expect a truly memorable experience.

Resident Evil Village

Resident Evil Village is the latest installment in the Resident Evil franchise, developed and published by Capcom. Set in a small, isolated village in the mountains, players take on the role of Ethan Winters as he searches for his missing wife and encounters a host of terrifying creatures and powerful enemies. The game is known for its dark and atmospheric setting, which immerses players in a creepy and unsettling world.

One of the standout features of Resident Evil Village is its use of advanced graphics and technology to create a highly detailed and realistic environment. From the decrepit village streets to the sinister castle looming in the distance, every aspect of the game is designed to pull players deeper into the horror. The game also features a variety of different enemies, each with their own unique abilities and weaknesses, making for a challenging and unpredictable experience.

In addition to its dark atmosphere and intense gameplay, Resident Evil Village also offers a variety of different puzzles and secrets to uncover. Players can explore the village and its surrounding areas to discover hidden items and clues that will help them progress through the story. The game also features a variety of weapons and upgrades to collect, allowing players to tailor their gameplay experience to their own preferences. Overall, Resident Evil Village is a must-play for fans of dark and atmospheric games.