Alien: Isolation is a survival horror game that takes players to an isolated, abandoned spaceship, where they are tasked with retrieving its flight recorder, which could help the protagonist answer some questions related to her missing mother.

The game creates a unique, terrifying atmosphere of constant danger, but it’s surely not the only survival horror that’s worth giving a shot.

If you’re interested in checking out some of the best games like Alien: Isolation, take a look at our list down below.

GameReleaseGenresDeveloperVideo
Shadow of the Tomb Raider Definitive Edition 2018-09-14 Adventure SQUARE ENIX
Dead Space 3 2013-02-08 Adventure Visceral Games
Prey 2017 2017-05-04 Adventure Arkane Studios
Outlast 2013-09-04 Adventure Red Barrels
Amnesia The Dark Descent 2010-09-08 Adventure Frictional Games
Soma 2015-09-21 Adventure Frictional Games
System Shock 2 1999-08-11 RPG Irrational Games
Resident Evil 7 Biohazard 2017-01-23 Horror CAPCOM CO., LTD.
The Evil Within 2014-10-14 Adventure Tango Gameworks
Blair Witch 2019-08-30 Adventure Bloober Team
>observer_ 2017-08-15 Adventure Bloober Team SA
The Dark Pictures Anthology: Little Hope 2020-10-30 Supermassive Games

Dead Space 3

Release:2013-02-08
Genre:Adventure
Developer:Visceral Games

If the space setting is what you’re looking for when searching for Alien: Isolation alternatives, Dead Space 3 is one of the first obvious choices that come to mind.

Dead Space 3 is a survival horror video game where you will be facing the Necromorph threat once again. The task won’t be easy, as there are countless undeads that need to be disposed of first – eliminating them is your only chance to get through and achieve success. That’s probably the biggest difference when compared to Alien: Isolation – here you won’t be completely defenseless.

You’ll have some deadly weapons at your disposal, so you don’t have to play hide and seek with exceptionally intelligent enemies – you can fight back. Don’t feel overconfident, though, as your opponents may not be the smartest ones, but they can utilize the element of surprise to attack when you expect it the least.

Key features
  • A great action-adventure game with a bit of survival horror flavoring, packed inside the space setting
  • Smooth gameplay focused on action, exploration, and confronting fierce opponents
  • An interesting take on GUI, where everything is integrated with the player character’s suit
  • A solid choice of upgradeable weapons to try during play

Prey

Release:2017-05-04
Genre:Adventure
Developer:Arkane Studios

Prey is another game where you won’t be left without a chance to fight back. Although you are encouraged to keep a low profile, combat is inevitable, so grab your gun and prepare yourself.

Prey is a first-person shooter with survival horror and stealth elements, where your job will be to fight against a hostile alien race as it invades a space station. If you like to be scared, there’s certainly some scary stuff going on, but don’t expect anything extremely terrifying – there is a great atmosphere with occasional tense moments, sure, but the fact that you have some big, fat guns at your disposal, makes the title not as scary as it could’ve been.

It’s still an amazing game that’s worth playing, though, especially if you love space settings combined with satisfying gunplay, solid action, and a bit of RPG thrown into the mix.

Key features
  • A great mix of a first-person shooter, stealth, and RPG
  • An amazing atmosphere within a space setting
  • Visually appealing with highly detailed surroundings and polished character models
  • Powerful weapons that can easily dispose of overwhelming enemy forces

Outlast

Release:2013-09-04
Genre:Adventure
Developer:Red Barrels

Now, onto the really scary games. Outlast can make even grown-ups scream in panic, especially if one decides to play at night.

Outlast is a true survival horror game – here you are not an experienced soldier or some other type of combat veteran, but a simple journalist, armed with nothing more but a simple camcorder with a night vision feature. This means that you will have to keep a low profile and resort to stealth tactics to remain undetected – if you want to make it out alive, that is.

Staying in the shadows and waiting patiently while hiding behind various things are the techniques you need to master. Also, keep your eyes open – your night vision camcorder is a very useful tool, but it needs batteries to work. You surely wouldn’t want to be caught with no spare batteries in the middle of some intense chase.

Key features
  • Survival horror with mainly claustrophobic locations
  • The gameplay focused on stealth, running, and hiding from danger – the enemy is on the hunt and you are not a fighter
  • Dark and tense atmosphere that requires constant focus
  • Can be scary without jump scares

Amnesia: The Dark Descent

Release:2010-09-08
Genre:Adventure
Developer:Frictional Games

Fans of single-player experience should also try Amnesia: The Dark Descent. Although the setting is vastly different from what you’ve seen in Alien: Isolation, it can be just as scary.

Amnesia: The Dark Descent is a survival horror game, where you will have to learn about the place you found yourself in, and about your own past. The thing is, the place is hunted by a certain monster that doesn’t seem to want to be friends with you. The game became wildly popular thanks to certain streamers that decided to give the game a shot and fell in love with it.

Amnesia’s best feature is probably its physics engine which is used not only to solve certain environmental puzzles but also to increase immersion in a certain way. You can, for example, grab nearby objects and desperately throw them at the enemy to slow him down, or you can try to barricade the door with some big, heavy objects.

Key features
  • A hostile environment, where the darkness itself can be your enemy
  • A one-of-a-kind experience that is further enhanced by terrifying sounds and ambient music
  • Numerous puzzles to solve, including the ones that require physical interaction with the surroundings
  • No means of fighting back – run, hide, and outsmart your opponent to survive

Soma

Release:2015-09-21
Genre:Adventure
Developer:Frictional Games

Amnesia creators are also responsible for Soma, so you’re guaranteed to have a great time here as well, especially if you’re looking for a game similar to Alien: Isolation.

Soma is a survival horror video game that takes place in an underwater research facility, where you’ll be tasked with figuring out what’s going on, as you woke up from a coma only to learn that the Earth suffered from an apocalyptic event that wiped out most of the human race.

Although the game doesn’t take place in space, the surroundings you’re about to explore are actually surprisingly similar to what we’ve seen in Alien: Isolation. The same goes for gameplay that focuses on avoiding threats and running away rather than fighting back the opponents.

Key features
  • A truly scary survival horror game with a well-written story
  • The gameplay focused on avoiding dangers and solving simple puzzles
  • Great atmosphere and underwater setting that fits the genre well
  • Top-notch visuals, polished visual effects, and praise-worthy voice acting

System Shock 2

Release:1999-08-11
Genre:RPG
Developer:Irrational Games

On the list of the best scary alien games, there must be some room left for System Shock 2. Otherwise, the list would’ve looked like we didn’t take our job seriously.

System Shock 2 is a game that combines elements of action role-playing, FPS, and survival horror genres to create a new and unique experience. It was exceptionally good and innovative back when it came out, but it’s still an incredibly playable title, even after over two decades since its original release.

The game received a lot of praise for its story and sound design, and it’s considered a highly influential title that inspired entire generations of games that were yet to come. If you’re looking for some 3D retro action, this is easily a must-play.

Key features
  • Fantastic survival horror in a sci-fi setting
  • Fun combat that encourages the use of both weapons and psionic powers
  • Character progression system with upgradeable skills
  • A great number of mods that can further enhance your experience

Resident Evil 7: Biohazard

Release:2017-01-23
Genre:Horror
Developer:CAPCOM CO., LTD.

For the final game on the list, we chose Resident Evil 7: Biohazard – a modern take on the RE franchise that returns to the series’ roots.

Resident Evil 7: Biohazard is a survival horror game, where your first objective is to find some information that could help your character learn more about his missing wife. You got some clues that led you to a secluded and seemingly abandoned estate, where things take an unexpected run, turning your small investigation into a fight for life.

Although the protagonist is not a soldier, he knows a thing or two about how to properly use the guns and defend himself, which means that if you can’t run away, you can always try to fight back. Having some weapons at your disposal, however, shouldn’t make you feel overconfident – the ammo is scarce and should be used as a last resort.

Key features
  • Scary and immersive gameplay with a tense and anxious atmosphere
  • Very limited ammo – enough to turn tides in seemingly hopeless situations, but not enough to warrant your safety
  • Great visuals and masterful sound effects
  • Contains puzzles, secrets, and unlockables

The Best Games Similar to Alien: Isolation

Alien: Isolation is a fun horror game, mainly because players are forced to avoid danger – confronting it directly is penalized, and there’s simply no way to progress further if you can’t stay low or sneak. Of course, as good as the game is, you can’t enjoy one and the same game indefinitely, so at one point you may be wondering if there are similar games that are worth trying. Luckily for fans of survival horror games, there are tons of outstanding titles to play, and some of them can offer quite a similar experience.

If you’re starving for games similar to Alien: Isolation, take a look at our list – we picked the best horror games in space and the best survival horrors in general for your convenience, so now you can easily find something to quench your horror thirst in a matter of seconds.