2025 Is Shaping Up to Be a Landmark Year for Survival Horror
There’s never been a better time to be a survival horror fan. In recent years, the genre has seen a huge resurgence, but 2025 is taking things to a whole new level. With a staggering number of titles slated for release, it’s clear that survival horror is not only back, but thriving.
In this article, I’ve highlighted 10 of the most exciting survival horror games currently scheduled to launch in 2025. These are just the standouts, there are even more on the way. In fact, by the time of writing, five survival horror games have already been released this year. Dead of Darkness, THE MUTE HOUSE, Blood Typers, Mansion of the Dead and Post Trauma.
If you want to see the full list of upcoming survival horror games, be sure to visit our upcoming page. You’ll also find Steam links for every game mentioned in this article, so you can wishlist your favorites with ease.
1. Tormented Souls II
The orignal Tormented Souls (2021) came closer than any other game to capturing the feel of a modern Resident Evil remake. The main difference being Tormented Souls ditched pre-rendered backgrounds in favor of fully 3D environments, giving the game a modern edge while still honoring classic survival horror roots.
Details on the sequel have been sparse, the developer Dual Effect is notoriously tight-lipped, but the publisher PQube did share some teaser information on social media leading up to Christmas 2024. Here are the highlights:
- Over 3 times bigger than the original Tormented Souls
- 20+ hours of playtime
- 9 sprawling locations await you in the survival horror sequel
- 11 makeshift weapons
- Beat 6 terrifying bosses
- 11 new enemy types
If Tormented Souls II is anywhere near as good as the original, it could easily be my survival horror game of the year. But honestly, judging by what we’ve seen so far, it looks like it might be even better.
Wishlist Tormented Souls II now on Steam: store.steampowered.com/Tormented_Souls_2
2. Tenebris Somnia
2D survival horror games are few and far between. In fact, some purists would argue that if a game doesn’t check the Resident Evil boxes (3D environments, fixed cameras, tank controls) it doesn’t qualify as true survival horror. I’m not quite that rigid, which is why I’m genuinely excited for Tenebris Somnia. After playing the demo, it felt like a lost NES survival horror gem except, of course, for the addition of live-action cutscenes.
Created by Argentine developer Andrés Borghesi in association with Sabot Studios and published by New Blood Interactive, Tenebris Somnia blends classic survival horror gameplay, limited resources, and environmental puzzles, and just enough combat to keep you tense. At key moments, the pixel art gives way to full-motion video scenes featuring real actors, directed by an award-winning film crew. It’s strange, immersive, and unlike anything I’ve seen in the genre.
Here are some of the key features:
- Retro-inspired 2D survival horror reminiscent of the NES/Famicom era
- Live-action cutscenes shot with professional actors and a cinematic film crew
- Classic horror gameplay: puzzles, combat, and scarce resources
- Published by New Blood Interactive, known for curating standout indie horror titles
Wishlist Tenebris Somnia now on Steam: store.steampowered.com/Tenebris_Somnia
3. Heartworm
Heartworm is shaping up to be a unique blend of Resident Evil and Fatal Frame, capturing the best of classic survival horror while carving out its own identity. Like Resident Evil, it features fixed camera angles, retro-style visuals (with optional PS1-inspired filters), exploration-heavy gameplay, and puzzles. But instead of a handgun, your weapon is a camera similar to the mechanics of Fatal Frame.
Visually, Heartworm isn’t just another “RE clone.” Its surreal, dreamlike environments stand out immediately, evoking the tone and atmosphere of Alone in the Dark (1992) with a distinctly Lovecraftian flair. I’m especially excited to explore these bizarre locations, which promise to be more than just backdrops, they seem designed to reflect the protagonist’s inner turmoil.
Voice acting can be hit or miss in indie games, but from what I’ve heard in the trailer (Video above), Heartworm is delivering something special. Sam, the protagonist, is voiced by M, and their performance already adds emotional depth to the character. If the full game maintains this level of quality, it could be one of the rare indie horror titles that truly connects with players on a psychological and emotional level.
You can follow Sam’s voice actor, M, on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/mmmdesu.bsky.social
Wishlist Heartworm now on Steam: store.steampowered.com/Heartworm
4. Fragile Reflection
Of all the games on this list, Fragile Reflection may be the most obscure and the most intriguing. A new demo just dropped on Steam, and I highly recommend checking it out (and wishlisting it while you’re there). Set in a rural Japanese village warped by supernatural forces, the game follows Kario Ito as she returns home only to find her town swallowed by otherworldly horror, twisted Noh masks, and a haunting realm known as “Reflection.”
What really caught my attention first, though, wasn’t the gameplay, it was the music (Trailer above). The soundtrack, composed by underground trip-hop/psy-trip artist Mad Jha, is unlike anything I’ve heard in a horror game. I wasn’t even familiar with the genre, but I’ve had it on loop since discovering the demo. It’s dark, textured, and fits Fragile Reflection’s visuals perfectly. The full soundtrack will be available for purchase when the game launches, and honestly, I’m just as excited to buy the music as the game itself.
As for the gameplay, this is very much a throwback to classic late-’90s survival horror: limited resources, dimension-hopping puzzle mechanics, and monsters that lurk in both worlds. You’ll explore a cursed town, piece together clues, and use a mysterious supernatural power to shift between reality and the realm of Reflection.
Wishlist Fragile Reflection now on Steam: store.steampowered.com/Fragile_Reflection
5. SSR Wives: The Murder Of My Winter Crush
Like Fragile Reflection, I was instantly hooked on SSR Wives: The Murder Of My Winter Crush the moment I saw its trailer and more specifically, heard its trailer music (Video below). I’ve had it on repeat ever since. Mysterious and dreamlike, it perfectly matches the game’s offbeat horror tone. I haven’t been able to identify the track or artist yet, but I’ve been told a demo is on the way soon. When it drops, I plan to interview the developer, one of the first questions I will ask is who created the music and can we expect to hear more!
As for the game itself, SSR Wives is shaping up to be a mix of classic survival horror and visual novel storytelling. You’ll explore a mystery narrative that’s packed with player choice, collectibles, and layered dialogue. It’s not often you see romance and horror blend like this, especially with multi-ending paths and a visual novel structure layered over traditional survival horror mechanics. SSR Wives might carve out a unique and unforgettable niche in the genre.
Wishlist SSR Wives now on Steam: store.steampowered.com/SSR_Wives
6. Echoes of the Living
Ever since I first played Resident Evil 2 and Resident Evil 3, I’ve wanted to see more of Raccoon City. Aside from a few glimpses in later sequels, we’ve never really had a proper classic style Resident Evil game set entirely in a city. That’s why I’m so grateful for Echoes of the Living, a love letter to 90s survival horror that’s shaping up to be the urban zombie outbreak experience I’ve always dreamed of.
This isn’t some big studio cashing in on nostalgia, either. Echoes of the Living is being developed by a passionate husband-and-wife team known as MoonGlint, who left everything behind to focus full-time on bringing back the magic of classic survival horror. Originally a small project, it’s now grown into something much bigger: three distinct campaigns, two available from the start and a third unlocked after completing the others. Each features different characters, unique enemies, exclusive weapons, and entirely new areas and puzzles. According to the developers, every campaign is designed to feel like its own game, which explains the extra development time and only adds to my excitement.
Wishlist Echoes of the Living now on Steam: store.steampowered.com/Echoes_of_the_Living
7. The Lacerator
The Lacerator is an 80s-inspired survival horror game that leans hard into gore, sex, and satire.
You play as Max, a cocky and charismatic porn star at the height of his fame in the 1980s, who finds himself trapped in a killer’s twisted hideout. What begins as just another steamy shoot quickly spirals into a fight for survival when Max and his crew are captured by the sadistic maniac known only as The Lacerator. Max must fight, crawl, and limp his way out – literally. Lose a limb? You’ll adapt. The gameplay dynamically changes based on how much of Max remains intact.
Despite the outrageous premise, The Lacerator looks set to offer a solid and authentic survival horror experience. Expect exploration, traps, puzzles, limited resources, and multiple branching paths that affect your ending. Whether you play in classic fixed camera or over-the-shoulder third-person, The Lacerator is set to release in 2025 and is one to keep an eye on!
Wishlist The Lacerator now on Steam: store.steampowered.com/The_Lacerator
8. BECROWNED
BECROWNED blends classic survival horror mechanics with a layered psychological narrative. Manage limited resources, solve cryptic puzzles, and carefully weigh your decisions – every choice shapes the world around you.
If you didn’t know better, you might mistake the pause menu for something straight out of Silent Hill, and the gameplay carries that same old-school tension. From its atmosphere to its pacing, BECROWNED feels like a true spiritual successor to the golden era of psychological horror.
Combat is unforgiving and varied, each enemy demands a different strategy, and boss battles test both your reflexes and resolve. Explore a vast, crumbling castle and its surrounding nightmare-scape, uncovering hidden passages, optional quests, and the buried truths of a world that punishes both the wicked and the innocent alike.
In development for over three years, BECROWNED is a passion project with serious polish. You can try the demo now on Steam: store.steampowered.com/BECROWNED
9. Flesh Made Fear
Fully funded on Kickstarter in under 48 hours, Flesh Made Fear proved there’s still a massive appetite for true, uncompromising survival horror and I was proud to be one of the backers. Survival horror fans rallied quickly, helping the project smash its goal in just two days. Drawing clear inspiration from the PS1-era greats, the game promises to deliver classic survival horror hallmarks like limited saves, zombies, tank controls, fixed cameras and cryptic puzzles.
Players take on the role of an elite operative in the Reaper Intervention Platoon (R.I.P.), deployed to neutralize Victor “The Dripper” Ripper, a brilliant but deranged former CIA agent whose occult experiments have turned a desolate town into a nightmare. From his sprawling, decaying mansion-laboratory to the surrounding nightmare-scape, every environment is filled with dread and danger.
Expect brutal combat, limited resources, and a deep, puzzle-driven narrative. Choose between two playable characters, Natalie or Jack, each with unique stats and storylines that enhance replayability. Whether you’re solving puzzles under pressure or battling monstrosities born of twisted science, Flesh Made Fear pulls no punches.
Wishlist Flesh Made Fear now on Steam: store.steampowered.com/Flesh_Made_Fear
10. Cronos: The New Dawn
I’ll be honest, Cronos: The New Dawn is the one entry on this list I’m still on the fence about. It’s being marketed as a “survival horror” game, but the heavy emphasis on tactical combat, soul extraction, and time manipulation makes me wonder if it’s veering closer to action horror territory. Still, there’s enough atmospheric promise and creative design here to keep it on my radar and I’m hoping it leans into the survival aspects rather than going full third-person shooter.
If the developers can balance their brutal combat with enough resource scarcity and narrative depth, Cronos: The New Dawn could become a standout in the action-leaning side of survival horror. If not, it might end up being more Dead Space than Silent Hill. Here’s hoping it lands on the right side of that line.
Wishlist Cronos: The New Dawn now on Steam: store.steampowered.com/Cronos_The_New_Daw
