The survival horror subgenre is not Halloween-exclusive, as several gamers with a penchant for sweaty palms and sleepless nights enjoy being hunted by monstrous enemies and bloodthirsty series killers all year round – and you’d be surprised how many acclaimed titles are available to play for cheap.

From cult classics of the noughties to the more recent resurgence of the backrooms or the Alone in the Dark franchise, there is something for every horror fan within this niche and several of these titles are sure to give players a good scare too. Here are the 10 best survival horror games available for under $10.

10. Obscure

The night will be long…

Hydravision Entertainment and Mighty Rocket Studio released this survival horror in 2005, where you control a party of five American students who investigate strange happenings taking place at Leafmore High School. For $6.99, you can experience this cult classic in the subgenre and also buy the Obscure Collection, compiling both Obscure and Obscure II: The Aftermath, for $14.99 on Steam.

With a variety of weapons to choose from to defend your party members – Shannon, Kenny, Ashley, Stan, and Josh – from mutated beings, and puzzles to solve accompanied by a soundtrack from award-winning composer Olivier Derivière, Obscure is a steal for under $10. This is about as niche as it gets in the subgenre, so don’t be surprised if your friends haven’t heard of the title. However, horror fans consider Obscure an underrated gem and a technical feat in the co-op field with great narrative pacing and invigorating combat.

9. Call Of Cthulhu: Dark Corners Of The Earth

Full of Lovecraftian monsters and locations

This first-person survival horror from Headfirst Productions and Bethesda was released in 2006 and sees the player tap into exploration, investigation, and combat skills to survive evil incarnate with a Lovecraftian twist. Call of Cthulhu: Dark Corners of the Earth is a harrowing chase set in the 1920s for under $5 and a rewarding thrill for horror enthusiasts.

Explore strange towns and mysterious alien locations, including Deep One City, for a terrifying time, surviving hallucinations, panic attacks, vertigo, paranoia, and more with evil lurking around. Gamers who want to know more about the Cthulhu mythos should invest in this game to brush up on Lovecraftian lore, with plenty of puzzles and combat to keep gameplay challenging. If the creatures don’t keep you awake at night, the eerie atmosphere and vintage graphics will.

8. System Shock 2

“If you value that meat… you will do as I tell you.”

System Shock 2 is an ARPG survival horror game that sees you surviving a spreading genetic infection on a starship in the year 2114. Dipping into sci-fi horror, this is another cult classic in the subgenre that you can experience for under $10, and you can also grab the System Shock Pack for $19.99 on Steam, which offers System Shock 2 and System Shock: Enhanced Edition.

System Shock 2 is an FPS RPG that won multiple Game of the Year awards in 1999 for its innovative gameplay mechanics and haunting narrative that turned it into a staple in the genre. With three specialized military branches to choose from to hone specific skills, weaponry, and psionic powers, cryptic audio logs, ghostly encounters to brave, and a multiplayer co-op to indulge in, picking up this pioneering title for under $10 is an unmissable bargain.

7. Alone In The Dark: The New Nightmare

Can you see beyond your fear?

Darkworks, Spiral House, and THQ Nordic present this 2013 survival horror following Edward Carnby and Aline Cedrac during their time on Shadow Island and the evil creatures they encounter in a search to recover three, ancient tablets. The imminent arrival of the Alone in the Dark reimagining makes now the perfect time to grab one of the acclaimed titles in the franchise for only $6.99 on Steam.

Before Jodie Comer and David Harbour take you on a new Alone in the Dark adventure this March, revisit another classic, Lovecraftian-inspired tale that boasts over 20 characters, two unique narratives from the perspective of either Edward or Aline and detailed, realistic environments. Alongside the game’s technical feats, The New Nightmare is also famed for its ability to scare even the most headstrong horror fan.

6. Manhunt

A classic slasher

$8.99 $14.99 Save $6

Rockstar delivered this stealthy, slasher, survival horror in 2004 that stands the test of time when it comes to memorable blood baths. Players must run, hide, or fight in Carcer City as James Earl Cash, who gets a thrill out of giving and taking life away. The PlayStation Store currently has a generous 40% discount on this OG title and it’s also available to play on Steam for under $10.

Snuff films, graphic violence, and a high kill count are Manhunt’s bread and butter, and the popular game also got plenty of hate from parents during its release for its controversial premise. Even though Manhunt was released 20 years ago, it will forever be marked as one of the genre-defining survival horror games and players still enjoy taking part in the blood sport today – some even admit that the game is so bad it’s good. Since 2024 marks the game’s 20th anniversary, now’s the perfect time to take advantage of discounts.

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5. A Plague Tale: Innocence

In 1348, the plague ravages the Kingdom of France…

$7.99 $39.99 Save $32

Asobo Studio and Focus Entertainment released A Plague Tale: Innocence back in 2019, debuting a story following Amicia and her brother Hugo set during the devastating plague. Steam is offering a massive 80% discount on this title, reducing the price from $39.99 to $7.99, but gamers will need to jump on the opportunity before it expires on January 22, 2024.

You wouldn’t immediately recognize A Plague Tale: Innocence as a survival horror. However, the game does incorporate elements of the subgenre, including evading rat hordes, hiding from soldiers, and solving puzzles. If you’ve left this title on your wishlist, now is the best time to grab it for PC, or you can take advantage of Steam’s 58% discount on the A Plague Tale Bundle that includes both Innocence and A Plague Tale: Requiem for $29.39.

4. Five Nights At Freddy’s

Can you survive the animatronics?

Assuming the role of a security guard keeping watch over Freddy Fazbear’s Pizza during the night, Scott Cawthon’s iconic survival horror game that debuted in 2014 has become one of the most popular series in the subgenre. Every horror fan needs to try the original FNAF game at least once and it’s easier than ever to purchase for just under $5 on Steam and still under $10 on other platforms.

The Five Nights at Freddy’s series has gone on to produce nine main entries, an entertaining YouTube series by well-known streamer Markiplier, and recently, a successful live-action movie adaptation under Blumhouse. Combining your ability to hold your nerve and strategize your battle plan using the surrounding tools, which only consist of security doors, lighting, and monitors, FNAF is the ultimate definition of survival horror and an incredibly fun experience.​​​​​​​ The original FNAF game also made it onto our list of the 10 Best Horror Games of all time for the impact it’s had on the genre.

3. Left 4 Dead 2

The Mudmen are after you…

Valve’s 2009 sequel to the #1 co-op game of 2008 puts FPS action in the zombie apocalypse once again, where you need to navigate cities and swamps of the Deep South. Secure your PC copy for under $10 on Steam, and if you still have your trusty Xbox 360 kicking about, the Xbox Store is offering a digital download of the game for $6.99.

If you tend to gravitate towards zombie survival games, then Left 4 Dead 2 is a great one to try out and a favorite within the survival horror genre. Enjoy co-op play with new survivors and a brand-new story including five campaigns with Versus and Survival game modes for just under $10. You can also indulge in Steam’s 25% discount on the Left 4 Dead Bundle, which includes the sequel plus the original title. Alternatively, you can pick up the Valve Complete Pack Bundle that compiles the developer’s 22 games for $104.94.​​​​​​​

2. Escape The Backrooms

A survival horror for Creepypasta fans

Fancy Games delivers a nightmarish 1-4 player co-op where you and your friends explore and survive the fabled backrooms while avoiding hypnotic enemies. Enjoy free content updates that supply new levels and game modes to keep gameplay engaging for just $9.99 and see how long you can investigate the backrooms before the line between realities starts to blur.

The premise of the backrooms has resurfaced fairly recently, and the urban legend has taken the horror community by storm. Said to exist in a parallel dimension to our own, the backrooms are made up of eerie, dream-like rooms that seem oddly familiar, and this game has 20 unique levels to unpack, proximity voice chat to keep morale high, and dangerous entities that will have you hiding behind a pillow in no time. See how long you can survive in these expansive mazes for just $9.99.

1. Doom 3

DOOM 3

The original 2004 game and the BFG Edition in one purchase

$3.99 $9.99 Save $6

This 2012 sequel from id Software and Bethesda features a demonic invasion that has taken over the Union Aerospace Corporation’s Mars research facility, and the survivors have to fight back in this survival horror FPS. For only $9.99, you receive the original Doom 3 and the Resurrection of Evil Expansion, alongside the remastered Doom 3: BFG Edition.

If the original Doom 3 wasn’t enough to keep you occupied for hours, the six new demons in the Resurrection of Evil DLC will. The BFG Edition also includes improved rendering and lighting, checkpoints, The Lost Mission Expansion, and much more. Any Doom or survival horror fan should give this demonic insurgence a go, and if you enjoyed your time with the third installment, you can use Steam’s 25% discount to buy the Doom Classic Bundle that offers the first four games for $18.71. Lastly, we included both Doom 3 and System Shock 2 in our 10 Best Sci-Fi Horror Games list if you fancy genre-hopping after your survival horror binge.

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