If you want retro survival horror on PS5, start with Crow Country: PlayStation describes it as a PS1-era-inspired survival-horror game, with puzzles and an optional mode that removes combat. For psychological dread, classic fixed-camera survival horror, or a free modern horror experience, SIGNALIS, Tormented Souls, and SILENT HILL: The Short Message offer different alternatives.
Which PS5 horror game is closest to Heartworm?
Crow Country is the clearest fit for players seeking retro survival-horror style. PlayStation describes it as inspired by PlayStation 1-era survival horror and lists it for both PS4 and PS5. Its abandoned theme park setting, puzzles, and exploration suit players who want a deliberately old-school feel. PlayStation Blog’s launch announcement quotes creative director, lead developer, and designer Adam Vian describing the game as classic-style survival horror inspired by the PlayStation One era.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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Necrophosis: Full Consciousness - PlayStation 5 | $34.82 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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Project Songbird - PlayStation 5 | $29.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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Until Dawn -PS5 | $42.95 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
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Halloween: The Game - PlayStation 5 | $39.88 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
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The Quarry - PlayStation 5 | $23.17 | Buy on Amazon |
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It also has an Exploration Mode that lets you explore without combat, making it a good option if atmosphere and environmental discovery matter more than fighting. See the PlayStation Store listing for Crow Country for its platform listing and details.
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Best alternatives, depending on the kind of horror you want
| Game | Horror and presentation | What play emphasizes | PS5 availability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crow Country | Retro, PS1-era-inspired survival horror | Exploration and puzzles; Exploration Mode omits combat | Listed for PS4 and PS5 by PlayStation Store |
| SIGNALIS | Psychological and cosmic dread in a surreal science-fiction setting | Resource management, riddles, and exploration | PS4 listing; playable on PS5, with a warning that some PS4 features may be absent, according to PlayStation Store |
| Tormented Souls | Traditional survival horror with fixed-perspective presentation | Environmental exploration, puzzles, and combat | Listed for PS4 and PS5 by PlayStation Store; PlayStation cautions that some PS4 features may be absent on PS5 |
| SILENT HILL: The Short Message | Modern psychological horror, set in a crumbling apartment block and distorted spaces | Atmospheric horror | PS5; free-to-play, with a listed release date of January 31, 2024, according to PlayStation Store |
Choose by atmosphere, camera, and gameplay
For retro presentation and exploration: Crow Country
Choose Crow Country if the main draw is the feeling of a classic survival-horror adventure: a strange, abandoned location to explore, puzzles to solve, and the option to avoid combat entirely. It is the strongest match here for the retro survival-horror side of the request.
#1 Best Overall
- Roam the cursed lands: Awaken as consciousness itself in a realm of death, a world consumed by Necrophosis. Explore freely through its dark macabre landscapes where all things rot and decay eternally. Navigate eerie landscapes, grotesque architecture and haunting visuals that bring Lovecraftian and cosmic horror to life.
- Uncover hidden truths: Delve into evocative narrative poems and unravel the world’s enigmatic backstory while engaging with decayed gods caught in an eternal cycle of death and rebirth.
- Master chilling puzzles: Solve unsettling puzzles as you explore a world consumed by rot. Certain challenges demand brain detachment and possession, while others rely on careful observation. Face gods, eldritch entities, and Lovecraftian beings who have taken refuge here, learning their histories and the horrors they embody. Each environment features minimalist, droning ambience, layered with whispers, distant groans, and echoing cryptic voices that heighten tension and unease.
- Second Awakening: Return to the realm of death in the Necrophosis: Subconsciousness expansion. Explore new landscapes, entities, and story as your journey leads ever deeper. Includes Bonus Game – The Shore: Andrew ventures into the unknown to find his lost daughter, exploring a forbidden island of nightmarish entities and solving puzzles that test his sanity.
- Languages: English in-game voice. English, French, German, Greek, Hungarian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Polish, Portuguese (Brazil), Russian, Simplified Chinese, Spanish, Traditional Chinese, and Ukrainian in-game text.
For psychological and cosmic unease: SIGNALIS
SIGNALIS leans toward psychological and cosmic dread rather than a straightforward haunted-location setup. Its surreal science-fiction atmosphere is paired with resource management and challenging riddles. PlayStation lists it as a PS4 game playable on PS5, not as a native PS5 release; the listing warns that some PS4 features may be absent when played on PS5.
For fixed-perspective survival horror: Tormented Souls
Tormented Souls is the pick for players who want fixed-perspective presentation and a more traditional blend of environmental exploration, puzzles, and combat. PlayStation lists it for PS4 and PS5, while noting that some PS4 features may be absent on PS5.
Rank #2
- A dark, enthralling 4-5 hour narrative to keep you hooked and guessing until the end. Gorgeous visuals as you traverse numerous and diverse environments, presented with a cinematic, film-like aesthetic. Ranged and melee combat with upgradeable weapons to help you survive your nightmarish journey.
- A stellar voice cast, starring Valerie Rose Lohman (What Remains of Edith Finch, Wolfenstein: Youngblood), Jonah Scott (Dying Light 2: Stay Human, Date Everything), and Aleks Le (Persona 3: Reload, Marvel Rivals, Ghost of Yotei).
- A beautifully dynamic and haunting soundtrack composed and performed by Jacob Noska, and Jonah Henthorne: members of the band Auric Echoes.
- The puzzles you encounter are more than your standard key hunt. Project Songbird rewards those with an eye for detail, making each puzzle a challenge of creativity and wits.
- The combat of Project Songbird offers a variety of approaches inspired by the classics of the survival horror genre. Melee and gunplay is slow and weighty, and ammo is incredibly scarce. However, combat isn't your only option, as you have a multitude of tools at your disposal to aid in sneaking past any creatures that wish to do you harm.
For a free modern psychological horror game: SILENT HILL: The Short Message
SILENT HILL: The Short Message is a way to try another horror game without paying for the game itself: PlayStation lists it as free-to-play for PS5. Its crumbling apartment block and distorted spaces make it a modern psychological-horror option, rather than a close match for retro survival-horror presentation.
What to know about PS5 compatibility
These recommendations do not all have the same PS5 status. Crow Country and Tormented Souls are listed for both PS4 and PS5, while SIGNALIS is a PS4 title that PlayStation says can be played on PS5. PlayStation’s listings for SIGNALIS and Tormented Souls both caution that some PS4 features may be absent on PS5. SILENT HILL: The Short Message is listed for PS5.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- When the sun goes down on the last night of summer camp, nine teenage counselors are plunged into an unpredictable night of horror.
- The only thing worse than the blood-drenched locals and creatures hunting them are the unimaginable choices you must make to help them survive.
- Play as each of the nine camp counselors in a thrilling cinematic tale, where every decision shapes your unique story from a tangled web of possibilities. Any character can be the star of the show—or die before daylight comes.
Rank #4
- Take The Shape of Evil: Target, stalk, and terrorize the residents of Haddonfield as the iconic Michael Myers.
- Become a Hero of Haddonfield: Arm yourself with weapons and everyday household items to fend off the impending evil, alert the authorities, and rescue the innocent families of Haddonfield.
- Experience the Ultimate Horror Sandbox: An expansive array of dynamic map features, distinct gameplay systems, life-like NPC interactions, and player abilities elevates the horror sandbox like never before.
- Singleplayer Slashing: Immerse yourself in the haunting narrative events of "The Night He Came Home" through the eyes of Michael Myers in a standalone singleplayer story.
- Elevated Asymmetrical Multiplayer: Cooperate with up to four players as the Heroes of Haddonfield and face off against the one and only Michael Myers in unpredictable multiplayer matches unfolding within a living, breathing game world.
Rank #3
- Decide the fate of eight survivors in this seminal horror classic, rebuilt and enhanced with new content for PS5 consoles.
- Explore a rich, detailed environment brought to life with cutting-edge visual enhancements and stunning performance capture by an all-star cast.
- Discover new collectibles, interactions, and all-new areas as you survive the night and unravel the mystery.
- Bring the horror to life in your hands through haptic feedback and adaptive triggers on the DualSense wireless controller.
- Enjoy a brand-new third-person camera, movie-like cinematography, musical score, and reauthored audio design that’ll keep you on the edge of your seat.
