Several horror games have a documented connection to Resident Evil, but not all of them were directly inspired by it. The clearest examples include Daymare: 1998, The Evil Within, and Cronos: The New Dawn; others are best understood as PS1-era survival-horror homages or adjacent games. The distinction matters: a game can feel like Resident Evil without its creators having named the series as an influence.
What counts as “directly inspired”?
This list separates developer-stated influence from resemblance. A creator naming Resident Evil as a reference is stronger evidence than familiar features such as scarce ammunition, puzzles, or a fixed-camera view. Where an interview supports only a broader lineage or a similar style, that limit is noted rather than treating every comparable game as a direct copy.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
Resident Evil 2 - PlayStation 5 | $15.19 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
|
Resident Evil Requiem Amazon Exclusive Edition - PlayStation 5 | $49.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
|
Resident Evil 7 biohazard Gold Edition - PlayStation 5 | $15.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
|
Resident Evil 3 - PlayStation 5 | $15.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
|
Resident Evil 4 - PS5 | $15.99 | Buy on Amazon |
Games with a documented Resident Evil connection
Daymare: 1998
Daymare: 1998 has one of the clearest direct links. Invader Studios said it put the mood and atmosphere of the first Resident Evil games together with mechanics it learned from Dead Space and The Evil Within—specifically mentioning the over-the-shoulder camera. The result draws on classic survival-horror atmosphere while using a more modern action-horror perspective. Invader Studios’ explanation of the influence
The Evil Within
The Evil Within is connected to Resident Evil through its director, Shinji Mikami, the creator of the series. In an interview, Mikami discussed the first and fourth Resident Evil games as references for the setting and background of The Evil Within. That makes it a strong choice for players interested in horror from a major creator in the franchise’s history, though the interview does not describe the game as a direct sequel or successor. WIRED interview with Shinji Mikami
Crashes, No Sound, or Screen Glitches?
Random freezes, missing sound and display glitches usually trace back to one bad driver. Find and replace yours safely.Free scan · under a minutePC Slower Than It Used to Be?
A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11#1 Best Overall
- TERRIFYING ZOMBIES WAITING AROUND EVERY CORNER -- Driven by insatiable hunger, these creatures act on instinct, gnashing their teeth, ripping at flesh, and devouring their victims. The new immersive camera lets you feel their fangs as they sink into your flesh.
- RACCOON CITY, REBUILT IN INTRICATE DETAIL -- The characters, environments, and story have all been rebuilt from the ground up to create a terrifying world that feels both nostalgic and new.
- NEW FOR PLAYSTATION5 – Upgraded features new to the PlayStation5 version of the game include a higher frame rate, 3D audio, added ray tracing, and engaging DualSense support for Haptic Feedback and Adaptive Triggers.
Cronos: The New Dawn
Bloober Team has described a specific gameplay relationship: it wanted Cronos: The New Dawn to move closer to Resident Evil, including through limited inventory. The developers also cited other influences, so the series is one part of the game’s design context, not its sole source. Inventory pressure is a useful point of comparison for players who enjoy weighing what to carry, but it does not mean the games share an identical combat or exploration loop. Bloober Team on Cronos: The New Dawn’s gameplay influences
ILL
Team Clout game director Max Verehin named the Resident Evil series among ILL’s early game inspirations, alongside Half-Life 2 and Silent Hill. He connected those influences to worlds that feel alive and dangerous, with horror embedded in their systems rather than limited to imagery. That is a direct influence statement, but it does not establish the game’s current release status or availability; check its official listings before treating it as playable. Interview with Team Clout’s Max Verehin
Rank #2
- Amazon Exclusive - 2 sided poster included in every game!
- Grace Ashcroft, an FBI intelligence analyst who is introverted and easily scared, representing a new type of character for the Resident Evil series. Grace will experience horror from the same perspective as the player as she learns to overcome her fears throughout the course of the story.
- For the first time ever in Resident Evil history, players will be able to freely switch between both first- and third-person perspectives throughout the game.
- An Anniversary to Remember: With March 2026 marking the Resident Evil series’ 30-year anniversary, Resident Evil Requiem marks its own milestone in the franchise.
- Pre-orders for Resident Evil Requiem are now open, with the bonus of Grace’s costume: Apocalypse. Please note that the picture weapon does not come with the costume, but it can be obtained in-game.
Games that share the lineage or feel, but need a more careful label
Negative Atmosphere
Negative Atmosphere is better described through an influence chain than as a direct Resident Evil descendant. Sunscorched Studios said the series could be understood as an original point of reference, while explaining that the project initially followed Dead Space. That makes it relevant to fans of sci-fi survival horror, but the documented relationship is mediated by another game. Its current project status should be checked before recommending it as available to play. Sunscorched Studios on the project’s influences
Crow Country
Crow Country is a PS1-era survival-horror homage with recognizable genre features such as save rooms, puzzles, and optional tank controls. Its lead developer, Adam Vian, described it as inspired broadly by PlayStation One-era games; the cited interview does not establish a specific Resident Evil attribution. It is a strong match for players looking for a classic-style survival-horror experience, but it should not be presented as a confirmed direct influence. Interview with Crow Country developer Adam Vian
Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
Rank #3
- FEAR COMES HOME -- Fear, combat, exploration, and item management: these are the four pillars of survival horror, a genre that has never been more masterfully executed than in the gameplay of Resident Evil. The horror continues in the ground-breaking Resident Evil 7. Step into the new Isolated View and experience true survival horror in a world created by the all-new RE Engine.
- DEEP IN THE BAYOU - When Ethan Winters opened his inbox, the last thing he expected was to find an email from his wife; she had been missing for three years. The message was simple: "Come get me," and an address in Louisiana. This leads Ethan to a decrepit mansion in the heart of the bayou. The place has a seriously creepy vibe, but Ethan continues his search – until a stranger attacks him and knocks him unconscious. Ethan has no idea what awaits him when he wakes up...for he is now in the clutches of the Baker family.
- A NEW PERSPECTIVE -- In RESIDENT EVIL 7, we're changing the way you interact with the world. For this next major entry in the series, play from a first-person point of view, dramatically increasing your ability to become fully absorbed in the world we have created.
- NEW FOR PLAYSTATION5 – Upgraded features new to the PlayStation5 version of the game include a higher frame rate, 3D audio, added ray tracing, and engaging DualSense support for Haptic Feedback and Adaptive Triggers.
Signalis
Signalis is an adjacent recommendation for players asking what games feel like Resident Evil. A comparable-games guide discusses it as survival horror, but that is not evidence that its creators directly named Resident Evil as an inspiration. It belongs in a “games like” list, not in a list of verified direct influences on this evidence. GamesRadar’s guide to games like Resident Evil
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How to choose your next game
- For a classic Resident Evil mood with modern over-the-shoulder action: start with Daymare: 1998.
- For horror shaped by a key Resident Evil creator: try The Evil Within.
- For documented influence on inventory pressure: look at Cronos: The New Dawn.
- For a classic-era homage rather than a confirmed direct reference: consider Crow Country.
- For sci-fi horror with a lineage that runs through Dead Space: keep an eye on Negative Atmosphere, while checking current availability.
- For a forthcoming project whose creators named Resident Evil among several inspirations: check the latest official status of ILL.
Camera, scarcity, combat, puzzles, and tone vary across these games. Shared survival-horror ingredients can make a title a good fit without proving direct influence, so use developer comments—not resemblance alone—when judging that claim.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Reawaken a Classic – Resident Evil 4 preserves the essence of the original game, now reconstructed using Capcom’s proprietary RE Engine to deliver realistic visuals and additional narrative depth to the iconic story that was not possible at the time of the original release.
- Modernized Gameplay – The team from 2019’s Resident Evil 2 returns to build upon the series’ modern approach to survival horror. Engage in frenzied combat with the Ganados villagers, explore a European village gripped by madness, and solve puzzles to access new areas and collect useful items for Leon and Ashley’s constant struggle to survive.
- Overwhelming Hordes – Face hordes of rabid enemies that threaten to overwhelm Leon with even more diverse methods of attack than in the original release.
- Survive on a Knife’s Edge – Years of intense training have taught Leon new ways to use his knife, helping to even the odds against the unrelenting onslaught of enemies. By parrying enemy attacks, you can avoid debilitating damage and evade lunging enemies seeking to grab Leon and hold him in place. Make smart use of scavenged knives to deliver precise finishing moves on vulnerable enemies, and even use the element of surprise to quietly dispatch unsuspecting foes before they break.
- Survive on a Knife’s Edge – Years of intense training have taught Leon new ways to use his knife, helping to even the odds against the unrelenting onslaught of enemies. By parrying enemy attacks, you can avoid debilitating damage and evade lunging enemies seeking to grab Leon and hold him in place. Make smart use of scavenged knives to deliver precise finishing moves on vulnerable enemies, and even use the element of surprise to quietly dispatch unsuspecting foes before they break.
Rank #4
- CLASSIC RESIDENT EVIL GAMEPLAY -- Overcome chilling encounters in a relentless fight for survival that ratchets up the intensity through nail-biting exploration and gripping puzzle-solving.
- EXPLORE RACCOON CITY FROM A NEW PERSPECTIVE -- Get even closer to the action with an over-the-shoulder camera and updated control scheme, drawing you into every bloodcurdling encounter.
- SURVIVE TOGETHER IN THE MULTIPLAYER MODE -- Bring up to four friends into the carnage with Resident Evil Resistance, a multiplayer survival horror experience included in the Resident Evil 3 package. Available as a PlayStation 4 title compatible on all PlayStation 5 devices. Includes code necessary for redemption, requires additional download not on disc.
- NEW FOR PLAYSTATION5 – Upgraded features new to the PlayStation5 version of the game include a higher frame rate, 3D audio, added ray tracing, and engaging DualSense support for Haptic Feedback and Adaptive Triggers.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
