What to play on Game Pass: Horror Games

New to Game Pass and don’t know where to start? We’ve got you covered with these Game Pass recommendations for those who like a good scare.

And judging from the Game Pass lineup, there must be quite a few of you. Horror games have always been popular. And now with the power of next-gen gaming the thrills have never been more real. So with that out of the way let’s check out the best survival horror games on Game Pass right now.

7 Days to Die

Watch the trailer on YouTube

7 Days to Die is set in a zombie-infested, post-apocalyptic wasteland. This open-world survival horror game from The Fun Pimps puts a big emphasis on the survival aspect. Players have seven days to prepare until the Blood Moon rises. When that happens, the zombie hordes go into a frenzy and hunt the player with renewed fervor. If your fortifications are strong enough, you might just survive…

Alan Wake’s American Nightmare

This standalone Alan Wake game is more combat focused, though it retains everything that make the original game a cult classic. If features solid action and a suspenseful plot. If you love classic horror in the vein of The Twilight Zone and the works of Stephen King, then you’ll love this.

Or if you love mowing down creepy things with machine guns, crossbows, nail guns and shotguns, you will also love this. For those of you in this group, the “Fight till Dawn” Arcade mode will put you up against successive waves of enemies.

Alien: Isolation

Watch the trailer on YouTube

Based on the Alien film series, Alien: Isolation is a first-person survival horror game that puts players in the role of Amanda Ripley, daughter of the protagonist of the first Alien film (that being Ellen Ripley, portrayed by Sigourney Weaver).

The gameplay focuses on survival and stealth elements. It also employs brilliantly-executed atmosphere to deliver a delightfully dreadful experience as Ripley explores a Sevastopol space station teeming with hostile human survivors, androids and aliens. This is probably one of the more underestimated Game Pass titles.

Also check out on Game Pass:

• Alien: Fireteam Elite

Back 4 Blood

Watch the trailer on YouTube

Back 4 Blood was billed as the spiritual successor to the classic Left 4 Dead series. Considering the game was developed by much of the same talent behind the latter franchise, Back 4 Blood proves worthy of that reputation.

It also incorporates many of the same gameplay elements, with the same emphasis on cooperative teamwork. All told, the game serves as a worthy successor, and over 10 million players agree. If you were a fan of the Left 4 Dead series this is a no brainer. If not, this is still a solid zombie-smashing good time. Try it out.

Dead by Daylight

Watch the trailer on YouTube

2016’s Dead by Daylight has become a survival horror sensation. An online multiplayer horror game with an asymmetric one-versus-four structure, Dead by Daylight allows players to team up in an effort to survive the Killer and escape, or take on the role of the Killer and hunt down the Survivors.

The game has sold more than 50 million copies, and has released crossover content featuring characters from many other horror game and movie franchises. These include Halloween, Left 4 Dead, Silent Hill, Stranger Things, and many more.

Dead Space

This storied survival horror series is well-represented on Game Pass, with four games available on the service at the time of this writing. What began as a rough prototype for the original Xbox, taking inspiration from Resident Evil films like Event Horizon, has become a survival horror classic.

Set aboard the space ship Ishimura, player take the reins of protagonist Isaac Clarke. The ship is ridden with gruesome monsters called Necromorphs. Often described as “Resident Evil in Space,” even by the game’s creators, Dead Space offers a sci-fi take on the genre that gives it its own identity.

A remake of the game is in the works, and is currently set of a January 2023 release.

Also check out on GamePass:

• Dead Space 2
• Dead Space 3
• Dead Space Ignition

State of Decay: Year One—Survival Edition

Watch the trailer on YouTube

Developed by Undead Labs and published by Microsoft Studios, State of Decay mixes up the survival horror formula a bit to deliver a fresh take on the genre. In State of Decay the player is in charge of a small group of survivors in the midst of a zombie apocalypse. Leadership skills are the key here, including resource management. Players will have to use strategy to build and defend their base and keep everyone on the same page.

The game blends disparate gameplay elements – shooting, stealth, strategy, simulation, and role-playing – into a cohesive whole that makes for a frighteningly good time. If you have a Game Pass membership then this is well worth your time.

Also check out on Game Pass:

• State of Decay 2: Juggernaut Edition

The Evil Within

Watch the trailer on YouTube

Developed by Undead Labs and published by Microsoft Studios, State of Decay mixes up the survival horror formula a bit to deliver a fresh take on the genre. In State of Decay the player is in charge of a small group of survivors in the midst of a zombie apocalypse. Leadership skills are the key here, including resource management. Players will have to use strategy to build and defend their base and keep everyone on the same page.

The game blends disparate gameplay elements – shooting, stealth, strategy, simulation, and role-playing – into a cohesive whole that makes for a frighteningly good time. If you have a Game Pass membership then this is well worth your time.

Last dash to safety…

There you have it: what to play on Game Pass for fans of survival horror. Keep in mind that these are just our best recommendations. Surely there’s enough here to keep you good and terrified for weeks to come. Have you already played any of these scary games? If so, let us know in the comments which is your favorite.

If you don’t already have a Game Pass subscription, you can sign up here. If you would like more info on Game Pass, visit the FAQ page. And don’t forget to check out our other “What to play on Game Pass” recommendations to find other great games.