Best horror games that combine puzzles and combat

Key insights

• Some of the best action-horror games combine exciting combat with challenging puzzles, enriching the overall experience.
• Title like
  The Evil Within 2, Dead Space Remake,
  And
  Alan Wake 2
  Each offers a unique dynamic between combat and puzzle solving.
• Games like
  Resident Evil Village
  And
  Silent Hill 2 Remake
  Create a perfect balance of combat, puzzles and atmosphere.

The best horror games aren't just based on terror and jump scares. They also include other elements such as: B. tense battles, often limited by factors such as scarce ammunition or indestructible enemies, to maintain a constant sense of danger. This focus on limited resources and strategic encounters makes combat an intense but balanced part of the experience.

In addition to the exciting battles, players usually encounter various obstacles and puzzles that make them think outside the box. Depending on the game setting, they could be trapped in simulations, alternate realities, abandoned ships, underground laboratories, or abandoned villages teeming with hostile creatures. Each environment comes with its own rules and unique puzzles to solve. Below, we explore some of the best horror games that offer a perfect mix of intense combat and challenging puzzles, keeping players on their toes as they tackle the next obstacle in their path.

7 The evil in us 2

Great crafted combat with rare but effective puzzles

Although The evil in us 2 Although it's focused more on combat than complicated puzzles, it still deserves a mention. The game builds on the strengths of its predecessor, offering a polished survival horror experience with robust combat across expansive, semi-open areas that players can explore at their own pace. With a strong focus on crafting, players can set traps, craft powerful crossbow bolts, or use the environment to their advantage.

Aside from his focus on combat, The evil in us 2 knows when to slow down and gives players the opportunity to tackle resident EvilRiddle-style puzzles, such as the rotating platform puzzle in Chapter 9 or the mirrored door puzzle in Chapter 6. Although puzzles are relatively rare, they are particularly intense and often require players to think quickly as the protagonist is pursued by unstoppable monsters becomes, which increases the tension tension and challenge.

6 Dead Space remake

Survive the horrors of an abandoned spaceship falling apart

The Dead Space remake is the ultimate way to experience Isaac Clarke's harrowing journey aboard the abandoned mining ship USG Ishimura, where he faces cosmic horrors at every turn. In every way, the remake surpasses the iconic original, enhanced by top-notch technical execution and refined gameplay mechanics, such as improved combat and the responsive reactions of Necromorphs being shot.

The game is full of engineer-focused puzzles scattered throughout the decaying ship. To survive, players must repair key ship systems using Isaac's Stasis and Kinesis tools, which are also invaluable in combat. The remake maximizes its immersive setting by often pushing players into zero-gravity zones to solve puzzles, further adding to the game's tense, unsettling atmosphere of isolation and danger.

5 Alan Wake 2

The spiritual place for detective work coupled with reality-altering puzzles

Alan Wake 2 stands out in the survival horror genre thanks to its unique structure and two protagonists, each of whom brings new elements to the experience. From chilling jump scares to intense combat with Remedy's signature gunplay, the sequel leaves a strong impression. What really sets Alan Wake 2 Aside from that, however, is the creative approach to puzzles.

Players must literally reshape reality to progress as they play as Alan, trapped in the dark world of his fictional creations. However, when they switch to Saga, they gain access to a unique room called the Mind Place, which is intended to be used to process her detective work as an FBI agent. While this mechanic may seem superfluous at first, it becomes even more important as the cases become more complex and the game reveals the fascinating nature of the Mind Place in unexpected ways.

4 Resident Evil 4 Remake

The best fight in the series, filled with puzzles and treasure hunts

The Resident Evil 4 Remake needs little introduction and is widely regarded as the ultimate remake of one of the greatest games of all time. True to form, Resident Evil 4 prioritizes combat and offers a more action-oriented experience than its predecessors. Still, the familiar formula of mixing action, horror, and puzzles is there, and there are no weak points in the mix.

Although it may not be as puzzle-heavy as Resident Evil 2, RE4 provides variety and skillfully balances every aspect to prevent it from taking too long. Players can look forward to a steady stream of new gameplay styles, transitioning seamlessly from intricate puzzles to high-stakes boss battles or thrilling, gritty encounters with fearsome monsters.

3 Resident Evil Village

Bringing together the best of Resident Evil 4 and Resident Evil 7

Resident Evil Village stands out in the series by building on the direction he sets RE7 and adding popular items RE4and takes players through an eerie village, a towering castle and even a hidden underground factory. The game increases the combat compared to RE7 as I dial back the puzzles and nearly perfect the balance between the two.

Resident Evil Village features some of the most intense action moments in the series, from battling a horde of werewolves to taking on a powerful boss as you control a giant metal creature assembled from scrap metal and farm machinery. At the same time, it also satisfies puzzle-loving fans with some tricky challenges. Certain sections, like the spooky Beneviento House, forego combat entirely, forcing players to rely on puzzle-solving and their survival instincts to escape.

2 Silent Hill 2

A reimagined horror classic with expanded puzzles and improved combat

The Silent Hill 2 Remake took the industry by storm earlier this month, showcasing Bloober Team as a studio worthy of every horror fan's attention. Despite initial skepticism, the remake proves to be as faithful to the original as it is innovative, striking a perfect balance between action, puzzles and the haunting atmosphere of the original.

The developers not only modernized the combat to current standards and gave players more options to defend themselves against the horrors, but also significantly expanded the puzzles and added new, equally exciting tasks that players have to solve and pursue. With its outstanding technical design, the modern Silent Hill 2 is an easy recommendation for any survival horror fan, regardless of their preferences.

1 Resident Evil 2 Remake

A perfect modern reinterpretation of an iconic classic

Resident Evil 2 Remake is still considered one of the best survival horror games available – and one of the best remakes of recent years, taking the iconic original to a new level. The entire structure of the game acts like a single complex puzzle, offering an intricate, multi-layered environment that rewards strategic exploration and careful planning, with countless small decisions to be made every minute.

The gunfights and enemies' reactions to gunfire are some of the most impressive in the genre, coupled with a variety of well-crafted puzzles that constantly keep players engaged. From lockpicking to inventory management to finding missing pieces, the puzzles are varied and challenging, offering unforgettable moments like the famous sewer chess puzzle. Through the ability to play as different protagonists, each with unique weapons and challenges, RE2 remake offers a near-flawless survival horror experience that few other games can match.