7 Best Horror Games That Take Place In Abandoned Cities, Ranked

Summary

• Horror games set in abandoned cities create atmospheric and immersive experiences for players.
• Explore deserted locations in games like Dying Light 2, Evil Within 2, and Resident Evil 2 Remake.
• These titles feature compelling narratives, spooky settings, and challenging gameplay mechanics.

Horror games have been around for more than two decades, providing players with exciting, nightmare-inducing experiences for a very long time. Although some focus on the gameplay experience and try to pack as much action into the story as possible, others focus more strongly on the narrative, and are sometimes even more fun to watch than to play.

The location where a horror game is set is really important as it helps set the stage for everything that will unfold as players progress through the story. Setting titles in remote, abandoned locations became quite popular with horror games on the PS1, and the tradition was kept when newer consoles came along. Here are some of the best horror games set in abandoned cities.

7

Dying Light 2

A Great Sequel Implementing Interesting Game Mechanics

• Set 22 years after the first game
• New parkour mechanics that allow for more streamlined exploration

Set in the abandoned city of Villedor, about 22 years after the events of the first Dying Light game, Dying Light 2 focuses on Aiden, a young survivor who delivers goods and intel between various settlements. This title focuses a lot more than its predecessor on exploration mechanics, implementing parkour skills that allow players to slide, climb ledges, jump off high areas, and even do wall running—all while introducing new secret weapons.

The city of Villedor is mostly abandoned, making Dying Light 2 a perfect addition to this list, and an overall great horror game. While other horror games with no main villain can work wonders in terms of narrative, Vincent Waltz makes for an excellent antagonist that perfectly complements the Dying Light 2 story.

6

The Evil Within 2

An Outstanding Sequel To An Already Great Title

• Set three years after The Evil Within
• Sebastian must rescue his daughter

The story of the Evil Within 2 focuses, once again, on Sebastian Castellanos, three years after the events of the first game. Sebastian has left the Krimson City Police Department due to the trauma that he experienced during the Beacon Mental Hospital events.

In an effort to rescue his daughter Lily, Sebastian will have to infiltrate Union, a STEM environment made by MOBIUS. Although players will encounter various challenges along the way, Union is mostly deserted in many areas, which makes it a fine addition to this list. Like its predecessor, The Evil Within 2 has a great opening that will captivate players from the moment they start the story.

5

The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners

An Excellent Addition To The Walking Dead Universe

• Players can choose a male or a female player character
• Set in New Orleans, players must survive the hordes of zombies chasing them

The Walking Dead shows and video games have always been known for being set in large abandoned cities and settlements, so it’s no surprise that this is also the case for The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners. Set in New Orleans after the outbreak, players will take on the role of a tourist who can either be male or female.

Throughout the game, players will have to face off against dangerous hordes of zombies using various weapons and any other tools at their disposal in order to survive.

4

Metro Exodus

Surviving In A World Devastated By Nuclear Warfare

• Set in the year 2035
• Players must survive in a post-apocalyptic version of Earth

Although most players would agree that Metro Exodus isn’t actually a horror game but rather a survival game with some creepy elements here and there, it’s still worth mentioning on this list due to its setting. The game starts in the year 2035, exactly one year after the events of Metro: Last Night.

The post-apocalyptic version of Earth where the game is set, presents players with various abandoned locations resulting from the nuclear holocaust that doomed humanity forever. Metro Exodus has excellent game mechanics, a compelling narrative, and an overall appealing world design.

3

Silent Hill 2

James Sunderland Must Explore The Mystery Behind His Late Wife’s Letter

• A timeless classic that most players still remember fondly
• Silent Hill isn’t what it used to be

Silent Hill 2 is a timeless classic that many players in their late 20s or early 30s likely played when it was first released back in 2001. The game tells the story of James Sunderland, a bereaved man who receives a letter from his late wife telling him to come to Silent Hill, a town in Maine that had held great significance for both of them when she was still alive.

When James arrives at Silent Hill, he quickly realizes that the beautiful town he and his wife once knew is no longer as splendorous, but rather a mostly abandoned place, covered in fog and hiding many eerie secrets. Although Silent Hill 2 was never a PS2 exclusive, many of the fans who played it likely did so on that console. The game is regarded by many to be a masterpiece thanks to its immersive flashlight mechanics, scary moments, and overall compelling narrative.

2

Dead Space 2

A Great Sequel To The Original Space Horror Title

• Isaac Clarke must, once again, face off against the horrors of space
• New enemies and unsettling AI behavior

While Dead Space 2 is not set in an abandoned city, but rather in the abandoned space station on Titan, one of Saturn’s moons, it still makes for an excellent entry for this list, as it presents players with insurmountable odds, formidable challenges, and more than one scary moment along the way.

This title once again follows the story of Isaac Clarke, as he makes his way through the station, uncovering the spine-chilling secrets it holds. Dead Space 2 has a few enemies that have some of the most unsettling AI behavior in horror games, complementing the experience greatly.

1

Resident Evil 2 Remake

A Great Remake Of A Timeless Classic

• Leon S. Kennedy will have to face off against zombie hordes
• Raccoon City is mostly abandoned by the time the game starts

Many veteran players who were old enough to play scary games back in the late 90s and early 2000s, probably remember the spine-chilling experience that Resident Evil 2 had to offer. This title not only introduced many players to the horror genre, but also managed to traumatize a few others due to its scary scenarios, surprise zombie chases, and overall grim setting.

The game is set in the mostly-abandoned Raccoon City, which has been overrun by zombies after a massive T-virus outbreak resulting from the contamination of the city’s water system. The Resident Evil 2 remake focuses on Leon S. Kennedy, a rookie cop who’ll have to fight in order to survive this post-apocalyptic nightmare.