Outlast
Games like Soma If You’re Looking for Something Similar
While Outlast focuses more on jump scares than Soma, its narrative keeps the player pushing forward through the daunting halls of this insane asylum. Outlast capitalizes on both frightening enemies, and atmospheric horror. Both Soma and Outlast leave the player feeling alone, and like the enemy has the home field advantage. Outlast however, chooses to focus more on blood and gore, showcasing some truly horrific, and graphic material. Trying to uncover the mysterious events that have taken place in the world of Outlast will keep players moving from one gruesome scene to the next, until they finally discover what exactly is going on there.
Your adrenaline will be pumping as you try to navigate tight corridors with nothing but the night vision from a camcorder, while the enemy is surely right over your shoulder. Putting pressure on the player to constantly trying to sneak around and hide in lockers, under a bed, or even just behind a door. Outlast’s atmosphere, compelling narrative, and interesting characters, make it a good pick for any fan of Soma.
Amnesia: The Dark Descent
Games like Soma If You’re Looking for Something Similar
It’s 1839, you wake up in the dark empty halls of a castle, with no memory other than your name is Daniel, you’re from Mayfair, and something is hunting you. There is a note attached to you, stating that you erased your own memory, a shadow is hunting you, and you must descend into the inner sanctum of this castle and defeat its baron.
This all sets the scene for one of the greatest survival horror games of all time. Exploring this castle is atmospheric horror at its strongest, and is an easy recommendation for any fan of Soma. There are physics based puzzle solving, stealth, and a sanity meter that must be managed. The longer you look at a monster, or witness horrifying events, you will begin to have auditory and visual hallucinations, that will only add to the chaos. Light sources such as lanterns, or fireplaces will help reduce insanity, and are a main focal point of the game. Amnesia does not give the player any weapons, so stay out of sight, and if you are spotted, run.
Layers of Fear
Games like Soma If You’re Looking for Something Similar
Layers of Fear puts players in the shoes of a painter, who is trying to finish his “magnum opus”, but as he begins to paint, he begins to have hallucinations while in his empty house. In this first-person psychological horror game, players will solve puzzles that require looking at visual clues hidden around the house. The house will begin to twist, and uncover secrets as the player progresses through these layers of the painting.
Layers of Fear is a horror game, but is grounded in real world problems like divorce, loneliness, and alcoholism to name a few. A tormented artist just looking to finish his cherished work, while having to confront the horrors of his past, set the tone for something extremely unsettling. The game has three different endings, based on the choices you make throughout the game, so multiple playthroughs are encouraged.
Firewatch
Games like Soma If You’re Looking for Something Similar
In terms of theme, and atmosphere Firewatch and Soma are very different games. However, Firewatch’s story is based around being isolated, and that shapes the larger narrative. Being isolated in the middle of the forest as a park ranger isn’t inherently a scary concept, but the more time you spend out in the park by yourself, the more that isolation gets to you. You’re only companion is a female who speaks to you over your radio, and even at times, she starts to seem suspicious. Being left alone for almost an entire summer can be just the escape some people need, or in this case, is a different type of prison from the one they were in before.
Firewatch is focused on delivering a very personal story, while engrossing the player in its world, and ideas. You will uncover new parts of the park, get a window into these character’s lives, and what exactly they are trying to escape from.
Bioshock
Games like Soma If You’re Looking for Something Similar
When talking about games with atmospheric horror, Bioshock gets brought up a lot, and for good reason. An underwater dystopia filled with menacing creatures, and charismatic leaders, leaves players fighting their way back to the world above. Bioshock isn’t necessarily a horror game, but its setting is shrouded in mystery for players to uncover as they journey through the underwater city known as Rapture.
Around every corner is a new villain who has carved out their piece of rapture for themselves. Whether it’s the leader Andrew Ryan, or the psychotic photographer Sandy Cohen, Rapture is filled with twisted life and incredible dangers. Luckily, you’re armed with not only weapons, but magical abilities known as Plasmids. So shoot, hide, and to work your way through Rapture, and uncover the story that awaits.
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