Back in 2015, Until Dawn was released and it became an immediate hit. Up until today, it remains one of the best games in the interactive drama horror video game genre. Although games like Until Dawn are becoming increasingly popular, there aren’t that out there. This is probably due to expenses; games like this are expensive because they need a brilliant writer with an unbelievably unique and interesting story; real-life actors (usually highly paid), and a whole film crew. Furthermore, after all that, everything needs to be converted into a playable video game. That being said, we see this as the future of the movie and video game entertainment industry. Since there aren’t a lot of studios that produce games like these, we’ve come up with an ultimate list of 20 games like Until Dawn.
20. Beyond: Two Souls
Image Credits: Quantic Dream
Starting at number 20 with one of the most “confusing” Quantic Dream games ever made. In my humble opinion, it was probably poorly edited, just like Quantum of Solace – a James Bond movie. The story revolves around a girl called Jodie Holmes who as a kid develops some kind of a weird bond with an otherworld entity named “Aiden”. What’s interesting about Beyond: Two Souls is that you can control Jodie and Aiden, and it’s a choice-based game just like Until Dawn. If you’re a fan of games revolving around what’s after death, our own paranormal, horror, and even occult with CIA involvement, you’ll love this game.
Since this is a list of games like Until Dawn this was probably one of the few games that inspired the designers at Supermassive Games. Back in 2013 when the game was released it was probably one of the best cinematic interactive drama horror games of all time; the acting, facial gestures, and overall graphics at the time were phenomenal. Unfortunately, the CEO of Quantic Games David Cage said on multiple occasions that there’ll be no Beyond: Two Souls 2. It’s such a pity since the game had so many questions opened and it was quite interesting seeing a girl with such a strange “superpower” growing up going on birthdays and getting through her teenage years. Maybe they’ll rethink their decision and make a second game, until then give the first one a chance; it’s a masterpiece trust me.
19. Tales From The Borderlands
Image Credits: Telltale Games
Some of the fans might wonder why I put Tales From The Borderlands up here, but I considered it to be a bit niche game, to be honest. Borderlands is one of the most famous franchises, but most fans probably already played the game and know that a sequel New Tales from the Borderlands was released in October 2022. If you like the first game, the sequel is one of the rare PS5 games like Until Dawn that you can play right now. Just back in 2014, you had to wait for a couple of months until the next episode was released. Tales From The Borderlands was split into 5 episodes with gameplay of just over two hours.
Overall the game had similar game mechanics like all the other Telltale Games. The game is set on the planet Pandora which is something like a space Wild West-Bony and Clyde adventure. We follow two main protagonists Rhys and Fiona. They’re trying to find a Vault key that holds some kind of an artifact with incredible power – Indiana Jones vibes. Just be careful as in Telltale games all the choices that you make will affect the final ending. If I recall correctly there are 5 distinct endings, so be careful out there cowboy, and let’s Yeehaw into the rest of the list!
18. Oxenfree
Image Credits: Night School Studio
One of the rare coming-of-age stories in interactive drama games is Oxenfree. Back in 2016, it was a major hit, but for you who’ve played all games like Until Dawn or are new to the genre this one is a must. In-game we play as Alex who with her stepbrother Jonas, and friends Ren, Nona, and Clarissa on an overnight trip to Edwards Island. They get drawn into some paranormal rift by switching the radio to a different frequency. The rest of the story you’ll have to uncover for yourself, but it’s a dark history about the Island and WW2. If you’re easily bonding with characters this will make you fall in love; it’s graphically stunning, the gameplay is genuine, the characters are developed and the voice acting is fantastic. It’s not as scary as Until Dawn, but never underestimate an amazing story.
If you have a PS5 don’t worry you can play the first and the second game Oxenfree II: Lost Signals! Yes, the second game came out on July 12, 2023. After the massive success of the first game, the Night School Studio created the second game which was published by Netflix Games. If you love games that’ll not just scare the hell out of you and you’re looking for a game with similar gameplay to Until Dawn then this is it my buddies; this is the game for you. It was everything and it’s packed into a story-driven graphical masterpiece that’ll blow you away. One last thing; fans are speculating that there’ll be even a third game, and it even might be a prequel.
17. Tell Me Why
Image Credits: Dontnod Entertainment
After the success of Life is Strange and Life is Strange 2, Don’t Nod studios developed another game Tell Me Why back in 2020. The game is set in the small town of Delos Crossing, Alaska, where you’ll meet Tyler and Alyson Ronan. The game is divided into 3 episodes and they’re covering some serious themes here like identity, family, and trauma. Dealing with these things can be much worse horror than some made-up Wentigos in a deserted mine somewhere in North America. If any of your closer ones has recently passed this might be even more disturbing. Now the game is about discovering the truth about mother Mary-Ann’s death. Tyler and Alyson have a special “Bond” superpower to see and experience each other’s memories; this alone sounds too creepy to me.
You’ll play as both characters in the game and the gameplay is quite fun. Similar to Life is Strange and Twin Mirror and the graphic design is also more similar to Life is Strange. Voice acting, graphics, and gameplay are just fantastic. One more thing, if you’re having any identity issues or have a transgender phase then you should check this game out. Out of all games similar to Until Dawn, this might be the one that’s a bit same same but different.
16. As Dusk Falls
Image Credits: Interior Night
As Dusk Falls is one of the games that’s more an adventure drama interactive novel game. Like Until Dawn, yes you’re making choices, and they’re really important as they’ll change the narrative and ending completely. The game spans over 30 years in the American Southwest and it focuses on two families Walkers and Holts. Holts are 3 stereotypical to some point white American Southwest brothers, while Cormiers are a mixed-race family. Many events are crucial to the story such as a robbery, car crash, etc. I won’t spoil the story. As Dusk Falls is all about the story there’s no traditional or any other kind of gameplay; you can’t move your characters, it’s like an interactive graphical novel.
It was developed in 2022 by Interior Night and was published by Xbox Game Studios. As of March 7th, 2024, it’s available on PS4 and PS5 too! This makes it one of the rare PS5 games like Until Dawn that are available on the market right now. As a graphical novel lover myself I loved everything about the game, from design to voice acting. If you liked Until Dawn for its story and you let yourself get immersed in this content you’ll like this.
15. Twin Mirror
Image Credits: Dontnod Entertainment
Yet another game that was released in 2020 and developed by Dontnod Entertainment. Twin Mirror is a game that mixes detective gameplay and psychological thriller elements into a unique storyline. You play the character Sam Higgs, a retired investigative journalist who returns to his hometown to attend a friend’s funeral. What’s most innovative about this game is the unique mechanic called the “Mind Palace”. In Mind Palace Sam navigates a mental landscape where he reconstructs memories, analyzes clues, and pieces together fragmented information. This is what lets players see what’s happening inside Sam’s head. In other words, players are exploring Sam’s thoughts, motivations, and subconscious reflections on past events.
Except the Mind Palace players who like games like Until Dawn probably like exploration too. Basswood, West Virginia is our protagonist’s hometown and its flawless design makes it perfect for sneaking around. You’ll meet a lot of interesting NPC and you’ll be able to recreate some scenes in a fun way, but the beauty of the outdoors is just fascinating. If you like exploration, mystery, conspiracy, and murder, you’ll just love Twin Mirror.
14. Wolf Among Us
Image Credits: Telltale Games
One of the games that fable fans will love. If you’ve grown up in a world of Dwarfs, Princesses, and Big Bad Wolves, you’ll just play this on repeat. Probably the second-best Telltale game of all time is Wolf Among Us after The Walking Dead in my opinion. The game is set in 1986 in NYC and you’re playing Bigby Wolf who’s an investigator. Characters came from Fables or as they call Homelands to escape a mysterious tyrant known only as the Adversary. Like all the refugees they went to colonial America and their main refuge camp a.k.a. Fabletown is in Manhattan. To look like humans or “mundys” they must buy an enchantment called “glamour” otherwise they’ll be cast into the outskirts of the city to a place known only as The Farm.
If you’re new to the genre of games like Until Dawn or interactive drama horror games, trust me this one is for you. Even if it isn’t as scary as Until Dawn it’s a great story plus some of the scenes that are figurative speech for our world are just as horrific as Wendigos and abandoned mines. One more thing, if you’re planning not to play this game I’ll have to remind you that sometime this year 2024 a sequel is coming out. It’s developed by AdHoc Studio which is made up of former Telltale staff and it’s published by Athlon Games a successor to Telltale Games.
13. Eternal Darkness: Sanity’s Requiem
Image Credits: Silicon Knights
This is well-known among old-school hardcore horror gamers who lived in an era without walkthroughs. For those of you who are a bit younger and haven’t heard of this masterpiece, let me explain. Eternal Darkness: Sanity’s Requiem is a game from 2002 and it was developed by Silicon Knights and published by Nintendo for GameCube. The game was ahead of its time since it was one of the first story-driven games and the game was pretty good even by today’s standards. The game follows the story of Alexandra Roivas, who discovers a mysterious book, the “Tome of Eternal Darkness,” after her grandfather was brutally murdered. In Eternal Darkness, you’ll play the roles of various characters across different historical periods and different continents.
One of the game’s most remarkable features was the “sanity effects.” As you encounter horrifying creatures or delve deeper into the occult, your sanity declines. This would lead to some truly creepy and haunted-like effects, such as the game pretending to glitch, the character’s head falling off, the volume decreasing, or the player character suddenly dying. At the time, this was one of the freakiest moves that a video game did; I’m not sure that any future games redid this. This is a survival horror game and the graphics are outdated, but we dare you to try. You’ll just be amazed at how many details and the horror genre were impacted by this one single game. It fits perfectly because it was a milestone for the interactive story-driven horror genre.
12. Hidden Agenda
Image Credits: Supermassive Games
If you’re looking for a good story game that isn’t too long and will keep your attention, Hidden Agenda is just the right thing. This interactive drama crime thriller was created back in 2017 and it was developed by Supermassive Games and published by Sony Interactive Entertainment. The game uses mobile devices as controllers, which was fun to see for the first time. The game is known for its multiplayer, story-driven gameplay where players must make decisions collectively that influence the outcome of the story.
The story revolves around a detective, Becky Marney, and a district attorney, Felicity Graves, who are investigating a serial killer known as “The Trapper.” This might sound familiar, like the story of the game “Heavy Rain,” and it is to some degree. If you want to play a game that isn’t as scary as Until Dawn but you liked the gameplay mechanics, then this is just the perfect game for you. One more thing that we’d have to say is that the game is a PS4 exclusive.
11. Sherlock Holmes The Awakened
Image Credits: Frogwares
We won’t talk about 2007’s original but about the 2023s remake of Sherlock Holmes: The Awakened. It differs from the original game in terms that the graphics are updated, gameplay has improved and some new elements have been added. Also, the voice cast has changed so it’s a good-to-go game. If you like the gameplay maybe you can play both the original and remade version. The story revolves around Sherlock Holmes and the Cthulhu Mythos, so if you’re a Lovecraft fan, you’re going to like this game a lot. As a personal Lovecraftian, I adored both the read and the original version.
You play as Sherlock Holmes and his trusted companion, Dr. John Watson, as you uncover clues, gather evidence, and attempt to solve the mysteries that intertwine with the Lovecraftian mythos. You can play from both the third and first person and as always there are a lot of puzzles that need to be solved. It’s fascinating to see how a rational guy, driven by logic, gets closer to madness as he descends into this creepy and unsettling world of Lovecraftian occultism and cosmic horror. It’s one of those games where common sense can’t help you. The game won’t feel like a Supermassive game due to age and small budget, but trust me, bro, it’s a great game even if you play the older version.
10. House of Ashes
Image credits: Supermassive Games, House of Ashes
House of Ashes is part of The Dark Pictures Anthology series and follows a group of US Armed Forces after the invasion of Iraq in 2003. There is also an Iraqi Republican Guard with the US Armed Forces that falls into an underground Akkadian temple. Together, they must find a way out of the temple and fight ugly vampiric-bat-like creatures living underground. During the game, you’ll have to make some wise decisions, but that’s not the main reason for its popularity. The primary reason for its popularity is how stunning it looks and how Ashley Tisdale played one of the most convincing female protagonists of all time.
Multilinear narrative and almost identical gameplay like in other Until Dawn-like games don’t bring anything new in that sense. House of Ashes, as we’ve mentioned, is even more aesthetically beautiful than The Quarry, and the acting team is strong, but the story overall feels somewhat hollow. There may have already been too many games in The Dark Pictures Anthology series that resemble this. The story had a good direction, but it felt somewhat like a poor horror movie trying to be deep. Finally, the game was criticized as being a ripoff of other games and movies, but all we can say is that it was inspired by movies like Predator, The Descent, and H.P. Lovecraft’s book At the Mountains of Madness.
9. Life is Strange
Image credits: Dontnod Entertainment, Life is Strange
Life is Strange was developed by Dontnod Entertainment and Deck Nine, and published by Square Enix in 2015. By definition, this is a narrative adventure game, but it has some horror elements, especially in the first game. As you probably know, there is a sequel, Life is Strange 2, but we’ll focus on the first and the original game. Life is Strange follows Max Caulfield, a photography student who discovers she has the superpower to rewind time. Set in Arcadia Bay, a fictional town in Oregon, US, this game would rank higher on the list if it had more horror elements because it mostly focused on time-traveling.
On the other hand, in terms of writing, themes, and characters, it’s almost as good as Until Dawn. In fact, Life is Strange is more similar to Quantic Dream games or any games developed by David Cage. It features excellent acting and one of the most emotionally gripping stories players can experience. Most importantly, Max and the other characters in this game, along with their lives and stories, are highly relatable. If you’re a teen, this game is an immediate must-play, potentially life-changing. One of the topics touched upon in various ways is teen suicide, which adds a subtle sense of horror, at least for a part of the game.
8. The Devil in Me
Image credits: Supermassive Games, The Devil in Me
The last installment in The Dark Pictures Anthology is The Devil in Me, released in 2022. This interactive drama and survival horror video game has some elements of slasher horror added to it, but the studio is still trying to recapture its glory from its best game, Until Dawn. This is the fourth and final game in the anthology’s first season. We follow five playable characters who are part of a film crew as they try to shoot a documentary about a Murder Castle. Soon, they’ll discover that a murderer is lurking around and that the hotel is full of traps. The story was inspired by one of the first American serial killers and con artists, Dr. Henry Howard Holmes aka H. H. Holmes.
The game received mixed reviews, but if you’re looking for games like Until Dawn, then don’t skip this one or any made by Supermassive Games. If you’re a fan of this genre, your best bet is Quantic Dream for something similar to Supermassive Games. However, when it comes to horror and survival elements, you can count on Telltale Games.
7. The Inpatient
Image credits: Supermassive Games, The Inpatient
Developed by Supermassive Games, The Inpatient is a psychological horror game and a prequel to Until Dawn. It was released for VR, and the game is set in an abandoned Blackwood Sanatorium. If something describes the quote from the Scooby Doo gang, This place gives me the creeps, then it’s Blackwood Sanatorium. Set in 1952, 63 years before Until Dawn, the story follows a patient called Alex. At the end of the game, players will be revealed more details about Until Dawn, providing more in-depth knowledge about the overall story. If you’re a true fan of Until Dawn, get a VR headset and start creeping around the Sanatorium.
VR in gaming is still in the experimental phase, and The Inpatient gave us a reason to believe that this phase was coming to an end. This prophecy isn’t fully fulfilled in my own opinion, but I hope that by 2030, VR will become a standard practice in gaming. The Inpatient has a great story with a lot of potential, but the controls in VR are clunky. VR does perform well in terms of tension and improving horror elements. The game does feel scarier, and VR is better at making anything, especially horror, more realistic.
6. Fahrenheit aka Indigo Prophecy
Image credits: Quantic Dream, Fahrenheit
9 out of 10 games like Until Dawn were released after 2010; only Fahrenheit or Indigo Prophecy was released back in 2005. This game follows Lucas Kane, who committed murder while driven by an unknown force. During the game, you’ll also take control of other characters like two detectives who are trying to solve the crimes. Indigo Prophecy was one of the first games that offered more than one ending at the time and was entirely story-driven. What makes it similar to games like Until Dawn is its chilling atmosphere, especially in the cutscenes with an Aztec priest, as well as the presence of Nietzschean themes and references to the book Thus Spoke Zarathustra.
The game was developed by Quantic Dream and published by Atari. The studio Quantic Dream, with David Cage as the founder and main game developer, doesn’t produce a lot of games, but when they do, they’re considered to be masterpieces. Some of their most iconic games include Heavy Rain and Detroit: Become Human. Fahrenheit had some issues with controls as they were clunky and from time to time frustrating. Additionally, the pace of the story varies at times, sometimes being slow while at other times faster than the speed of light—especially in sections where you need to use hotkeys.
5. Little Hope
Image credits: Supermassive Games, Little Hope
Little Hope is perhaps the finest psychological horror game developed by Supermassive Games. The story is meticulously crafted, and its characters feel more authentic, enhancing the overall narrative. The game is named after the town a bus driver must navigate due to a detour caused by a crash on his usual route. Reluctantly, he proceeds through Little Hope. Spotting a young girl on the road, he swerves and crashes, stranding a group of people in this eerie town. As you uncover the town’s secrets, the story delves into darker and grimmer territory, revealing the true nature of its characters and the events that transpired.
The game’s ending boasts a remarkable twist, a testament to the brilliant storytelling. Released in 2020, it didn’t receive the attention it deserved, in my opinion, possibly due to the pandemic and other concurrent events overshadowing it. Some critics accused the game of borrowing elements from Silent Hill and similar titles centered around enigmatic towns and past traumas. While the game’s tone differs from Silent Hill, it draws clear inspiration from the Salem Witch Trials. Moreover, the game incorporates references and inspiration from movies like The Blair Witch Project, The Omen, and The Witch.
4. Heavy Rain
Image credits: Quantic Dream, Heavy Rain
The game that catapulted Quantic Dream to prominence was Heavy Rain. The narrative revolves around four protagonists: Ethan Mars, a devoted father in search of his missing son; Scott Shelby, a private investigator; Norman Jayden, an FBI profiler; Madison Paige, a journalist haunted by nightmares and insomnia. Players take the roles of these characters as they work together to catch the Origami Killer, who uses heavy rainfall to drown victims. Similar to Until Dawn, quick reflexes are essential as players engage in constant interaction. The storyline’s outcome is heavily influenced by players’ decisions.
Upon release, some critics categorized the game not as a video game, but as a movie masquerading as one. In my humble opinion, Heavy Rain is the game that popularized this genre and made some real improvements when compared to a previous Quantic Dream game Fahrenheit. As with Detroit: Become Human and other titles, the story was written by David Cage. What distinguishes Quantic Dream games from the rest is their exceptional music and incredible attention to detail.
3. The Walking Dead: The Telltale Games Series
Image credits: Telltale, The Walking Dead
The Walking Dead is a 2012 episodic graphic adventure horror drama game. It was inspired by a TV show which is based on the comic book series of the same name by Robert Kirkman. The story and the first season follow Lee Everett, a college professor, and convicted murderer, and a girl called Clementine. Just like other games on the list, this one revolves around exploring the post-apocalyptic world and trying to survive. Lee and later Clementine in the second season will have to make some of the hardest decisions as they’re fighting through hordes of Walkers (Zombies). During this game, you can experience horror in a different and more empty world that lacks at least more empathy. If you liked Until Dawn, this will be a great challenge with an amazing story and memorable characters.
This is probably the best-known game made by Telltale Games, which unfortunately closed due to bankruptcy in 2018. The studio had some financial problems since the licensing was quite expensive for The Walking Dead, Game of Thrones, and Batman. Overall, the studio had great ambitions but with fewer people working and a tight schedule, they hit a wall at a certain point. The Telltale studio made games like Until Dawn but with a smaller budget. Gameplays are similar, but Telltale games were more in a graphical comic book style while Supermassive games tend to be more realistic and driven by real people and real locations.
2. Man of Medan
Image credits: Supermassive Games, Man of Medan
Back in 2019, Man of Medan was the first installment in The Dark Pictures Anthology series. The game follows a group of friends as they set out on a diving trip in the South Pacific Ocean. They’re led by Alex alongside Julia, Brad, Fliss, and Conrad. As usual, they’re enjoying diving and drinking beer in the middle of the ocean up until they’re kidnapped by fishermen. Fishermen led by a mysterious man called Olson force them to board a creepy and abandoned ship, SS Ourang Medan. That’s when the game really kicks off and when the scariest part of the game is. Just like in Until Dawn, we follow the group of young adults getting themselves in some creepy 90’s movie scenario.
Now, this would have been ranked higher, but the game was too predictable at some points, at least for me. Other than that, the characters could’ve been developed a bit better as the game was in general shorter. It takes about three and a half hours to beat Man of Medan vs almost six hours to beat Until Dawn. We hope that Supermassive Studios will listen to the voices of critics and their fans so they’ll make newer games longer, just like The Devil in Me.
1. The Quarry
Image credits: Supermassive Games, The Quarry
The best game that came after Until Dawn and the one that deserves “the sequel title” is The Quarry. Supermassive Games made a lot of games after Until Dawn but they couldn’t beat Until Dawn. What this game has, unlike others, is the good old formula; the Virgin, the Scholar, the Athlete, the Lady of the Night, and the Fool or some variation of these characters. This was a formula for almost all 90s and 2000s horror movies. Other than that, the werewolf plot and the whole story with lots of memorable characters was just something else.
When it comes to gameplay, just like all other games from the list, it is similar to other games and it’s nothing unique. As we’ve already told, when it comes to these types of games, the story is the most important part. Acting does its job, but just as with other Supermassive games, it can’t fix the bad writing, just like graphics can’t fix a bad FPS or RPG game. All in all, with this game, we’ll conclude our ultimate top 20 games like Until Dawn.
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