The holidays are coming and what better way to celebrate than jumping into some high-stakes and engaging scenarios! Whether it's survival horror or survival sim, sometimes the challenge of accomplishing the simplest tasks can feel extremely rewarding when death lurks around every corner. If you are looking for some of the best survival games to come out in the past year, then look no further as we compile some of the best survival titles that have recently launched and deserve to be on your list.

Stay Out of the House

Survival/Horror/Retro
Our Review: 9/10

If you want edge-of-your-seat horror then look no further. Read below for story details:

The game centers around a cannibalistic serial killer who abducts his victims and they never see the light of day again. The game begins in a desolate gas station and the player takes on the role of the solo worker on the night shift. Her shift is cut short thanks to the killer's antics. The remainder of the game is based on Roxanne, a tourist caught in the middle of a deadly ritual.

Roxanne is eventually caught and held captive in the serial killer’s house. The player must use wits, stealth, and various items scattered throughout the house in order to escape. Along the way, Roxanne uncovers sinful secrets in this rural farmhouse of hell that is both shocking and disturbing. Can Roxanne survive the dreaded grasp of the serial killer and escape with her life?

Initially, the story seems a bit cliche but once you advance a bit further you begin to realize there are some sinister secrets worth discovering. The story and lore unravel as you explore throughout the game, whether it's through newspaper clippings or environmental storytelling. I truly enjoyed the story and appreciated the twisted turns it decided to take, along with the multiple endings.

Stay Out of the House is available now for PC via Steam and GOG.

Resident Evil 2, 3, 7, and Village (Switch Cloud)

Survival/Horror

Resident Evil 2 Metacritic score 89/100

Resident Evil 3 Our Score 8/10

Resident Evil 7 Our Score 9/10

Resident Evil Village Our Score 9/10

The original survival horror behemoth has made its way to the Switch via cloud. Clearly, the games will need a decent internet connection to play but the fact that all of these major titles will be playable on a handheld is an awesome idea. Resident Evil helped shape the survival genre into what it is today. Check out the various links to our reviews if you haven't given these classic titles a try just yet.

Gloomwood

Survival/Stealth/Simulator

Early Access First Impression

New Blood Interactive has brought us the likes of Dusk and Ultrakill, both grand ventures in modern retro titles. They are back at it again with another modernized retro title that aims to revive the immersive sim genre. Gloomwood is a dark Victorian themed stealth based immersive sim that throws players into a mysterious world. There is a lot of hype for this title and for a good reason. With a community-given tagline of “Thief with guns”, I can confidently say that Gloomwood is much more than just a Thief clone. It is shaping up to be a fantastic survival horror game that we can’t wait to experience the fully finished product.

Gloomwood is available now on PC for Steam Early Access.

V Rising

Survival/Open World/Multiplayer

Early Access - Check out our Top 5 Tips For Beginners

After awakening as a vampire, you must hunt for blood in nearby settlements to regain your strength and evade the scorching sun to survive. Rebuild your castle and convert humans into your loyal servants in a quest to raise your vampire empire. Make allies online, fend off holy soldiers, and wage war against other players in a world of conflict.

V Rising is bringing together a mixture of different gameplay elements and is sure to provide a unique experience as a vampire. Building your own castle, converting humans into vampire servants, and an online aspect to interact with players, all while fighting for survival and hiding from the sun.

V Rising is available now on PC via Steam Early Access.

Resident Evil 4 VR

Survival/Horror/Virtual Reality

Metacritic Score: 85/100

The renowned classic that evolved survival horror into what it looks like today, Resident Evil 4 is entirely playable in VR thanks to the Quest 2. This version of Resident Evil 4 is exclusive to the Meta Quest 2 and features brand-new interactive features that take full advantage of the VR headset and controllers. This is arguably one of the best ways to experience the game and will truly satisfy your nostalgic and survival needs!

Resident Evil 4 VR is available now exclusively on Meta Quest 2.

Grounded

Survival/Multiplayer

Metacritic Score: 83/100

Ever wonder what it would be like if you were actually in “Honey I shrunk The Kids?” Grounded takes players on a giant-sized adventure to survive amongst the horrors of one’s backyard. Take on giant bugs and craft to survive in this tiny world made big.

Grounded is available now for Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and PC.

Hunt Showdown

Survival/Multiplayer

Our Score: 8/10

This game has evolved into something truly special. It is amazing that it does not receive as much spotlight as it truly deserves. Hunt Showdown is one of the best survival multiplayer games that is currently being offered. Instead of following the footsteps of popular Battle Royale titles, Hunt decided to do something of its own and create a unique PvPvE experience that does not reward the higher kill streak, but strategy. You load into a game and you take the appropriate risk. Survival is everything in this title. Goodluck.

Hunt Showdown is available now for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC via Steam.

The Last of US Part I

Survival/Single Player

Metacritic Score: 88/100

The Last of Us is a classic in the genre. This game is all about surviving and choosing what to live for. Naughty Dog did an excellent job in this deep narrative-driven title and if you haven't had the chance to pick it up yet, there is no better time than now. The PS5 is the best way to play this game currently and the PC version is set to release soon.

The Last of Us Part I is available now for PlayStation 5 and launching on PC very soon.