Fixed camera angles have a way of makinghorror gameseven more terrifying. By restricting what players can see, they create moments of tension where something could be lurking just off-screen, but there’s no way to know until it’s too late. The best games that use this technique know how to turn simple movements like entering a new room into moments of sheer dread.
10 Best Horror Games with a Silent Protagonist
A silent protagonist can make horror games even more unsettling and these terrifying games prove just how effective it can be.
While many modern horror games have moved towards over-the-shoulder perspectives, there’s something undeniably eerie about the way fixed angles build atmosphere. These games prove that true horror isn’t just about what’s in front of the players, but also about what they can’t see coming.
10Them and Us
Love Letter to Classic Horror
Taking inspiration from Resident Evil andSilent Hill, Them and Us wears its love for survival horror on its sleeve. It follows Alicia, a survivor of a bus crash who finds herself trapped in a nightmarish mansion filled with grotesque creatures. With limited resources and classic tank controls, Them and Us nails the tension that defined the golden age of fixed-camera horror.
One of its standout features is the ability to switch between modern over-the-shoulder gameplay and the traditional fixed camera mode. But purists will find the latter the most effective as it enhances the eerie atmosphere with carefully-crafted angles that always make the player feel watched.
While it doesn’t reinvent the wheel, Them and Us proves that the old-school formula still delivers chilling results.
The Puppet Master’s Nightmare
A gothic horror game that feels like it was ripped straight from the PS1 era, Alisa is a passion project that throws players into a bizarre, dollhouse-like nightmare. Set in a twisted mansion filled with mechanical monstrosities and eerie, doll-like enemies, players step into the shoes of Alisa, an elite soldier who stumbles into this surreal world while chasing a criminal.
Beyond its fixed angles and tank controls, Alisa leans into its unsettling aesthetic, with its enemies moving in stiff, unnatural ways, like marionettes possessed by something sinister.
Despite being a modern game, Alisa uses the archaic save system and resource management which only add to the tension, making every bullet count. For those who crave the awkward yet deeply-immersive horror of early Resident Evil games, Alisa is a hidden gem.
8Cold Fear
Horror on the High Seas
Before Dead Space made outer space feel unsafe, Cold Fear made the open ocean just as terrifying. Released in 2005, this survival horror game puts players in the boots of Tom Hansen, a Coast Guard officer investigating a derelict Russian whaling ship. But what starts as a routine mission quickly turns into a fight for survival against parasitic creatures known as the Exocels.
The fixed camera angles amplify the unique setting, especially when combined with the ship’s physics. The vessel constantly rocks with the waves, making gunfights feel even more chaotic as bodies slide across the deck and enemies lurch unpredictably. While Cold Fear was overshadowed by Resident Evil 4 when it was released, its grim atmosphere and intense combat make it a horror experience worth revisiting.
7Tormented Souls
Old-School Terror with a Modern Twist
Tormented Souls
Tormented Soulsis what happens when someone distills the essence of Resident Evil and Silent Hill into a modern indie horror game. Set in the abandoned Wildberger Hospital, it follows Caroline Walker as she investigates a missing persons case, only to find herself trapped in a waking nightmare.
The fixed angles create striking cinematography, often positioning Caroline in ways that heighten the fear factor, like framing her in a dimly-lit hallway where something shifts in the background. Classic mechanics like limited saves, puzzle-solving and grotesque enemy designs make Tormented Souls feel like a lost PS2-era horror title, proving that the old formula still works when done right.
6Alone in the Dark
The Grandfather of Survival Horror
Alone in the Dark
Before Resident Evil defined survival horror, Alone in the Dark laid the groundwork. The original 1992 game is often considered the first true survival horror title, placing players in a Lovecraftian mansion filled with unspeakable horrors.
Fixed camera angles were a necessity due to hardware limitations, but they unintentionally became a core part of the horror, forcing players to navigate pre-rendered environments while never knowing what lurked just outside their field of vision. While the series has had ups and downs, its influence on horror gaming is undeniable.
5Dino Crisis
Sadly, No One Says “Clever Girl” in this Game
Dino Crisis
In a nutshell, Dino Crisis is Resident Evil, but instead ofzombies, players are up against hyper-intelligent velociraptors. Developed by Capcom and directed by Shinji Mikami, this 1999 survival horror classic follows Regina and her team as they investigate a research facility overrun by prehistoric nightmares.
Every Dino Crisis Game, Ranked
From heart-pounding escapes through dino-infested labs to dinosaurs in space, the Dino Crisis series has taken us on a wild ride.
The fixed camera angles make every encounter nerve-wracking as raptors can pounce from off-screen, and tight corridors make escape nearly impossible. Unlike zombies, these creatures are fast and unpredictable, forcing players to think on their feet.
The mix of sci-fi horror and survival mechanics made it an instant hit, and while there is an unofficial Unreal Engine 5 remake, it’s nowhere near as fun as the original.
Cosmic Horror Through a PS1 Lens
Blending retro aesthetics with cosmic horror, Signalis feels like a lost classic from the late ‘90s. Set in a dystopian future where androids known as Replikas uncover a horrifying secret, Signalis takes heavy inspiration from Silent Hill, Resident Evil and even thefilm, Ghost in the Shell.
The fixed camera angles are used to stunning effect, creating an oppressive atmosphere where every shadow could be hiding something unspeakable. Paired with its cryptic storytelling and eerie sound design, Signalis delivers an experience that lingers in mind long after the credits roll.
3Fatal Frame 2: Crimson Butterfly
The Scariest Camera Flash in Gaming
Fatal Frame 2: Crimson Butterly
Unlike most horror games that arm players with guns or melee weapons, Fatal Frame 2 forces them to fight ghosts with only a camera, much like the Outlast games. Set in a cursed village, it follows twin sisters Mio and Mayu as they get trapped in a supernatural nightmare filled with vengeful spirits.
The use of fixed camera angles intensifies the suffocating atmosphere, often forcing players to move through tight, dimly-lit spaces while hearing whispers and distant wails. The Camera Obscura, the only means of defense, requires players to face the horror head-on, making for some of the most terrifying encounters in survival horror history.
2Resident Evil 2
Survival Horror’s Gold Standard
Resident Evil 2
Few games define the fixed-camera horror experience as well asResident Evil 2.The 1998 classic perfected the formula that its predecessor introduced, throwing players into the heart of a zombie outbreak in Raccoon City.
With two playable characters, Leon and Claire, Resident Evil 2 expanded on every aspect of the original game while refining the tension-filled gameplay. The fixed camera angles weren’t just a design choice; they were a core part of the horror, often concealing lurking threats and making every room feel like a potential death trap. The 2019 remake may have modernized the experience, but the original still stands as one of the greatest horror games ever made.
1Silent Hill 2
A Descent Into Psychological Horror
Silent Hill 2
There are all of the standard horror games on one side and then there’sSilent Hill 2. It doesn’t just rely on jump scares or grotesque monsters, but dives into psychological horror like no other, telling a deeply-unsettling story about guilt, loss and self-destruction.
James Sunderland’s journey through Silent Hill is a masterclass in atmosphere, with thick fog and suffocating interiors hiding nightmares both literal and metaphorical. The fixed camera angles amplify the unease, often trapping players in uncomfortable compositions that make them feel small and powerless.
Whether it’s the haunting story, the disturbing creature designs or Akira Yamaoka’s unforgettable soundtrack, Silent Hill 2 remains a landmark of horror gaming. For people who lovepretty video game graphics, the remake might be the better option, but for those chasing a more authentic experience, the original delivers in droves.
10 Classic Horror Games from the 2000s
Here are some of the best horror games from the 2000s.
