Best Survival Horror Games With Realistic Inventory System

Part of the appeal of survival horror games is their ability to immerse players enough that they truly feel like their life is on the line. There are many elements that contribute to this feeling; the setting, the enemies, even the acting. If these are too unrealistic, it can really take away from the frightening aspects that players are looking for. One of the most hit-or-miss features in this regard is the inventory.

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Inventory systems can make or break the player’s experience with a game, whether it’s the size, management, or general UI. There are certainly some survival horror games that leave players wondering “would that really all fit in their pocket/bag?”. This list focuses on survival horror games that have a realistic inventory, emphasizing how truly restricted the players are.

10

Amnesia: The Bunker

Collect Bags For More Space

Released

May 16, 2023

OpenCritic Rating

Strong

The Amnesia games have experimented with a variety of different inventory systems, from fixed items like in The Dark Descent to no inventory at all in A Machine For Pigs. Amnesia: The Bunker takes on a more traditional system, with limited yet upgradable inventory space.

As players make their way through the ominous bunker, they will come across many useful resources, from tools to weapons to health items. While these take up space, players can increase their inventory size with “Pocket Bags” – much more believable than Daniel’s ability to carry umpteen bottles of oil and tinderboxes with nothing but a couple of pockets.

9

The Last Of Us Part 2

More Limitations Than Part 1

Systems

Franchise

The Last of Us

Released

June 19, 2020

OpenCritic Rating

Mighty

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The Last Of Us Part 2, while maintaining a lot of the elements that players enjoyed in Part 1, did change some features and mechanics. Aside from the narrative focus – switching from Joel and Ellie to Ellie and Abby – and graphics, one major gameplay alteration was the inventory and crafting system.

One of the more divisive changes is reduced backpack storage. While this makes the gameplay relatively more challenging, it encourages players to engage more with resource management. All in all, this limitation feels much more appropriate for a game set in the post-apocalypse where items are scarce and difficult judgement calls must be made.

8

DayZ

No Pocket Left Unfilled

Released

December 13, 2018

Multiplayer

Local Multiplayer

OpenCritic Rating

Weak

DayZ is an online multiplayer zombie survival game set in the fictional country of Chernarus, with the main objective of staying alive. Players will have to contend with zombies, other players, and the environment (including illness, radiation, and temperature), all while making sure they have the means to survive.

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With such brutal conditions, it is no surprise that the inventory system is equally realistic. Starting with basic apparel and (very) basic supplies, players will have to find new clothes and equipment if they want to be able to carry more. Tactical vests, backpacks, and belts are all items that can make a real difference.

7

Resident Evil 7: Biohazard

Trusty Backpack Storage

Released

January 24, 2017

OpenCritic Rating

Mighty

Resident Evil 7: Biohazard marked a return to the survival horror roots of the franchise, turning its back on the previous couple of games’ action FPS-driven gameplay to focus more on stealth, resource management, and exploration. Biohazard follows Ethan Winters as he searches for his missing wife in Louisiana, which leads him to a family home with much more disturbing secrets.

On their mission, the player will need to pick up items for puzzles, weapons, and first aid. Unfortunately, Ethan’s inventory is limited. Fortunately, this can be improved by finding backpacks; much more immersive in comparison to the obscene amount of weapons Leon can fit in his briefcase in Resident Evil 4 (which he doesn’t even appear to carry with him).

6

A Quiet Place: The Road Ahead

Scavenge To Survive

Franchise

A Quiet Place

Released

October 17, 2024

Developer(s)

Stormind Games

OpenCritic Rating

Fair

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A Quiet Place: The Road Ahead received a lot of criticism upon its release, with many finding the gameplay slow and repetitive. Yet, for all its flaws, the game does a lot of things right, from its tense atmosphere to the disturbing visual and sound design of the Death Angels. The emphasis on staying quiet is ultimately still an anxiety-inducing concept.

Surviving in this world is a matter of improvising with what’s at hand. Inhalers and batteries can be stored, but other, heavier items can only be carried, which makes sense; hauling a bag of bricks around is inconvenient at best when stealth and asthma management are paramount.

5

Alone In The Dark

Always Check The Inside Pockets

Third-Person Shooter

Survival Horror

Franchise

Alone in the Dark

Released

June 23, 2008

Developer(s)

Eden Games

With the original 1992 game being an inspiration for Capcom’s Resident Evil, Alone in the Dark has the player investigating a haunted mansion, in the process uncovering the dark history of its inhabitants. The 2008 game is by no means the best survival horror game out there, complete with awkward controls and un-ignorable bugs. But with all that in mind, the title had some fresh features that garnered it a cult following.

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One of the most memorable details is the inventory system; the entire extent of players’ items are contained within Carnaby’s jacket. This proves detrimentally realistic as perusing through the inventory does not pause the game, leaving the player vulnerable to being caught off-guard.

4

Outlast 1 & 2

Batteries & Bandages Are Players’ Only Friends

Released

November 4, 2013

OpenCritic Rating

Strong

After its release in 2013, Outlast quickly gained a reputation as one of the scariest survival horror games of all time. The games make great use of body horror, claustrophobic environments, and disturbing narratives, not to mention the signature camcorder mechanics. The main source of fear comes from the player’s vulnerability, their only options being “run, hide, or die”.

As an unsuspecting investigative journalist, the player is equipped with nothing but a night vision camera, needing to collect the sparsely placed batteries or be plunged into total darkness. Outlast 2 adds bandages into the mix, which are visibly stored in the main character’s belt, which can only carry 3 at once.

3

Silent Hill: Shattered Memories

What Can’t Cell Phones Do?

Systems

Released

December 8, 2009

Silent Hill: Shattered Memories isn’t part of the franchise’s main series of games, being a spin-off based on the original game, and, as such, often flies under the radar. Despite this, the game’s disturbing plot and atmosphere, coupled with a lack of combat, earned Shattered Memories significant praise by fans.

As an amnesiac Harry Mason searches for his daughter, he comes face-to-face with monsters in an icy nightmare dimension. The player is armed only with a cell phone to make calls, look at the map, and take photos, and a flashlight; a smart UI that omits the need to carry unnecessary items. During chase sequences, the only options are to run or find a repellent flare.

2

Condemned: Criminal Origins

Improvise Melee Weapons On The Go

Systems

Released

November 22, 2005

Developer(s)

Monolith Productions

Despite being released in 2005, Condemned: Criminal Origins has held up as a terrifying survival horror game, holding its own against newer titles with an uncomfortable atmosphere and graphic combat. Part of what has made Criminal Origins an enduring title is its refreshing lack of resource management, with the player simply picking up new items as they go.

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The game follows FBI agent, Ethan Thomas, as he investigates an increase in serial killings and grapples with his own personal involvement. The combat is brutally melee-focused, with weapons having limited durability (and occasionally dual purpose). Even if they find a firearm, there’s no convenient ammo lying around, frequently forcing the player to get up close and personal.

1

Project Zomboid

Grapple With Savage Conditions

Systems

Released

November 8, 2013

ESRB

m

Developer(s)

The Indie Stone

Project Zomboid is the archetype of a quality survival game, notorious for its steep learning curve. Set in the fictional “Knox County”, the player must survive relentless infected and the many environmental risks in the hopes of being rescued and saving humanity. Alongside needing to regulate needs such as hunger, tiredness, and temperature, and to avoid the many, many different ways to die, the inventory system is also very limited.

Items’ weight and size really matter in Project Zomboid; too heavy and the player’s character can’t carry them, too big and they won’t fit in their inventory. As in real life, improving their character’s strength and fitness stats by exercising can increase how much they are able to carry. Likewise, bags of varying sizes can be found to upsize their inventory (the military backpack having the most space with 36 slots). Overall, Project Zomboid is both challenging and isolating, but for those looking for a largely realistic survival horror with plenty of intensity, it is the perfect experience.

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