Games Like Resident Evil 4: 8 Tense Action Horror Picks

The closest games to Resident Evil 4 are Dead Space 2 and The Evil Within: over-the-shoulder aiming, enemies rushing at you, every bullet counting. Capcom's classic created a formula everyone went on to copy, right between fast action and horror. Here are eight games that carry it on, inside the Resident Evil series and beyond it.

Why Resident Evil 4 is a classic

Before it, Resident Evil meant fixed cameras and slow zombies. Resident Evil 4 put the camera over Leon's shoulder and changed everything. Shoot a leg, the enemy stumbles, follow up with a kick. The villagers don't shamble: they climb ladders, open doors and surround you. Every fight turns into a quick chess match under pressure.

Around that you get the attaché case to organise, the merchant who keeps showing up, weapons to upgrade and a pace that keeps switching scenery. It takes about 24 hours to finish according to players on IGDB. That's long for a Resident Evil, and it still never drags.

How to choose your next one

Want the same tension with more horror? Go for Dead Space 2 or the two Evil Within games, the first directed by series creator Shinji Mikami. Want to stay in the family? Resident Evil 5 keeps the over-the-shoulder view and adds co-op, the Resident Evil 2 remake brings back the fear, and Village returns to the hostile village in first person. See how long Resident Evil Village takes.

If it's the shoulder-cam action you loved most, Gears of War is a good sidestep. For more scares, our best horror games list has plenty.

1. 

   1. Dead Space 2

   2011 · Main story 13.5 h

   Isaac Clarke, a space station overrun by Necromorphs and one rule: shoot the limbs, not the head. The shoulder camera and ammo management come straight from RE4, with a far more oppressive mood. It's probably the best heir to the formula.

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2. 

   2. The Evil Within

   2014 · Main story 13 h

   Directed by Shinji Mikami, the man behind Resident Evil 4, and it shows. A detective trapped in a nightmare, tough enemies, almost no bullets and traps everywhere. Harder and grimmer than RE4, it's great if Leon always felt a bit too comfortable to you.

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3. 

   3. The Evil Within 2

   2017 · Main story 13.5 h

   The sequel opens things up with wider areas to search and more room for stealth. You pick your fights, craft your ammo and avoid what's too dangerous. More approachable than the first game, and the monsters are just as twisted.

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4. 

   4. Resident Evil 5

   2009 · Main story 13.5 h

   The direct follow-up in spirit: same over-the-shoulder view, same infected enemies attacking in groups, same weapon upgrades. The big addition is two-player co-op from start to finish. More action than fear, set in bright sunlit areas instead of dark corridors, and perfect to play with a friend.

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5. 

   5. Resident Evil 2

   2019 · Main story 6.5 h

   The Resident Evil 2 remake borrows RE4's shoulder camera but puts fear back at the centre. Raccoon City police station, zombies that soak up bullets, Mr. X stalking you through the halls. Shorter and tighter, it's one of the series' best. Also see how long it takes.

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6. 

   6. Resident Evil Village

   2021 · Main story 10 h

   An Eastern European village, villagers gone mad, a friendly merchant: Village is an obvious nod to RE4, but in first person. Ethan faces all kinds of creatures across very different areas. More action than RE7 and a great gothic atmosphere.

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7. 

   7. Resident Evil: Revelations 2

   2015 · Main story 8 h

   An episodic entry with Claire Redfield and Barry Burton, built for co-op. You switch between one character who shoots and another who searches or spots enemies. Lesser known and more modest, but it captures RE4's mix of tension and action well.

   Add to my pile →
8. 

   8. Gears of War

   2006 · Main story 5 h

   No horror here, but an over-the-shoulder camera that owes a lot to Resident Evil 4. You take cover, flank and bring down massive creatures with a chainsaw bayonet. If the weighty, precise shooting is what hooked you, it's well worth a look.

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FAQ

What game is most like Resident Evil 4?

Dead Space 2 and The Evil Within are the closest. Both keep the over-the-shoulder camera, precise limb shots and tight ammo management. The Evil Within is even directed by Shinji Mikami, who created Resident Evil 4.

How long does it take to beat Resident Evil 4?

About 24 hours according to players on IGDB. It's one of the longer Resident Evil games, with lots of different areas, but the pace keeps changing so it stays gripping right to the end.

Which Resident Evil should I play after Resident Evil 4?

Resident Evil 5 for the same action plus co-op. The Resident Evil 2 remake for more fear with a modern camera. Resident Evil Village if you like the idea of a hostile village seen in first person.