Genericization is what happens when a trademarked brand name becomes so ubiquitous that folks start using the name as an umbrella term for all similar products within its niche. From “Aspirin” to “Ziploc” bags, this process is usually only achieved once a company has completely cornered a market, with some brand names often outlasting the companies that created them.
In the world of videogames, we see this a lot in terms of defining new genres. While the industry tends to eventually settle on a brand-neutral standard, many critics initially resort to comparing games to the most popular example of their genre, coining terms like “Souls-like” and “Doom-clone” to describe gameplay. And long before “Survival Horror” had been popularized as a genre descriptor, most gamers referred to resource-management-oriented horror titles as “Resident Evil Clones.”
Survival Horror games would eventually escape the confines of the Spencer Mansion, but many of those original “Clones” were incredibly fun to play despite their derivative design. That’s why it’s a shame that so many of them were forgotten in the ever-expanding sea of new releases. With that in mind, we’ve decided to shine a light on six underrated Resident Evil Clones that time forgot, in an effort to rescue them from obscurity.
While we’ll only be featuring lesser-known titles on this list (that means no Dino Crisis or Silent Hill), don’t forget to comment below with your own favorite Resident Evil Clones if you think we missed an important one.
Now, onto the list…
6. Extermination (2001)
While we’d see an officially licensed (and surprisingly fun) The Thing game a year later, Deep Space’s Extermination was the closest you could get to a John Carpenter-inspired Survival Horror experience back in 2001. Taking place in the (then) near-future of 2005, the game puts players in the shoes of Sgt. Dennis Riley, an isolated Marine investigating a distress call from an Antarctic research facility. Naturally, a sci-fi horror experience ensues as mutated creatures attempt to kill and infect our protagonist.
While the game’s highly customizable main weapon and chilling atmosphere are cool enough, the real anxiety-inducing highlight of Extermination is its infection system, with Riley constantly being on the verge of turning into one of the monsters that pursue him.
Curiously, the game was localized separately in Europe and North America, which led to some significant differences in dialogue and character design between both versions (though I’m partial to the less Hollywood-y PAL region take on the game).
5. The X-Files: Resist or Serve (2004)
Advertised as a collection of “lost” episodes from the show’s seventh season and written by television maestro Thomas Schnauz – while also featuring voice acting from the original cast – Resist or Serve was a surprisingly high-profile release despite its licensed origins. Featuring a trio of cases introduced by the classic X-Files intro sequence, this decidedly retro experience is a nostalgic treat for Survival Horror fans.
Sure, the fixed camera angles and limited resources were already dated back in 2004, but these slightly frustrating elements have since become part of the game’s period-accurate charms. After all, nothing says “90s” like having Agent Fox Mulder run away from a zombie because you used up all of your pistol ammo a couple of rooms ago.
Just make sure you play this one on a CRT television to get the full experience.
4. Nocturne (1999)
If you’re struggling with supernatural horrors during the Prohibition Era, who you gonna call? Spookhouse, that’s who! A secretive government organization set up by Teddy Roosevelt, Spookhouse is Nocturne’s equivalent to Hellboy’s BRPD, sending out agents to deal with paranormal threats that regular authorities aren’t equipped to handle.
While the game suffers from some janky combat mechanics and uneven difficulty as you take control of “The Stranger” on a series of eerie missions, the story and atmosphere make this strange little title a supernatural journey worth taking. You’ve certainly seen werewolves and zombies in other games, but definitely not while you’re in the middle of sabotaging an Al Capone operation.
And if you enjoy this one, I’d recommend seeking out the game’s pseudo-sequel in the form of the Blair Witch tie-in game BW Volume I: Rustin Parr, which sees Spookhouse agent Doc Holliday investigating a series of child murders in 1940s Burkittsville.
3. Deep Fear (1998)
This may be the most illusive game on this list, but the Sega Saturn’s Deep Fear remains one of the most intense survival experiences that the genre has to offer. Trapping players in an underwater research facility, the game follows ex-Navy SEAL John Mayor as he attempts to unravel the secrets of the facility while defending himself from mutated creatures and attempting not to die from asphyxiation.
Instead of bullets and ink ribbons, the real limited resource here is air, with Mayor being forced to constantly manage oxygen levels as he progresses through the game in a nerve-inducing mechanic that I’d love to see recreated in a modern horror title.
2. Cold Fear (2005)
Often referred to by its online nickname “Resident Evil 4 except it’s on a boat this time,” Darkwork’s Cold Fear is a thoroughly entertaining third-person-shooter that expertly recaptures the RE4 magic better than any of Capcom’s official sequels. Following Coast Guard Tom Hansen as he rushes to the aid of a Russian whaling vessel and finds the ship infested with zombies, the game sees players solving puzzles and shooting familiar parasites out of undead foes.
It may not be most original setup, but Cold Fear has a lot more up its sleeve than you might initially notice, featuring innovative character animations and a kick-ass soundtrack – all combined with a gameplay loop that smooths out a lot of Resident Evil’s excesses. Plus, the game is readily available on Steam for a reasonable price.
1. Obscure (2005)
Robert Rodriguez’s The Faculty is one of my favorite High School flicks, so it’s no surprise that Hydravision Entertainment’s Obscure takes the number one spot here, with the game basically serving as an unlicensed riff on the 1998 movie. Taking place in the conveniently maze-like Leafmore High, the game sees a group of five teenagers attempt to unravel the mystery behind a series of plant-like monster attacks once they become trapped within the school overnight.
While the main gameplay loop doesn’t really improve on the Resident Evil formula, it’s the couch co-op and permadeath elements that make Obscure stand out from other RE clones. The unique setting and killer 2000s soundtrack also make it a compelling time capsule for a simpler time in the horror genre.
And if you like this one, the college-set sequel is also quite fun, though it streamlines much of the experience into a more action-packed title.
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