7 Horror games like Dear Esther: Landmark Edition that you should try

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We filtered the 50 games similar to Dear Esther: Landmark Edition down to the 7 that fit the “Horror” category. The Exit 8, Fatum Betula and Cosmic Osmo and the Worlds Beyond the Mackerel top the list, ranked by affinity and similarity score to Dear Esther: Landmark Edition.

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GenreAdventureSubgenreOpen World Action-Adventure

The best horror games like Dear Esther: Landmark Edition

7 similar games foundUpdated July 2026

Handpicked by our similarity algorithm, these are the titles with the highest gameplay match to Dear Esther: Landmark Edition. Each one has been evaluated across 14 real attributes — from combat style and progression mechanics to world structure and visual perspective — so every recommendation is based on how the game actually plays, not just its genre label.

#1The Exit 8

iRank93

GenreAdventureSubgenreOpen World Action-Adventure

SoloNarrativeOpen WorldLinearHorrorExplorationFirst Person

Steam👍 93%· 11KIGDB93· 2

Year 2023Dev KOTAKE CREATE · PLAYISMOn Xbox · PS4 · Switch

✓ Same family of open-world adventures: adventure storytelling, horror tension and puzzle design

≠ Stands apart with deep simulation, dark, oppressive atmosphere and setting modern, while skipping vibe casual

GenreAdventureSubgenreOpen World Action-Adventure

SoloCasualNarrativeOpen WorldHorrorExplorationFirst Person

Steam👍 96%· 1.1KIGDB80· 1

Year 2020Dev Bryce BucherPlaytime ~1hOn PC

✓ Fits the open-world adventures cluster, with adventure storytelling, puzzle design and horror tension

≠ Its own twist: dark, oppressive atmosphere, while skipping vibe relaxing

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Steam Nintendo itch.io

#3Cosmic Osmo and the Worlds Beyond the Mackerel

iRank79

GenreAdventureSubgenreOpen World Action-Adventure

SoloCasualNarrativeOpen WorldHorrorExplorationFirst Person

Steam👍 79%· 115

Dev Cyan WorldsPlaytime ~1hOn PC

✓ Both are open-world adventures — sharing adventure storytelling, puzzle design and horror tension

≠ Stands apart with cozy, relaxing feel, procedural generation and setting scifi, while skipping vibe relaxing

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Steam

#4The Vanishing of Ethan Carter

iRank84

GenreAdventureSubgenreOpen World Action-Adventure

SoloNarrativeOpen WorldHorrorExplorationFirst Person

Steam👍 88%· 9.0KIGDB82· 16OC79· 90

Year 2014Dev The AstronautsOn PS4 · PC · Xbox

✓ Both are open-world adventures — sharing adventure storytelling, puzzle design and horror tension

≠ Its own twist: dark, oppressive atmosphere, combat magic and setting space, while skipping vibe casual

GenreAdventureSubgenreOpen World Action-Adventure

SoloNarrativeOpen WorldHorrorExplorationFirst Person

Steam👍 96%· 102KIGDB85· 7OC85· 61

Year 2019Dev Mobius Digital · Annapurna InteractiveOn Xbox · PS4 · PC

✓ Both are open-world adventures — sharing adventure storytelling, puzzle design and horror tension

≠ Stands apart with deep simulation, melee combat and setting space, while skipping vibe casual

GenreAdventureSubgenreOpen World Action-Adventure

SoloNarrativeCasualOpen WorldHorrorExplorationFirst Person

Steam👍 91%· 97KIGDB79· 18OC80· 134

Year 2016Dev Campo Santo · PanicOn PS4 · Linux · PC

✓ Both are open-world adventures — sharing adventure storytelling, horror tension and strong narrative focus

≠ Stands apart with dark, oppressive atmosphere, while skipping puzzle design

GenreAdventureSubgenreOpen World Action-Adventure

SoloNarrativeOpen WorldHorrorFantasyExplorationFirst Person

Steam👍 92%· 4.1KIGDB90· 1

Year 1999Dev Looking Glass Studios · Eidos InteractiveOn PC

✓ Both are open-world adventures — sharing adventure storytelling, horror tension and strong narrative focus

≠ Where it differs: brings deep simulation, dark, oppressive atmosphere and stealth mechanics, while skipping puzzle design

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Rankings in the same genre

Best Open-World Adventure Games Best Adventure Games