Resident Evil Has Competition, Free Survival Horror Launch is Weeks Away

It looks like Resident Evil might have some competition with this new horror game releasing next month, which you can play for free right now.

Ok, when I say “Resident Evil might have some competition”, who am I kidding? When it comes to survival horror, my beloved RE and Silent Hill are absolute kings. That being said, being such a big fan of the survival horror genre, more spooky and gory goodness is always a good thing for me.

By now, I’m sure we’re all aware that Resident Evil Requiem releases in just over two months and will take us back to the nuked Raccoon City, roughly 30 years after the US government attempted to cover up the Umbrella Corps T-Virus outbreak, resulting in a mass zombie and mutant infestation.

Thankfully, the likes of Leon S. Kennedy, Claire and Chris Redfield and Jill Valentine exposed the shenanigans of Umbrella Corp following the Spencer Mansion and Raccoon City incidents. Though that still wasn't quite enough to stop the sinister pharmaceutical company at that time.

We Have So Much Survival Horror Goodness!

However, with no announcement from Capcom regarding a pre-release Resident Evil Requiem demo happening (which may still happen), what can we do to keep ourselves busy until then?

Of course, we can play any number of horror games from Resident Evil and Silent Hill, not to mention the likes of Cronos: The New Dawn, Dead Space, Tormented Souls and much more.

That being said, if you’d like to play something new and of the indie developer variety, then the upcoming The 9th Charnel, developed by Saikat Deb, might be worth checking out.

“A first-person psychological survival horror game, The 9th Charnel is filled with a rich and frightening atmosphere,” reads the synopsis of the game on Steam. “While exploring the many mysteries of this world, you must survive- whether you do it through stealth or by using weapons.

“At its scariest, the game preys on the player’s anxiety, survival, and Exploration skills. It takes place in a not-so-future world, where people have lost faith in the prosperity of human development, people are selfish, and governments are corrupt.”

While its gameplay trailer is a bit janky, it does give me Outlast and Resident Evil 7: Biohazard vibes. The 9th Charnel may not be out right now, but on the Steam store, you can download and play its demo right now, a good month before its full launch.

The 9th Charnel will be released on PC, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S on 30 January 2026.