When it comes to not having allies or companions in a game, it can often feel lonely. That is why some of the best games that don’t offer companionship or allies are horror titles that want to use that feeling of isolation against you.
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Of course, there are some great RPGs as well that offer little to no allies to aid you on your journey.
These are some of my favorite games because I enjoy a good single-player experience that doesn’t provide help or require you to watch over someone else.
If a game has a few optional allied NPCs and you can complete the game without their aid, I won’t ignore its inclusion.
10Elden Ring
Nobody in the Lands Between
Elden Ring
Fextralife
To be fair, you can say thatElden Ringhas allies, since you can summon NPCs to aid you during boss fights. On the other hand, you can complete the entire game without using any allies to show off your skills.
Deciding to play the game without allies in tow gives you amuch more difficult experiencein this Soulslike title, but the struggle is rewarding if you may manage to take down the game’s numerous bosses.
I love Elden Ring and think it fits since I often play the game without any help, and it really gives you that lonely feeling as you attempt to find your way in the Lands Between. I rank it this low solely because you have the opportunity to get help if you so choose, and no one will judge you. I promise.
9The Forest
Loneliness and Cannibals
The Forest
There is something about being trapped in the forest that makes you feel lonely. There is nobody around, your voice echoes through the trees, and a cult of hungry cannibals are trying to eat your face.
InThe Forest,you are trapped in a forest with mutant cannibals and must survive the impossible odds. The crafting system is well implemented and, most importantly, you will constantly feel like you are alone, needing to watch every move you make. No allies are coming to save you.
The sequel to The Forest, called Sons of the Forest, is also one of thebest-looking survival gamesI’ve personally played, and I recommend either of them if you are in the mood for a good scare.
8The Talos Principle
Solving Puzzles, Alone
The Talos Principle
There is just something aboutThe Talos Principlethat makes you feel more alone in the world. Maybe it is the fact that you are an android, maybe it has to do with the vacancy on the island you find yourself on, or maybe it is your questioning of humanity and the purpose of life.
This game is full of ways to confuse you and twist your mind. Some of the puzzles even make thosefound in Portal look pretty basic, and not in a good way.
Throughout the entire game, you have no allies to aid you on your journey, and all puzzles must be solved by yourself. With that being said, it is very rewarding when you reach the end, knowing that you completed everything by yourself.
7Alien: Isolation
Isolated With An Alien
Alien: Isolation
There is nothing more terrifying than being stuck in a space station without anyone to turn to for help, especially when you have a bloodthirsty alien tracking you down. Without question,Alien Isolationgives you that lonesome feeling, and there isn’t anyone to save you.
This game excels in making you feel like you have nobody coming to your aid. The main downsides are that the game has an underwhelming ending and that escaping the Xenomorph can be frustrating due to its one-hit-kill nature.
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I remember playing this game on the Xbox 360 with Kinect motion tracking, and it was a truly surreal experience having the character’s head move when mine did, while trying to keep still. While it was a bit nauseating at times, it was nevertheless a fantastic experience.
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Dead Space 2
When it comes to feeling lonely,Dead Space 2is the game that I go to. Around every corner, your allies are dying, and you need to figure out a way to escape before you meet your doom.
This game continues the story from the first Dead Space and puts you in the shoes of Isaac Clarke after he awakens from a coma aboard a space station called The Sprawl. Dead Space 2 is full of puzzles, intense combat moments, and general creepiness that will keep you on edge.
The Dead Space games have a way of making you feel alone by killing off everyone who could be perceived as an ally, leaving you alone in the dark with nobody to ask for help. The overall jankiness of the puzzles and maneuverability is all that I can say I dislike about the game.
5Bloodborne
Fear, blood, and Loneliness
Bloodborne
Fextralife Wiki
FromSoftware titles have a way of making you feel lonely as they don’t offer you much help. One in particular that stands out among these isBloodborne.
Bloodborne originally didn’t offer you any help. Each boss fight had to be won through attrition and self-determination, making each boss feel like a major accomplishment when you finally took it down.
While this changed with the addition of The Old Hunters DLC -arguably one of the best DLCs, giving you summonable allies to aid you in boss fights, the original version of this title still stands strong as one of the best that you’re able to play without allies.
Test Yourself
One of the earlier titles that didn’t give you any sort of companionship (unless you count the companion cube that you burn) isPortal.Throughout the entire game, you are forced to complete tests for a sadistic robot who mocks you constantly.
There is no camaraderie to be found, nobody is there to help you, there is just you and a robot whose nicest words are, “You’re not a good person. You know that, right?”
Portal is an amazing puzzle game for those who want to test their problem-solving skills and don’t mind getting mocked nonstop. I would have included Portal 2 instead, but you are accompanied by Glados during part of the game as a reluctant ally, and that didn’t sit right with me for this list.
My Nightmares Become Real
If you have never heard ofF.E.A.R., know this game is the reason many people have a fear of seeing little girls with long black hair - that and The Ring.
Throughout the game, there are only a few missions where you have allies, but they are quickly dispatched and left to die a horrible paranormal fate.
You spend most of the game alone, with any allies you come across being quickly used as meat shields or falling victim to the entity you are tracking. It is a thrilling game that takes many turns, and I recommend it to anyone who likes horror games and action films.
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F.E.A.R. is mostly held back by the technology of its time, and a full remake of the game could possibly see some major success. Some story beats could be strengthened with a rewrite of the script as well.
Trapped in a Cycle
Being stuck in an endless cycle is never fun, and it’s even worse when you are forced to do it alone because you are the only one who understands that a cycle is going on, and you are trapped on an alien planet. Welcome toReturnal.
After crash-landing on an alien planet, you are forced to use the tools at your disposal to survive waves of unknown creatures and environmental effects. While I am typically not a fan ofroguelike titles, the intricate and ever-changing world and intriguing story really made this one stand out to me.
Returnal is one of those games that makes you feel alone, thanks to the endless cycle and being forced to discover a world without companionship. And a lot of dying. I mean,a lot.
1Resident Evil 8
Vampires and Werewolves, Oh My
Resident Evil Village
The Resident Evil series is known for leaving you on your own. Most of the games often have you searching decrepit locations, hoping to find someone who is alive who can help you, only for you to be left disappointed.
With that being said, the series received a bit of an enhancement to the general distraught feeling when Resident Evil 7 andResident Evil 8were released.
Both games follow the story of Ethan Winters as he searches for his wife and daughter. While Ethan is alone in both, Resident Evil 8 makes you feel even more helpless than its predecessor, with thegame getting better as you go.
Village is full of scenarios where you wish that you had an ally to aid you. Alas, the closest you get is a jolly merchant whom you can purchase items from. Despite the lack of a companion, Resident Evil 8 isn’t held back by anything except its loose ties to the rest of the franchise.
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