5 Best Games Like The Callisto Protocol

Story-driven horror games have always held space on the gaming scene. Their gritty and dystopic atmosphere is a consistently immersive experience that never fails to give us goosebumps. The latest game that's evidence of this is The Callisto Protocol. Set 300 years in the future, you play as Jacob Lee, an inmate of Black Iron Prison. But when thing's at the prison take a turn for the worst, a.k.a everyone turns into bloodthirsty monsters, you must escape. In honor of that horror story, we've compiled a list of the five best games like The Callisto Protocol.

The Callisto Protocol is directed by Glen Schofield, who was a co-creator of the Dead Space series. One of the first and best story-driven action horror games ever made. So there's no denying that Schofield, drew heavy inspiration from that series for his latest title. But as a result, we got an even more horrific rendition of the concept with The Callisto Protocol. That's why today, we're answering the question of what other games are like The Callisto Protocol. Read on and find out!

5. The Last of Us Series

What better way to start this list than with The Last of Us? Developed by Naughty Dog, The Last of Us series is the studio's pinnacle story-driven action-adventure game that will soon be made into a TV show. Which is entirely due to its compelling, emotional, and immersive narrative.  In The Last of Us, a viral outbreak has taken over, transforming ordinary people into “Infested” monsters. Many of them resemble the monstrous creatures seen in The Callisto Protocol.

You play as Joel, the first game's protagonist, who must transport Ellie, a child who is immune to the infected, across plague-infected America in the hopes of turning her immunity into a cure. Let's just say that this journey you're about to embark on with these characters is not for the faint of heart. It is an emotional, gritty, and gut-wrenchingly intense experience. All of which are reasons why we recommend it as one of the best games like The Callisto Protocol.

4. Prey

2017's Prey is one game that puts you in a very similar experience to The Callisto Protocol. In Prey, you wake aboard the Talos I, a space station orbiting the moon in the year 2032. And, what was supposed to be a potential humanity-saving experiment involving you as the key subject, has now gone horribly wrong. That is, the Talos I space station where the experiment was supposed to take place has now been overrun by hostile alien monsters, all of whom are hunting you. Hence the name, Prey.

Now that you and the monsters are awake, you must scavenge the space station for resources, uncover the truth about your past, and find a way to put an end to the horror you're living through. Overall, Prey hits all the right notes: sci-fi, thriller/horror, and set in space. And as if the parallels couldn't get any stranger. Prey places you in a space station orbiting the moon. In The Callisto Protocol, however, Black Iron Prison is located on one of Jupiter's Moons. So, there are more than a couple of reasons why Prey is one of the best games like The Callisto Protocol.

3. Alien: Isolation

It didn't take long after Dead Space's success for other games to follow suit into the sci-fi horror genre. And one famous sci-fi story was still waiting for its video game counterpart to spring to life. That is the iconic sci-fi horror story Alien. That's right, the film that first immersed many of us into the thriller genre. That's why, in 2014, it was a no-brainer to turn the story into an interactive and thrilling game with Alien: Isolation.

However, Alien: Isolation is more than just a video game adaptation of the film. The game takes place fifteen years after Ridley Scott's Alien, where Ellen Ripley's daughter, Amanda is the main protagonist. Amanda is determined to uncover the truth behind her mother's disappearance, but she has no idea that embarking on this mission will put her right in her mother's shoes from the movie fifteen years ago. So, if you're a fan of Alien, and The Callisto Protocol, you can't go wrong with Alien: Isolation.

2. Scorn

Scorn was another big horror game that was released just a little over a month prior to The Callisto Protocol. And, while it didn't get as much attention as the ladder, Scorn still delivered a spine-chilling horror experience. One that stood out due to its unique feature of not incorporating a map or objective for the player. You are simply left to explore the game's grotesque world and discover its narrative on your own, with no guidance. Which, we will say it's a double-edged sword at times.

Not in a bad way, but more so in the, “I'm lost and shouldn't be here” type of way. Yes, you'll get a lot of those moments mindlessly wandering through Scorn's world. But that's also consequently what makes the game so engaging all the way through. Well, that and the horrific monsters you're constantly trying to avoid. But, in a list of the best games like The Callisto Protocol, you can't expect anything less than a bone-chilling atmosphere and atrocities that will make your skin crawl. Evidently, these are the strongest aspects of Scorn's gameplay and why we recommend it.

1. Dead Space Series

To no one's surprise, the entire Dead Space series is our top pick for games like The Callisto Protocol. That is almost entirely due to the fact that Glen Schofield was a co-creator of Dead Space at the time it dominated the gaming scene. Fast forward a decade, and Schofield returns with The Callisto Protocol. And, with so many similarities between the two titles, this is without a doubt your best bet if you want a similar experience to The Callisto Protocol.

Though we recommend playing them in order, you can't go wrong with any game in the series. All of them will hit the mark of sci-fi, abysmal monsters, and a whole lot of gore and horror. So, if you've just played The Callisto Protocol and have never played the Dead Space series, do yourself a favor and play these games!

So, what's your take? Do you agree with our top five? Are there other games like The Callisto Protocol that we should know about? Let us know in the comments below or over on our socials here!