The horror genre, specifically survival horror, focuses heavily on resource management and finding ammo to stay alive. While some games in the genre are generous with the ammo they provide, others take scarcity to the next level, making you feel like you’re constantly struggling to survive. When done right, scarce ammo creates truly tense moments.
Not having enough ammo forces you to play methodically during combat, rather than shooting every enemy you encounter. It also encourages exploration, as the difference between life and death often depends on breaking every box, searching every drawer, and uncovering hidden areas in hopes of finding that next precious ammo pack.
This list highlights 10 games where every single bullet truly matters. To survive, you need to think before you shoot, land every shot you take, and often prioritize headshots to efficiently take down enemies. Failing to follow these rules could quickly lead to your demise or force you to retreat to a safe spot.
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### 10. The Evil Within 2 — The Lack of Ammo is the True Evil
While the original *The Evil Within* already featured scarce ammo, *The Evil Within 2* raised the stakes with even fewer resources. The game’s survival-horror design compels players to consider carefully before pulling the trigger since after firing, you’ll inevitably wonder when the next batch of ammo will appear.
Combat encounters are unpredictable, filled with enemies that have strange movement patterns and unique attacks, making it easy to miss shots and waste precious bullets. This design forces a strategic approach rather than aggressive run-and-gun combat.
Since ammo isn’t handed out easily, players are encouraged to thoroughly explore every level, searching endlessly through its rooms to survive. Wasting bullets is painful—each shot must be mandatory, and you better land it.
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### 9. Tormented Souls — This Nod to the Classics Emphasizes Ammo Management
*Tormented Souls* and its recently released sequel are both known for their scarcity of ammo. Every bullet counts, often forcing players to run away from enemies rather than go in guns blazing.
Even on Assisted Mode, the game’s easiest difficulty, ammo is frequently low, and you’ll find yourself hoping not to encounter enemies before finding more. A frustrating aspect is that you may need a specific item, perhaps not yet found, to break boxes or vases—good sources of ammo.
With tank controls and fixed camera angles, missing shots is common and wastes bullets. This creates an overwhelming anxiety, as that missed bullet might be your last one, forcing you to retreat to safety. Unfortunately, enemies often block progress to challenging puzzles, intensifying the tension.
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### 8. Resident Evil — Surviving By The Skin of Your Teeth
The original *Resident Evil* is iconic for its tense moments driven by scarce ammo. Sharing similar fixed camera angles and tank controls as *Tormented Souls*, it’s tricky to consistently land shots on zombies, leading to wasted ammo.
Enemies can take multiple bullets to kill, so missing even one shot can feel disastrous. Most of your time is spent scavenging every nook and cranny for ammo and other survival resources. Finding just one ammo pack feels like a gift from the heavens, but it usually signals an incoming enemy encounter that will drain those bullets quickly.
You’re always hunting for more ammo but rarely find enough to feel fully prepared. *Resident Evil* exemplifies methodical combat where sometimes running away is the smarter choice.
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### 7. Dead Space Remake — Space Doesn’t Have Much Ammo
A list of games where every bullet counts wouldn’t be complete without *Dead Space*. As a major name in survival horror, it’s known for scarce ammo and relentless enemy groups.
Combat encounters often pit you against multiple enemies, so if you haven’t reserved ammo thoughtfully across your weapons, survival is unlikely. Ammo types are rare, requiring you to search every corpse, box, and crate.
The game’s pace resembles the more action-oriented *Resident Evil 4*, but its resource economy feels closer to *Resident Evil 2*. This combination means you must be smart with every shot, using the limb-targeting system to disable enemies instead of just shooting to kill.
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### 6. Alan Wake 2 — This Writer Has Issues With Ammo
*Alan Wake 2*, the trippy sequel to a cult classic, features a good amount of combat but very limited ammo. Playing as Alan, ammo is especially scarce, forcing reliance on his flashlight to damage ghostly enemies.
Saga, the other playable character, has more ammo availability but still faces shortages. Either way, the game demands precise shooting and prioritizing headshots to maximize damage.
Many times in playthroughs, dealing with enemy waves without enough ammo forces frantic searching around combat arenas. Conservation and accuracy are vital for survival.
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### 5. Amnesia: The Bunker — A Monster Lurks in the Shadows
*Amnesia: The Bunker* is another survival horror where every bullet truly counts. The tension stems not only from limited ammo but also from a monster constantly stalking you.
Ammo scarcity demands smart decision-making about when to use guns. For example, shooting padlocks to open doors or explosive barrels might seem helpful but wastes precious bullets better saved for critical encounters.
Instead, use bricks to destroy padlocks and Molotov cocktails to handle the monster or barrels, preserving your ammo. Otherwise, you risk prolonged stretches without bullets and feeling defenseless, which *Amnesia: The Bunker* emphasizes to encourage thoughtful resource management.
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### 4. Bioshock — Too Many Enemies and Not Enough Ammo
While some may debate if *Bioshock* fits the horror genre, it definitely scared many players with its disturbing atmosphere, unsettling story, and notable ammo scarcity.
Despite access to varied damage methods, much of the gameplay revolves around careful ammo management. Ammo you find is quickly lost fighting Big Daddies or groups of enemies, often leaving you empty-handed.
Though not traditionally classified as survival horror, *Bioshock* embodies many of its core elements, making you feel perpetually underpowered. You will waste bullets, regret missed shots, and frequently feel frustration—hallmarks of effective scarcity.
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### 3. Alien: Isolation — The Xenomorph Will Hear You
*Alien: Isolation* rewards cautious gameplay and strict ammo conservation. This is especially true on Nightmare difficulty, where shooting is a last resort.
The Xenomorph, the game’s primary threat, isn’t weak to most weapons and shooting can alert it to your location. Every bullet matters since firing a gun risks the Xenomorph hunting you down.
Players constantly weigh the choice: use ammo on human enemies and risk revealing your position, or opt for stealth to preserve your hiding place. This tense balance dominates gameplay throughout your survival efforts.
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### 2. Cronos: The New Dawn — Don’t Let Them Merge
Bloober Team has been excelling recently in survival horror, as seen with last year’s *Silent Hill 2* remake and *Cronos: The New Dawn*. The latter offers intense tension due to scarce ammo throughout the playthrough.
Missing a shot can feel catastrophic, and sometimes you’ll need to reload a save to gather more ammo from earlier areas. However, the scarcity never feels unfair—Bloober Team hits a sweet spot that challenges players without pushing too far.
Crafting ammo from found materials is possible but finding those materials is equally challenging. Survival demands thorough exploration and resourcefulness; neglecting either often results in a swift demise.
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### 1. Resident Evil 7: Biohazard — A Haunted House With Minimal Resources
Among the newer *Resident Evil* titles, *Resident Evil 7* arguably has the least ammo, especially in the early and mid-game.
Exploring the eerie Baker estate, you’ll face terrifying enemies that require multiple bullets to kill. The limited ammo strewn throughout the building means you must either land every shot precisely or retreat and search for more.
This scarcity amplifies the game’s tense atmosphere and encourages methodical combat as you navigate the horror inside the mansion.
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In these games, every bullet truly counts. Whether managing limited resources, choosing when to fight or flee, or calmly aiming for that critical headshot, survival depends on your ability to adapt to scarcity. The tension and satisfaction derived from conquering such challenges make these titles stand out in the survival horror genre.
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