Claustrophobia: Video Games You Should Avoid If You’re Afraid of Confined Spaces

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Ignacio Weil

Gaming - September 17th 2025, 19:00 GMT+2

Cropped Resident Evil VII Biohazard 2017 — Resident Evil VII: Biohazard (2017)

Imagine wandering through a decaying plantation mansion, where every creak of the floorboards and flicker of the lights sends a chill down your spine. The first-person perspective amplifies the tension, making every narrow hallway and dark corner feel like a potential death trap. Stealth and cunning become your best friends as you try to survive encounters with the horrifying Baker family. With every step, the mansion seems to close in, suffocating you with dread and suspense. Even the quiet moments feel oppressive, forcing you to brace for the next terrifying surprise. If tight spaces make your heart race, this game will push you to the limit. | © Capcom

Prey 2017 — Prey (2017)

Aboard the Talos I space station, tension is built not just by aliens but by endless corridors, hidden vents, and dimly lit rooms. Every shadow could conceal a deadly threat, and the sense of isolation grows heavier with each step. The station's labyrinthine layout ensures you're constantly aware of how trapped you really are. Even solving puzzles and navigating the environment doesn’t relieve the claustrophobic pressure – it only heightens it. Talos I challenges your nerves and tests your strategic thinking under extreme psychological stress. By the time you reach the outer decks, you'll feel like escaping the station is a victory in itself. | © Arkane Studios

Cropped Alien Isolation — Alien: Isolation (2014)

In the vast emptiness of space, the Sevastopol Station feels more like a prison than a haven. Narrow hallways, tight maintenance shafts, and flickering lights combine to create a suffocating environment that constantly keeps you on edge. The relentless xenomorph stalking your every move adds a layer of terror that no amount of hiding can fully alleviate. Stealth becomes your lifeline, and every door, corner, and vent presents a moral dilemma: move or stay? The station’s oppressive design ensures your heart rate never drops, leaving you tense from start to finish. *Alien: Isolation* is a masterclass in claustrophobic survival horror. | © Creative Assembly

The Forest (2014)

What starts as a plane crash survival story quickly transforms into an underground nightmare. Caves and tunnels beneath the island become tighter, darker, and more disorienting with every step. Limited light sources and the constant threat of hostile mutants amplify the claustrophobic tension. Above ground, the forest may feel expansive, but the real terror lies beneath, where every corner hides danger and uncertainty. You’ll need every ounce of courage and resourcefulness to navigate the labyrinthine caves and stay sane. *The Forest* proves that claustrophobia can strike even when surrounded by open air. | © Endnight Games

Cropped Outlast — Outlast (2013)

Investigating Mount Massive Asylum is supposed to be journalism, but here it’s a test of your survival instincts. The hospital’s corridors twist and turn in ways that make you feel trapped and vulnerable. With only a night-vision camera and no weapons, every encounter becomes a heart-pounding exercise in evasion. The oppressive atmosphere, flickering lights, and sounds of unseen horrors keep your adrenaline constantly spiking. Even the quiet moments feel suffocating, forcing you to anticipate terror around every corner. *Outlast* turns claustrophobia into an art form, making confined spaces absolutely terrifying. | © Red Barrels

Metro 2033 (2010)

The tunnels of post-apocalyptic Moscow twist and coil like a metal serpent, each passage threatening collapse or surprise attacks. Mutants and desperate survivors turn every corner into a test of nerves, and the shadows themselves feel alive. Narrow stations and flickering lights force you to tread lightly, amplifying even the smallest noises. Ammunition and resources are scarce, making every encounter a high-stakes gamble. The oppressive walls leave no room to relax, creating a suffocating tension that never fully eases. By the time you navigate the maze, stepping into open air feels almost unreal. | © 4A Games

Cropped Amnesia The Dark Descent — Amnesia: The Dark Descent (2010)

The castle’s corridors feel like they’re closing in, each corner concealing threats and echoes of a forgotten past. Darkness isn’t merely visual; it twists perception, making the smallest creak sound like imminent danger. Limited light sources and narrow stairways force careful movement and constant vigilance. Hiding is as necessary as breathing, and fleeing often leads to even tighter spaces. Shadows and whispers combine into a pressure that makes the walls seem alive. After hours inside, every turn of the next hallway keeps the heart racing. | © Frictional Games

Dead Space (2008)

Aboard the USG Ishimura, corridors narrow and mechanical sounds echo through ventilation shafts, creating an ever-present sense of entrapment. Necromorphs appear at the worst possible moment, turning even routine navigation into a terror-filled ordeal. Lights flicker, doors creak, and the hum of failing machinery becomes a constant reminder of isolation. Ammunition is sparse, making every shot matter, and every encounter tests nerves and strategy alike. Even standing still feels dangerous when tight spaces can hide anything. The ship’s design leaves a lingering anxiety that doesn’t fade easily. | © Visceral Games

Bio Shock — BioShock (2007)

Descending into Rapture, the ocean above presses down as you navigate twisting corridors and tight rooms, where every hallway hides potential threats. The city’s decay and isolation make even minor encounters feel suffocating, while the cramped spaces amplify tension and suspense. Strategic resource management becomes critical when there’s nowhere to retreat, and traps in narrow rooms punish hesitation. Background sounds echo off the walls, keeping nerves taut and senses alert. Exploration feels both exhilarating and nerve-wracking, never allowing complete comfort. By the time you uncover hidden depths, even the small spaces seem to carry weight. | © 2K

Cropped Silent Hill 4 The Room 2004 — Silent Hill 4: The Room (2004)

Your own apartment becomes a cage, walls pressing in as portals to otherworldly realms open and close unpredictably. Narrow hallways and confined spaces amplify the sense of helplessness, while the supernatural elements outside your window turn familiar surroundings into a prison. Every object seems to have a hidden threat, and the isolation is compounded by the shifting apartment environment. Tight spaces make every sound alarming, forcing constant vigilance. The psychological pressure builds with each visit, leaving no room to feel safe. Even stepping outside doesn’t fully relieve the suffocating tension of being trapped. | © Konami

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Feeling trapped can be terrifying, especially when your worst fears are amplified by a video game. If you struggle with claustrophobia – the fear of confined spaces – then certain games can turn tension into pure panic. From narrow corridors and tight tunnels to suffocating underwater labs, game designers have mastered the art of making players feel trapped and vulnerable. In this article, we’ll explore the most intense claustrophobic experiences in video games, perfect for thrill-seekers… or the easily scared. Whether you love survival horror or just want to know which games might trigger anxiety, this list will guide you through the most nerve-wracking virtual spaces out there.