Bullets are hard to come by in most survival games, especially since they can solve almost every problem in a gunfight. You enter a world and experience different situations that evoke a sense of fear that you think can be solved by riddling your target with bullets, and for the most part, you’re probably right. However, it is a resource that will not make itself available whenever you need it the most, and this will kick up the ante even more.
This list will feature a few games where bullets are much scarcer than you would like. Running out of bullets in survival or horror games could be the worst thing to happen to you, and it is best to conserve your ammo or make your shots count.
8
Dead Space Remake
One Shot. One Limb. One Necromorph
Starting the list with the Dead Space Remake might seem like an odd choice, but hear me out: the remake is everything we experienced in 2008, but it’s just a much flashier, shinier, and scarier version. The last thing you want to happen is to run into a mob of enemies without any ammo for your weapons.
Despite taking place in a much more futuristic world with advanced technology, ammunition isn’t universal. Whatever you have on your person will be the only ammo you can find as you explore, which would be convenient if the drop rate is much higher. Fortunately, you can make it easier on yourself by lowering the difficulty, but don’t expect every Necromorph to drop ammo.
Electronic Arts stood by this creative decision to give every player a sense of fear and to get creative. I spent more time running around trying not to get killed before I realized dismembering was an option. The original will always be special, but coming back to it as an adult with more knowledge about the game mechanics made this remake much more bearable.
7
Death Stranding
Keep On Keeping On
Combat isn’t what Death Stranding is known for, and I spent more time crouching and holding my breath while walking through BT fields like a good old Porter. However, getting by quietly in between open country full of BTs and MULEs is much easier said than done. Messing up once can ruin a delivery and cause panic for yourself and little Lou. The Beached Things will drag you to a mini-arena, and I recommend running for dear life if you have no blood bags in your utility pouch.
In my experience, cycling through multiple blood bags to top off my health and using them as ammo can be a steep learning curve. To avoid entering spoiler territory, let’s just say Norman Reedus’ Sam Porter Bridges is the BTs’ worst nightmare since his blood is lethal. I wasted so many assault rifles in between deliveries, because the BTs were not the only threat.
Despite the world being in turmoil, others like to pretend it is the new normal. MULEs are human enemies addicted to cargo in the most literal sense, and they will track you down by any means necessary. Normal bullets are not advisable, especially since death can cause a voidout. Luckily, rubber bullets can do the trick, but these are just as hard to come by.
Fighting for my survival without causing any lasting harm to fellow men can be a pain. Other than that, sorting through the menu to adjust which ammo type to use against humans to prevent a voidout makes Death Stranding one of the survival games where you need to conserve your ammo.
6
Metro 2033 Redux
To Spend on Gear or Use Against Mutants
Survival games aren’t just about saving your bullets, but they’re also about getting enough gear to get by. This surprised me when I first picked up Metro 2033 years ago, and it made me rethink my entire strategy of going guns-blazing on every enemy I encounter. The developers have made a rare case in which your ammo is also the main currency to buy items, weapons, and other gear from in-game vendors.
While farming for ammo isn’t easy to begin with, especially in a world that survived a nuclear war. Military Grade Rounds are scarce, since they dictate how the economy works in the game, and they are effective against mutants and other human enemies. I spent a good amount of time considering which weapons I would be using for the most part, and opened my eyes to the importance of resource management.
On easier difficulties, ammo might be much easier to find, but not by a whole lot. It is an interesting twist where bullets will literally dictate how you will fare in the post-apocalyptic world, and Metro 2033 deserves some praise for incorporating this system and for giving us a different challenge.
5
Days Gone
Some Freaks Are Built Different
Ride the Broken Road and take on freaks of nature as Deacon St. John. Ever since the game was promoted, the key highlights have been the impressive horde design. I spent more time collecting bullets from the trunks of cop cars before heading out to the next main mission in the event I ran into a horde. Days Gone can be unforgiving, especially for the uninitiated, and I learned that the hard way.
While the game is more generous about ammo than most horror experiences, this resource is pretty hard to find on the hardest difficulty, which I like to think is the definitive experience. NERO and the Army could not hold back a horde of infected, but one Drifter can, as long as you have enough rounds and ingredients to lay some traps.
After playing the PlayStation 4 version, I immediately picked up the remaster and replayed it on the PlayStation 5 Pro. The game itself has some kinks and wrinkles that need ironing, but the horde mechanic is pure perfection. While rapid-fire weapons are effective, they can quickly deplete your ammo supply.
Refilling saddlebags with ammo is a must-have gameplay mechanic for this open-world survival game, and I try my best to stay out of the Freaks’ line of sight whenever possible. Nothing could be worse than running into a horde with no bullets on your person, and your indestructible boot knife can’t protect you forever.
4
Alan Wake 2
Escape the Dark Place
The mind can be a terrible prison and an effective generator of threats. Alan Wake 2 features a handful of humanoid enemies, and bullets can typically do the job. There will be encounters where you control Saga Anderson, an FBI agent, and fend off surprise attacks from Cultists. You heard that one right, and there are plenty of other threats.
It would be easy to keep pulling the trigger until you are empty, and such actions will put you at a disadvantage for the next fight. To make my shots count, I would often wait for Cultists to move in and let me slide out of the way and land a few shots to the body or head. This is ideal for enemies that you can touch or see, but there are exceptions, especially those invisible to the naked eye.
Pointing a light at phantom enemies as Alan in the Dark Place is always satisfying. This horror-survival game pushed me to the limit, and I often take a breather after each fight. Whenever it’s time to move on, I would recommend searching every container you can to grab extra ammo for the next batch of sorry monsters.
3
Silent Hill 2 Remake
Scavenging For Bullets Adds to the Trauma List
Suppressed trauma and other horrific memories are the least of your worries in Silent Hill 2 Remake. While many think this remake is a technical marvel, it carries the scary vibe and atmosphere of the original game. Monsters are creeping out of every corner, and swinging a lead pipe can’t always solve all of your problems.
Bobbing and weaving each swing requires timing, and sometimes it is much easier to unload a full clip until monsters drop dead. Unfortunately for James, the search for his wife is just as hard as searching for ammo. Handguns are effective from a distance, but they won’t bring monsters down straight away.
In horror survival games, bullets are a currency that you can’t afford to waste. Looting every cadaver and breaking into every building to open desks can save you from a serious situation. It is best to pray that you don’t cross paths with Pyramid Head, especially when you’re all out of bullets to use.
2
Resident Evil Requiem
The Crown Jewel of Survival Games
Resident Evil Requiem is high up on the list of highly anticipated horror games in 2026 for several reasons. This sequel has everything a good Resident Evil game has, from unexpected jumpscares to crafting, resource management, and the like.
Off the top of my head, we get to see Leon S. Kennedy for the first time in 14 years, and he looks like he hasn’t aged since we last saw him in Resident Evil 6. The real challenge is whenever you are in control of Grace Ashcroft, and she is no Leon with that gun. Capcom made creative changes to how both characters would feel in a fight, so take your time to line up your shots like Grace.
Leon has had years of experience fighting zombies and is essentially a one-man army. You may not need a gun when Leon has two limbs attached and loaded. However, Grace is the other side of the same coin. The changing of perspectives was somewhat of a nice change of pace, especially going from a quiet and stealthy approach as Grace, then guns-blazing as Leon and vice versa, which can ease up the tension
1
The Last of Us Part 2
Find and Kill Every Last One of Them
Going on a revenge mission in the post-apocalypse is a compelling premise for an immersive survival game. The first game has a special place in my heart, but it is much easier and more forgiving in regard to resource management. In The Last of Us Part 2, Ellie goes out on a hunt to kill the Wolves responsible for Joel’s death and anyone standing in her way.
Bullets are scarce in any post-apocalyptic world, and I had to open every drawer in Seattle to make sure I had enough for the next firefight. While stealth is ideal and a good way to farm ammo from fallen enemies, the AI in the sequel is far superior. I often find myself using my knife and other melee weapons to get by combat encounters, especially on greater difficulties.
The best part about both The Last of Us games is that the combat is often non-scripted, and the enemy AI will react realistically. In my earlier playthroughs, I had relied too much on my guns and failed to realize that combat encounters can be done in stealth, but where is the fun in that?
Ducking towards bushes after being spotted and carefully using my silenced pistol to wipe out armed soldiers is peak satisfaction in any survival game. Replaying The Last of Us Part 2 on Grounded with no upgrades will give players a definitive experience.
