Special Containment Procedures or Secure, Contain, Protect (SCP) themed games have often focused on surviving a single entity or, in some cases, an entire organization out for blood. Being a human lab rat, you find yourself trapped in an underground testing facility experimenting with anomalous entities known as SCPs. Games inspired by SCP are designed to make players feel constantly on edge, unsure of when or where the next danger will emerge. Before the SCPs have a chance to go to town on your frail body, you’re challenged to find an escape – fast.
After the first SCP game launched in 2007, titled “SCP-173,” the gaming community has been busy creating more fan-made content. We’ve enjoyed books, movies, and games inspired by SCP. However, the games haven’t exactly skyrocketed off the ground, with most of them being low-budget indie productions. It begs the question of whether there are any stellar-produced SCP games out there. Which are the best games inspired by SCP?
10. SCP: Labrat
Never Play This Game Alone... (SCP Labrat)
SCP: Labrat is a survival game whose roots are steeped in 2012’s SCP-Containment Breach, which is based on the fictional SCP Foundation. As the name of the game suggests, you play as a lab rat trapped in an underground SCP research facility. Things are running smoothly at the facility until a containment breach breaks all hell loose. So, you have no choice but to find an escape. Time isn’t on your side, as the SCPs remain hot on your tail. However, you do have extra help in the way of anomalous objects you need to keep an eye out for, as well as valuable resources you can collect through your playthrough.
9. SCP-3008
SCP - 3008 TRAILER (Roblox)
SCP-3008’s idea of an SCP research facility is a shopping center. The shopping center proves dangerous, with anomalous entities roaming about the place. Thanks to a 3D rendering of the world setting, this survival horror looks and feels immersive. While walking in one of the massive warehouses of the cursed retail unit, you see no end in sight. Thankfully, you can drive forklift trucks, or, well, the trucks may chase after you. There are also SCP Foundation mercenaries to watch out for. Although there have been many iterations of SCP-3008, the core concept remains the same: survive a cursed retail unit by all means necessary.
8. SCP: Strategy
SCP Strategy - Gameplay Trailer
In a clever twist, SCP: Strategy seeks that you control the SCP Foundation itself. Henceforth, you’ll plan the best way forward to secure, contain, and protect all SCP subjects. But there’ll be rival organizations to watch out for, sometimes having to destroy them and steal their SCP objects for your benefit.
7. SCP022
SCP-022 - The Morgue (SCP Animation)
SCP022 is pretty brief. It wastes no time ushering you into its physics universe, where you need to escape from a closed chamber. You’ll doubtlessly have to think through the next steps, with minimal exploration or combat, for that matter.
6. SCP-450
SCP-450 First Look
If you’re keen on pumping up the horror, you can always check out SCP-450. It’s set in the SCP universe, too, except with more horrific creatures to survive from. You’ll be walking around the facility, discovering terrifying villains and doing your best to survive. More specifically, the SCP-450 facility is a death penitentiary block abandoned by the federal government. Here, you’ll hear all sorts of strange voices and discover bone-chilling electric chairs and satanic symbols drawn in human blood, among other frightening revelations. It’s said that all who go into SCP-450 never escape. But can you?
5. SCP: Secret Laboratory
Parabellum Now Available | SCP: Secret Laboratory (Gameplay Trailer)
SCP: Secret Laboratory kicks off with a containment breach. As a result, hordes of the SCP abominations escaped from their cells. They’re set on destruction and drawing blood. As site personnel, you have to find ways to re-contain the escaped SCPs. It’s your job to restore normalcy. However, you can take on other roles, including task force operators, scientists, and even the SCP entities themselves. What’s more? You can play with or against other players in multiplayer mode.
4. SCP – The Sentient Box
The Sentient Box ARG (Steam Trailer)
If you’re looking for something a little deeper, you can check out SCP – The Sentient Box. It colors outside the lines, adding alternate realities to the equation. More specifically, you control an unknown agent who has lost his memories. However, he must investigate his own memory loss, as well as alternate histories and the SCP Foundation.
3. SCP: Secret Files
SCP: Secret Files - Exclusive Launch Trailer
SCP: Secret Files is a puzzle game that treads on the detective ground, too. It crafts a series of paranormal cases tied to the SCP Foundation. They relate to the anomalies the organization experiments on. As an assistant researcher, it’s your job to learn as much as you can about the facility. And as you uncover more information, you’ll gradually begin to harbor more questions than answers that take you down a dangerous rabbit hole.
2. SCP: 5K
SCP: 5K Update 0.15 Launch Trailer
SCP: 5K is among the best games inspired by SCP, especially for its co-op multiplayer option. You engage in tactical FPS gameplay as you unravel a conspiracy surrounding the SCP Foundation. Your role in the battle will go a long way to ensure survival for not just you but humanity. Unfortunately, the game is still in Early Access. However, it’s already shaping up to offer an exciting venture, with mostly “very positive” reviews on Steam. There are many more exciting content updates to come, so be sure to keep an eye out for development progress.
1. SCP – Containment Breach
SCP Containment Breach Trailer
SCP – Containment Breach is so good it’s been remastered for new audiences. Its genre bases itself on survival horror as you explore the SCP Foundation’s research facility. However, with a containment breach underway, you must find an escape or risk being eaten alive. While escaping, you’ll face lots of obstacles. Freedom will come at a great price, but as a human lab rat, you really have no choice. Sticking around and waiting for the worst is not an option. And with the remaster, you can enjoy more new features and items that further enhance your playthrough.
