What are the best horror games? From deeply psychological horrors that play on your fear of the dark, to survival horrors that keep you anxious as you turn down tight corridors, the best horror games are ones that will keep you wondering what’s around the next corner.
No matter what type of horror experience you prefer, we’ve got plenty of variety in our list below. Some of these horror games are even on our best games of all time list. So, grip your best Xbox controllers or best PS5 controllers tightly as you prepare to scare yourself silly.
The best horror games are:
- Alan Wake 2
- Signalis
- SOMA
- Resident Evil 4 remake
- Little Nightmares 2
- Amnesia: The Bunker
- Alan Wake Remastered
- Alien Isolation
- Dead Space remake
- Phasmophobia
- Inside
- Darkwood
- Pathologic 2
- Prey
- The Texas Chain Saw Massacre
- Apsulov: End of Gods
- Doki Doki Literature Club Plus!
- Scorn
1. Alan Wake 2
Seamlessly blending reality and fiction, Alan Wake 2 is the long-awaited sequel (we’re talking thirteen years) to 2010’s Alan Wake, which we’ve also put on this list thanks to its remastered release. However, Alan Wake 2 ups every element of the first game’s survival horror, delivering something that will keep you on the edge of your seat.
In Alan Wake 2, you play as both Saga Anderson, an FBI agent investigating a string of murders in Bright Falls, and Alan Wake, who was kept within The Dark Place after sacrificing himself in the last game. You can play as each character in any order, completing both sides of the story before coming to a gripping conclusion.
While this is a narrative-focused and cinematic experience, we’re not going to lie and say the horror isn’t scary. Alan Wake 2 may be one of the scariest games we’ve ever played, with numerous psychological terrors and jump scares that will frighten even the biggest of horror fans.
You can find out why this is one of the most terrifyingly brilliant games we’ve played in our 10/10 Alan Wake 2 review. Alan Wake 2 is available on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S.
2. Signalis
Inspired by old-style survival horror games like Resident Evil and Silent Hill, Signalis is a cosmic and psychological horror set in a dystopian future.
You play as Elster, a Replika who awakens from cryostasis in a wrecked vessel, leaving her stranded on a cold planet, as she must search for her lost partner and dreams. The best part of Signalis isn’t the terrifying atmosphere, or the harsh world Elster finds herself in, but the unique visual style that lends itself to an impressive experience.
Signalis can be bought on PS4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox, and PC. It is also available on Game Pass.
3. SOMA
If you’re a fan of Frictional Games’ fear-filled storytelling found in the Amnesia series, then the deep sea survival horror story SOMA might be for you. Far beneath the Atlantic Ocean’s surface, you awaken in a lab where things have taken a turn for the extremely creepy. In this dimly-lit subterranean location, robots have gained sentience, and resources are running slim, though that’s only scratching the surface of what problems you will face.
The game’s biggest strength isn’t the scary monsters or dreadfully terrifying AI that is stalking you, but the existential dread that you’re left with after the credits roll. If you’re hoping to feel hopeless, then SOMA is a great horror title to get your hairs rising.
SOMA can be bought on PC, PlayStation, and Xbox. You can also pick it up on Game Pass.
4. Resident Evil 4 remake
The original Resident Evil 4 from 2005 is considered an all-time great – so dragging it into the present day with a top-to-bottom remaster is only going to make it greater. Reimagined in high fidelity in all its bloody glory, you’ll assume the role of the ultimate himbo Leon S. Kennedy, whose gorgeous blonde locks and muscly arms must find and save the president’s daughter.
Remade from the ground up, this survival horror will pit you against the horrors that lie waiting in a strange rural village. Thankfully, the old-style tank controls of classic Resident Evil games are long gone – instead, the RE4 remake is a shooter-focused experience that is as exhilarating as it is terrifying.
You can check out our review of the Resident Evil 4 remake, which praises the game for its brilliant horror and action. The Resident Evil 4 remake can be found on PS5, PS4, Xbox, and PC.
5. Little Nightmares 2
A less traditional horror game compared to previous ones on our list, Little Nightmares 2 is best described as a suspenseful horror, where you play as a young boy called Mono in a distorted world. Guided by Six, you must discover the secrets of The Signal Tower, while avoiding some monstrous threats that reside within.
Little Nightmares 2 is filled with style and substance, offering a beautifully brutal world that is as creative as it is scary. While you won’t be jumping out of your seat in fear, you’ll have an eerie feeling as you progress through this adventure title.
6. Amnesia: The Bunker
The second entry on our list from horror masters Frictional Games, Amnesia: The Bunker offers a tense and claustrophobic experience where you’re trapped in a WW1 bunker with a Lovecraftian monster. The goal is to avoid it as it hunts you, keep the lights on, and find a way to escape.
Despite sharing a name with the iconic horror series that gave a lot of YouTubers their claims to fame, Amnesia: The Bunker doesn’t require playing the previous games, offering a terrifying and captivating experience no matter what.
Better yet, Amnesia: The Bunker received an update during the lead-up to the Halloween period in 2023, offering a new hardcore difficulty mode, as well as a custom mode that offers different settings and parameters for the perfectly crafted horror experience. And it’s available on PlayStation, Xbox (including Game Pass), and PC (including Game Pass).
7. Alan Wake Remastered
For a survival horror experience full of twists and turns, look no further than the critically acclaimed Alan Wake Remastered. Set in the sleepy mountain town of Bright Falls, you’ll play as the titular Alan, a tortured author whose wife goes missing under mysterious circumstances. After discovering a horror novel that starts to blend fact and fiction seemingly written by the eponymous author, you’ll be forced to confront harsh truths and even harsher monsters whilst trying to piece together what’s really going on.
Similar to survival horror games, Alan Wake Remastered arms you with guns and bullets to defeat your enemies, but only a limited amount. And, it adds the unique twist of requiring a flashlight to make enemies vulnerable, but batteries are scarce in Bright Falls.
After an award-winning initial launch, this remaster features the two-story expansions and beefs up its original plot with some 4K visuals sure to make even the toughest player’s hairs stand on end. And, with a sequel finally released after thirteen years, there’s no better time to get invested in the story of Alan Wake.
Alan Wake Remastered is available on PS5, PS4, Xbox, PC, and Nintendo Switch.
8. Alien Isolation
The Xenomorph is one of the biggest horror icons, scaring movie-goers silly for over forty years. However, most attempts to bring it to gamers have failed, leaving players wanting and hoping for more. At least, that was the case until Alien Isolation.
Set 15 years after the events of the first movie, Ellen Ripley’s daughter, Amanda comes face to face with the Xenomorph in a desperate battle for survival, while trying to uncover the mystery of her mother’s disappearance.
Fortunately, as Amanda, you can fight back against the Xenomorph just like her mother did years prior. But, it’s no easy task, with limited resources and an alien that learns your patterns and your actions. Did you hide in a locker last time? The Xenomorph remembers and will check.
Alien Isolation is a hair-raising and tense horror available on PS4, Xbox One, and PC.
9. Dead Space remake
Remastered for your gore viewing pleasure, the Dead Space remake follows the original chilling space survival tale with some stunning and frankly horrifying upgrades to the environments and monsters you’ll be facing.
Step into the shoes of Isaac Clarke, whose simple repair job goes awry when he discovers a necromorph infestation lurking on the Ishimura. Clarke must seek out his partner Nicole, who is hidden somewhere in the horrors of the space station ahead, and attempt to escape while he still can. The Final Frontier has never been so offputting.
The Dead Space Remake is available on PS5, Xbox, and PC, as well as now finally being available on Game Pass. You can read our Dead Space Remake review here.
10. Phasmophobia
The surprise hit, Phasmophobia, can be both horrific and hilarious with the right friends, as this horror thriller offers a ghost-hunting adventure for you and up to four friends.
As you get your favorite friends together as budding amateur ghost hunters, you’ll need to investigate various haunted locales in an attempt to discover what type of ghost resides there, and how to defeat it. But as you progress your investigation, the ghost will get understandably upset, and decide to hunt you down.
Phasmophobia is not only a great horror experience, but offers a great sense of progression, as successful investigations will reward you with more money, meaning new gadgets to help you stop the large variety of ghosts.
Phasmophobia is currently only available on PC, however, the Phasmophobia Xbox and PS5 release date is coming up – it’ll also get PSVR support as well!
11. Inside
Developed by the same team that created the brutal Limbo, BAFTA award-winning indie horror game Inside is sure to send chills down your spine. Engage with some truly unnerving environments as the young nameless protagonist solves head-scratching puzzles in order to make his way to an evil aura that is mysteriously summoning him forward.
You can’t fight against the horrors within, but Inside serves as a similar type of horror as Little Nightmares 2. You won’t be scared sleepless, but you’ll be left with a feeling of discomfort throughout.
Inside is available on all major platforms.
12. Darkwood
You’d think that a first-person perspective is the best way to get involved in horror. However, Acid Wizard Studio’s Darkwood still manages to summon incredible amounts of dread even from its top-down perspective.
A mysterious woodland is crawling with all manner of odd creatures and survivors, but a discerning friend from foe is something you’ll have to figure out for yourself. To make it through, you’ll need to scavenge the environments and fortify a bunker to keep yourself safe. It’s important to watch the clock, though, because as night falls, a new evil emerges, one you won’t want to wrestle with.
If you like games that don’t offer quest markers and hope to give you a hard time scavenging resources in order to survive, Darkwood may be the most unique horror game on this list for you to play.
Darkwood is available on all major platforms.
13. Pathologic 2
Open-world RPGs are the perfect setting to seek out your own frights, and Pathologic 2 is happy to let you do so. Set over a 12-day period, you’ll need to do your best to coordinate not only your time but your bodily functions, too, as survival hinges on your ability to, well, stay alive.
The plague you’re seeking to destroy can’t be reasoned with, so it’ll be up to you to earn the resources to ensure your survival, whether that’s by friendly means or bloody ones. Keep your wits about you and follow your gut, as everyone in the world has an agenda of some sort.
Pathologic 2’s biggest horror isn’t the creatures of the night, but rather managing your needs to survive, making some hard choices in order to stay alive for just one more day.
Pathologic 2 is available on PlayStation, Xbox, and PC.
14. Prey
Humanity would honestly be so much better off if scientists stopped experimenting wildly in space. However, if that were true, we might not have Arkane Studios’ magnificent immersive sim, Prey.
Set on the moon-orbiting Talos 1 Space Station, you find yourself hunted by ruthless entities thirsting for blood. With the help of your guns, wits, and even some psychic powers, you must outsmart the hunters and save what’s left of this cursed spacecraft before it’s too late.
Prey is a good mix of FPS and horror, offering more action than most games on this list, while still having enough scares to keep you up at night. And, as we mentioned, it’s made by the incredible team at Arkane Studios, which has offered amazing experiences such as Dishonored and Deathloop.
Prey is available on PS4, Xbox One, and PC. You can also grab it with an Xbox Game Pass subscription.
15. The Texas Chain Saw Massacre
If asymmetric horror is your forte, then you’ll absolutely want to check out Sumo Nottingham’s deadly game of hide-and-seek. In this 3v4 multiplayer experience, you take on the role of either a member of the infamous Slaughter family or their victims as they appeared in the classic 1974 film.
If you’re a fan of Dead by Daylight, you’ll get the idea. There are plenty of traps that the Slaughter Family can use to keep you at bay, while survivors have a variety of ways to distract the enemy team.
The Texas Chain Saw Massacre is available on PC, PlayStation, and Xbox. You can also get it on Game Pass.
16. Apsulov: End of Gods
If you like your horror with a Norse twist, then Angry Demon Studio’s Apsulov: End of Gods should definitely be on your to-play list. A young amnesiac girl, Alice, awakens in a Swedish research facility that’s been used to research the world tree Yggdrasil, as well as the worlds connected to it. However, it’s not long before things get… spooky.
Apsulov is an excellent narrative survival horror experience, and while it doesn’t complicate things with mechanic after mechanic there’s enough challenge to keep your brain tingling. However, Apsulov really shines when you get into the meat of its story, which is bolstered by a beautifully crafted environment and sound design that creates an atmosphere that kept us gripped throughout our playthrough. Also, it’s terrifying, so be prepared for that.
Apsulov: End of Gods is available on PlayStation and Xbox.
17. Doki Doki Literature Club Plus!
Doki Doki Literature Club may look like a cute uwu romance visual novel but trust us, once you start playing it’s anything but. As the protagonist, you are invited by a childhood friend to join your high school’s literature club you’ll get to compose poems that can be catered to whichever club member you’re attempting to pursue romantically.
Of course, as anyone who’s even heard of Doki Doki Literature Club can attest to, it quickly devolves into a true psychological horror experience. It’s deeply disturbing and subverts the typical expectations for a game like this dramatically, making for an unforgettable playthrough.
Doki Doki Literature Club Plus! is available on all major platforms.
18. Scorn
Inspired by the works of H.R. Giger and Zdzisław Beksiński, Scorn already sounds visually horrifying before you even get into it. A gritty, grotty horror game that relies on environmental storytelling in the same way as something like Elden Ring, you won’t get much help as you progress through Scorn’s challenging puzzles.
As a result of this, though, completing conundrums is incredibly satisfying, and that eureka moment is a high you’ll continue chasing throughout the Scorn acts and chapters. If you do get stuck, though, be sure to consult our Scorn walkthrough for a helping hand.
In our 7/10 Scorn review, Echo calls it “a haunting journey through an alien world that asks a lot from players, both through its striking imagery and some smartly designed, unique puzzles.”
Scorn is available on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S. You can also pick it up on Game Pass.
And with that, this is our full list of the best horror games available to play right now. For those after even more spooks and scares, you can dive into this list of the best horror movies ever by our friends over at The Digital Fix. Or, if this is all too much horror for you, see what other new Xbox games and new PS5 games have just come out.
ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7tbTEpaaanJ%2BqwW%2BvzqZmm52jqXqpu9Grpqtll5a6pr8%3D