Summary
Horror gameshave no shortage of devilish ways to scare you silly,whether through jump scaresor terrifying monsters straight from your worst nightmare. However, the spookiest video games are the ones that get inside your head, play on your darkest fears, and deliver an uncanny sense of immersion that makes your flesh crawl.
Good horror is all about keeping you on edge by creating an aura of mystery, an unsettling atmosphere, or some kind of otherworldly threat that haunts your dreams at night. The following titles aren’t just scary. They’re the creepiest horror games you may find. Reader beware. You’re in for a scare.
Slay the Princess starts you off in front of a lonely cabin in the woods. A strange, disembodied voice says there’s a princess inside, and it’s your job to kill her. Otherwise, the world will end. Upon entry, you discover something far more sinister waiting for you in the basement. Will you still follow through with your task?
The game usesmind-boggling Lovecraftian horrorto create some of the most disturbing frights in the visual novel genre. Reality constantly shifts around you, making you question everything you see and hear. The mystery behind the cabin and its eldritch frights never fail to mess with your mind in the creepiest way possible.
Little Nightmares throws you into an otherworldly realm filled with everything that terrified you as a kid. Take control of a child named Six, who must escape from a slew of twisted adults, from cannibalistic chefs to grotesque kidnappers. A new spooky surprise hides around every corner.
On top of its head-scratching puzzles and precise platforming, Little Nightmares is known for its eerie atmosphere and creepy imagery. You’re bound to run into at least one thing that plagued your childhood dreams. Turn off the lights, put on headphones, and get ready to face your fears.
6Shipwrecked 64
A Creepypasta Masterpiece
Ifyou like creepypastas, Shipwrecked 64 is right up your alley. The premise is you’ve found an old Nintendo 64 game that was mysteriously pulled from shelves just a few days after launch. The more you play, the more disturbing your missions get, and the more you learn about the nightmarish tragedy that befell the developers.
As an alternate reality game, Shipwrecked 64 uses spine-tingling meta-horror and chilling found footage to create some intense psychological frights. It genuinely feels like playing a delisted retro game, which keeps you feeling unsettled long after you stop playing.
Nominated for Best Independent Game at The Game Awards 2024, Lorelei and the Laser Eyes is a surreal puzzler about a young woman who’s lured to an abandoned hotel by a mysterious letter. From there, you must explore the building, solve brain teasers, and survive the many bizarre frights you encounter.
The ambiguous mystery, unnerving atmosphere, and monochromatic art style keep you on edge from start to finish. Gameplay-wise, it’s reminiscent of Resident Evil without the combat and a much bigger emphasis on puzzles. Don’t sleep on this modern masterpiece.
Looking for a good co-op game? You can never go wrong with Phasmophobia. You and up to three friends are ghost hunters who must explore haunted buildings, collect evidence of supernatural happenings, andidentify the type of spirityou’re dealing with.
Simply put, the gameplay is intense. Nothing is more nerve-racking than tip-toeing through dark hallways, unsure which creature lurks in the shadows. The game even has voice recognition, allowing the ghost to hear you speaking to your friends. You’d be hard-pressed to find another game that immerses you in such a spooky way.
If you want to crank up the intensity, try playing it in VR. It makes for one heck of a scary experience.
Known for sparking the rise of indie horror games, Amnesia: The Dark Descent is an all-time classiceveryone should try at least once. Take control of the amnesia-riddled Daniel, who wakes up in the monster-infested Brennenburg Castle. The goal is to explore, solve puzzles, and escape the many terrors that await.
This game is excellent at messing with your mind. Hiding in the darkness or even just looking at the monster depletes your sanity meter, requiring you to stay on your toes and keep running. Years later, it’s still just as scary as when it launched.
Few horror games are as iconic and unnerving as Silent Hill 2. This horror classic places you in the shoes of James Sunderland, who travels to a mysterious, foggy town after receiving a letter from his dead wife. What follows is a non-stop nightmare as he’s pursued by all kinds of blood-curdling monsters, including the terrifying Pyramid Head.
Silent Hill 2 is famous for itsmind-melting psychological horror. The town of Silent Hill and its chilling inhabitants are all symbolic of a dark secret from James' past, which is slowly unraveled as you progress. Both the PS2 original and its fantastic remake are must-plays if you want to give yourself goosebumps.
Based on the iconic film series, Alien: Isolation brings the terror from the big screen straight to your video game console. The story follows engineer Amanda Ripley, who’s trapped on a desolate space station with the bloodthirsty Xenomorph. With no means of defeating the beast, she must rely solely on her wits and stealth to survive.
No other horror game better capturesthe fears of isolation and defenselessness. The Xenomorph is always on the hunt and constantly learning from your encounters. Stay on your toes, keep running, and try not to become alien food.
