Download Article
The best & most terrifying horror games to play in the dark
Explore this Article
IN THIS ARTICLE
Other Sections
Co-authored by
Glenn Carreau
Download Article
X
This article was co-authored by wikiHow staff writer, Glenn Carreau. Glenn Carreau is a wikiHow Staff Writer, currently based in Los Angeles. With over four years of experience writing for several online publications, she has covered topics ranging from world history to the entertainment industry. Glenn graduated with honors from Columbia College Chicago, earning a B.A. in Interactive Arts and Media and a minor in Professional Writing. Today, Glenn continues to feed her lifelong love of learning while serving wikiHow's many readers.
This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources.
Learn more...
Are you looking for your next thrilling horror game experience? Or are you a total newcomer to the horror genre and want to find out which games are the best of the best? Either way, you’ve come to the right place! In this article, we’ll introduce you to some of the greatest horror games out there and explain just why each one is worth playing. The games here definitely aren’t for the faint of heart, but if you’re ready for nonstop thrills, existential dread, and jumpscares galore, this is the list for you!
Steps
-
Ridley Scott’s Alien became a gold standard in sci-fi horror, and Alien: Isolation picks up the baton left by the films and runs away with it. The game is set 15 years after the events of Alien, following Ellen Ripley’s daughter, Amanda, as she attempts to learn about her mother’s disappearance. As Amanda, you’ll explore a decommissioned trading station with perils around every corner, including a Xenomorph that’s actively hunting you. All in all, Alien: Isolation is a must-play for horror-survival fans!- Platforms: Xbox Series X/S/One/360, PS3/4/5, PC
- Release year: 2014
- Developer: Creative Assembly
- Fright level: Very high
Advertisement
-
We could put the original RE4 on this list—but the Resident Evil 4 remake is a fantastic modernized version of the game, paying tribute to the original while elevating its combat, visuals, and gameplay. If you played the original, it’s still worth playing the RE4 remake. And if you haven’t played either, buckle up: RE4 follows special agent Leon Kennedy on a terrifying rescue mission through lands inhabited by a corrupted, fanatical cult. The original game is a classic, and the remake is sure to become a modern classic in its own right.- Platforms: Xbox Series X/S/One, PS4/5, PC
- Release year: 2023
- Developer: Capcom
- Fright level: High
-
As of 2025, there are several entries in the Outlast series, and any of them are worth playing if you’re looking for some major jumpscares—but for now, we’ll talk about the psychological survival-horror game that became the base of the franchise, the original Outlast. In the game, you’ll play as an investigative journalist drawn to the Mount Massive Asylum based on reports of inhumane experiments, and uncover the true horrors within.- Platforms: Xbox One, PS4, PC, Switch
- Release year: 2013
- Developer: Red Barrels
- Fright level: Very high
Advertisement
-
Speaking of modern classics, Resident Evil 2 (yet another RE game starring fan-favorite Leon Kennedy) also deserves a spot on this list. Like RE4, this game reimagines the old Resident Evil 2 for modern machines—and does so spectacularly. Modern graphics amplify the creepiness of the game’s setting, and as you explore a police station, searching for answers, you’ll be chased by the menacing, near-unstoppable Mr. X.- Platforms: Xbox Series X/S/One, PS4/5, PC
- Release year: 2019
- Developer: Capcom
- Fright level: High
-
The Amnesia series is another example of classic horror games, and you could play any one of them (or all of them) to get your fill of thrills and chills. The Bunker is the most recent entry in the series, and it’s just as terrifying as its predecessors. The game is set during World War I, and places you in a bunker with a monster that stalks you from within the walls. Its objectives also change a bit with every playthrough, so you can enjoy the game over and over!- Platforms: Xbox Series X/S, PS5, PC
- Release year: 2023
- Developer: Frictional Games
- Fright level: Very high
Advertisement
-
Silent Hill f is a spinoff in the Silent Hill franchise, perfect for newcomers and veterans alike because it’s totally standalone. In the game, you’ll play as high school student Hinako as she’s forced to find her way through a town covered in thick fog and overrun by monsters. There are five different endings to the game, and the more you play the game, the more you’ll learn about the characters and story.- Platforms: Xbox Series X/S, PS5, PC
- Release year: 2025
- Developer: NeoBards Entertainment
- Fright level: Moderate
-
REPO follows a group of antique collectors who try to find (and recover) valuables from haunted places—without incurring the wrath of ghosts and demons. However, that’s easier said than done in the world of REPO; as a player, you’ll have to figure out how to navigate each new monster (alongside your fellow gamers, of course). Each monster comes with its own unique challenge, giving you plenty to think about as you play.- Platforms: PC
- Release year: 2025
- Developer: Semiwork
- Fright level: High
Advertisement
-
Luto is a first-person horror game that plays a lot like P.T., the interactive teaser for Silent Hills. In Luto, you play as someone unable to leave their home; you must navigate the hallways in an attempt to find your way out, yet every time you try, you’ll just find yourself deeper and deeper within the house. As you play, you’ll discover that something darker is at play—and that nothing is as it seems.- Platforms: Xbox Series X/S, PS5, PC
- Release year: 2025
- Developer: Broken Bird Games
- Fright level: High
-
Dead Space (2023) is yet another remake of a hit horror game from the 2000s—and, like the Resident Evil games on this list, the remake definitely does its predecessor justice. In fact, Dead Space was in the running for game of the year after its launch! It’s more than just a remastered Dead Space; it’s been modernized and totally rebuilt, with terrifying gameplay as you (a starship engineer) try to survive a spaceship full of mutated undead monsters.- Platforms: Xbox Series X/S, PS5, PC
- Release year: 2023
- Developer: EA Motive
- Fright level: High
Advertisement
-
Until Dawn is a cinematic, story-rich survival horror game that starts you off thinking you’ve been thrown into a classic teenage slasher flick—until supernatural forces start to rear their heads. You’ll play as a group of friends stranded on a mountain for the night, trying desperately to survive until dawn, and your decisions during quick-time events will determine who lives…and who dies.- Platforms: PS4/5, PC
- Release year: 2015
- Developer: Supermassive
- Fright level: High
-
Scorn plays up its survival elements even more than horror; it’s a first-person adventure game that throws you into the ruins of a fallen civilization, forcing you to navigate your nightmarish and extremely grotesque surroundings. These ruins are filled with techno-organic structures—basically, structures that are alive, combining flesh and machinery. As you fight to survive, you’ll steadily learn more about this gristly world you’ve stumbled into.- Platforms: Xbox Series X/S, PS5, PC
- Release year: 2022
- Developer: Ebb Software
- Fright level: Moderate
Advertisement
-
The original Silent Hill 2 was lauded as a fantastic horror game when it launched in 2001—and the 2024 remake is brilliant in its own right, too. As can be expected, the game’s graphics have gotten a huge update; in the remake, they’re downright beautiful (in the most terrifying way possible), and the game itself extends the story of the original without deviating from it too much. Whether you’re a veteran Silent Hill fan or a newbie, the Silent Hill 2 Remake is worth a look.- Platforms: PS5, PC
- Release year: 2024
- Developer: Bloober Team
- Fright level: High
-
Lethal Company is a great example of a scary game you can play with your friends; it’s a co-op horror survival game about scavengers who work for “The Company” searching for valuable scrap on abandoned, industrialized moons. In addition to the environmental hazards, there are monsters (referred to as “anomalies” or “entities”) everywhere, and you’ll all have to figure out just how far you’ll go to fill The Company’s profit quotas.- Platforms: PC
- Release year: 2023
- Developer: Zeekerss
- Fright level: High
Advertisement
-
Phasmophobia is another multiplayer horror game to enjoy with other players, this one putting you (and your friends) in the shoes of ghost hunters. You’ve got all the ghost-hunting gear at your disposal, but that doesn’t mean the spirits (and demons) you encounter will be easy to deal with! The game also has voice recognition to add to the immersion, as well as a VR version for players who really want to get their spook on.- Platforms: Xbox Series X/S, PS5, PC
- Release year: 2020
- Developer: Kinetic Games
- Fright level: Very high
-
No, I’m Not A Human is a creepy game that challenges you to figure out who’s a peaceful human visitor…and who is a monstrous imposter. It plays up the paranoia, as every knock at your door (in-game) could be a monster coming to get you. You’ll have to pay close attention to every visitor before you let them in, and you never know which decision could be your last.- Platforms: PC
- Release year: 2025
- Developer: Trioskaz
- Fright level: 8
Advertisement
-
Clock Tower is an old point-and-click horror game from the 1990s that gained a cult following and is now considered a pioneer of the genre. In the game, you play as an orphan named Jennifer, who arrives at the mansion of her adopter, called the “Clock Tower.” Soon after her arrival, Jennifer discovers something is terribly wrong within the mansion, and finds herself stalked by a creature known as the “Scissorman.”- Platforms: SNES, PC (in the Rewind revival version)
- Release year: 1995
- Developer: Human Entertainment
- Fright level: Moderate
-
In Condemned, you’ll play as an FBI agent wrongfully accused of murder—and it’s your job to catch the real killer. However, you’ll have to go through quite the ordeal to collect all of your evidence and catch the bad guy. With an aesthetic inspired by movies such as The Silence of the Lambs and Seven, Condemned is a psychological survival-thriller that challenges you to navigate combat and crime scene investigations in search of the truth.- Platforms: Xbox 360, PC
- Release year: 2005
- Developer: Monolith Productions
- Fright level: Moderate
Advertisement
-
Little Nightmares has become a series in the years since its original 2017 release, but we’re throwing back to the original—a creepy game based around the concept of making children’s nightmares a reality. In the game, you’re stuck in a nightmarish world where everything, even the monsters, has a strange, dreamlike quality to it, making this horror platformer a one-of-a-kind experience.- Platforms: Xbox Series X/S/One, PS4/5, PC, Switch
- Release year: 2017
- Developer: Tarsier Studio
-
Fright level: High
- Did you love Little Nightmares? Check out our list of 32 games like Little Nightmares to stay in the vibe.
-
The Complex puts you in the shoes of a worker who gets lost in a liminal space during what was supposed to be a routine expedition. You’re left alone to wander the halls of The Complex, all the while feeling as though something is following you. As a psychological horror game, The Complex is very atmospheric and eerie, and although it’s a slow burn, there are plenty of frights waiting for you within.- Platforms: PC
- Release year: 2023
- Developer: pgWave
- Fright level: High
Advertisement
-
The Mortuary Assistant is scary on multiple levels. Of course, ghosts and monsters are haunting the morgue you’re working in, following you around and pulling out all the stops to scare you. But there’s also the side of the game that makes you act as a mortician, opening up corpses and preparing them for funerals or cremations. It’s super intense without getting the supernatural—and once the ghosts get started, the game’s fright levels go through the roof.- Platforms: Xbox Series X/S/One, PS4/5, PC, Switch
- Release year: 2022
- Developer: Darkstone Digital
- Fright level: Very high
-
For those of you who prefer a co-op experience when you’re playing horror games, The Blackout Club is a great option. The game follows a group of heroes attempting to expose a cult that’s been kidnapping people—but to survive, you’ll have to become a master of stealth. The louder you get in the game, the more likely things are to go horribly wrong!- Platforms: Xbox Series X/S/One, PS4/5, PC
- Release year: 2018
- Developer: Question
- Fright level: High
Advertisement
-
SOMA is a futuristic horror title from Amnesia developer Frictional Games—and it’s set in a dark facility at the bottom of the ocean, which is a pretty frightening setting for a horror game, all things considered. Within the facility, you’ll have to face dangers around every corner, from warped, mutated creatures to a malicious AI manipulating your every move. SOMA’s narrative is sure to leave you thinking…but only after you get over all the frights in it!- Platforms: Xbox Series X/S/One, PS4/5, PC
- Release year: 2015
- Developer: Frictional Games
- Fright level: High
-
Before the release of Biohazard, the Resident Evil series was steadily losing steam. RE7 revitalized the franchise, bringing that signature Resident Evil vibe into the modern era of gaming with a compelling story filled with frights, fights, and plenty of grotesque monsters. It brought fans of the franchise back who’d fallen off, and roped in new fans simultaneously—making it well worth a play, alongside recent remakes of older RE titles.- Platforms: Xbox Series X/S/One, PS4/5/VR, PC, Switch
- Release year: 2017
- Developer: Capcom
- Fright level: High
Advertisement
-
Have you ever had a nightmare about being caught in the middle of the zombie apocalypse? Well, The Walking Dead: Saints and Sinners brings that nightmare to life with disturbing clarity and immersion, because it’s a game built for a VR headset. Set in the Walking Dead universe, the game drops you into open-world levels you must navigate while fighting the undead. Lingering too long brings a horde of zombies down on your head, so you have to move fast!- Platforms: VR
- Release year: 2020
- Developer: Skydance Interactive
- Fright level: High
-
Mouthwashing may not have many jumpscares, but it’s still a haunting, twisted experience that’ll stick with you long after you’re done playing it. It’s a psychological horror game, more unsettling and disturbing than outright frightening. It follows the dying crew of a spaceship that’s been wrecked as they descend into a state of mental collapse and beyond, and it’s absolutely overflowing with existential dread (with plenty of gruesome, gory visuals, too).- Platforms: PC
- Release year: 2024
- Developer: Wrong Organ
- Fright level: Moderate
- Fellow wikiHow readers agree that Mouthwashing is a wonderfully haunting indie experience! Check out our forum on recommended indie horror games.
Advertisement
-
Most gamers wouldn’t associate horror with point-and-click visual novels, but Slay the Princess bridges the gap between those two genres in a very unique way. In the game, you discover a princess imprisoned within a cabin, and the game’s narrator gives you the task of killing her. Doing this will save the world…or will it? There are multiple endings to explore in this intriguing title!- Platforms: Xbox Series X/S/One, PS4/5, PC, Switch
- Release year: 2023
- Developer: Black Tabby Games
- Fright level: Mild
-
Fatal Frame 2 isn’t a new game at all, but it’s definitely a classic of the horror genre. Released for the PlayStation 2, Fatal Frame is a survival horror game that challenges you to explore a haunted village from a fixed third-person camera perspective, switching to first person only to use the Camera Obscura—a camera that deals damage to ghosts every time you take a picture of them.- Platforms: PS2, Xbox
- Release year: 2003
- Developer: Tecmo
- Fright level: High
Advertisement
-
Alan Wake 2 is a twisting survival game with some incredible storytelling to boot. As scary as the game can be—and it can get scary—it’s worth playing for the narrative elements alone! It’s a haunting game that centers around Alan Wake, an author haunted by a dark entity, and an FBI agent named Saga tasked with investigating a series of ritualistic murders. Over time, the game grows into a multidimensional mystery that unfolds across time itself.- Platforms: Xbox Series X/S, PS5, PC
- Release year: 2023
- Developer: Remedy
- Fright level: Moderate
-
Signalis is a nod to classic horror games like Silent Hill and the original Resident Evil, with a top-down 2D style and mechanics that combine elements of shooters, survival, and puzzle games. You’ll play as Elster, a ship technician who awakens in the wreckage of her shuttle and must attempt to find her pilot while navigating the supernatural plague that wiped out the rest of the ship’s staff.- Platforms: Xbox Series X/S/One, PS4/5, PC
- Release year: 2022
- Developer: Rose-engine
- Fright level: Moderate
Advertisement
-
Look Outside is a pixelated horror game set in an apartment building. You—as the main character—are trapped in the building, and looking out the window will turn you (and your neighbors) into monsters. So, it’s your job to do the exact opposite of the title, and get through the building without looking outside or falling prey to the monsters prowling the halls. Look Outside is an impressive indie title developed by a single person, and well worth checking out!- Platforms: PC
- Release year: 2025
- Developer: Francis Coulombe
- Fright level: Moderate
Expert Q&A
Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
Advertisement
Tips
Submit a Tip
All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
Name
Please provide your name and last initial
Thanks for submitting a tip for review!
You Might Also Like
13 Terrifying Horror Games to Play on Steam
Roblox: Creepy Games That are Sure to Scare You (20+ Games to Try)
Scary Roblox Games: 20 Terrifying Experiences to Try Out
Games Like Little Nightmares: 32 Options for All Types of Gamers
27 Co-Op Video Games for Couples
How to
Not Get Scared While Playing Survival Horror Games
Roblox Games for Two Players: 18 of the Best & Most Fun Games
What Games Are Similar to Life Is Strange? Here Are 21 to Try
Discussion
What are the scariest Roblox games?
21 Solo Board Games & Card Games to Play By Yourself
The Best Shooter Games to Play If You Love Call of Duty (in 2025)
18 Games Like Hollow Knight You Can Play Right Now
How to
Scare Yourself
15 of the Scariest Horror Movies Ever Made
Advertisement
About This Article
This article was co-authored by wikiHow staff writer, Glenn Carreau. Glenn Carreau is a wikiHow Staff Writer, currently based in Los Angeles. With over four years of experience writing for several online publications, she has covered topics ranging from world history to the entertainment industry. Glenn graduated with honors from Columbia College Chicago, earning a B.A. in Interactive Arts and Media and a minor in Professional Writing. Today, Glenn continues to feed her lifelong love of learning while serving wikiHow's many readers.
How helpful is this?
Co-authors: 2
Updated: November 25, 2025
Views: 267
Categories: Video Games
Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 267 times.
Did this article help you?
Advertisement
