Halloween is just around the corner, and you know what that means - it's time to immerse yourself in some of the scariest video games out there! From spine-tingling jump scares to the slow, creeping dread of psychological horror, there are plenty of terrifying options to keep you up all night. Gather your courage, turn off the lights, and get ready to explore the 10 best scary games to play this Halloween.
Top 10 horror games that are sure to scare you this Halloween
If you’re wondering which games will give you the ultimate spooky experience, I’ve got you covered. From classic survival horror to multiplayer nightmares, these 10 scary games are guaranteed to deliver all the thrills and chills you need this Halloween.
10. The Medium
The Medium offers a unique twist on the horror genre with its dual-reality gameplay, where you simultaneously explore both the real world and a dark spirit world. As Marianne, a psychic medium, you’re called to an abandoned hotel to uncover a tragic mystery, looking into both realities to solve puzzles while avoiding terrifying spirit creatures.
The story is haunting and filled with psychological horror, touching on themes of loss, trauma, and guilt. The Medium is less about jump scares and more about creating a pervasive sense of dread, making it an excellent choice for players who prefer psychological horror with a strong narrative this Halloween.
9. Resident Evil Village
Set in a mysterious Eastern European village, Resident Evil Village is a blend of classic survival horror and gothic horror, filled with grotesque creatures, vampires, and werewolves. You play as Ethan Winters, on a desperate quest to find his kidnapped daughter. The village is full of strange and terrifying residents, including the towering Lady Dimitrescu, whose presence alone can send shivers down your spine. With limited resources, you’ll need to carefully choose when to fight and when to flee.
The game’s atmosphere is one of its strongest points, mixing decrepit castles with eerie forests and underground lairs. Every new location introduces a fresh sense of dread, as you never know what might be lurking around the corner.
8. The Dark Pictures Anthology: House of Ashes
House of Ashes is part of the Dark Pictures Anthology, a series of cinematic horror games where your decisions shape the outcome of the story. In this installment, you control a group of soldiers trapped in an ancient underground temple, where they uncover a supernatural threat that lurks in the darkness. The game’s claustrophobic environments and terrifying creatures make every decision feel critical, and one wrong move can lead to a gruesome death for one of your characters.
The branching narrative of House of Ashes means you’ll want to replay it to see all the possible outcomes, and the tense atmosphere will keep you glued to the screen.
7. Dead by Daylight
If you’ve ever watched a horror movie and thought, "I could totally survive this," Dead by Daylight is here to test that theory. This asymmetrical multiplayer game pits one killer against four survivors in a tense game of cat and mouse. Survivors must repair generators and escape before the killer catches them, while the killer uses various abilities to track and eliminate their prey.
The suspense comes from knowing the killer is always nearby, but you never know when they might strike. It’s a game of strategy, stealth, and sometimes pure panic as you sprint for an escape.
6. The Mortuary Assistant
In The Mortuary Assistant, you step into the shoes of an apprentice mortician working the night shift, preparing bodies for burial. But as you go about your tasks, things take a dark turn, and you find yourself dealing with supernatural occurrences like demonic possessions and malevolent spirits. The game does an excellent job of building tension through its slow pacing, where every body you handle could be hiding something terrifying beneath the surface.
It’s not just about the jump scares - though there are plenty - it’s the feeling that something is always watching you, waiting for the right moment to strike. If you’re into slow-burn horror with a paranormal twist, this game will deliver the chills you crave this Halloween.
5. Little Nightmares II
In Little Nightmares II, you play as Mono, a young boy trapped in a world of grotesque creatures and nightmarish environments. Accompanied by Six, the protagonist from the first game, you must navigate a series of terrifying levels filled with enemies that want nothing more than to capture - or worse, eat - you.
What makes Little Nightmares II truly stand out is its storytelling through environment and sound. There’s minimal dialogue, but every scene is packed with tension and unease. The art style, while beautiful, is deeply unsettling, and the sound design - whether it’s the creak of a floorboard or the distant shuffle of an unseen enemy - will keep you on edge. Don't worry, you'll only suffer for five or six hours.
4. Phasmophobia
In Phasmophobia, you and up to three friends take on the roles of paranormal investigators, equipped with tools like EMF readers, spirit boxes, and cameras to gather evidence of ghostly activity. The game randomly assigns a ghost to each location, and your job is to identify it without becoming its next victim.
The catch? The ghosts aren’t just passive; they can react to your voice, hunt you down, and leave you scrambling for a hiding spot. It’s a thrilling game that perfectly balances eerie silence with sudden bursts of terror. The unpredictable nature of the hauntings keeps you on your toes, especially when you’re trying to communicate with the spirit and it responds in ways you weren’t expecting.
3. Visage
Visage is a slow-burn psychological horror game set in a haunted house where reality seems to twist and shift around you. As you explore, you uncover the dark and tragic stories of the house’s former inhabitants, each one more disturbing than the last. The game doesn’t rely on constant jump scares; instead, it creates an oppressive atmosphere where every creak, shadow, and flicker of light makes you question whether you’re truly alone.
What makes Visage truly terrifying is its unpredictability. The house is constantly changing, and the game never lets you feel safe. One moment you’re solving a puzzle, and the next, you’re running from something unspeakable.
2. Outlast
Set in the abandoned halls of Mount Massive Asylum, Outlast throws you into a terrifying game of survival with no weapons, only a camcorder to guide you through the darkness. You play as investigative journalist Miles Upshur, uncovering the asylum’s horrific secrets while being hunted by deranged inmates and monstrous entities. The game’s signature feature is its use of night vision, allowing you to see in the dark - though every flicker of your camera’s battery running low is enough to send your heart racing.
The true horror of Outlast comes from its relentless pacing. There’s no time to catch your breath as the asylum’s horrors chase you down narrow corridors and through blood-stained rooms. The game does an exceptional job of creating a sense of dread that builds and builds until you’re practically begging for a moment of safety. But that moment never comes.
1. Amnesia: The Dark Descent
Amnesia: The Dark Descent is one of the most iconic horror games of the last decade, known for its oppressive atmosphere and its ability to mess with your mind. You play as Daniel, a man who wakes up in a dark, eerie castle with no memory of how he got there. As you explore, you must avoid horrifying creatures while solving puzzles, all while dealing with a sanity mechanic that causes terrifying hallucinations if you stay in the dark for too long.
Amnesia makes you feel completely helpless. You can’t fight back, so every encounter with the game's monsters becomes a game of hide and seek, with your life on the line. It absolutely deserves its spot as the top scary game on this list.
Want to read about more horror games here at Pro Game Guides? Check out the Best Roblox Horror Games with Multiplayer and 20 First Person Horror Games To Play.
Published: Oct 1, 2024 09:01 pm