The Best Action Horror Games

With the distinctly human fascination surrounding zombies, ghouls, and monsters, it's no surprise that the horror genre has been a clear and present entity throughout history, from mythology to folk tales, literature to films. Its prevalence in the gaming world is no different. For many, creeping through dark and strange virtual environments not knowing what lurks around the corner is exactly the terrifying experience they are looking for.

But what about those games with gruesome, gory creatures where the player isn't totally helpless? While the survival-horror genre offers an abundance of spine-chilling moments, horror games where the monsters are the ones that should be afraid can provide equally entertaining gameplay.

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Updated on December 9, 2024, by Rachael Phillips: While many horror games emphasize eerie settings that favor stealth, many players prefer a bit more control. Action-horror games allow gamers to get more stuck into the plot with combat, be it gunplay or hack-and-slash melee, for a faster-paced experience. Despite the more active role that the player takes in action horror games, the fighting elements do not compromise the terror that the antagonists bring and can even make the whole thing even more tense. This list contains some of the best action horror games of all time.

20 Dante's Inferno

Transforms The Epic Poem Into A Dark Action-Packed Game

Dante's Inferno is an action-adventure game full of horror elements, loosely based on the epic poem Divine Comedy. It follows Dante, a Templar, on a mission to rescue his wife from the Devil by fighting through the Circles of Hell.

Not only is Dante's Inferno packed with armies of demons to decimate, but some of the most terrifying visual representations of Hell and damnation ever created. It's certainly not for the squeamish. This is the perfect game for God of War and Devil May Cry fans looking for a darker experience.

19 The Mummy: Demastered

Battle Mummies Metroidvania Style

Many films have seen video game adaptations; while The Mummy (2017) movie wasn't a huge success, the inspired game was a surprisingly fun experience. As a nameless Prodigium agent, the player embarks on a Gothic Metroidvania-style quest to fight against the forces of Princess Ahmunet.

Should players find swords, daggers, and vampire-infested castles a bit on the nose, pumping a legion of the undead full of bullets in The Mummy: Demastered might just be the alternate experience they are looking for.

18 Dead Island

A Classic & Addictive Hack-And-Slash Zombie Game

Dead Island is definitely not the most polished game in the world, with plenty of bugs and glitches, but it has not stopped it from being widely loved as a fun experience. An open-world tropical paradise crawling with legions of infected zombies practically screams the perfect action horror setup.

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As an immune survivor, players must hack through a variety of zombies as larger forces are after their blood to create either a cure or an even more potent virus. With an engaging RPG system and a focus on melee combat rather than going in guns blazing, it's certainly worth a play; the mindless zombie bashing is quite addictive.

17 F.E.A.R.

Take Down A Dangerous Military Facility

The first F.E.A.R. Game was initially released on PC, later being made accessible on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. This iconic action horror is predominantly remembered for Alma, the terrifying antagonist who has a knack for popping up at the worst times for a panic-inducing scare.

The player controls Point Man, a sergeant of the US Army's F.E.A.R. Unit to combat Armacham Technology Corporation who are engaging in dangerous and unethical bio and psychic experiments. F.E.A.R. Has some great FPS combat, alongside a compelling psychological horror narrative - perfect for fans of both genres.

16 DOOM Eternal

Return To Hell In An Iconic Sequel

Following the success of the 2016 DOOM reboot, id Software, and Bethesda teamed up again to release a sequel, DOOM Eternal. This franchise entry has a heavier focus on story, a decision that proved to be divisive as some believed that it went against the game's roots, but the over-the-top fast-paced action is still ever-present .

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Following the Doom Slayer, players must defeat demons to prevent Hell from completely consuming Earth and destroying humanity. Both the ranged and melee weapons are incredibly cool, and the overall aesthetic is equally impressive, making for some truly epic combat.

15 Left 4 Dead 2

Work Together To Reach The Last Safe City

Left 4 Dead 2 is a zombie FPS set in post-outbreak Southern America, following four survivors fighting their way to the extraction points at the end of each campaign. There are five game modes, including single and multiplayer, as well as others that allow players to take control of the infected.

With a diverse range of zombie types and a variety of weapons, Left 4 Dead 2 has an abundance of intense graphic action, well deserving of a spot on this list.

14 Alien Isolation

A Tension-Filled Escape Mission With Plenty Of Scares

Alien: Isolation might have one of the deadliest stalker enemies of all time, but Amanda Ripley is anything but a damsel in distress. Like her mother before her, she goes toe-to-toe with the galaxy's notorious predator in true Ridley Scott fashion.

Players must guide Amanda through the space station to escape, encountering hostile androids, survivors, and the titular alien along the way. With a mix of strategy, objectives, and combat, Alien: Isolation successfully recreates the grungy sci-fi horror of the original film, making for a terrifying, immersive experience.

13 Dead Space (2023)

A Resident Evil-Inspired Survival Horror Set In Space

Dead Space is a good example of how a game can be inspired by a classic and still become a classic itself. The original Dead Space was inspired by Resident Evil 4, though it never felt like a rip-off thanks to its vastly different setting and a great variety of unique weapons and enemy types.

The Dead Space remake managed to improve upon its critically acclaimed predecessor, revamping the zero gravity mechanics, story, voice acting, and visuals to massively enhance the overall horror gameplay.

12 Castlevania: Symphony Of The Night

Protect The Human Race From Total Annihilation

Castlevania: Symphony of the Night managed to claw its way to cult status after initially flopping, eventually becoming the basis, with Metroid, for the "Metroidvania" genre. The player controls Alucard, Dracula's son, to stop the resurrection of Dracula and destroy his castle.

While Castlevania: Symphony of the Night leans more towards action-based platforming elements, it is still brimming with Gothic imagery. Taking place in Dracula's castle, this game features every type of classic horror monster imaginable, from vampires to werewolves to ghosts.

11 Cry Of Fear

A Nostalgic Psychological Horror That Began As A Mod

Cry of Fear was originally created as a Half-Life mod but was eventually released on its own merit as a psychological survival horror four years after it began development. The game follows the protagonist, Simon, as he attempts to make his way through a nightmarish rendition of a Swedish city.

Throughout the game, the player will encounter relentless ambushes from a series of gory, disturbing monsters which they can fend off with fantastically animated gunplay. There are five different endings to Cry of Fear.