Best Explorer Horror Games

Horror games have been around as long as gaming consoles have, so it's fair to say that the genre is not only beloved, but also well charted and developed. As technology has evolved, horror games have gotten increasingly better with the introduction of new game mechanics, better graphics, and overall improved storylines.

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There are many subgenres to horror, so players looking for an adrenaline rush and a nightmare-inducing experience have a wide variety of options to choose from. That said, many players would agree that explorer horror games are among the best of their kind, as they're not only designed to keep players in a constant state of alertness, but will also have them looking around Lovecraftian worlds for clues and pieces of a greater puzzle. Here are the best explorer horror games to date.

6 The Outlast Trials

A Cold-War Era Horror Story

• The Cold-War era setting adds to the horror theme
• Several heart-racing moments of anxiety

The Outlast Trials isn't Red Barrels Studio's first exploration and survival horror game, as several other games in the Outlast franchise have been released over the years. While the franchise's escence is still palpable in The Outlast Trials, there are also several changes that have been made to it, making it feel new and refreshing.

For starters, The Outlast Trials is set in the Cold-War era, a time when Russia and the United States were quietly trying to overpower one another with weapon arsenals and nuclear warfare advancements. Players will inhabit the body and mind of one of the unlucky test subjects, A.K.A. Human guinea pigs, trapped inside one of many experimental facilities run by the evil Murkoff Corporation. Those brave enough to play this game will have to navigate through claustrophobia-inducing corridors, dark rooms, and other sinister locations—all while being chased by endless terrors.

5 Amnesia: The Bunker

A World War 1 Claustrophobic Nightmare

• The WW1 bunker setting intensifies the horror
• Limited resources force players to play strategically

Another great game set in one of humanity's darkest moments is Amnesia: The Bunker, which will take players back to World War I. During the events of this armed conflict, players will control a soldier trapped inside an underground bunker. As the game progresses, players will be forced to explore dark, cold areas and tight spaces while being chased by an unknown entity.

This story-driven explorer horror game is designed to force players to use their resources carefully, as they're very limited and will be necessary to survive for as long as possible without facing additional difficulties.

4 System Shock

A Sci-Fi Horror Game With Decent Boss Fights

• Fun boss fights
• Futuristic horror setting

Veteran players in their late 20s and early 30s might have played the original System Shock game back in 1994—and if so, they will be pleasantly surprised by the 2023 remake. System Shock follows the story of a hacker trapped on Citadel Station, which has been overrun by SHODAN, an evil AI.

As with any other exploration and survival horror game, System Shock will have players fighting deranged cyborgs, mutated creatures, and many other evils in their attempt to escape Citadel Station alive. Players will also have to decipher SHODAN's evil plan to destroy Earth and take over the rubble that remains. It should be noted, that System Shock has a fair number of bosses, so players looking for an exploration horror game that doesn't have any might want to skip this title altogether.

3 Dredge

Fishing Just Got Scary

• Interesting fishing theme that breaks the common horror game structure
• Resource management is key to survival.

Out of all the games on this list, Dredge could be considered the least scary simply because of its art style, which strays considerably from the classic 3D camera angles and designs most players are used to in other titles. That said, this game shouldn't be underestimated, as it still delivers an entertaining experience full of twists, spine-chilling sea monsters, and grim environments.

Dredge follows the story of a fisherman exploring a unique archipelago. As he delves deeper into the ocean floor, he'll uncover dark secrets and mysteries lying beneath the surface. Players will have to manage their resources strategically to survive and upgrade their ship so it withstands the unending dangers that await them.

2 Sons Of The Forest

An Anxiety-Inducing Search For A Lost Billionaire

• Survival against cannibalistic mutants
• Strong reliance on resource management and component crafting

Sons of the Forest is the sequel to The Forest, a survival game released in 2014 that had several players worldwide quaking in their boots. Similarly to its sequel, Sons of the Forest also happens in a large, open rural area where various dangers are lurking in the shadows.

One of the things that makes this game so scary, is how realistic the scenario it's set in is. Players will inhabit the body of a rescuer, sent to a remote island to find a lost billionaire, who, along with other island inhabitants, stopped making contact and went dark out of nowhere. As the game progresses, players will discover that the island is inhabited by cannibalistic mutants, and they'll have to rely strongly on crafting, resource management, and combat skills to survive and uncover the island's dark secrets.

1 Alan Wake II

A Surreal Detective Story With Dark Undertones

• Complex puzzle-solving
• Enticing plot with a lot of turns

The original Alan Wake released back in 2010 captivated players from launch day and helped Remedy Entertainment to grow and become the respectable studio it is today. Although it took them over a decade to release the follow-up to the series, Alan Wake 2 meets and exceeds the 13-year expectations of players worldwide.

With the plot centered around both FBI agent Saga Anderson, and writer Alan Wake, the game will have players explore a dark world full of dangers, murderous enemies, paranormal aspects, and a series of bizarre murders that seem to be linked to a satanic cult that will stop at nothing to achieve its goal. All in all, Alan Wake 2 delivers wonderfully on its promise of being one of the greatest horror games of the decade.

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