Summary

  • The Callisto Protocol's story and enemy design offer players an thrilling experience.
  • Scorn stands out with unique enemy and weapon designs, offering an immersive atmosphere.
  • Carrion allows players to be the predator, stalking and consuming prey in a reverse horror setting.

Horror games have been around for a very long time, which goes to show how exciting and beloved they are by players who are looking for a thrilling experience. While some games in this genre are very complex, others keep things as simple and focus solely on scaring players as much as possible.

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These PlayStation 3 horror games were not only scary but also shined in the storytelling department thanks to their great stories.

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Certain titles even allow players to switch between different characters, which, if done right, can make the experience much more interesting. Regardless of the game mechanics, there’s one concept that has seemed to work since the 70s—aliens. Here are some of the best horror games about aliens.

6 The Callisto Protocol

An Interesting Horror Game That Had Mixed Reviews

The Callisto Protocol
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Survival Horror
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Released
December 2, 2022
Genre(s)
Survival Horror
  • Jacob Lee crash lands on Callisto
  • Good enemy design and thrilling moments

The Callisto Protocol was not well received by some people, but those who liked it were thrilled by the experience it had to offer. The story follows Jacob Lee, a starship captain who's survived a crash landing on the moon Callisto. Players will have to find a way to survive the numerous dangers they’ll encounter along the way.

The enemy design of this title is quite good and makes for some adrenaline-rushing moments that a lot of players will remember and the weapons available feel powerful. The Callisto Protocol could have benefited from further optimization, but it’s all in all, a good horror game.

5 Scorn

Immersive Experience And Amazing Designs

Scorn
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Released
October 14, 2022
Developer(s)
Ebb Software
Platform(s)
PC, Xbox Series X
Genre(s)
Horror
  • Good combat mechanics
  • Interesting, unique designs

Scorn is one of those games that shines thanks to its unique enemy and weapon designs, as well as its overall interesting atmosphere. As players progress through the game, they'll encounter various alien creatures that will test their skills and send chills down their spine.

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The combat mechanics in this game are quite good. Maybe not as good as those present in AAA Demon Horror titles like DOOM Eternal. However, while Scorn has some areas of improvement, what it does well makes it stand out and warrant more than one playthrough.

4 Carrion

A Reverse Horror Title That Lets Players Be The Predator Instead Of The Prey

Carrion
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Platformer
Action
Indie Games
Puzzle
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Released
July 23, 2020
Developer(s)
Phobia Studios
Platform(s)
Switch, Xbox One, PC
Genre(s)
Platformer, Action, Indie Games, Puzzle
  • Players must stalk and consume prey
  • Great reverse horror mechanics

While it's often fun and thrilling to feel like the prey of a merciless monster, serial killer or a vicious alien in a game, sometimes it's also interesting to think about being on the other side. This is exactly what makes Carrion so great, as it’s a reverse horror title that puts players in the position of an amorphous creature of unknown origins.

Throughout the game, players will have to stalk and consume any lifeform they encounter, which often provides a feeling of being powerful and the ultimate threat.

3 Alien: Isolation

An Adrenaline-Rushing Experience Set In A Famous Universe

Alien: Isolation
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Survival Horror
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Released
October 7, 2014
Developer(s)
Creative Assembly
Platform(s)
PS4, PS3, Xbox One, Xbox 360, Switch, PC, Android, iOS
Genre(s)
Survival Horror
  • Xenomorphs' AI is quite good
  • Amanda Ripley investigates her mother's disappearance

The Alien franchise has been extremely popular since the 70s, when the first Alien movie came out. Since then, there have been multiple movie spin-offs and a ton of games inspired by this thrilling universe and the horrendous creatures that are part of it.

Alien: Isolation follows the story of Amanda Ripley, who’s trying to investigate the disappearance of her mother, Ellen Ripley. Throughout the game, players will encounter many dangers, including vicious Xenomorphs that will stop at nothing to stalk and kill their prey. Amanda is, undoubtedly, one of the bravest horror game protagonists, so players will become invested in her fate sooner rather than later.

2 SOMA

A Nightmarish Abandoned Facility Is Home To Many Horrors

SOMA
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Released
September 15, 2015
Developer(s)
Frictional Games
Platform(s)
PS4, Xbox One, PC
Genre(s)
Horror
  • Amorphous creatures will stalk Simon
  • The Terry Akers encounter is quite frightening

Being stuck in an abandoned underwater facility is probably one of the most nightmarish scenarios that anyone can think of. There's a certain feeling of isolation and uncertainty that comes with it, which helps make SOMA outstanding. Granted, the creatures in the game aren’t strictly aliens, but rather mutated lifeforms, but given how strange and unfamiliar their appearance is, they could arguably be classified in this category.

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Following the story of Simon Jarrett, players will have to survive the various horrors awaiting them in the shadows. One of the most memorable and spine-chilling moments in the game is the Terry Akers encounter. Being chased by this creature is a very scary experience, which is not only memorable, but also a little traumatizing. SOMA is arguably one of the best horror games on Steam, so players who want to try it out can easily gain access to it via this platform.

1 Dead Space

The Game That Redefined The Alien Horror Genre

Dead Space
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Survival Horror
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Released
October 14, 2008
Developer(s)
Visceral Games
Platform(s)
PC, PS3, Xbox 360
Genre(s)
Survival Horror
  • Isaac Clarke must survive the USG Ishimura
  • Various weapons to defeat enemies

The original Dead Space is, without a doubt, one of the most important games of the last 20 years, as it redefined what the space horror genre was. The game follows the story of Isaac Clarke, who lands on the massive spaceship USG Ishimura, which appears to be completely abandoned.

As players progress through the story, they’ll encounter horrendous Necromorphs and other dangers that will put their skills and tolerance to horror to the test. Both the original and the remake have excellent weapons, which, when used properly, can make quick work of most enemies. Every Dead Space game has its charm, but the first one started it all, and because of that, it's considered a timeless classic.

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Scariest Analog Horror Series

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