Horror Games That Are Great (Despite Not Being Scary)

The constant improvements in console hardware and game engines have gone hand in hand with the rise in prominence of the horror genre, as the more immersive and realistic a horror game is, the more terrifying and ultimately captivating it can be. Titles like Resident Evil 7: Biohazard, Outlast 2, and Amnesia exemplify this, with their meticulous designs that have unsettled millions of players.

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The increase in horror games' realism has proven to be too much for some people, who find some of the latest releases too scary to enjoy, despite their interest in the horror genre. Thankfully for such gamers, numerous excellent games have plenty of horror elements but don't try to terrify their audience too much. What is and what isn't scary is, of course, subjective, but for most people, these games will provide an experience that is intense but never too frightening.

Updated on January 30, 2024, by Ritwik Mitra: Horror gaming has turned its reputation around after a period when jump scares used to be pretty common in most mainstream horror games. Now, players have realized that it's way more important for games to set a vibe and unnerve players instead of unleashing wave after wave of poorly-paced scares with little to no buildup. The fact that some of the best horror games aren't outright scary is proof enough of this.

16 Inscryption

A Roguelike Card Game That Unnerves Players With Its Story-Driven Approach

Daniel Mullins is a name held in high regard in the indie community, and most people were more than intrigued by Inscryption's amazing presentation. The game's dark and brooding aesthetic makes it clear from the get-go that there's something sinister lurking in the background.

It would be a crime to talk more about Inscryption and what it strives to achieve since players should go in completely blind to enjoy this experience. The game takes players on a wild ride and is pretty unnerving without resorting to cheap scares.

15 Omori

A Psychological-Horror RPG That Embraces Hope And Acceptance By The End Of An Emotional Journey

Omori is one of the most emotional video games players can try if they love games like Earthbound and Undertale. The title's charming aesthetic hides a deep, dark secret that rears itself in the form of chilling psychological horror.

While there are moments when Omori delves into a route of true and utter horror, most of these instances are present in the Hikikomori route. Most new players will go through the normal route, which delivers an exceptional story about grief, trauma, and acceptance.

14 FEAR 3

A Worthy Entry In The Fear Series With Fun Combat That Makes It Harder To Get Scared

For anyone who has played either of the first two FEAR games, it may be a surprise to see one of the franchise's entries on this list. FEAR and FEAR: Project Origin were both among the scariest games of their respective years, with the series' iconic antagonist Alma being the main source of panic-inducing jump scares.

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FEAR 3, however, made the divisive decision to give the series' staple horror a backseat, in favor of a heavier focus on FPS gameplay; this shift was common at the time, with Capcom taking a similar direction with Resident Evil 6.

13 Prey

An Immersive Sim Set In A Desolate Spaceship That Gets Less Scarier Over Time

Shortly after Human Head Studios' Prey was released in 2006, reports and rumors started circulating about a sequel. This sequel would go on to become one of gaming's most prominent examples of a title entering "development hell" before it was eventually canceled in 2014.

Most people assumed that this was the end of the Prey franchise, though Bethesda and Arkane Studios teamed up to announce a new Prey game. Arkane Studios' Prey was released in 2017 and implemented an entirely new narrative, rather than continuing the original story as the canceled Prey 2 had planned. Although some loyal fans were disappointed with the change in direction, the general perception of Prey (2017) was very positive.

12 Soma

A Sci-Fi Horror Game With A Riveting Story That Tones Down The Scares To Make It More Accessible

Soma had a huge weight of expectations on its shoulders in 2015, as the game was developed by Frictional Games, who quickly became one of the horror genre's most esteemed developers after they released the groundbreaking Amnesia: The Dark Descent in 2010.

Frictional Games took a complete change in direction from their Amnesia series with Soma, as the game offers a story-driven adventure centered around the potential dangers of technological advancements that wouldn't feel out of place in the Black Mirror TV series. Although the game's implications are dauntingly thought-provoking, the game itself isn't too scary, and it even offers a "safe mode."

11 Darkest Dungeon

A Tough-As-Nails RPG With A Lovecraftian Edge That's Pretty Tense Without Being Outright Scary

Darkest Dungeon, as the name suggests, is a dungeon-crawling RPG that has become infamous for its brutal and unforgiving difficulty level. The game puts players in control of a roster of heroes, who explore a series of dungeons that lie beneath a gothic mansion.

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Darkest Dungeon firmly falls into the category of "you either love it or hate it," as its difficulty makes it an excruciating experience for some and an addictive challenge for others. Not only does the game have perma-death, but players also have to keep an eye on each hero's Stress Level, which increases as they explore dungeons and can seriously harm them if it gets too high.

10 Little Nightmares

Players Explore Nightmarish Locations That Use Horror Tastefully Instead Of Relying On Cheap Scares

Tarsier Studios' Little Nightmares turned heads when its initial trailers dropped, with its unique horror art style intriguing yet unsettling many people. The art style isn't all that is unique about Little Nightmares, however, as the game also provides two genres that very rarely interconnect: puzzle platforming and horror.

The combination of genres may sound like a hot mess on paper, though it offers a surprisingly well-balanced and well-designed experience that overall provides a solid 3-4 hour adventure. Little Nightmares may not be too scary, though it is thoroughly disturbing.

9 Left 4 Dead 2

An Excellent Sequel To A Beloved Action-Focused Co-op Game Where Players Fight Wave Of Heinous Zombies

Valve's sequel to Left 4 Dead was released in 2009 and offered one of the most enjoyable online multiplayer experiences of the decade. The game received an impressive Metascore of 89, with praise being directed towards the game's enemy variety and fast-paced action.

For numerous years, Left 4 Dead 2 was one of the many Valve titles that had players desperate for a third entry; Left 4 Dead 3 still seems to be more of a dream than a reality, but there has been confirmation of a spiritual successor, Back 4 Blood.

8 Alan Wake

A Unique Narrative-Focused Action-Horror Game Where Players Have A Lot Of Means To Defend Themselves

Remedy Entertainment's Alan Wake was released exclusively on the Xbox 360 in 2010 before coming to PC in 2012. The gameplay took clear inspiration from Capcom's iconic Resident Evil 4 while adding an interesting offensive mechanic that lets players startle enemies with the use of a light source.

Alan Wake's combat isn't what made the game stand out though, it was its incredible narrative. Inspired by American novelist Stephen King, the game's story is a supernatural mystery that will have players scratching their heads from chapter to chapter. In terms of the game's fear factor, Alan Wake is fairly vanilla in its entirety, though there is a jumpscare towards the end of the game that easily frightened players should prepare for.

It's a great time to give Remedy Entertainment's oft-underappreciated gem a try, as Alan Wake Remastered was released on October 5th, 2021 and its sequel blew everyone's minds. Along with a fresh coat of paint that gave the once dreary visuals a new lease of life, the remastered game also includes both DLC episodes, which are vital for understanding the full Alan Wake story. Like the original, anyone wondering "Is Alan Wake scary?" Can rest assured that the game never gets too frightening.

7 DOOM 3

A Darker Take On Doom's World And Combat, With An Updated Release Making The Torch A Permanent Fixture

Along with 007 GoldenEye, the original DOOM is one of the most influential first-person shooters in the genre's history. Truth be told, any DOOM game could have been featured on this list, but DOOM 3 takes the cake as it is debatable whether the other titles can even be classed as horror.

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Despite having the most horror elements, DOOM 3 still isn't a particularly scary game due to how powerful the protagonist is, and how easily he can mow down hordes of enemies. In a sense, the DOOM franchise is more of a horror game for the enemies than it is for the protagonist.