In 2022, Sony revamped PlayStation Plus, starting a new era for the service. Nowadays, players can pick from three tiers: Essential, Extra, or Premium. If someone wants to play online, they will need to subscribe to, at least, PS Plus Essential to access most games' multiplayer modes. This tier also provides a few freebies per month. However, people craving PS Plus horror games will probably need to take a look at the second and third tiers.
The Extra tier provides access to hundreds of PS5 and PS4 titles, and that library is expanded each month with roughly 15 games. The Premium level includes all of Extra's games, along with hundreds of classic PS3, PS2, PS1, and PSP projects. Unsurprisingly, Sony's service has most of its genre fundamentals covered, ensuring there should be a few dozen games that suit most people's needs. This statement includes horror, and the scariest PS Plus games rank among the best games on the subscription service.
Updated March 3, 2025 by Mark Sammut: Unfortunately, PS Plus horror games can be somewhat hard to come by, at least in terms of new releases. February 2025's Extra and Premium lineup did not contain any horror, although Lost Records: Bloom & Rage – Tape 1 and Somerville might be able to scratch a similar itch. March 2025's Essential games are Dragon Age: The Veilguard, Sonic Colors: Ultimate, and TMNT: The Cowabunga Collection, so no horror.
While the lineup might not be growing, PS Plus has enough horror options to keep subscribers scared for a while.
1 Resident Evil Director's Cut
Arguably The Most Influential Horror Game Ever
Resident Evil: Director's Cut
- Released
- September 25, 1997
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Capcom
- PS Plus Availability
- Premium
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation (Original), PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, PlayStation Portable, PS Vita
- Genre(s)
- Survival Horror
- How Long To Beat
- 7 Hours
PS Plus Extra only has one title from Capcom's legendary franchise: 2020's Resident Evil 3. While not as highly regarded as its predecessor, this remake is still an impressive action-horror game that looks and plays great. The campaign is pretty short too, to the point that it can easily be completed over a weekend.
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The Extra tier might not be stuffed with Resident Evil goodness, but the Premium bracket more than makes up for its companion's shortcomings. Subscribers have Resident Evil Director's Cut, Code Veronica X, Resident Evil 4–6, the Revelations and Chronicles entries, and Operation Raccoon City. Sure, most of those are not among the best PS Plus horror games, but they combine to provide a fairly impressive overview of the franchise's decades of service. Resident Evil 4 is the pick of the bunch, but the sequel leans more on action than horror; in comparison, Resident Evil: Director's Cut is pure horror.
While technically not the original, Resident Evil: Director's Cut is essentially the first Resi release, which means it was also among the first major horror games to reach a mainstream international audience. From the iconic opening reveal to the tank controls and static backdrops, Resident Evil is iconic. More importantly, the game is still surprisingly scary, even more so than most modern releases.
2 Until Dawn
A PlayStation Slasher Movie
Until Dawn
- Released
- August 25, 2015
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Supermassive Games
- PS Plus Availability
- Extra & Premium
- Platform(s)
- PS4
- Genre(s)
- Horror
- How Long To Beat
- 8 Hours
With PS Plus Extra and Premium, players have the option to download and play games directly from their console's internal storage. This benefits several horror experiences that can be found on the subscription service, which would otherwise suffer from lag induced by slow internet connection speeds. Supermassive Games' Until Dawn is perhaps the biggest benefactor of this, due to the rapid twitch gameplay players will often find themselves experiencing while they're desperately fighting to see the sun again.
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Until Dawn calls back to the horror genre's classic use of jump-scares, as it follows the story of a group of friends who are being haunted by their past. Crucially the narrative carries on whenever a character is killed by the player's actions, creating a sense of dreadful permanence. Because of this, Supermassive's cinematic story is an excellent depiction of interactive choose-your-own-adventure gameplay and is arguably still the studio's best work to this day.
3 Outlast 2
You Can Hide, But You Cannot Fight
Outlast 2
- Released
- April 25, 2017
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Red Barrels
- PS Plus Availability
- Extra & Premium
- Genre(s)
- Survival Horror
- How Long To Beat
- 8 Hours
Although hardly the first franchise to go down the defenseless protagonist route, Outlast might be the most famous example of this trend, at least in terms of pure exposure. The original game is, unfortunately, not available on Sony's subscription service, but the sequel is not only part of the lineup but also one of the scariest PS Plus games. Cast as a cameraman, players find themselves in the middle of a bloody ritual, which will put them directly in the crosshairs of quite a few horrifying villains.
Outlast 2 strips players of most defenses, forcing them into an intense game of hide and seek that can (occasionally) feel a bit unfair. While not always the most "enjoyable" experience, the story is deeply unsettling and disconcerting, touching upon themes that are horrific in concept and execution. Outlast 2 is a nightmare done right.
4 The Evil Within 2
Open-Ended Map & Fantastic Creature Design
The Evil Within 2
- Released
- October 13, 2017
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Tango Gameworks
- PS Plus Availability
- Extra & Premium
- Genre(s)
- Survival Horror
- How Long To Beat
- 15 Hours
Both of Tango Gameworks' The Evil Within games are on PS Plus Extra, and they are must-plays for anyone remotely interested in survival horror. They are inspired by Resident Evil, although they do change enough elements to stand on their own two feet. Even if it can be frustrating in places, the original 2014 game is the best entry point into the series for newcomers, and it is arguably more intense than its successor. The Evil Within introduces Sebastian Castellanos, a detective who gets dragged into a strange nightmare while investigating a murder case. The story predominantly takes place in a hospital, albeit one laced with surreal and terrifying imagery.
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The Evil Within 2 expands on its predecessor's ideas, all the while implementing a sandbox that grants players more freedom. This time, Sebastian enters a simulated town that is home to his supposedly deceased daughter. Union takes a fairly conventional setting and twists it, creating a feeling that something terrible could be lurking around every other corner. While the frights do not come around as frequently as in the first game, the gameplay is generally superior in the sequel.
5 The Dark Pictures Anthology
Fantastic Horror Co-Op Games
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The Dark Pictures: Man of Medan The Dark Pictures Anthology: Little Hope The Dark Pictures Anthology: House of Ashes The Dark Pictures: The Devil in Me PS Plus Availability Extra & Premium Extra & Premium Extra & Premium Extra & Premium Platform(s) PlayStation 5, Xbox Series S, Xbox Series X, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PC, Xbox One PlayStation 5, Xbox Series S, Xbox Series X, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PC, Xbox One PlayStation 5, Xbox Series S, Xbox Series X, PlayStation 4, PC, Xbox One PlayStation 5, Xbox Series S, Xbox Series X, PlayStation 4, PC, Xbox One Released 2019-08-30 2020-10-30 2021-10-22 2022-11-18 Developer(s) Supermassive Games Supermassive Games Supermassive Games Supermassive Games Genre(s) Survival Horror Survival Horror Survival Horror Horror How Long To Beat 5 Hours 5 Hours 6 Hours 7 Hours
Another Supermassive production, The Dark Pictures Anthology is a strange beast since, on the one hand, the overall project is probably the studio's most ambitious to date; however, the individual games are not quite as fulfilling as Until Dawn or The Quarry. As its name suggests, The Dark Pictures Anthology revolves around standalone stories loosely connected through a framing device, although they are largely designed to be played in isolation. PS Plus Extra has the franchise's four non-VR games: Man of Medan, Little Hope, House of Ashes, and The Devil in Me, all of which only require roughly 5–6 hours to complete.
Each title has different characters and settings, although they generally feature the same style of mechanics and scares. While neither entry is a masterpiece on its own, The Dark Pictures Anthology is nevertheless a great recommendation for horror fans, particularly ones who are looking for co-op experiences. The latter feature defines this series, and both online and couch co-op are well executed.
6 Siren: Blood Curse
Underrated PS3 Horror Gem
Siren: Blood Curse
- Released
- July 24, 2008
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- JapanStudio
- PS Plus Availability
- Premium
- Platform(s)
- PS3
- Genre(s)
- Survival Horror
- How Long To Beat
- 11 Hours
PS Plus Premium has the PS2's Siren and its 2008 reimagining, Siren: Blood Curse. Even though neither is an all-time classic, they are both above-average survival horror games with interesting ideas; however, Blood Curse is a bit easier to revisit in this day and age. Split into episodes and featuring a rotating cast of controllable characters, Blood Curse follows a TV crew as they investigate the rural Hanuda Japanese village. Naturally, they quickly find that this desolate town is home to some rather dangerous entities.
Siren: Blood Curse incorporates stealth into its gameplay loop since the characters are largely defenseless. To facilitate this element, players have the power to temporarily view the world from the perspective of an enemy, which allows them to plan their actions accordingly. This concept sets Siren apart from other horror franchises and is arguably at its best in Blood Curse.
The original PS2 version of Siren is also available on Premium.
7 The Last Of Us Remastered (Or, The Last Of Us Part 1)
A Masterpiece With A Horror-Leaning Setting (That Is Not Particularly Scary)
The Last of Us: Remastered
- Released
- July 29, 2014
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Naughty Dog
- PS Plus Availability
- Premium
- Platform(s)
- PS4
- Genre(s)
- Horror
- How Long To Beat
- 15 Hours
Thanks to Naughty Dog's trademark cinematic pedigree, it's sometimes easy to forget that The Last of Us is technically part of the horror genre. A testament to the engaging characters found at its core, the zombies that haunt the game's streets sometimes take a backseat when fans talk about the franchise. That's not to say that the hordes of the transformed are to be taken for granted though, as throughout the experience they'll provide more than enough scares.
The Last of Us hits a sweet spot when it comes to horror in this way. At times, the game offers palpable physical nightmares like any strong piece of zombie media, whilst also never forgetting to embody the psychological element of the genre at every other opportunity. The world that Naughty Dog has built is packed with such attention to detail that it ensures the presence and threat of the infected is a constant thought in the mind of the player, whether they're on-screen or not.
The Last of Us Part 1 is a remake that improves the visuals and tweaks the gameplay so they are closer to the Part 2 sequel. Complete newcomers will likely want to start with this version since it is tailor-made for the PS5; meanwhile, players who experienced the original game will have to decide if they want to go through the same story, albeit with an improved presentation.
8 The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners – Chapters 1 & 2
Walkers Have Never Looked Scarier
The Walking Dead: Saints and Sinners
- Released
- January 23, 2020
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Skydance Interactive, Skybound Entertainment
- PS Plus Availability
- Premium
- Platform(s)
- Oculus Rift, Oculus Quest, PC, PlayStation VR, PlayStation VR2
- Genre(s)
- FPS, Survival Horror
- How Long To Beat
- 11 Hours
June 2024 was a big month for PS Plus. For the first time, Sony announced that PS VR2 games would be coming to the service, with 7 projects dropping within the month. Provided somebody has the peripheral, they will have access to some of the best PS VR2 projects on the market, including a horror two-parter that has ties to a huge property.
Set in a flooded New Orleans, The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners casts players as the Tourist, and their "ultimate" goal is to find a stash of valuable items. However, the campaign mainly revolves around surviving, both in terms of crafting resources and just withstanding the aggressive and terrifying Walkers. While not quite as big as the ones found in Days Gone or World War Z, Saints & Sinners' zombie hordes are arguably a lot more intimidating, and that comes down entirely to VR.
Both chapters are worth playing, but the first entry is a stronger horror game than its successor. The sequel is nevertheless a fun FPS with horror elements.
9 Alone In The Dark: The New Nightmare
Alone In The Dark Meets Resident Evil
Alone in the Dark: The New Nightmare
- Released
- June 18, 2001
WHERE TO PLAY
Alone in the Dark has a peculiar legacy. Undeniably one of the most influential horror games ever, the 1992 original was groundbreaking at the time of its release, and it spawned a couple of quick sequels. Although the first entry is worth playing just from a historical standpoint, the franchise's 90s titles have not aged particularly well and can be difficult to appreciate in this day and age. After the turn of the century, the license would come and go, occasionally dropping a divisive project. 2008's Alone in the Dark's good ideas are let down by inconsistent execution, and the same can be said for 2024's reboot. Alone in the Dark: Illumination is plainly terrible.
That leaves 2001's The New Nightmare, a well-received entry that has arguably blossomed into the franchise's best title. Even though it is nowhere near as important as 1992's Alone in the Dark, The New Nightmare has stood the test of time better, providing the person playing it is fond of fixed-camera survival horror games from the PS1 era. Essentially creating a soft reboot, Darkworks opted to combine the previous titles' unsettling tone and puzzles with gameplay similar to Resident Evil. Despite taking clear inspiration from the latter, this title does not struggle to carve a unique identity, largely thanks to its solid writing, well-designed island setting, and diverse monster designs.
10 Dino Crisis
A PS1 Classic Has Gone Premium
Dino Crisis
- Released
- August 31, 1999
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Capcom
- PS Plus Availability
- Premium
- Platform(s)
- Sega Dreamcast, PC, PlayStation (Original), PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, PS Vita
- Genre(s)
- Survival Horror
- How Long To Beat
- 6 Hours
In a pleasant surprise for Halloween 2024, Dino Crisis was added to PS Plus Premium, granting subscribers access to Capcom's beloved PS1 classic. Despite the first two entries garnering quite a lot of love, the franchise faded away after 2003's Dino Crisis 3; consequently, this PS Plus arrival is a pretty big deal since it indicates that Capcom has not completely forgotten about the IP.
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Basically, Dino Crisis is Resident Evil with guns, utilizing tank controls, fixed cameras, and limited ammo to provide a fairly identical experience. The game leans into action slightly more than RE's PS1 originals, but it is still very much horror. While not everything has aged perfectly, Dino Crisis is still a blast.