Steam is by far one of the best places for PC players to purchase games. There is a wide variety of genres that can be enjoyed through Steam, from the adorable cozy titles that help players to relax to the more intense experiences such as horror games.

Horror has been a popular genre for players for countless years, with many horrifying titles gracing both consoles and the PC. Unlike other platforms, Steam allows for plenty of unheard-of horror games to also have a chance to reach gamers who might enjoy them. Some of the best horror games are available on Steam, and with so many different types available, all kinds of gamers are certain to find something they'll enjoy.

Updated on January 23, 2025, by Megan Smith: With Steam regularly getting new games, the best horror games on Steam are constantly changing with the variety of unique horror experiences that are being added to the PC by both AAA Studios and Indie Developers. While not all of these horror games may be considered the scariest games on Steam, there are plenty of tense experiences to be had across various horror games, from spooky visual novels with graphic visuals, to intense survival horror games set in dystopian worlds. These are by far some of the best horror games on Steam from the hundreds that are available.

26 Until Dawn (2024)

This Classic Interactive Horror Is Finally Available On PC

Until Dawn
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Released
October 4, 2024
Developer(s)
Ballistic Moon
Platform(s)
PC, PlayStation 5
Genre(s)
Horror

Until Dawn was released exclusively for the PlayStation 4 back in 2015. Nine years later, the horror drama title received a remake from Ballistic Moon that saw it not only brought to the PlayStation 5 but also made available to players on Steam. While some players have had issues with this remake of Until Dawn, it cannot be denied that it now being available on PC means that one of the scariest games is now on Steam.

Players who may have already watched others play the original Until Dawn should still try out the remake because this version of one of the best horror games on Steam also includes a new ending as well as new narrative sequences.

25 Zoochosis

Prevent The Animals From Transforming Into Monsters

Zoochosis
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Psychological
Horror
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Released
September 23, 2024
Platform(s)
PC
Genre(s)
Psychological, Horror

Bodycam horror games on Steam have risen in popularity in recent years, with one of the most looked-forward-to games being Zoochosis. In this horror title, the player takes on the role of a zookeeper, but their job is made harder when a mutant virus begins to spread throughout the zoo, turning the animals into horrifying mutants.

Players must locate the infected animals and find a way to make a vaccine for them in the hopes of curing the animals while also avoiding the ones that have already begun to change. Zoochosis is not only one of the best horror games on Steam due to its frights, but also due to the multiple endings available that will have players coping with the scares repeatedly in the hopes of getting a good ending.

24 Devour

Complete A Ritual Before Getting Killed

Devour
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Survival Horror
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Released
January 28, 2021
Platform(s)
PC
Genre(s)
Survival Horror

While horror games are often best experienced alone, in recent years, Steam has seen an increase in multiplayer spooky titles, with Devour being a great example. In this game, players control cultists as they attempt to complete a ritual to rid themselves of a monster that lurks around every corner.

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It's important for players to work as a team if they hope to beat the possessed cultist who was at the core of a ritual gone wrong. With plenty of maps to choose from, each with a unique mechanic, Devour is a great horror game for those on PC. With more being added to the game regularly, and a VR mode to put players directly into the scares, Devour shows a lot of promise.

23 Dead By Daylight

Escape Or Become The Killer In This Multiplayer Horror

Dead by Daylight
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Horror
Survival
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Released
June 14, 2016
Developer(s)
Behaviour Interactive
Genre(s)
Horror, Survival

A great co-op horror experience players should be willing to try on Steam is Dead By Daylight. In this online multiplayer title, four players are survivors, while one player acts as the killer. It is the goal of the survivors to get generators to work in hopes of escaping the killer. The fact that the monster is controlled by another player and not AI makes this game of hide-and-hunt one to remember.

Meanwhile, the player that is the killer must attack and capture the survivors before putting them onto hooks in the hope of sacrificing them to the Entity. With various maps to explore and multiple different killers, those who are playing a Survivor would be surprised at how easily frightened they can become by the sudden appearance of the killer.

22 Dying Light

Parkour Around An Urban Environment Filled With Zombies

Dying Light
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Open-World
Survival Horror
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Released
January 27, 2015
Developer(s)
Techland
Genre(s)
Open-World, Survival Horror

While players are unable to defend themselves in Outlast, Dying Light is the complete opposite, as gamers have access to various weapons that they can use against the hordes of zombies that infect the city of Harran.

Players may enjoy the parkour opportunities available throughout the city, but they will also be helping other survivors of the city stay safe from the zombies that lurk in the streets. Dying Light also features an unbelievable story that many horror fans will enjoy while exploring the game's daunting open world, especially when it's dark.

21 Poppy Playtime

Get To The Bottom Of What Went Wrong Against Horrifying Toys

Poppy Playtime
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Released
October 12, 2021
Genre(s)
Adventure, Puzzle, Indie Games, Action, Survival Horror

Poppy Playtime garnered popularity similar to that of Five Nights at Freddy's. This game was split into various chapters that were gradually released chapter by chapter on Steam.

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Players who are interested in a horror experience that follows murderous toys can enjoy the first chapter of Poppy Playtime entirely for free on Steam. With a mix of puzzles and frights, Poppy Playtime has hooked an audience that is interested in playing more and putting an end to the dangers of these toys.

20 Outlast

A Psychological Experience Where The Player Can Only Hide, Run, Or Record

Outlast
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Survival Horror
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Released
November 4, 2013
Developer(s)
Red Barrels
Platform(s)
PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC, Linux, macOS
Genre(s)
Survival Horror

Another staple of the horror genre has to be Outlast. This survival horror game shocked players when it was first released and continues to be played by many gamers who have a deep love for the genre.

Exploring an asylum that has been taken over by its residents with nothing but a camera to record the horrors makes Outlast a tense, atmospheric title. Players are likely to encounter some gory scenes, as well as the horrifying people that created them while they sneak around the facility to find some answers.

19 Darkwood

Survive In A Deep Forest Where The Dark Is The Biggest Horror

Darkwood
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Survival Horror
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Released
August 18, 2017
Developer(s)
Acid Wizard Studio
Platform(s)
Xbox One, PS4, PC, Switch
Genre(s)
Survival Horror

Some of the best horror experiences on Steam are created by smaller indie developers. One great example of this is the horrific horror title called Darkwood. Not only does this survival horror game feel void of color, but it also makes for an incredibly ominous experience.

The drawn nature of the title allows the player to witness some horrendous things, from people who have become disfigured to how dangerous the world feels when one can only see ahead of them. Players won't ever feel safe while playing Darkwood, as even their own base can be a deathtrap if the windows haven't been boarded up and the lights haven't remained on.

18 Five Nights At Freddy's

Survive The Night Against Possessed Animatronics

Five Nights at Freddy's
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Survival Horror
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Released
August 8, 2014
Developer(s)
Scott Cawthon
Platform(s)
Android, iOS, PC, PS4, Switch, Xbox One
Genre(s)
Survival Horror

Another well-known horror game franchise that started its popularity on Steam is Five Nights at Freddy's. Ever since the success of the first title, this game that sees the player work the night shift keeping murderous animatronics at bay has since welcomed several more titles to expand on the original's simple premise.

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Sink your fangs into these bloody frightening games...

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With the original Five Nights at Freddy's being quite the classic, it has one of the greatest reviews on the Steam store page. It can also be purchased for a fair price, which is sure to encourage those curious to give this tense and unnerving horror game a go.

17 Little Nightmares

Explore the Maw As An Almost Defenseless Little Girl

Little Nightmares
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Survival Horror
Puzzle
Platformer
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Released
April 28, 2017
Developer(s)
Tarsier Studios
Platform(s)
PS4, Xbox One, Switch, PC, Stadia
Genre(s)
Survival Horror, Puzzle, Platformer

Little Nightmares is another horror franchise that has continued to gain popularity over the years. Both the first Little Nightmares and the second one can be purchased from the Steam store, where players are in for an eerie experience.

Both games have been well-received on PC, with many players still showing great appreciation for the original title, which saw them play as the tiny yellow coat-wearing girl as she hides and avoids the monsters that lurk in the Maw. Until she finally encounters the woman that is in charge of it all.