Fear is a tricky thing to nail down. Everybody is scared of something, but rarely do two people share the same fears. Even rarer is when a large number of people are all frightened by the same things. That makes the horror genre a tough nut to crack. Trying to scare one person is pretty doable, depending on how open that person is with their personal fears. Trying to scare every viewer, reader, or player of a horror experience, though, now that's a challenge.
That's why it's so impressive when a horror game pulls this off. The truly legendary horror video games are ones that affect hundreds of players, capably delivering scares that hit home for people from all walks of life. Among that select group, there are a few horror games that are so damn scary they could literally scare players to death. These are the games that stop pulling their punches shortly after the title screen. They are horrifying, they are devastating, and they will stick with players for a long, long time.
Resident Evil 7
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Resident Evil 7: Biohazard
- Released
- January 24, 2017
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- Mature 17+ / Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Strong Language, In-Game Purchases
- Developer(s)
- Capcom
- Genre(s)
- Survival Horror, Psychological Horror, First-Person
Starting with what should be one of the most obvious picks for this topic, Resident Evil 7 wastes no time in becoming one of the most terrifying video games ever made. There are plenty of haunting moments throughout, from the fight against the bug-like Maguerite Baker to escaping a landlocked freighter ship with something sinister lurking on board. However, the scariest sequence is, without a doubt, the game's opening, when Mia Winters fluctuates between Ethan Winters' loving wife and the most horrifically haunted demon woman ever created.
Resident Evil 7 was, in many ways, a response to the popularity and subsequent cancellation of PT, providing Capcom with the perfect vehicle to rejuvenate their flagship horror franchise. The first-person perspective (a recurring trend on this list) makes every encounter feel extremely close and extremely personal. From Jack Baker getting right up in the player's face with his trusty (and grotesquely rusty) axe, to Mia not-so-gently removing Ethan's hand with a chainsaw, the horror is so effective because it feels inescapable when viewing it through the protagonist's eyes. Capcom naturally felt the need to develop a VR mode for RE7, so if, for some reason, players weren't already terrified by the experience, they have the added option of very literally putting themselves in Ethan's place for a second playthrough.
Alien: Isolation
Where Will You Go To Hide From A Perfect Predator?
Alien: Isolation
- Released
- October 7, 2014
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood, Strong Language, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Creative Assembly
- Genre(s)
- Survival Horror
There are few feelings scarier than being hunted by a stronger, faster, deadlier being that cannot be killed. It's a palpable helplessness that only the best horror games can conjure, but Alien: Isolation may be the best to ever do it. The game is renowned for its enemy AI, specifically that of the Xenomorph, which learns from the player's behavior and won't allow them to use the same escape routes or hiding places twice.
The funny part is, the Xenomorph isn't present at all times. Besides its "debut" in Mission 5, it comes and goes, sometimes vanishing for several missions in a row only to reappear at the worst possible moment. Beyond that, enemies consist of rogue Weyland-Yutani androids and human mercenaries. These enemies bring their own brand of tension—particularly the androids—but they are certainly not as terrifying as the alien threat. It's a credit to the quality of those Xenomorph encounters that Alien: Isolation has built its legacy on what is, objectively, just a fraction of the overall game.
Silent Hill 2
Oppressive, Constant, And Suffocating Fear
Silent Hill 2
- Released
- October 8, 2024
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ // Blood and Gore, Language, Sexual Themes, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Bloober Team
Pacing is a crucial element in any horror game. It's hard to keep things scary when everything is scary, so the terror needs to come in ebbs and flows to keep players guessing. Or, at least, that was the consensus heading into 2024. Then, the Silent Hill 2 remake launched in October and proved that, when it comes to horror, the pacing never needs to let up.
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The original Silent Hill 2 was already a terrifying game, both psychologically and in a very, very real sense, but the remake is on another level. The sense of fear is constant from the moment James sets foot in the titular town of Silent Hill. The fog is suffocating, and enemies lurch through it like they don't even care if James sees them coming. The further players progress, the more oppressive the fear becomes, from a sickening Otherworld hospital to a pitch-black prison located miles underground. It often feels like completing just one more level will finally bring some respite from the constant terror, but that respite never comes.
Condemned: Criminal Origins
Are These People Really Just Criminals, Or Something Worse?
Condemned: Criminal Origins
- Released
- November 22, 2005
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ // Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Strong Language
- Developer(s)
- Monolith Productions
- Genre(s)
- Survival Horror, Action
The crafty thing about Condemned: Criminal Origins is that it doesn't really market itself as a horror game. Sure, the box art is creepy, but between the story about an FBI agent hunting a serial killer and the first-person melee combat, it comes across more like an action game with a murder mystery twist. Then the jump scares start.
The "criminals" that Agent Ethan Thomas faces aren't just troubled individuals having a bad day; they're crazed, murderous, and hellbent on bludgeoning Ethan to a pulp. Players have a service weapon on hand, but saying that ammo is limited is a massive understatement. Before long, they'll be defending themselves with lead pipes, fire axes, and two-by-fours, which means it'll take a few well-aimed swings to bring an enemy down. When those enemies are emerging from around corners or leaping in through windows to catch Ethan by surprise, it triggers an instant fight-or-flight response that doesn't dissipate for the rest of the game. That's without taking into account Ethan's horrifying hallucinations and the monstrous truth behind the serial killer stalking Metro City. Condemned is a very scary game, in part because it regularly scares players when they aren't at all prepared for it.
SOMA
What Does It Mean To Be Alive?
SOMA
- Released
- September 15, 2015
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- t
- Genre(s)
- Horror
Forget jump scares, monster fights, or resource management; SOMA doesn't dabble in any of that. This is a psychological sci-fi horror game through and through, and while there are a handful of monsters that need to be stealthed around, the crux of SOMA's horror is founded upon asking the player a handful of deeply uncomfortable existential questions.
SOMA is set on a derelict underwater research base in the year 2104, where an unconscious Simon awakens after a car accident that he thought occurred in 2015. While it was once used for space engineering, the base is now mostly abandoned, save for a few broken-down robots who are a little too human for comfort. That's where the existentialism comes in. See, players will occasionally need to move Simon's consciousness from one body to another. The act of doing so, and the implications behind what that means for Simon, will stick with players in a way that no gameplay sequence or grotesque monster ever could.
Visage
A Growing Sense Of Dread
Visage
- Released
- October 30, 2020
- ESRB
- m
- Developer(s)
- SadSquare Studio
- Genre(s)
- Horror
If Resident Evil 7 was "inspired" by PT, then Visage might as well be its long-lost offspring. This game is a horror anthology, featuring four stories set within the confines of a single, presumably haunted house, each ending in a horrific tragedy. It all begins with Dwayne Anderson, who murders his wife and two children before turning a gun on himself. The thing is, three weeks later, Dwayne wakes up and is forced to relive the terrifying incidents that took place in his family's home, before finally reckoning with his own brutal actions.
Visage is a dense game. With nothing in the way of combat or resources to worry about, it's effectively a puzzle game, but with intense horror sequences throughout. Don't expect any jump scares, though; this is a game that steadily builds a sense of dread in the player as they explore the house and uncover details about the events that occurred there. Then, as the pieces fall into place, the supernatural rears its horrific head. Many players have taken issue with the obtuse nature of Visage's puzzles, but for those who are okay with looking up a guide while they're being frightened out of their skin, it's one of the scariest games ever made.
Devotion
Desperation Can Lead To Some Dark Places
Devotion
- Released
- February 19, 2019
- Developer(s)
- RedCandleGames
- Genre(s)
- Horror
Developed by Red Candle Games, the makers of the excellent action platformer Nine Sols, Devotion is a very different kind of horror game. It follows Du Feng-yu, a struggling screenwriter trying to provide for his family. His wife, a former singer, is suffering from a rapid onset of asthma that has stifled her singing voice, while their daughter, Du Mei-shin, is looking to follow in her mother's performing footsteps. Feng-yu's desperation begins guiding him down a very dark path, one where he eventually joins a cult that promises him prosperity in exchange for his commitment to their cause.
All of Devotion takes place inside the Du family's apartment complex, but each level represents a different year in their lives, and players can switch back and forth between them at any time, using clues and items from the future to solve puzzles in the past and vice versa. Devotion is terrifying mainly because of how hopeless Feng-yu's situation feels. His desperation initially leads to the fracturing of his family, but what follows is the fracturing of his mind, and he proceeds to perform some absolutely horrifying acts in the name of his new god.
Tormented Souls
Old-School Design With Modern-Day Brutality
Tormented Souls
- Released
- August 27, 2021
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ due to Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Mild Language, Partial Nudity
- Genre(s)
- Horror
It takes a brave horror game to forgo the trope of exploring an abandoned hospital, but Tormented Souls goes in the other direction and makes the abandoned hospital a place that players will never leave. This is a game designed in the style of early Resident Evil or Alone in the Dark games, with a fixed camera angle and what's known as "tank controls." It can feel clunky at first to those who didn't grow up with these trends, but it will eventually click. Thankfully, the horror kicks in right from the outset.
The protagonist, Caroline, tracks a pair of missing girls to an abandoned hospital, but is knocked unconscious shortly after she arrives. When she awakens, Caroline discovers that her eye has been removed. Then things start to descend into more brutal territory. Caroline discovers VHS tapes that let her travel to the past, where she witnesses the horrors that the missing girls were subjected to. Tormented Souls is a twisty game that might not be for everyone, given its retro control scheme. However, it tells an excellent (and frankly terrifying) time travel story, the conclusion of which will be rattling around inside players' minds for a long time afterward.
Faith: The Unholy Trinity
Failed Exorcisms Are The Worst Kinds Of Exorcisms
Faith: The Unholy Trinity
- Released
- October 21, 2022
WHERE TO PLAY
Originally released as three separate but interconnected chapters, FAITH: The Unholy Trinity gathers all three releases in one package. The game uses 8-bit graphics akin to those of computer games from the 1980s, along with the occasional rotoscope cutscene to help deliver the narrative. It may not look like much on the surface, but those old-school design schemes are used to excellent effect.
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FAITH: The Unholy Trinity follows John Ward, a priest who is attempting to complete the exorcism of 17-year-old Amy Martin, which he botched one year prior. The last time John tried this exorcism, Amy broke free, slaughtered her parents and John's mentor, and then wound up locked in an asylum, which she recently escaped. While John's attempts to right a wrong are noble, he is biting off far more than he can chew by returning. Amy hasn't been sitting patiently since her breakout, and many more horrors are awaiting John than just a single demon. FAITH: The Unholy Trinity uses everything from its visuals to its protagonist to trick players into underestimating just how scary it really is. From the first appearance of the pale monster in the woods right through to the end of Chapter 3, this is a game that will have players cowering under the nearest blanket.
Darkwood
Don't Go Out At Night
Darkwood
- Released
- August 18, 2017
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- m
- Genre(s)
- Survival Horror
Like a more horrifying version of Annihilation, Darkwood is set in rural Poland, where a strange forest is steadily expanding across the land. Anyone trapped inside the forest is either killed or transformed into monstrous abominations, and very few who have tried to venture inside have come back out again. Players take on the role of The Stranger, a figure who is intent on finding a key that will unlock an underground passage and allow him to escape the forest. However, the creatures that live there aren't interested in letting anyone leave.
Between its line-of-sight mechanic and its day-night cycle, Darkwood never lets players get comfortable. Players can only see in the direction The Stranger is facing, while everything else around them is blurred, making it feel like something is constantly lurking just out of sight. By day, they can explore, scavenge for supplies, and barricade their hideout. When the sun sets, The Stranger cannot go back outside. Instead, they must defend their hideout as best they can and hope to survive until sunrise. Between the haunting discoveries they'll make during the day and the creatures making noise outside (and inside) their hideout at night, Darkwood is like concentrated, teeth-grinding tension. Every night, players will only survive by the thinnest of margins, if they survive at all. While exploring by day can progress the narrative, the nights are exhausting bouts of nailbiting horror, as players count the seconds until sunrise and pray that their barricades will hold out for long enough.
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