The horror genre is shaping up to be one of the most stacked video game spaces out there. There are so many new horror games on the horizon, from iconic franchises making their return to entirely new IPs looking to make a name for themselves, but each of them looks just as terrifying as the next.
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With so many games coming out in such a short period of time, it can be hard to tell which ones will make the biggest splash. However, there are a few games on the calendar that stand above the rest that will likely enter the horror hall of fame, setting new highs for the genre and scaring plenty of players in the process.
Resident Evil Requiem
The King Of Horror Returns
Resident Evil Requiem
- Released
- February 27, 2026
WHERE TO PLAY
Resident Evil 9, officially titled Resident Evil Requiem, is slated to be the final numbered entry in the mainline series, and given the quality of the series' recent releases and remakes, this one will surely launch with a bang. Players will make their way through both new and returning settings, notably the iconic Raccoon City, where there will no doubt be more than a few Easter Eggs, references, and callbacks to a 20-year-long legacy.
Requiem feels a lot like a love letter to fans of the franchise, with the lesser-known story of the Ashcroft family acting as the driving force behind the game's narrative. Although there are still plenty of details being kept under wraps, the game is practically guaranteed to be one of the best horror games released in 2026, and potentially the decade as a whole.
ILL
Horrific Creatures Of All Shapes And Sizes
ILL
- Developer(s)
- Team Clout inc.
WHERE TO PLAY
ILL is shaping up to be one of the most disturbing horror experiences ever created. Developed by a team with roots in film and practical effects, it blends cinematic storytelling with grotesque body horror and hyperrealistic visuals powered by Unreal Engine 5.
Players explore a decaying research fort overrun by monstrous beings that react unpredictably to sound, light, and physical impact. Every encounter in ILL looks brutally tactile, as limbs tear, flesh rips, and every scream resonates with haunting clarity. It’s not just another horror shooter, but a visceral descent into madness that pushes sensory immersion to terrifying new extremes.
OD: Knock
An Industry Titan Meets Fear Itself
OD: Knock
- Developer(s)
- Kojima Productions
WHERE TO PLAY
- Genre(s)
- Horror
From legendary creator Hideo Kojima, OD: Knock is shrouded in secrecy yet already stands as one of the most anticipated horror projects of the decade. The game aims to redefine what psychological horror can be, melding cinematic storytelling, player immersion, and experimental technology that makes it look closer to real life than any other horror game on the market.
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Kojima describes the game as an exploration of “testing your fear,” suggesting a narrative that reacts dynamically to player emotions. From the short amount of content that has been shown so far, it already looks visually stunning and terrifyingly captivating. If OD lives up to the hype, it may be the next big name in horror.
Clive Barker's Hellraiser: Revival
An Icon Of The Genre Is Back
Clive Barker’s Hellraiser: Revival
- Developer(s)
- Saber Interactive
WHERE TO PLAY
Clive Barker’s Hellraiser: Revival marks the long-awaited return of one of horror’s most iconic universes to gaming. Drawing directly from Barker’s macabre imagination, it promises a dark, cerebral experience centered on a world that fuses puzzle-box mysteries with gruesome body horror, reflecting the twisted beauty that made Hellraiser a cult classic.
With Barker’s direct creative involvement, Hellraiser: Revival is poised to capture the essence of his original vision. The prospect of confronting the Cenobites in modern, photorealistic environments could make this one of the most disturbing and atmospheric horror games in recent memory, and one that fans of the series will certainly want to check out.
Directive 8020
Dark Pictures Crossed With Sci-Fi Terror
The Dark Pictures Anthology: Directive 8020
- Released
- 2026
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- Rating Pending
- Developer(s)
- Supermassive Games
Directive 8020 serves as the chilling prologue to The Dark Pictures Anthology: Season 2, expanding Supermassive Games’ cinematic horror formula into deep space. The story follows the crew of a colony ship as they encounter something unspeakable in the void, a presence that turns isolation and paranoia into instruments of terror.
Set aboard a cold, metallic labyrinth far from Earth, Directive 8020 combines psychological tension with science fiction horror reminiscent of Alien and Event Horizon. With branching narratives, complex moral choices, and unsettling realism, it continues Supermassive’s mission to make fear interactive, only this time, among the stars where no one can hear the player scream.
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