Summary

• Horror games offer a unique and thrilling experience that no other genre can replicate, with intense gameplay and immersive atmospheres.
• From asymmetrical multiplayer games to narrative-driven titles, there is a wide variety of horror games to choose from that cater to different preferences.
• Whether it's survival, psychological, or sci-fi horror, plenty of AAA and indie horror games are available to satisfy even the most avid horror fan's appetite for scares and suspense.

There's just something special about horror video games — whether it's the visceral feeling of narrowly escaping death in Dead by Daylight, the horror game genre can evoke feelings that no other game genre can. While the freedom of choice is certainly appreciated, especially for self-proclaimed gore hounds, there are so many titles it can make settling on which games to invest time into a harder endeavor than one would think.

Luckily, with this freedom of choice also comes many solid AAA and indie horror gaming titles that can frighten even the most avid horror aficionados. Whether it's demons, ghosts, or just straight-up sadistic killers, there's a plethora of amazing content to enjoy. From cannibalistic killers to ghostly figures, these are the best horror games to play right now.

How we choose entries for our Best-Of Lists.

For this List, Screen Rant has considered the critic scores of gaming aggregator Metacritic, reviews on Steam, and our own reviews. Writer and editor Garrett Ettinger has also applied his years of experience as a horror game fan to critically evaluate these picks. Audience expectation and what really makes a “Best of the genre” have also been a critical factor in the creation of this article.

30 The Evil Within 2 (2017)

Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One

The Evil Within 2 sees detective Sebastian Castellanos venture into a disturbing world on a mission to rescue his daughter Lily. Along the way, he encounters plenty of genuinely grotesque creatures and tense situations. It certainly refines a lot of elements from the first game, and the resulting gameplay experience feels consistent and satisfying even if it loses some of the original's capacity to surprise.

29 System Shock (2023)

Platforms: PC, Mac, PS4/5, Xbox One & Series X/S

Based on the 1994 original first-person sci-fi/horror game, 2023's System Shock is a faithful - and terrifying - recreation. Set aboard a derelict space station overtaken by an aggressive AI named SHODAN, it's discovered that the crew is dead and that the AI system has taken over the ship. With colorful yet creepy visuals and a unique yet tense atmosphere, players explore the labyrinth-like ship while speaking with the power-obsessed SHODAN and its horrifying mutated crew . The original game served as the inspiration for Bioshock, making this remake a unique and memorable experience and a must-play for horror fans.

28 Visage (2020)

Platforms: PC, PS4/5, Xbox One & Series X/S

Visage is the perfect horror game for anyone who really wishes the Silent Hill game P.T. had actually been released. It's an interesting psychological horror experience set in an odd house, which the player needs to unlock and explore piece by piece while attempting to stay alive against some intense challenges.

Although Visage can be subtle and atmospheric, it's not afraid to use jump scares, and it tends to be good at every tool in its arsenal. It's not a game for everyone, and an unusual control scheme and some potentially frustrating design choices and bugs can certainly take some getting used to. With all the strengths it has to offer, though, it's worth putting up with Visage's notable weak points.

27 Amnesia: The Bunker (2023)

Platforms: PC, PS4/5, Xbox One & Series X/S

Survival horror Amnesia: The Bunker is the fourth installment in the Amnesia series. With creepy sound design and a shadowy atmosphere, it takes much of what made the franchise so popular and improves upon it. Unlike prior games, the entire world map is available upon spawning in, enabling wider exploration not before seen in the franchise. Set during WW1 in 1916, Amnesia: The Bunker focuses on the struggle of a French soldier named Henri Clément as he seeks to survive the dank, abandoned bunker he finds himself in. Though there are many outright frights, much of the horror of the title is generated by the looming presence of the stalker and the game's well-crafted environments.

26 Mundaun (2021)

Platforms: PC, PS4/5, Xbox One & Series X/S

Mundaun is a creative indie horror title with a unique black-and-white pencil art style and strange missions that sometimes border on bizarre. The game follows Curdin, who returns to his hometown for his grandfather's funeral. What follows is a beautiful first-person horror that forces one to explore and experiment to unlock the curious story hidden within the game's challenging puzzles. With little direction provided over its narrative, it's up to the player to uncover the game's true story. Mundaun is praised for its fascinating visuals, brooding soundtrack, and unique narrative based on Swedish folklore.

25 The Quarry (2022)

Platforms: PC, PS4/5, Xbox One & Series X/S

Filled to the brim with a talented cast of characters, 2022's The Quarry is a playable take on the tried-and-true camp-setting horror made popular by films like Friday the 13th. Events quickly unravel as the camp counselors must avoid a killer threat - and reveal the mystery stalking the campsite. As is tradition with other Supermassive titles, The Quarry features well-known actors, including David Arquette and Brenda Song, on top of boasting 186 different endings. The game stands as one of the more recent and polished interactive horror games out there right now.

24 Darkwood (2017)

Platforms: PC, PS4/5, Xbox One & Series X/S, Nintendo Switch

Darkwood is a survival horror title that unquestionably knows what it's doing. The game doesn't make use of scary audio stings or direct jumpscares, instead opting to build tension and fear much more careful. Every sight and sound matters, and the atmosphere throughout is genuinely terrifying despite a top-down perspective that doesn't seem like it would boost immersion.

A lot of Darkwood's tension comes down to the importance of making quick decisions, as it's not a game where the options feel as simple as run and fight. Scavenging and crafting play a big role in the whole affair, just in a much more desperate way than the typical survival crafting game where the ultimate goal is genuine prosperity. With a strong aesthetic sensibility and an interesting story, Darkwood feels like the complete package in a way that few games do.

23 Alien: Isolation (2014)

Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One

Alien: Isolation is a survival horror title that owes a lot of its scares to the amazing sound design and creepy, tense atmosphere. Played from a first-person perspective, Amanda Ripley (the daughter of Ellen Ripley) must explore an abandoned space station while avoiding enemies, including other humans, androids, and, of course, the titular Alien. There is a palpable feeling of dread, and much of the story reflects beats from the original film. With lived-in-feeling detailed environments, creepy audio, and interesting stealth gameplay, Alien: Isolation is a must-play - especially for horror movie fans.

22 Outlast (2013)

Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch

A single-player first-person experience, in Outlast the protagonist is an investigative journalist who sets off to explore the creepy corridors of Mount Massive Asylum psychiatric hospital. Filled with mutated homicidal patients, the game is highly atmospheric with a stripped-down UI, and relies on the fear of the unseen to really terrify. Rather than taking on enemies head-on, it's imperative to use stealth and sneak around to accomplish game objectives. Prepare to run.

21 Little Nightmares 2 (2021)

Platforms: Nintendo Switch, PC, PS4/5, Xbox One & Series X/S

Though the cartoon aesthetic and cute large-headed characters in Little Nightmares 2 may lead most to believe it's a kid's game, it successfully creates a dark and lived-in presentation, making it one of the best single-player horror titles currently available to play. Building upon its predecessor, the sequel of the title improves the controls and adds more content while retaining the same dark and spooky environments in the new Pale City. A puzzle platformer and adventure game at its heart, the game follows the adventures of Mono and Six, the latter of whom was the main character from the original title.