Best Horror Games of All Time

Horror video games have been terrifying players for decades. It’s hard to pick just one Resident Evil or Silent Hill as the greatest, since there are several horror classics to consider. In fact, Silent Hill 2 (2001) is generally regarded as one of the best games ever made. 

Below are some all-time favorites that define the genre:

• Silent Hill 2 (2001) – A psychological horror classic. Many call it the best ever.
  
  
• Resident Evil 2 (2019 Remake) – A masterful remake with relentless tension. A tyrant stalks you throughout.
  
  
• Amnesia: The Dark Descent (2010) – An indie horror landmark. You are completely defenseless.
  
  
• Outlast (2013) – Run and hide in an asylum. You have zero weapons to fight back.
  
  
• Alien: Isolation (2014) – Claustrophobic survival in space. An unstoppable Alien hunts you.
  
  

Each of these titles set high standards for atmosphere, gameplay, and sheer scare factor. For example, the Resident Evil 2 remake is praised for its dizzying tension and the ever-present threat of the towering Mr. X, which elevates it to one of the series’ scariest experiences.

Meanwhile, Silent Hill 2 remains legendary for its psychological horror and emotional storytelling, often topping fan polls as the best horror game of all time (IGN readers voted it #1, with Resident Evil 2 as a close second). These classics paved the way for all the horror hits that followed

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Best Horror Games in 2023

Recent years have delivered some of the best horror games in memory. In fact, the Creative Bloq Best Horror Games 2023 list highlighted how this year combined “remade classics, inventive indies and Triple-A hits”. 

Remakes of beloved games shined alongside bold new titles. Capcom’s Resident Evil 4 (2023) remake, for instance, was hailed as one of the year’s top games and the best horror game on PS5. Likewise, Dead Space (2023) proved a 15-year-old classic could be reborn to terrify a new generation. The remake delivered “unrelenting terror in the cold vacuum of space” with modern graphics and gameplay. 

On the original side, Alan Wake 2 (2023) arrived as a mind-bending, story-driven horror adventure. Critics praised it as “a marvel in video game storytelling” with haunting atmosphere and twists.

Even indie horror made waves: Amnesia: The Bunker (2023) terrified players with an unpredictable monster in a WWI setting, and some call it the scariest entry in the series. Overall, 2023 was a banner year for horror games, offering a bit of everything, from big-budget remakes to inventive indie scares and showing that the genre is stronger than ever.

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Best Horror Games on PS5

The PlayStation 5 library features a wide range of horror experiences. From modern classics like Resident Evil Village to underrated titles such as Tormented Souls, there’s something for everyone on PS5. The console’s advanced 3D audio and graphics make dark hallways and sudden noises even more immersive. Some games on PS5 will jolt you with constant jump scares, while others slowly get under your skin and you can choose your preferred flavor of fear.

Top horror games to play on PS5 include Resident Evil 4 Remake (praised as a must-play on the system), Resident Evil Village (which showcases the PS5’s visual prowess in a creepy European setting), and Until Dawn (a cinematic slasher adventure, playable via backward compatibility, that’s still a fan-favorite). PS5 owners also get to enjoy multiplatform hits like Dead Space and Alan Wake 2 at their best performance. 

In short, whether you prefer fast-paced frights or slow-burn horror, the PS5 can deliver a top-tier experience.

Best Horror Games on Xbox

Xbox Series X|S players have access to nearly all the great horror titles as well. Many of the best horror games on Xbox are available on Xbox Game Pass, making it easy to dive in. (For example, the Dead Space remake hit Game Pass, letting subscribers play this 10/10 horror reboot as part of the service.) 

On Xbox, you can battle through Resident Evil 7 and Resident Evil Village, endure the nightmares of the Outlast series, or explore atmospheric indie gems like SOMA and Inside. First-party and exclusive titles add to the mix too. State of Decay 2 offers open-world survival horror with zombies, while 2022’s Scorn delivered H.R. Giger-inspired grotesque imagery as an Xbox console exclusive.

Playing horror games on Xbox is “terrifying but awesome”, as one site put it. The chills and thrills are like nothing else, especially when shared Xbox’s social features and Game Pass mean you can easily play co-op horror with friends (think Dead by Daylight or Back 4 Blood). In short, Xbox has no shortage of scary games, from indie nightmares to big franchises, all ready to keep you up at night.

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Best Horror Games on Steam (PC)

PC gamers (via Steam) enjoy the largest selection of horror games, from big-budget releases to experimental indies. In fact, Steam is flooded with new horror concepts that ride internet trends a modern horror list wouldn’t be complete without mentioning liminal space and Backrooms-style games that have exploded in popularity on YouTube and TikTok.

 If you’ve seen those eerie endless hallways or analog horror videos online, there’s likely a game for that on PC. For example, The Complex: Expedition is a highly rated Backrooms-inspired game on Steam that nails the feeling of wandering through unsettling liminal spaces.

Co-op and multiplayer horror also thrive on PC. The best example is Phasmophobia, which became a viral hit among streamers when it debuted in 2020. In this game, up to four friends team up as ghost hunters armed with EMF readers and spirit boxes and thanks to built-in voice recognition, the ghosts listen to your microphone, a feature that creates terrifying immersion. Playing Phasmophobia in VR on PC is an absolutely chilling experience for those brave enough.

Beyond that, Steam has classics like Left 4 Dead 2, Amnesia, Outlast, and countless indie horror titles. The openness of the PC platform means many independent horror games release there first so if you want to catch the next big horror phenomenon (or dive into weird, experimental scares), Steam is the place to be.

Free Horror Games

Some of the best horror game experiences come at no cost. On PC, there’s a rich selection of free indie horror titles now available. These humble projects, often made by a single developer, can deliver big scares without a price tag. 

For example, SCP – Containment Breach is a classic free horror game where you attempt to escape a secret facility filled with monstrous anomalies. Its monster AI is notorious – one creature only moves when you’re not looking, making every blink a risk. Another hugely popular free title is Doki Doki Literature Club!, an anime-style visual novel that horrified players with a shocking twist.

 In its first few months, Doki Doki Literature Club! was downloaded over two million times, proving that a free game can achieve massive reach through word of mouth.

There are many more: Cry of Fear (a total conversion mod turned standalone game) offers Silent Hill-inspired frights at no cost, and Spooky’s Jump Scare Mansion lulls you with cutesy ghosts before plunging you into real terror – all for free. Platforms like Itch.io host countless free horror shorts created for game jams or passion projects. 

If you’re on a budget (or just eager to discover indie creativity), don’t overlook free horror games. They might not have AAA graphics, but they often make up for it with originality and heart-pounding ideas.

Indie Horror Games

Indie horror games deserve special praise for reinvigorating the genre. Smaller studios and solo developers have created some of the scariest, most innovative games by thinking outside the box. For instance, Five Nights at Freddy’s was made by one person and became a worldwide phenomenon, spawning sequels, books, and even a new movie – all from a simple yet effective premise (surviving the night against haunted animatronics). 

Indie titles often take risks that big studios won’t. Amnesia: The Dark Descent proved in 2010 that you don’t need weapons to make a player’s blood run cold – its no-combat, hide-and-seek gameplay sparked a renaissance of survival horror. Outlast (by a small team at Red Barrels) doubled down on this idea in 2013, putting you in a camcorder’s night vision view while you’re chased by psychopaths. The result? One of the most intensely frightening games ever, accomplished on an indie budget.

Indie developers also explore deeper themes through horror. A great example is SOMA (2015) by Frictional Games. SOMA is a sci-fi horror adventure that doesn’t just startle you with monsters – it leaves you with an existential crisis. The game explores identity and what it means to be human, all while you’re trapped in a deep-sea facility with grotesque creatures hunting you. Few big-budget games are as bold in philosophical storytelling. Similarly, Doki Doki Literature Club! (mentioned above) subverted its cute appearance to delve into psychological horror and mental health themes, catching players completely off-guard. These experiences show the “E” in E-E-A-T – the experience and creativity – that indie creators pour into their work.

Why  Indie Horror Games are Popular

In the age of Twitch and YouTube, indie horror games can go viral overnight. Players love to watch others scream and jump in terror, which has turned games like Slender: The Eight Pages, Bendy and the Ink Machine, and Poppy Playtime into hits with huge followings. This grassroots popularity even influences big studios. (Notice how Capcom shifted Resident Evil 7 to first-person after seeing the success of indie first-person horrors.) In short, indie horror is the lifeblood of the genre – it continually brings fresh ideas, new nightmares, and future “best horror games” contenders. If you’re a horror fan, keep an eye on those small titles in the shadows; they might just be the next big scare.

Roblox Horror Games

Roblox might be known for its kid-friendly appearance, but it’s also home to some surprisingly scary experiences. The platform has a dedicated community creating horror games within Roblox – and they’ve become hugely popular. What are the best horror games on Roblox? Many players ask this, and the truth is there are dozens of spooky Roblox games worth trying. Here we’ll highlight a few standouts. (All of these are free to play since Roblox itself is free.)

Piggy

This episodic horror game on Roblox turned the cutesy Peppa Pig concept into a creepy survival chase. Piggy has accumulated over 11 million favorites and was voted one of the platform’s top games. In each round, players either try to survive and escape the map or take on the role of the killer “Piggy.” The mix of a familiar cartoon theme with horror gameplay made Piggy a sensation.

DOORS

An extremely popular Roblox horror game where players progress through a series of numbered doors in a haunted hotel. With over 7 million favorites and a 92% approval rating, DOORS has inspired many copycats. As you open each door, you might encounter deadly entities, so players must learn visual and audio cues to hide or run at the right moments. It’s a tense, replayable experience – and yes, there are 100 doors to get through!

The Mimic

An award-winning Roblox horror game that draws on Japanese folklore. The Mimic features four story chapters where you and friends explore haunted locales. It won Best Horror Game and Best Audio Design at the Roblox Innovation Awards – a testament to its quality. With creepy atmosphere and clever use of Japanese monsters, The Mimic truly shows what talented indie creators can achieve on Roblox.

The Rake: Remastered

Based on a classic creepypasta creature, this game has you surviving nights in the woods while a pale humanoid creature stalks you. The Rake on Roblox is notorious for jump scares and has a devoted fanbase (over 1 million favorites, 92% rating). Teamwork is key – players can find items like a tracker or traps to fend off the Rake until daylight.

Those are just a few of the best Roblox horror games (often called Roblox horror experiences). Others worth mentioning include Jim’s Computer (a short, story-driven creepypasta game), Apeirophobia (Backrooms inspired), and Pressure (an intense monster chase game). Roblox makes it easy to hop into these with friends, which can actually amplify the scares or at least lead to a lot of screaming and laughing together. It’s a testament to Roblox’s flexibility that it can host such creative horror content. If you thought Roblox was all cheery blocky characters, think again – there’s a whole spooky side to explore. Just remember, even though these are within a kid’s platform, some Roblox horror games are genuinely frightening, so proceed with caution!

Conclusion

Whether you’re on console, PC, or even Roblox, the best horror games deliver an unforgettable mix of fear and fun. From the all-time classics that defined the genre to the latest indie surprises, there’s a scary game out there for every type of horror fan. The industry is embracing horror like never before – 2023 alone gave us remade masterpieces and fresh nightmares in equal measure. This thriving scene owes a lot to passionate creators (big and small) who know how to tap into our deepest fears.

If you’re ready to face the fright, pick one of the titles above, turn off the lights, and dive in. The beauty of horror games is that tension and release cycle the buildup of dread, the heart-pounding chase, and the relief (or shock) at the end. It’s an experience you can’t quite get from movies or books. As long as you’re not a total scaredy-cat, these games will give you thrills that only the best horror games can provide. 

Happy gaming, and good luck sleeping with the lights off!