Are You Scared Yet?
If you're a fan of horror games or want to get into the genre, there are plenty of games that are known to leave an impact. From psychological terror to shocking twists, these are the 20 most influential and beloved horror games around.
1. Silent Hill 2
Silent Hill 2 is a well-known and widely liked Konami game for the PlayStation 2. We follow the story of James Sunderland who ends up in the eerie town of Silent Hill after receiving a letter from his deceased wife. While the game doesn’t have constant jump scares and scary visuals, the atmosphere, environment, and psychological horror make this game a staple in the horror genre.
2. Dead Space
It’s hard to believe that Dead Space was released all the way back in 2008, and it still holds up to this day. This iconic game takes place in a spaceship that is overrun by all kinds of grotesque aliens called Necromorphs, while Isaac Clarke, the engineer protagonist of this game, tries to survive and escape. With frequent jump scares, claustrophobic isolation, as well as stomach-turning visuals, the elements that contribute to the fear and excitement set standards for future games.
3. Resident Evil 2 (2019)
Resident Evil 2 is just one of many in the franchise, but it is considered to be one of the best ones, even receiving a remake in 2019. Players find themselves in the midst of a zombie outbreak in Raccoon City and must make our protagonists Leon Kennedy and Claire Redfield survive. This classic horror was made even better with the remake’s modern graphics, which brings intense visuals and an uneasy feeling of being stalked.
4. Little Nightmares
Little Nightmares is a new twist on the classic horror games. Released by Tarsier Studios in 2017, this puzzle platformer follows a small girl named Six trying to escape a nightmarish underwater resort full of frightening and monstrous creatures. This game takes the horror aspect and sneaks it into every nook and cranny of the game, creating a creepy atmosphere, a sense of helplessness, as well as grotesque and dangerous enemies that completely redefine the horror game genre.
5. F.E.A.R.
F.E.A.R. is a 2005 first-person shooter released by a very well-liked company, Monolith Productions. First-person horror games are usually scarier, and this one is no exception with its paranormal horror and supernatural threats haunting the soldier protagonist. The combination of fast-paced gameplay, first-person perspective, psychological horror, and constant fight-or-flight makes this game a gem.
6. Resident Evil 4
Resident Evil 4 is a well-deserved sequel to its very successful predecessors. Released in 2005, this game follows Leon Kennedy from the earlier games as he tries to rescue the president’s daughter from a cult. With no lack of action and the iconic enemies and creepy settings, this game delivers once again, all while making a name for itself as a horror-defining video game.
7. Phasmophobia
Phasmophobia is a fairly unique game released in 2020 by Kinetic Games. As opposed to the usual single-player horror aspect, this game relieves the element of isolation by being multiplayer. Ghost hunting and investigation of haunted locations, all while having constant tension and jump scares in dark and creepy environments, makes this game both fun and iconic.
8. Amnesia: The Dark Descent
Amnesia: The Dark Descent is a well-liked game in the horror genre, as well as one of the most popular in its series. Playing as Daniel, you explore the dark castle and uncover clues and memories while hiding from horrifying monsters. The psychological and visual horror is not unheard of in these types of games, but the inability to fight back or do anything other than run or hide brings an unnerving layer of fear.
9. Silent Hill
Silent Hill is one of Konami's classics when it comes to games that aged well on the PlayStation. Taking on the role of Harry Mason, the player searches for Harry’s daughter in the foggy and monster-infested town of Silent Hill. The dense and eerie atmosphere of the game, in combination with disturbing visuals and psychological horror, makes this game an incredibly replayable and well-renowned video game.
10. Alien: Isolation
One of the most famous Creative Assembly games, Alien: Isolation was a game-changer when it comes to horror games. Stalked by a Xenomorph, the protagonist Amanda Ripley tries to survive on a space station. Combining stealth play with a sci-fi horror aspect makes for incredibly challenging and terrifying gameplay, especially against a nearly invincible enemy that adapts to the player’s behavior.
11. Alone in the Dark
As one of the first 3D survival horror games ever, Alone in the Dark takes the spot as a pivotal video game in its genre. Players control Edward Carnby or Emily Hartwood, investigators in a haunted mansion trying to escape with their lives. Outsmarting enemies with incredibly fun and at times very challenging puzzles, all while being under immense pressure and horror-filled music and sound effects, has made this game a turning point when it comes to 3D horror games.
12. Outlast
Outlast is a game that took over the internet when it came out in 2013. Released by Red Barrels, players take the role of a journalist doing a story on a psychiatric hospital overrun by monstrous patients. Equipped with nothing but a camera that has night vision, this game is jam-packed with jump scares, extreme gore and uneasy visuals, and it redefines the horror genre with its found-footage style gameplay.
13. Left 4 Dead 2
One of the most famous games by Valve, Left 4 Dead 2 is a staple of horror games. This cooperative shooter game makes you rely on your teammates in the most crucial and life-threatening moments in-game. With no lack of action, this game brings incredibly unpredictable zombie attacks, planning and tactics, as well as scary environments and jump scares, especially if you are unfamiliar with the different kinds of zombies.
14. Resident Evil
For a game released all the way back in 1996, Resident Evil has stood the test of time. This game introduced players to the zombie-infested mansion while the members of the S.T.A.R.S. team investigate strange and gruesome things that are happening. From haunting music to the terrifying fixed camera angles and visuals, this game makes you really think about your next step.
15. Five Nights at Freddy’s
One of the most well-known games worldwide, Five Nights at Freddy’s is an absolute gem of the horror game genre. You play as a night security guard at a haunted pizzeria where animatronics come to life. With constant fear of jump scares and the need for impeccable timing, reflexes, and memory, this game is an incredible challenge for those looking for a new type of horror game.
16. Clock Tower
Released in 1995, Clock Tower has had immense success in reshaping the horror genre. For a point-and-click game, the horror element is very much present and overwhelming at times, all while players follow Jennifer Simpson as she tries to escape the Scissorman. While slow-paced, the psychological horror and suspense give an uneasy feel to the game.
Diane Picchiottino on Unsplash
17. Alan Wake 2
Alan Wake 2 is a Remedy Entertainment game released as a sequel to the original Alan Wake. Continuing where the previous game left off, we follow the story of best-selling novelist Alan Wake, who is trapped in a nightmare dimension that blends his fiction with reality. The storytelling and atmospheric visuals bring a layer of depth to this marvel of a game.
ALEXANDRE LALLEMAND on Unsplash
18. Until Dawn
Until Dawn was released in 2015 by Supermassive Games as one of their many horror games. This choice-driven horror game follows teenagers trapped in a mountain lodge trying to survive from supernatural forces. The game is incredibly cinematic and plays with the mythology of Wendigos, all while utilizing player decisions to build tension and horror.
Benjamin Raffetseder on Unsplash
19. Fatal Frame 2
This game brings a whole new level of horror to the genre. Released in 2003 by Tecmo, you play as Mio Amakura as she explores a haunted village with the help of her sister Mayu in a Japanese horror setting. The interesting element of the game comes into play when you switch from a third-person view to a first-person camera angle, making for unsettling horror and jump scares.
20. SOMA
A sci-fi horror game set in an underwater facility is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to what SOMA brings to the table. Released by Frictional Games in 2015, this psychological and visually heavy horror game makes the player solve a series of puzzles that build the narrative while constantly giving off an eerie background feel. Using stealth to avoid monsters while not having an option to fight back in any way other than to run and hide makes for a horrifying and thrilling in-game experience.
