Best Horror Games: 10 Games That Are Genuinely Scary

The best horror games to play right now are Resident Evil 2, Alien: Isolation and Silent Hill 2: three very different ways to scare you, from tense action to a relentless hunt to slow psychological dread. Around them, we picked seven more, from two-hour nightmares to twenty-hour survival games, for every level of bravery.

Why this list

Horror works better in games than anywhere else, because you're the one holding the controller. You have to open the door, walk down the dark hallway, decide whether to run or hide. The best games in the genre play on that feeling of helplessness: hardly any ammo, an enemy you can't kill, sounds you can't place.

We chose games that scare you for different reasons. Some lean on resource management and combat, others on stealth and running away, others on story and atmosphere. Times come from players on IGDB, and most of these games wrap up in a few evenings: perfect for Halloween season or a weekend of chills.

1. 

   1. Resident Evil 2

   2019 · Main story 6.5 h

   The 2019 remake of the 1998 classic, and one of the best modern survival horror games. You explore a police station overrun by zombies as Leon or Claire, counting every bullet. And Mr. X, stalking you through the halls, is a source of stress you won't forget. About 6.5 hours for the story. Details on our time page.

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2. 

   2. Resident Evil 4

   2005 · Main story 24 h

   The 2005 original, which brought the over-the-shoulder camera to the genre. Leon heads off to rescue the president's daughter in a Spanish village full of hostile locals. It's more action-focused than most games here, but still tense, with enemies that try to surround you. About 24 hours of play.

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3. 

   3. Alien: Isolation

   2014 · Main story 21 h

   You play Amanda Ripley, daughter of Ellen Ripley, on a space station where an Alien you can't kill is on the prowl. You hide, improvise and stare at your motion tracker in terror. One of the most stressful games ever made. About 21 hours for the story, long and draining.

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4. 

   4. Silent Hill 2

   2001 · Main story 5 h

   The masterpiece of psychological horror. James Sunderland gets a letter from his wife, dead for three years, asking him to meet her in the foggy town of Silent Hill. Rather than making you jump, it unsettles you and sticks in your head. About 5 hours for the story, longer to see the different endings.

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5. 

   5. Dead Space

   2008 · Main story 15.5 h

   Horror in space, aboard a mining ship overrun by Necromorphs, reanimated corpses. You play Isaac Clarke, an engineer, and cut off the creatures' limbs to stop them. The sound design is outstanding. About 15.5 hours for the story, a great size for a week of scares.

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6. 

   6. Outlast

   2013 · Main story 4.5 h

   You play a journalist sneaking into a psychiatric asylum, armed only with a camera. You can't fight: you run, hide under beds and peer through night vision. Brutal and very intense, best kept for strong stomachs. About 4.5 hours to see it through.

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7. 

   7. Amnesia: The Bunker

   2023 · Main story 4 h

   A first-person horror game set in a World War I bunker, from Frictional Games. A creature roams the corridors and your only ally is light, which you have to keep on at all costs. It's more open than earlier Amnesia games, with a real survival side. About 4 hours for the story.

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8. 

   8. Until Dawn

   2015 · Main story 8.5 h

   An interactive drama where eight friends spend the night in an isolated mountain lodge. Every choice can save or doom a character, thanks to the butterfly effect system. Ideal in a group, passing the controller around. About 8 hours per run, and you'll probably want another. See how long it takes.

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9. 

   9. Signalis

   2022 · Main story 14 h

   A retro survival horror game inspired by the classics, with a unique look and a melancholic mood. You play Elster, a technician Replika searching for someone she lost, through strange dystopian worlds. Tight inventory management, puzzles and rare but tense fights. About 14 hours of play.

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10. 

    10. Little Nightmares

    2017 · Main story 2 h

    A puzzle platformer where you guide Six, a hungry little girl, through the Maw, a vessel filled with twisted creatures. No gore, but a very effective nightmarish fairy tale mood. About 2 hours for the story: the perfect length for a sleepless evening.

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Tips for playing horror games

Play at night, lights off, headphones on: sound does half the work in these games. If tension is hard for you, start with a short one like Little Nightmares or Outlast, or play with someone next to you. Until Dawn is also great for nights with friends, passing the controller around.

Don't try to kill everything: in many of these games, avoiding a fight is the smart move. And accept that you'll die, that's often how you learn a level. If you loved Until Dawn or Little Nightmares, we have dedicated lists: games like Until Dawn and games like Little Nightmares.

FAQ

What is the scariest horror game?

Alien: Isolation is often named as one of the most stressful, because the Alien can't be killed and hunts you constantly. For a more psychological fear, Silent Hill 2 is still a benchmark, and Outlast is the most brutal game on this list.

What's a good horror game for beginners?

Little Nightmares is a great way in: it's short, creepy without being gory, and doesn't need combat reflexes. Until Dawn also works well for beginners, especially in a group, since you can pass the controller around and share the fear together.

What horror game can I play with friends?

Until Dawn is the best pick for a night with friends: everyone can take turns with the controller and decide a character's fate. Group choices and the arguments they spark are part of the fun, just as much as the scares.