If you’re a fan of the macabre, you’ll likely have played most of the best horror games of all time. There’s something special about a truly memorable horror game – particularly one that makes you jump out of your skin, sweat, and walk around every corner with your heart pounding in your chest. Forget scary movies or creepy books – the best horror games of all time impact the faint of heart more than any other entertainment medium.
That’s why we’ve put together a list of the best horror games of all time. If you’re feeling brave, then feel free to scroll down and check out the list and perhaps give these games a try. Be warned, though – they’re riddled with frightening scenes, gore, and more jumpscares than the average gamer can handle.
Credit: Capcom
Resident Evil 7 was a bizarre switch-up for the series that had, up until that point, been a third-person-focused franchise. In Resident Evil 7, the formula pivoted considerably, plunging players into a psychological, puzzling horror game that was experienced entirely from the first-person perspective. It relied more on jumpscares and heart-pounding boss fights than it did hordes of zombies to deliver that horror element, and it easily is one of the best horror games of all time.
Credit: Red Barrels
Outlast was released way back in 2013, and by today, it has achieved cult classic status. It’s a ‘found footage’ kind of horror game that relies on running and hiding to build tension. There’s no combat in Outlast – you can’t even defend yourself – and that’s why it’s so intense. There are frightening jumpscares hidden around every corner, some of the characters will leave you with goosebumps, and at all times, you’re painfully aware of the constant threat lurking in the shadows.
Related: Top Tip For The Outlast Trials
Credit: Supermassive Games
Until Dawn was one of the best choice-and-consequence-style games to come out of that trend. It was popularised by the likes of Heavy Rain and Beyond: Two Souls, but when the genre started getting fused with horror games, something special unfolded. It started with Until Dawn and then dozens more titles were spooled off in the same niche, but Until Dawn has always remained one of the best horror games of all time in that subgenre. If you don’t like jumpscares, then don’t play this game.
Credit: Remedy Entertainment
For atmosphere, Alan Wake 2 is second to none. A sequel 13 years in the making, Alan Wake 2 delivers deep survival horror elements across two separate storylines. This third-person title delivers on all of the potential of the original Alan Wake, proving itself as one of the best horror games of all time, in our eyes. One of the must-play titles of 2023.
Credit: Naughty Dog
The Last of Us is a post-apocalyptic action-adventure title that doesn’t immediately jump to mind when you think ‘horror’, but it’s one of the most intense games you’ll ever play. There are sequences populated by infected, mutated creatures called ‘Clickers’ that we won’t spoil, but we’ll say that they’re some of the most terrifying enemies you’ll ever face in a game. It’s a beautiful, harrowing experience that should be appreciated by every gamer, but it’s not for the soft-hearted player.
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Credit: Frictional Games
Amnesia: The Dark Descent makes it into our list of the top 10 horror video games of all time with ease. It’s a jumpscare-ridden title that never stops being eerie, and even today, almost fifteen years after it was released, it remains one of the most chilling games you could ever hope to experience. It has since spawned a few follow-up titles, but none of them have managed to be quite as scary as The Dark Descent.
Credit: DarkStone Digital
In The Mortuary Assistant, you take control of a new hire at a haunted mortuary. The game smartly blends elements of horror and puzzle titles, resulting in a one-of-a-kind unique experience. You must help protagonist Rebecca in identifying the possessed corpses, and avoid becoming possessed herself. You won’t play anything like this, which is why for us, it’s one of the best horror games on the market right now.
Credit: Konami
Released in 2001, Silent Hill 2 remains one of the most memorable, horrifying games ever made. It’s often considered the pinnacle of the franchise, taking players through a psychological nightmare fused with terrifying physical elements that are truly recognisable as being ‘Silent Hill-eqsue’. It’s that aesthetic that has perfectly lent itself to other games, movies, and television shows since it was created more than two decades ago.
Credit: Creative Assembly
Ever wondered what it’d be like to be chased by a xenomorph around a space station? Alien Isolation makes this a reality, in a heart-pounding horror game that few can compete with. You play as the daughter of Ellen Ripley, and are hunted in a space station by a deadly alien. Fighting is futile, and your only hope is to outsmart the xenomorph through various stealth elements. A decade after its release, it remains one of the best horror games ever made.
Credit: Motive
Dead Space was so nice, they made it twice. The recent remake of the 2008 original brings the game into the modern era, capturing its scares and gruesome detail in higher fidelity than ever. Developer Motive even went back and made adjustments to some of the less popular segments of Dead Space, bringing it closer to sci-fi horror perfection.
Credit: Capcom
Another remake, but one worth mentioning. Resident Evil 2 reimagines the original game, with Leon Kennedy and Claire Redfield returning to escape Raccoon City all over again. Atmospheric and creative, this is everything a remake should be. Not only does it surpass the original title – it establishes itself as one of the best horror games ever, and you need to play it.
Credit: Kinetic Games
Phasmophobia has been around for some time, but don’t let its age fool you – it’s still among the best horror games of all time. In Phasmophobia, you and three friends play as ghost hunters, who must use a van full of equipment to hunt for different ghost types. Each ghost has its own pieces of evidence, so you must narrow it down one piece at a time to guess the right type. If you’re not careful, you can be hunted and killed, so you’ve got to be careful and know when to get out of there. It’s not the scariest horror game by any means, but it’s a ton of fun.
Credit: Behaviour Interactive
Dead by Daylight is another multiplayer horror game, which continues to receive frequent content to this day. It’s a 4v1 survival game, where four players must try to escape one player who has been assigned the role of killer. Although it’s a stressful title, it’s a ton of fun to play with friends.
Related: Best Post-Apocalyptic Games
Credit: Arkane Austin
Prey was released in 2017, but bizarrely, despite some similar themes, it has no connection to 2006’s game of the same name. In Prey, players find themselves trapped on a besieged space station, with aliens, mimics, and other threatening lifeforms challenging their very existence. In a game where any object imaginable can be an enemy in disguise, there are plenty of jumpscares to be had, and some huge enemies are lurking in the shadows, just waiting for the opportunity to strike.
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