The 20 best horror games for Halloween and beyond

Horror games are a dime a dozen. Many of them rely on cheap shock effects or sink into banality. As a self-proclaimed horror expert, I have made it my mission to pick out a few gems that will give you the creeps during the cold autumn days.

The average playing time was taken from howlongtobeat.com. The order of the games is random.

"Silent Hill 2" remake

For many, "Silent Hill 2" is not only the best game in the entire series, but the best game ever. This is due, among other things, to the gloomy, depressing and chillingly terrifying atmosphere as well as the memorable characters such as James, Maria and, of course, the mascot Pyramid Head. The remake of the second part has just been released, which modernises the controls as well as the graphics and pays tribute to the original. Our colleague Domagoj has given the game the top score. Even with the successful new edition, however, it is still worth playing the original PS2 game today for its unique atmosphere.

Available for: PS2, Xbox, PC (original) - PS5, PC (remake)

Playing time: 10 hours (original) - 17 hours (remake)

"Resident Evil 7: Biohazard"

"Resident Evil 7: Biohazard" has achieved what nobody believed it could in 2017: It single-handedly made the action-heavy, banal "Resident Evil" series relevant again. From an immersive first-person perspective, you control the faceless protagonist Ethan Winters and try to escape from the clutches of the evil Baker family. The seventh instalment of the series returned to its terrifying roots with such force that it is still considered the scariest, even after numerous remakes and the sequel "Resident Evil: Village". Colleague Philipp's impressions back up this statement.

Available for: PC, PS4 (also in VR), Xbox One, Google Stadia

Playing time: 12 hours

"Dead Space" remake

If one game has been considered particularly scary for 16 years, it's "Dead Space". Like so many horror games of its time, it plays like a good "Resident Evil 4" clone, complete with puzzle solving and shooting against (space) zombies. The ingenious remake once again sets horror apart from the competition with its lonely, merciless atmosphere, in which death lurks behind every ventilation shaft for protagonist Isaac Clarke.

Available for: PS3, Xbox 360, PC (original) - PS5, Xbox Series, PC (remake)

Playing time: 13 hours (original) - 16 hours (remake)

"BioShock"

Whether you're looking at the fabled underwater city of Rapture, its ADAM-addicted inmates or the iconic Big Daddy and Little Sister designs, BioShock exudes unrivalled dystopian charm at every turn. Fight your way through the masses of mutants with modifiable firearms and supernatural abilities granted by the ADAM-infused plasmids. The iconic American art deco style of the 1930s and the harmonious gameplay make up for the fact that most of the story is told on audio tapes.

Available for: PC, Xbox 360, Xbox One, PS3, PS4, Switch

Playing time: 16 hours

"Slender - The Eight Pages"

"Slender - The Eight Pages" is the first game on this list that became known as an internet phenomenon. Perhaps you remember the time in 2012 when everyone on YouTube was playing the creepy game with the faceless monster. The game principle could hardly be simpler: collect eight sheets of paper scattered around a wooded area. Don't get caught by the Slender Man, who becomes more intrusive with every page you find. This is one of the reasons why I never found more than one page: I was just too scared of the monster in the suit.

Available for: PC

Playing time: 3 hours

"Five Nights at Freddy's 2"

"Five Nights at Freddy's" is not just an internet phenomenon, but has become a globally successful franchise. In addition to countless Funko Pops and cuddly toys, the first film was released in cinemas last year. "Five Nights at Freddy's" longevity has little to do with its scary factor. Apart from cheap jump-scares, you can expect little in this direction. Instead, its success has more to do with the complex story that fans decipher from hidden details in the games. Although the second part is considered one of the most difficult in the series, it's also just damn satisfying when the alarm clock finally rings at 6 o'clock and the cursed animatronics let go of their hunt.

Available for: PC, mobile, Switch, PS4, Xbox One

Playing time: 6 hours

"Outlast"

"Outlast" utilises a popular horror setting in the form of an abandoned mental institution. In this short but intense horror trip, you flee and hide from the inmates of the Mount Massive asylum, who want more than just a nice chat. Lots of jumpscares and the fact that you can often only see anything at all through the night vision mode of your camera make "Outlast" extremely nerve-wracking. And if that's taken away from you too, then good night.

Available for: PC, Switch, PS4, Xbox One

Playing time: 7 hours

"Amnesia: The Dark Descent"

In "Amnesia: The Dark Descent", the name says it all. As the protagonist Daniel, you wake up in a dark castle with no memories. While you are busy following your own cryptic clues, you have to hide from monsters and take care of your mental health. Because you're not the only one who is creeped out by the screen. The character Daniel is also terrified of the dark. The whole thing is livened up by physics-based gameplay. But you won't really relax until the end credits roll.

Available for: PC, PS4, Xbox One

Playing time: 9 hours

"Dead by Daylight"

"Dead by Daylight" is an asymmetrical multiplayer game. This means that not all participants have the same abilities. While four players run for their lives, a chosen one takes on the role of a killer equipped with special abilities and must prevent the others from escaping. With a human hunter, the short games never get boring. Although the game was released in 2016, there are still many active female players today. This could be due in part to the many co-operations that allow you to slip into the role of horror icons such as the Xenomorph, Freddy Krueger or Michael Myers.

Available for: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series, Switch, Mobile

"Alan Wake 2"

"Alan Wake 2" is a homage to the horror genre. The developer studio Remedy Entertainment presents the exciting storyline in a unique way that blew my socks off again with every chapter. As the author, protagonist Alan Wake regularly quotes real-life horror icons such as Stephen King. The mysteries of the small town of Bright Falls do the rest to create the right atmosphere. Even if newcomers can also enjoy the dense atmosphere, the entire Remedy cosmos extends over several games and requires a large investment of time if you want to catch up and understand everything. Philipp was also full of praise.

Available for: PC, PS5, Xbox Series

Playing time: 25 hours

"Until Dawn"

"Until Dawn" is representative of the games from developer studio Supermassive Games such as "The Quarry" or the "Dark Pictures Anthology" series. As an interactive film, it doesn't offer too much in terms of gameplay (minimal exploration, quicktime events and dialogue decisions), but it tells a gripping horror story in the most beautiful trash style. You accompany a group of teenagers on a trip to a snow-covered mountain hut. The catastrophe gradually unfolds before your eyes and can end fatally for most of those involved. Because the teenagers are sometimes really mean, their moments of death are all the more entertaining.

A remake of the original was released at the beginning of October 2024, which has changed comparatively little but is many times more expensive.

Available for: PS4 (original) - PS5, PC (remake)

Playing time: 10 hours

"Eternal Darkness: Sanity's Requiem"

A "Resident Evil" clone with a greater focus on puzzles, "Eternal Darkness: Sanity's Reqiuem" does two things damn well. Firstly, your character has a so-called "Sanity Meter", which causes wild hallucinations if the bar drops low enough. The effects are really creative and give you a legitimate fright when the game suddenly tells you that you have just deleted your data when you save. Secondly, the game is a successful representative of H. P. Lovecraft's Cthulhu Mythos. Such mental health games are an iconic stylistic device of the author.

Available for: GameCube

Playing time: 16 hours

"Alien: Isolation"

"Alien: Isolation" is one of those games where you can't fight back, you can only hide - but with the Alien licence. The game has been realised with the utmost love and care. The space station that protagonist Amanda Ripley crosses is reminiscent of the film material at every corner and edge. However, you can only enjoy the surroundings to a limited extent. The iconic Xenomorph is constantly breathing down your neck, making your hair stand on end. The game is a little too long, which makes it difficult to maintain your fear. Still, it's worth playing through - especially now that a sequel has finally been announced.

Available for: PC, Xbox 360, Xbox One, PS3, PS4, Switch, Mobile

Playing time: 19 hours

"Doki Doki Literature Club!"

At first glance, "Doki Doki Literature Club!" looks like a cheesy Japanese dating game. Behind the sugary-sweet façade is a game that left many people staring at their screens in horror in the winter of 2017. The psychological horror is so extreme that you should definitely check out the trigger warnings before playing. In order to experience the horror, however, you have to read through clichéd dating simulation texts, which can be nerve-wracking. However, as the game is not only short, but also free, the barrier to entry is low. The "Plus!" version, which is also available for consoles, costs a little more.

Available for: PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series, PS4, PS5, Switch

Playing time: 4 hours

"Mundaun"

This cool indie game has a feature you won't find in any of the other games on this list: "Mundaun" was developed in Switzerland. As you take on the role of protagonist Curdin on a journey to the top of a mountain, you have to fend off monsters and solve puzzles along the way. We also tried it out. The mood is really set when the local mountain landscape suddenly makes you feel uneasy. The gloomy environments are drawn in a unique sketch style, but this is certainly a matter of taste. On the other hand, the small developer studio Hidden Fields can be forgiven for the spongy controls.

Available for: PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series, PS4, PS5, Switch

Playing time: 7 hours

"The Mortuary Assistant"

In "The Mortuary Assistant" you play Rebecca Owens, a young woman who works as an assistant in a mortuary. She goes about her job, which involves embalming and preparing corpses. Of course, there's more to the horror game, because a demon is making her life at work a living hell. You regularly have to deal with effective jump scares and perform exorcisms. I'll be honest: after the demon whispered my name for the first time, I switched the game off out of fear.

Available for: PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series, PS4, PS5, Switch

Playing time: 7 hours

"Phasmophobia"

In "Phasmophobia" you become a ghost hunter. In abandoned buildings such as old farmhouses or prisons, you have to track down ghosts and identify them correctly. To do this, you can obtain various devices such as thermometers, cameras or microphones, which you can use to communicate with the ghosts or protect yourself from them. The game became a hit in 2020 because you can play it with up to three other friends. As Philipp and Simons proved in their Halloween stream, it quickly becomes a lot of fun.

Available for: PC, PS5, Xbox Series

Playing time: 28 hours

"Scorn"

"Alien: Isolation" is not the only game visually inspired by the work of H.R. Giger. "Scorn" is particularly visually impressive as a result. The environment full of lumps of flesh and bones is harmonious and oppressive thanks to the soundscape. Unfortunately, this doesn't always distract from the difficult and monotonous battles or the frustrating puzzles. Nevertheless, you have to experience this disgustingly beautiful world for yourself.

Available for: PC, PS5, Xbox Series

Playing time: 6 hours

"Left 4 Dead 2"

In "Left 4 Dead 2" you do one thing above all: shoot. The best way to do this is to get a few friends to play with you. This time, however, it's not so much to get spooked together, but to shoot lots of zombies in the face. Different weapons, modes and enemy types provide tactical depth and replay value.

Available for: PC, Xbox 360

Playing time: 26 hours

"F.E.A.R"

"F.E.A.R" is a top-class horror experience, which is not least due to the successful AI of the enemies. Our colleague Philipp has already got to the bottom of this and found out what makes the AI so good in the linked article. Among other things, it makes your enemies react to their surroundings and your actions. This "reactive" feature is enough to increase the stress in the shootouts many times over. Puzzle passages and scary interludes with a creepy black-haired girl round off the experience.

Available for: PC, Xbox 360, PS3

Playing time: 10 hours