The Scariest Horror Video Games Of All Time, Ranked

Highlights

Horror games are more frightening than movies due to immersive experiences like jump scares & tension.
Doki Doki Literature Club surprises players with a genre twist, creating unnerving moments.
Darkwood challenges players with survival in a nightmarish forest full of dread and danger.

Horror games can be more frightening than horror movies because they stimulate the player’s senses in ways that can be hardly described. There have been plenty of games/”>iconic horror franchises like Silent Hill and Resident Evil, and although many of their games are fun, they are not always scary. Horror video games can be frightening for a variety of reasons. They can contain jump scares, tense moments, or other elements of horror.

The ones that surprise players the most are often the most terrifying. Facing their fears head-on is something few players have the strength to do. So close the blinds and turn the lights off. These are some of the scariest horror games ever.

Updated April 27, 2024, by Mark Sammut: Each month sees the release of a few new horror games, particularly on PC. So far, 2024 has produced Content Warning, Buckshot Roulette, Sons of the Forest (full release), The Outlast Trials (full release), Alone in the Dark, Bendy: Secrets of the Machine, etc, and many of these titles are quite funny. However, they are not quite ready to rank among the scariest games ever.

16 Doki Doki Literature Club

Breaking The Fourth Wall To Horrifying Results

Doki Doki Literature Club!

Released: September 22, 2017
Developer: Team Salvato

What starts as a cheery dating simulator escalates into a dark, twisted psychological horror game. 2017’s Doki Doki Literature Club is a visual novel that starts fairly traditional, but eventually transforms into a genre-pushing project that constantly breaks the fourth wall.

The lightheartedness of the story’s early moments should lull players into a false sense of security, allowing the horror elements to hit harder when they arrive. Being able to choose dialogue options to influence the results of the game makes Doki Doki Literature Club stand out from other horror games. Especially for those expecting to play a dating simulator, it can be unnerving.

Doki Doki Literature Club
is nowadays so well-known that most new players will probably already know the “twist,” which can hurt the game’s overall impact. Nevertheless, it is still quite scary.

15 Darkwood

An Intense Top-Down Survival Horror Game

Darkwood

Released: August 18, 2017
Developer(s): Acid Wizard Studio
Genre(s): Survival Horror

If there’s one thing that is more horrifying than a standard horror game, it’s a horror game that tests the player’s limits through survival. In Darkwood, the player must try their very best to endure in an incredibly distorted world. They must scavenge and explore the suffocating forest during the day when it’s mostly safe minus a couple of monsters, but the real danger occurs during the night.

Hunkering down in their base, the games-ranked/”>darkness will surround the shack the player finds themselves hiding in. Barricading the doors to make their last stand as the nightmares of the forest emerge to see the player’s end. With no way to see outside the room, the player finds themselves in, it can make every night a gut-wrenching experience.

14 Little Nightmares

A Surreal Nightmare

Little Nightmares

Released: April 28, 2017
Developer(s): Tarsier Studios
Genre(s): Survival Horror , Puzzle , Platformer

There is just something extra unsettling about exploring a sinister world while in control of a small child like Six in Little Nightmares. Taking place on The Maw, the player will encounter various foes that will attempt to capture Six. As a small girl with nothing but her yellow raincoat, the player can only escape these situations.

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2023 has already been an excellent year for horror games, but it’s far from over just yet, and there are plenty more horror titles well on the way.

With an interesting story and a slew of creative monster designs, Little Nightmares gets under the player’s skin, putting them in a constant state of tension without relying on jump scares.

13 Alan Wake 2

Beware The Darkness

Alan Wake 2

Released: October 27, 2023
Genre(s): Survival Horror

Both Alan Wake games are scary in their own right, but the 2010 original’s strong narrative is let down by repetitive gameplay that, eventually, hurts its fear factor. The long-awaited sequel is an improvement in every single way, and that extends to its presentation of horror. Unlike many titles in the genre, Alan Wake 2 does not try to constantly jolt players out of their seats, instead sprinkling in occasional flashes of terror. However, these moments are executed so flawlessly that they linger in the player’s mind, causing them to be constantly on edge.

Although not devoid of conventional jumpscares, Alan Wake 2 is arguably at its most terrifying when nothing major is really happening. Stretches when Saga or Alan are trudging through dimly lit environments in search of the next clue, fully knowing that one wrong step into the dark could be their last.

12 Alien: Isolation

The Scariest A Xenomorph Has Ever Been

Alien: Isolation

Released: October 7, 2014
Genre(s): Survival Horror

Considering it debuted with one of the scariest sci-fi movies of all time, the Alien franchise rarely seems to focus on pure horror. Most of the cinematic sequels fall short of the original’s high bar or lean into Action, while the games are not much better. That said, Alien: Isolation is an exception. Inspired specifically by 1979’s original, Creative Assembly captures the movie’s sense of isolation, abandoning players in an unsettling space station that has a Xenomorph problem.

Rather than focus on quantity, Alien: Isolation aims for quality. For the most part, players are just hiding from a single threat, albeit one that constantly stalks the station and utilizes advanced AI that makes them feel like a living, breathing entity. Eventually, the protagonist unlocks some offensive options; however, she is largely defenseless throughout most of the campaign. The player is the hunted, not the hunter.

11 P.T.

Short, Scary, & Gone Too Soon

P.T.

Released: August 12, 2014
Genre(s): Survival Horror

P.T. was a playable teaser by Kojima Productions that was going to be titled Silent Hills if it were completed. It was planned to be a part of the Silent Hill game series. While not a full game, P.T. accomplishes a lot with very little.

Concerning scariness, P.T. exceeds expectations. This short playable teaser was scarier than most finished horror games. Not only are jump scares frightening, but it had some truly toe-curling moments due to how scary it is. Unfortunately, it can be difficult to play P.T. due to it being removed from the PlayStation Store.

10 Visage

A Terrifying Trip Through History

Visage

Released: October 30, 2020
Developer(s): SadSquare Studio

P.T.‘s unfortunate demise led to one positive outcome: indie games inspired by Konami’s demo. Steam is flooded with these types of titles, and while most of them are just fine, a few releases stand out from the crowd. Visage is the scariest horror game to spawn from this movement, and it is far more than just a P.T. clone. Set in a house that just seems to attract tragedy, the story is framed around a guy who is still struggling with his demons, and he is about to experience a lot more than just his own troubles.

Visage is split into chapters, with each one taking place in a different period and introducing different central figures, even if the protagonist is consistent throughout them. Dealing with various heavy themes and consistently shaking things up to ensure players never get too comfortable, Visage is the type of horror game that can make someone feel nauseous while playing, all the while not relying on gore.

9 Resident Evil Remake

A Refresh Of An All-Time Horror Classic

Resident Evil HD Remaster

Released: January 20, 2015
Genre(s): Survival Horror

Time and time again, the first Resident Evil remake is regarded as the scariest Resident Evil game in the series. Resident Evil 7: Biohazard has more horrific elements, but the spine-chilling rustic atmosphere of the first Resident Evil remake is unique in its own way. This remake was initially released for the games-ever-according-metacritic/”>Nintendo GameCube in 2002.

Since then, it has been ported to a variety of consoles including PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. A constant feeling of seclusion is what makes the Resident Evil remake one of the most frightening games of all time.

8 The Evil Within 2

Action-horror-that-nails-the-horror-aspect”> Action-Horror That Nails The Horror Aspect

The Evil Within 2

Released: October 13, 2017
Genre(s): Survival Horror

The Evil Within 2 is a more enjoyable experience than its predecessor; more importantly, it is also scarier. The sequel is loaded with jumpscares and graphic content that is not for the faint of heart, and its open nature makes encounters feel less telegraphed and more unpredictable. To top it off, the story is genuinely exciting.

All around, The Evil Within 2 was one of the most enjoyable games/”>horror games of the 2010s, particularly with players who love a more open experience. Unlike its fairly linear predecessor, the sequel is set in a small city, turning it into something of an open-world experience. While this could have diluted the horror aspect, The Evil Within 2 shines thanks to its creatures, specifically Anima, Guardian, and Obscura.

7 Dead Space

Resident Evil 4 In Space, & Much Scarier

Dead Space

Released: October 14, 2008
Genre(s): Survival Horror

EA Redwood’s Dead Space takes fairly obvious inspiration from Resident Evil 4, and while an argument could be made that the latter is the better overall game, the former is undoubtedly the scarier package. As Isaac Clarke, players find themselves trapped in a spaceship infested with Necromorphs, alien creatures that not only have horrific (and creative) designs but are also extremely dangerous.

Compared to the sequels, the original Dead Space attempts to emphasize Isaac’s vulnerability, all the while still providing enough tools so that players do not feel powerless. The games/”>Dead Space remake is also very good and preserves the 2008 classic’s tense atmosphere and satisfying gameplay.

6 Outlast

You Will Feel Weak & Vulnerable

Outlast

Released: November 4, 2013
Genre(s): Survival Horror

Although the second Outlast may have had improved visuals and a more interesting story, the first was much more frightening. Using a camcorder’s night vision mode with limited battery life to progress through the game is disheartening, and players have no means to defend themselves.

The remote mental asylum that the reporter progresses through is filled with psychotic patients who are far from ordinary. For a low-budget game, Outlast had remarkable sales figures and spawned a dedicated fanbase.

The Outlast Trials
is also a lot of fun, but it is definitely the least scary of the three games.

5 Resident Evil 7: Biohazard

A New Era Of Terror

Resident Evil 7: Biohazard

Released: January 24, 2017
Genre(s): Survival Horror

Resident Evil 7: Biohazard marked a new era in Capcom’s franchise, one that brought back an emphasis on horror over Action. The game took bold risks that paid off, and the campaign’s opening hours are as scary as any other project out there. However, the game has its parts where horror takes a backseat, especially during the second half of the story.

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STALKER 2 is still a wait away, but fans of the franchise have a bunch of fantastic similar survival horror open-world games to try in the meantime.

While the focus is on the accessible base game, Resident Evil 7‘s VR mode is on a whole other level when it comes to scares. That technology has proven to be the perfect match for the genre, something that Capcom has repeatedly proven through their legendary horror IP.

4 Fatal Frame 2: Crimson Butterfly

Masterful Youkai Designs

Fatal Frame 2: Crimson Butterly

Released: December 10, 2003
Developer(s): Tecmo
Genre(s): Survival Horror

While the property has lost some steam in recent years, Fatal Frame‘s horror legacy is set in stone thanks to its PS2 trilogy. It is debatable which entry is the most terrifying; however, Fatal Frame 2: Crimson Butterfly has the most enjoyable story and gameplay, all the while offering comparable scares to its predecessor and successor.

The series revolves around taking photographs of ghosts and using exorcism to free their spirits. Fatal Frame 2: Crimson Butterfly nails the look of its ghosts, most of which are inspired by Japanese myths. Along with delivering arguably some of the creepiest youkai designs in gaming, the game also offers quantity as it has a fairly wide selection of ghosts.

3 Silent Hill 2

A Psychological Horror Masterpiece

Silent Hill 2

Released: September 24, 2001
Genre(s): Survival Horror

One of the most enduring PS2 games of all time, Silent Hill 2 is psychological horror at its finest. James Sunderland receives a letter from his deceased wife beckoning him to Silent Hill, an eerie town that acts as a gateway into a visitor’s darkest subconscious traumas, fears, and desires.

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2:40

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These horror games from the PlayStation 2 are the genre’s best titles from the console’s era.

Drenched in suffocating fog and dripping with visual storytelling, Silent Hill 2 immerses players in the protagonist’s nightmare, and James is far from a noble or idealistic hero. While hardly the only fearsome entity to live within the titular town, the Nurses are comfortably among the horror genre’s most iconic (and scary) enemies.

2 Until Dawn

A Slasher Movie But In Game Form

Supermassive games has become the master of interactive horror experiences. With recent releases like games/”>The Quarry or The Dark Pictures Anthology, it’s of no surprise to see its games on the list of the scariest available for players to questionably enjoy.

Out of all those available, Until Dawn – one of the developer’s original releases – is a game many have tried but have been too afraid to complete. Each character the player controls has an interesting backstory and an important role to play. Intense choices can leave players panicked as they ask themselves if they picked the right option. Only another playthrough of Until Dawn will confirm if that truly was the case.

1 Amnesia: The Dark Descent

Descend Into Hell

Amnesia: The Dark Descent

Platform(s): PlayStation 4 , Nintendo Switch , Android , Xbox One , Microsoft Windows , macOS
Released: September 8, 2010

This hair-raising survival horror game has been the inspiration for games like Slender: The Arrival and Outlast. Being left alone in the dark with the omnipresent threat of murderous monsters, Amnesia: The Dark Descent has left some players so frightened they have been unable to finish the horror experience.

Besides the scares, there are also some exciting puzzles to solve, making the game overall an enjoyable experience. Players will want to play Amnesia: The Dark Descent in the dark for the scariest experience of all.