Horror games,by their very nature, are very particular in terms of design. They need to evoke an emotion that can only be extracted if you dig right into the player’s psyche and play on their biggest fears and stresses. True terror is a hard thing to cultivate.
We Need More Midwestern Horror Games
There is a distinct void of horror games (and video games in general) that take place in Midwest America – a void that needs to be filled.
That’s why, if you go by the law of averages, there are about as many great horror games as there are duds. But we believe that there are a lot of ‘bad horror games’ that perhaps have earned that label rather unfairly.
So, if you’ve exhausted all the certified horror worldbeaters and are desperate for your next fix, we have a few unlucky heroes who are much better than their aggregate scores suggest. None of them are up there with Silent Hill 2, but to be fair, nothing ever will be.
For clarity, we will only include games that have received 75% or less on aggregators such as Metacritic and Opencritic and will consider all games that include ‘Horror’ as one of their primary tags.
10Murdered: Soul Suspect
SolveYourMurder
Murdered: Soul Suspect
I’ll start with what might feel like an odd entry: This game has been the subject of many memes because of the hilarious bugs caused by the AI.
I’m not here to dispute that the game isn’t unintentionally comical, as it is, and it can take you out of things in terms of immersion. But even still, there’s plenty to love about this murder mystery.
First of all, there’s the core concept of you, the ghost of the murdered victim solving your own murder, which is inspired. Then you have the ghostly powers like walking through walls, possession, and exorcisms, which all feel very satisfying.
The only issue is that it’s not all that spooky as a horror game, as it definitely leans more towards ‘paranormal noir’. Plus, the actual deductive side of the quests is rather threadbare.
However, the story, setting, and mechanics are still interesting. It’s not a worldbeater, but it’s better than the bargain bin reception it received.
But Does Sean Bean Die?
As someone who loveswalking simulators as a genre, I can understand why Kholat achieved underwhelming review scores, as it was tarred with the same brush as all the others. People bemoaned the lack of gameplay, but jump scares and high-octane action were never what Kholat was trying to do.
Instead, it offers a palpable atmosphere that makes the player feel isolated and alone in a hostile environment, and while there is always a lingering and ominous feeling that something lurks in the shadows, combat and survival never become aspects you need to contend with.
Instead, you can enjoy the vocal stylings of Sean Bean, immerse yourself in the setting, and enjoy the very particularly-paced story that’s gripping from the first minute to the last.
Horror For Cowards
I am a huge fan of horror games that set their stall out as ‘horror for cowards’, and that’s exactly what GYLT does, offering what feels like a Cartoon Network version of a traditional horror game that is accessible for all players, even all you scaredy cats out there.
GYLT offers all the standard tropes of a survival horror, where stealth is key, puzzles need to be solved, and exploration is rewarding. But the star of the show is the intriguing story centered around high school bullying.
Plus, if you’re an Alan Wake fan, this game also allows you to use a flashlight as a weapon, which was a cool way to keep the game PG while still offering high stakes combat.
It’s a brilliant children’s gateway into the world of horror, and a good survival horror in its own right. It may be short, and the bosses are admittedly dreadful, but as a full package, GYLT is a good one to pick up and play.
An Emotional Rollercoaster
There are games that inexplicably become cult classics for one reason or another, and The Park hasTwitch streamers to thank for its success, because while this game wasn’t beloved by critics, it found its audience anyway.
You have the setting of an abandoned theme park, which is pure nightmare fuel to begin with. That’s the foot in the door, but the reason why you’ll be left reeling after the credits roll is the incredible storytelling as you watch the tragedy of a mother slipping ever closer to madness.
Sure, the game is short, linear, and lacks horror staples like combat, and puzzles. But it makes up for this with its atmosphere, incredible memorable moments and ambiguous storytelling that makes you question what’s real and what’s the result of your protagonist’s crumbling mind.
I was already scared of roller coasters, but this game cemented my decision to forever be the one holding the bags safely on the ground.
6The Town of Light
The Town of Light
Oh, would you look at that, another scorned walking simulator, who would have thought?
The Town of Light is yet another strong game in terms of narrative storytelling, psychological horror and setting, as you play as a former patient in a psyche ward treading old ground and uncovering haunting memories as you go.
Serving as the voice in her head, you’re controlling a truly deranged character, but this opens up unique narrative avenues that are rewarding to uncover, as this game tackles mental health in a gritty and grounded way, leading to a haunting ending come the close.
The flipside is that the game does have you aimlessly exploring the same areas to trigger story beats at times, and the puzzles are a little lackluster, but if you’re a fan of affecting psychological horror, The Town of Light has a lot to offer.
5Maid of Sker
Don’t Make A Sound!
Horror games are one of the very few genres out there that live and die on the quality of their sound design. Which is something that Maid of Sker took very seriously when crafting their horrific hotel.
The setting is intriguing, and the puzzles players will need to solve as they seek to unlock new areas of this surreal setting are simple but satisfying.
But the standout feature above all is the enemy AI and the effects that sound has on their behavior. Players will need to creep carefully, hold their breath to ensure complete silence, and keep a calm demeanor in the face of danger to stay alive.
Once again, it does lean more toward the walking sim genre rather than an all-out action experience, but there are enough intense organic moments and instances of gameplay variety to recommend this short, but satisfying horror gem.
4Children of Silentown
Retro Meets Modern
Children of Silentown
If you’re a fan of point-and-click adventures from the LucasArts glory days, then Children of Silentown is a title you simply need to play.
Set in a peculiar village where being loud is considered a death wish on account of the monsters in the forest, children are inexplicably going missing, and it’s your job to figure out why without becoming monster chow yourself.
This mainly plays out in the form of exploring the town and outskirts, collecting items, and solving inventory-based logic puzzles, just like you would have done back in the 90s. Ah, the good ol' days.
It’s a love letter to the point and clicks of old, with a modern level of polish and an ominous, unsettling world to immerse yourself in. It’s a hidden gem, and one that you need to check out at your earliest convenience.
3The Evil Within
More Than A Resi Knock-Off
The Evil Within
When you have the likes of horror stalwarts like Shinji Mikami working on your game, you know you’re going to get something potentially great, unsettlingly weird, and often very polarizing.
That, in a nutshell, is how you could describe The Evil Within, a game that many people wrote off on account of the obtuse and odd storytelling, minor tech issues, and unfocused nature of the gameplay.
However, story aside, the game is a phenomenal smorgasbord of horror delights. The game has memorable bosses, challenging survival horror mechanics to contend with, and a multitude of moments that are as weird as a bottle of chips.
Whether you like it or not, it’s a game that has so much going on that it’s nearly impossible to look away, and there’s enough Resident Evil 4 DNA here to ensure that horror fans will stick around just for that sense of familiarity.
It’s a bit of a Marmite game for sure, but if you can withstand the weird, it’s one that might just become one of your horror all-time favorites.
Monochrome Monsters Await
Maybe it was the decision to give the game a pencil-drawn, monochrome look, the need to embrace ludo narrative dissonance to get anything out of the plot, or the regular favoring of slapstick over scary. But whatever it was, a lot of people weren’t all that keen on Mundaun.
Which is a crying shame, as this is one of the most unique, unapologetically weird, and folklore-heavy titles you’ll likely come across in the genre.
Packed with unique puzzles, the game doesn’t hold your hand, instead asking you to make sense of this surreal world on your own, and while it’s a little too obtuse at times, the game is better for it.
Combine this with sublime sound design and incredible slow-burn storytelling, and you have a horror gem that never quite got its flowers, but absolutely deserves a bouquet.
1Resident Evil 6
The Ultimate Guilty Pleasure
Resident Evil 6
This might be a little bit controversial, as Resident Evil 6 is, hands down, the worst of all the Resident Evil games, and I don’t dispute that for one moment.
However, if you accept it for what it is, which is a cheesy, guilty pleasure, B-movie romp. I assure you, you’ll have a blast.
The game jumps the shark narratively, but it’s hard to deny that it is boundless fun when played as an action shooter, especially if you use the co-op functionality.
Not one of the four bespoke campaigns offers any narrative weight, but they do offer memorable gameplay moments, and it’s a lot more palatable if you bring a friend along for the ride so you can laugh at the cringeworthy moments and whiplash-inducing tonal shifts in real-time.
Just enjoy the moment-to-moment combat and the cheesy charm because the distinction here is that it’s not a good RE game, but it is a bloody good time regardless.
10 Best Survival Horror Games For Beginners
Want to get started in the survival horror sphere? These games are great for beginners to the genre.
