The Horror genre is more popular than ever, with titles to suit any audience. Not every horror game has to be packed full of jump scares, and many of the best titles don’t resort to cheap thrills. Even if you’re frightened, I know I can find a few games you’ll enjoy.
With this in mind, here are our picks for the best Horror Games for scaredy cats.
10Content Warning
Make A Viral Video
Content Warning
Content Warningis a fantastic game where you and your friends attempt to make viral YouTube videos. A realm full of scary monsters is nearby, and you must venture inside tocatch that golden footage.
The premise ofContent Warningis ridiculous, but there’s never a dull moment, and there’s nothing else quite like it.The game even makes highlight reelsfrom your footage, which you can download as actual videos.
There’s a satisfying gameplay loop as you earn money to buy better recording equipment, and the scares are perfect as your group tries to outdo each other.
You must be with a keen bunch to get the most out ofContent Warning, but it’s an original premise and offers laughs and horror in equal measure.
9Phasmophobia
It’s Less Scary With Friends
Phasmophobia
I’m going to catch some flack for this one, butPhasmophobiais a stellar horror game for cowards,provided you’re playing with friends.
You play as a paranormal investigator tasked with identifying the entity haunting each map.Phasmophobiais relentlessly scary at times, but you can certainlyrun on group couragewhen your buddies are egging you on.The game even listens to your microphone, which makes the whole experience more immersive.
There’s some top-tier paranormal horror inPhasmophobia, so I only recommend this one with a decent group of friends. If you’ve got that,Phasmophobiaoffers some of the most memorable moments in the genre.
An Old-School Horror Shooter
F.E.A.R.is a superb first-person shooter with a modest amount of scares andpsychological horror elements.
You play as a member of theFirst Encounter Assault Reconteam tasked with dealing with paranormal threats. There are a few jump scares, butF.E.A.R.really shines at building tension.
F.E.A.R. has held up surprisingly well for a game from 2005. Shooter mechanics are tight and responsive, the story is decent, and with an 8-hour runtime, the title doesn’t overstay its welcome.
The series does get progressively worse, but if you enjoyF.E.A.R., the rest of the trilogy is still worth playing.
7Resident Evil 4
One Of The Finest Resident Evil Games
Resident Evil 4
TheResident Evilseries is famous for its unique brand of scares and iconic characters.Resident Evil 4dramatically changed the formula with a much greater emphasis on action. It was a bold move, but it is arguablythe best in the entire series.
There are still a few hair-raising moments inResident Evil 4, but it feels more like a horror “themed” action game in practice.Much of the game is set during the daytime, and there’s a distinct lack of jump-scares. There are plenty of dramatic set pieces that make Resident Evil 4 arguablythe scariest game on the list. Still, there’s a tongue-in-cheek tone to many exchanges, and Leon Kennedy can’t resist reeling off some ridiculous one-liners.
I can’t think of a better game to introduce theResident Evilfranchise, and the 2023 Remake is a phenomenal place to start.
Fear The Witch
Left 4 Dead 2
Left 4 Dead 2is a legendary first-person shooter by Valve with aniconic selection of monsters,including the fabled Witch.
In Left 4 Dead 2, you and a group of survivors must complete objectives across the map before extracting to safety. On the way, you must deal with hordes of the undead as you frantically try to stay alive.
This is another title thatshines with a few friends, as it’s infinitely more fun in a group. Monsters are scary, but a group setting usually turns tense situations into something everyone can laugh at.
The only exception is the Witch, who quietly sobs to herself in the dark. She will rip you to shredsif you get close, and even the bravest souls tense up when they hear her cries.Left 4 Dead 2is full of unforgettable moments, and it’s so fun you’ll forget you’re even playing a horror game.
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5Doki Doki Literature Club
You’ve Never Played A Horror Game Quite Like This
Doki Doki Literature Cluboffers a fantastic blend ofvisual novel and psychological horror. It’s a combination that works incredibly well, considering the entire story is told through static images.
The game starts innocently enough, and most of it is set in a schoolroom. The tension comes from the fact thatyou know something is going to happeneventually, but you don’t know how, what, or when. I’m being purposely vague, as I would be doing any interested readers a massive disservice otherwise. If you’re a horror novice,Doki Doki Literature Clubis perfect because of the pacing and the lack of cheap scares.
Doki Doki Literature Clubis a beloved title that’s held an Overwhelmingly Positive score on Steam for years. That said, it’s still a visual novel, and if you detest these types of games,Doki Dokiis unlikely to change your mind about them.
4Until Dawn
High Budget Horror
Until Dawn
Until Dawnis a glorious, high-budget horror game whereyour actions have consequencesand can flip the script upside down.
You follow a group of teenagers on a retreat up a snowy mountain in the middle of nowhere. Naturally, everything goes wrong, andyour decisions decide who survivesthe ordeal.
Until Dawnhas a scary premise, but it rarely feels like a horror game asyou play more of an overseeing role. You’re like a horror movie director, and while there are some grizzly scenes, they never directly happen to you.
Until Dawnis so good, it’s even worth playing if you can’t stand horror games, and it’s evenfree on PS Plus.
A Trip Into Insanity
Fran Bowis a bizarre point-and-click adventure game with disturbing visuals and a healthy dose ofpsychological horror.
You play as Fran as she tries to escape a juvenile mental asylum. The premise is pretty dark and gets even worse as you enter vivid scenes in Fran’s mind. Those scenes range from fanciful enchanted meadows to demonic hellscapes.
While theimagery is genuinely frighteningat times,Fran Bowis still just a point-and-click adventure with little urgency. You’re never being chased, and there are zero jump scares.
Puzzle solving is the name of the game, and it takes the reins over cheap horror thrills.
Would You Kindly?
Bioshockis an exceptional first-person shooter, and whilehorror isn’t the main focus, there are plenty of tense and scary moments.
Rapture sets the scene forBioshockas a beautiful but chaotic city under the sea. The inhabitants are deranged addicts, and you never know what or who you’ll run into next.
We can’t talk aboutBioshockwithout mentioning theBig Daddies. Hulking metal monstrosities that you hear stamping around long before you see them.
Bioshockisn’t specifically a horror game, but there areplenty of scary sections, especially if you take the time to immerse yourself in the world.
Big Daddies may be monstrous, butyou can even play as oneinBioshock 2!
A Multiplayer Horror Masterpiece
Dead by Daylight
Dead by Daylightis a remarkable title thattranscends genresand offers a multiplayer experience that countless titles have tried and failed to emulate.
InDead by Daylight, youplay as either a survivor or a killer. The objective is simple. The survivors must attempt to escape, and the killer tries to stop them. Naturally, it’s a little more complicated than that.Each Killerhas unique skills, and there are even iconic additions to the roster, likeGhost Face from Scream.
Dead by Daylightis played as a 4v1 and is best enjoyed with friends or players of a similar skill level.The Killer is scary as it’s player-controlledand unpredictable, and it’s fun to learn the role yourself.
There is a pretty steep learning curve if you’re headingonline for PVPwith randoms, but it is unforgettable with the right people.
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