Below, you will find a rare and small collection of the most terrifying horror games ever created. Doing horror games well is very difficult, but from classic thrills to laughably bad games that we love to hate, we present to you every shocking, jolting, over-the-top, ghoulish scene in video gaming history.

Doki Doki Literature Club

Arguably the most consequential horror game of the last decade, if not ever, Doki Doki Literature Club is a horror novel turned psychological game. There is nothing quite like a game that starts off innocently enough as a dating simulator before taking a dark, bloody turn.

“Doki Doki Literature Club” confronts the player with disturbing imagery as the game looks to establish its horror identity. The deeper you go, the more twisted the narrative that makes this game a prime example of a terrifying game. Its unique features transform the game into a nightmare-inducing experience.

Alien: Isolation

One of the most iconic film franchises of the current generation is also one of its most fiendishly addictive horror games. Alien: Isolation follows the journey of Amanda Ripley, a hardened Alien hunter, and daughter of the famous Ellen Ripley, the hero of the first Alien film.

The plot is sloppy, but the game’s atmosphere is ultra sleek, making for intense gameplay as the players fight to navigate the alien-infested space station. Alien: Isolation, as the name suggests, sets up the play for heart-pounding experiences fighting alien encounters.

Outlast

It’s like a mix of shooter game with over-the-top fight scenes: it is, at its heart, a tactical horror FPS. “Outlast” is a game following the adventurers of an investigative journalist called Miles Upshur. The main character explores the hidden secret of a psychiatric hospital in pursuit of truth and justice.

“Outlast” is a game of wits and stealth. The player is only armed with a camcorder but is up against an army of deranged patients who want to keep the psychiatric hospital’s secrets hidden. Surprisingly, the absence of combat mechanics keeps the player on edge in an increasingly oppressive atmosphere.

Silent Hill 2

For gamers, “Silent Hill 2” is a masterpiece. It is a psychological horror story told in bone-chilling characterization. The plot unfolds in a dream-like world where the player ventures into the darkest corners of the human psyche. It’s menacing, to say the least, and unsettling.

“Silent Hill 2” follows James Sunderland as he battles twisted creatures in disturbing imagery designed to keep the player on edge. James comes to terms with his personal turmoil and goes in search of his wife in the eerie town of Silent Hill. The game is a must-play.

Resident Evil 2 Remake

Like the highly successful movie title, “Resident Evil 2 Remake” picks up from the behemoth movie series and takes the plot to new silky highs. It takes up the story from the terrifying experience of the original story and develops a scary plot to topple the player’s sanity.

“Resident Evil 2 Remake” follows Leon Kennedy and Claire Redfield through their adventurers in zombie-infested Raccoon City. If visuals alone couldn’t kill, the gameplay mechanic does the job brutally. The atmosphere is intense, making for a standout entry in this list.

Amnesia: The Dark Descent

Most horror games claim to give the player liberty of choice. Usually, that boils down to doing either a “good thing” or a “bad thing”. On the contrary, “Amnesia: The Dark Descent” doesn’t make things so simple, and that makes it a classic in this genre. It constitutes dark morality.

“Amnesia: The Dark Descent” is a testament to the resilience of Daniel, the character, who is on a quest to understand his past and regain his memory. It takes the player to the dark hallways where you must conquer your deepest fears and survive the encounters of twisted creatures.

PT

The wait for “Silent Hills” was excruciating, so the developers released a demo that was so successful it morphed into a standalone title called “Playable Teaser,” or PT for short. This masterpiece delivered to the masses is set in a looping hallway, where secrets are hidden at each corner.

“Playable Teaser” is developed by Hideo Kojima and Guillermo del Toro. It features scary audio cues and a teasing environment. The game is a psychological horror that installs a feeling of impending doom in an atmosphere of horror that makes for a scary experience for the player.

Layers of Fear

If you can persevere through this game’s trademark horror, then you will be in for a treat. “Layers of Fear” handsomely rewards the players’ problem-solving skills as they explore the halls of their ever-changing virtual mansion. It is a story of madness made better with an atmosphere of suspense and fear.

“Layers of Fear,” as the name suggests, offers mind-bending visuals and distorted reality. The character, a disturbed painter, seeks to understand the powers of darkness lurking behind the walls of the home. At best, this game delivers a thrill with a touch of fear.

SOMA

A game that will smack you down with its daunting storyline and unfathomable horror. “SOMA” is a game coming from the same design studio as “Amnesia: The Dark Descent.” It is set in the darkness of the unknown, in a secret research facility located underwater.

“SOMA” is a sci-fi horror that follows the life of Simon Jarret, who is on a quest to uncover the hidden secrets of the facility. The player must grapple with existential questions and employ their puzzle solving skills to find their way to safety and out of the unsettling environment.

Five Nights at Freddy’s

Don’t let the title fool you. “Five Nights at Freddy’s” will have lined up for more punishment. The first indie title on our list, this game puts the player in the shoes of a security guard manning the graveyard shifts at a haunted pizzeria called Freddy’s

“Five Nights at Freddy’s” is developed by Scott Cawthon. As nerve-wracking as the plot goes, the gameplay mechanics are immersive. Jump scares and creepy animatronic elements are the order of business, a favorite among horror game enthusiasts.

MADiSON’s

This horror story is a faithful and terrifying reaction to a plot surrounding a haunted camera. “Madison’s” follows a teenage photography enthusiast as he takes still images that could determine the fate of the game and NPCs. As far as the game is concerned, the storyline is well developed.

“Madison’s” character possesses a camera that was once owned by a serial killer. As you can tell, the camera now acts as a bridge for the serial killer to continue doing his deranged acts even from the land of the dead. It’s a game that takes into account plenty of demonic rituals.

The Quarry

Filled to the brim with horror gems, “The Quarry” brings the supernatural to a camping setting – a tried and tested theme that has worked for some of the popular horror films. Players play a camp counselor who is being trailed by a deranged killer out for blood.

“The Quarry” unravels a murder mystery with another successful horror genre theme- stalking. Unlike most horror games, the scary parts unravel with each chapter ending. The game is successfully unpredictable and sets the stage for a bone-chilling environment.

Little Nightmares 2

This game suffers the effects of its own horrors. “Little Nightmares 2” offers a terrifying plot and attempts to soothe the horror with some cartoon aesthetic. Some might think it’s a kid’s game, but it’s anything. It is the kind of game that will implant unsettling nightmares.

“Little Nightmares 2” takes place in a 2.5D world where the player occasionally runs into platform-like challenges, being blocked by puzzles. The game allows the player to hoard all the weapons and items they can pick up and use them to their advantage as they clear the challenges ahead.

Mundaun

Right off the bat, “Mundaun” is as scary as it gets. “Mundaun” brings a unique black-and-white pencil style art and blends it into a horrifying story to create a masterclass for a video game. The game forces the player to explore the mysteries of the unknown.

“Mundaun” follows the life of Curdin, who is forced to return to his home for his grandfather’s funeral. The player unlocks the hidden secrets of the past, and thereby providing the narrative for a scary adventurer fueled by a curious story and challenging puzzles.

Signalis

To the surprise of many, “Signalis” has turned out to be a beloved franchise by many gaming lovers. “Signalis” is a slow burning horror story that needs a little bit of time to unleash the levers working behind the scenes to set up the scare. In the end, it does deliver.

“Signalis” is a cryptic and brooding game. It forces the player to come out of their shell to solve puzzles through the dark atmosphere set forth by the design of the gameplay space. Coupled with the pixel-style design qualities, the game is quite unique.

Sons Of The Forest

A smashing success in all its rights, “Sons of the Forest” is a trailblazer and smash hit at best. “Sons of the Forest” sold more than two million copies within 24 hours of the release of its early access. Its collaborative feature allows friends to collect and craft items to complete their quest.

“Sons of the Forest” follows a disturbing mystery of a remote island that hosts many secrets buried along with many mutilated bodies. It blends features of open-world survival. The landscape is vast and daunting, with the existential feature of creatures that lurk in the dark.

Phasmophobia

At first, “Phasmophobia” looks like your average zombie game, but the plot goes deeper. The game offers a ghost-hunting experience where a group of friends collaborate to investigate and uncover the spirits hidden behind closed doors and scary locations.

The “Phasmophobia” plot is utterly bone-chilling, with audio cues and a creepy environment to match. It offers a strong emphasis on establishing a terrifying space for the gamer that can be frightening even to the most experienced players, especially when lights are off.

Doki Doki Literature Club Plus

Fancy a bit of anime, eh? “Doki Doki Literature Club Plus” has somewhat of a cult following. After all, anime is growing bigger year after year. The game employs the sex appeal of anime characters to distract the player from the scary story unfolding before the horror strikes.

“Doki Doki Literature Club Plus” gives away a creepy underpinning that is covered by intense psychological horror. It starts off as a dating simulator before everything takes a turn for the dark, revealing a compelling story working in the background that makes the gameplay worth it.

Fatal Frame

Confrontation can be pretty scary, especially when we’re not sure what’s lurking in the shadows. That’s why horror game developers often take away our ability to defend ourselves, leaving us feeling defenseless against the terrifying creatures we encounter.

But things take a different turn in this game. Instead of being completely defenseless, players are armed with a special camera that can ward off spirits. Sounds like an advantage, right? Well, here’s the twist – to get the best shots, you have to get up close and personal with these spooky beings. It creates a really creepy combat experience that keeps you on edge.

Returnal

Yet another title set in a future time where technology has become too advanced and too good for the good of the human race, “Returnal” features a third-person horror where the character can deviate from the plot to star in their own story. It is an action-oriented game with quite a horror plot.

“Returnal” is set in a futuristic world, where the main character, Selene Vassos, a space pilot, puts on a no-nonsense demeanor to battle aliens using her advanced tech guns and weapons. It is an addicting horror game with punishing gameplay mechanics.

Conclusion

The visceral feeling of narrowly escaping death from psychological horror and survival horror games offer a variety of experiences that will test your nerves and keep you on the edge of your seat. So, prepare to be scared.

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