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- Our hand-picked list covers 10 of the best horror games of all time.
- We’ve included modern hits and classic scary games.
- To make our list more accessible, we’ve included titles available across PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and PC.
- Our list balances titles focused on survival, psychological, and story-driven horror.
- We’ve paid attention to high-profile remakes, too.
Horror thrives in gaming like few other genres. The best horror games are not only about jump scares, but are also masterclasses in the creation of tension through story, sound, and atmosphere. Whether it’s creeping through haunted hospitals or facing off against alien hunters in space, horror has carved out some of the most memorable experiences in gaming.
We’ve pulled together ten of the best horror games available right now. From stone-cold classics like Silent Hill 2 to modern releases like Alan Wake 2, there’s something here for everyone. If you’re looking for scary games across PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, or Steam, these titles deliver the goods.
Silent Hill 2 – A psychological masterpiece
Silent Hill 2 remains one of the best horror games of all time, combining psychological tension with nightmarish imagery. James Sunderland’s journey into the fog-covered town is packed with dread, symbolism, and disturbing encounters.
The PS5 remake, released in 2024, brought the cult classic back with modern visuals, new voice work, and updated controls. It preserved the oppressive atmosphere while making it more accessible to new players. With its unsettling soundtrack and iconic monsters like Pyramid Head, this is still the benchmark for psychological horror and one of the best horror games on PS5 that you can play today.
Alien: Isolation – Terror in space
Alien: Isolation is a survival classic and among the best horror games on Steam. Set 15 years after the first Alien movie, you play Amanda Ripley as she explores a derelict space station while being hunted by a single Xenomorph.
The horrifying predator never seems to follow the same pattern of hunting and attack, keeping every encounter tense. Due to its emphasis on limited weapons and resources, Alien: Isolation is a game about stealth and patience. Few scary games create such lasting fear from a single enemy, but Alien: Isolation will have you fearfully quaking in lockers as its eponymous monster prowls its bleak habitat.
The Evil Within 2 – Survival with a twisted edge
The Evil Within 2 offers a balance of action and survival horror, making it one of the most overlooked entries on PS4 and Xbox One. Players step into the role of detective Sebastian Castellanos as he dives into a nightmarish world to save his daughter.
Open-ended environments give you freedom to approach encounters, while grotesque enemies and warped environments create constant unease. For those seeking the best horror games PS5 can play via backwards compatibility, this is an underrated gem offering powerful scares that’ll stay with you long after you step away from the screen.
Resident Evil 2 – Survival horror perfected
The 2019 remake of Resident Evil 2 is one of the best horror games on Xbox and PS5. It reimagines the 1998 classic with modern visuals, tight controls, and overhauled puzzles. Leon and Claire’s escape from the urban sprawl of Raccoon City is equal parts tense exploration and heart-pounding survival.
The Resident Evil 2 remake balances combat with resource management and environmental storytelling. Mr. X remains one of gaming’s most terrifying adversaries. The prospect of running into a nigh-invincible killing machine keeps you constantly on edge. For many fans, this remake sets the gold standard for horror, offering something altogether definitive.
Darkwood – A survival indie with real dread
Darkwood is one of the best indie horror games on Steam, praised for how it builds tension without cheap jump scares. Its top-down perspective hides a deeply unsettling survival loop where you scavenge for supplies by day and defend your hideout by night. This back and forth creates a disquieting sense of inevitability that sits with you long after you’ve left the screen.
Every decision matters, from how you spend scarce resources to whether you trust strangers you meet in the forest. Combined with eerie sound design and unpredictable events, Darkwoon creates an atmosphere that feels genuinely dangerous. For players who want scary games that experiment with the genre, this title is essential.
Until Dawn – Interactive terror
Until Dawn is a cinematic horror game where the “butterfly effect” system ensures that even the smallest decision can ripple out and decide who lives or dies among the eight stranded teenagers. This forces you to bear the terrible weight of the unintended consequences of your decisions.
Every playthrough can unfold differently, with branching storylines that reward curiosity but punish recklessness. It blends teen slasher tropes with interactive drama, creating a mix of campy fun and genuine tension. Few scary games capture the feeling of watching a late-night horror movie where you’re the one holding the remote and controlling the cast’s fate. This helps Until Dawn distinguish itself from the pack, cementing its role as one of the best horror games out there.
Dead Space (2023) – A chilling remake
The Dead Space (2023) remake revitalizes the original sci-fi horror classic for modern consoles. It’s among the best horror games on Xbox and PS5, with rebuilt visuals, improved zero-gravity sections, and a fully voiced Isaac Clarke. The game has you chart a course through a mining ship infected with a horrific alien virus.
Encounters with Necromorph horrors are still some of the most terrifying in gaming, forcing you to strategically dismember foes to survive. Everything about Dead Space (2023) is unsettling, from the unnerving gait of the necromorphs to the eerie quiet of a derelict ship in the cold of space. For newcomers or returning fans, this remake is a perfect way to experience a modern horror essential.
Alan Wake 2 – A modern psychological thriller
Alan Wake 2 expands Remedy’s surreal horror into full survival territory, making it one of the best horror games for console gamers. Its mix of detective work, reality-bending, and fascinating dialogue keeps you guessing. Alan Wake 2 yokes horror and mystery together with extreme skill. You’ll want to find the answers at the story’s heart, but you won’t like what you find – a fact Alan Wake 2 plays upon to great effect.
Alternating between Alan and FBI agent Saga Anderson, the story is layered with mystery, atmosphere, and sharp writing. It’s not only one of the best horror games of all time, but one of 2023’s most celebrated releases.
Phasmophobia – Teamwork under pressure
Phasmophobia is one of the best multiplayer horror games on PC. As well as boasting impressive Steam reviews, the title offers co-op ghost hunting with up to four players. Each session tasks you with investigating a haunted location using tools like EMF readers, spirit boxes, and cameras.
What makes Phasmophobia stand out is the way fear builds as evidence of supernatural meddling piles up. Ghosts respond to voice chat, lights fail at the worst possible moments, and team decisions often mean the difference between success and disaster. For fans of co-operative scary games, Phasmophobia is an essential experience and one of the most replayable titles in modern horror.
Resident Evil 7: Biohazard – First-person terror
Resident Evil 7: Biohazard reinvented the series with a first-person perspective and a new protagonist, Ethan Winters. The claustrophobia-inducing Baker estate sets the stage for one of the best horror games on Xbox and PS5.
Its shift to intimate, close-quarters horror refreshed the franchise and paved the way for its later remakes. These changes allow Resident Evil 7: Biohazard to more easily ramp up tension as you’re forced to see every new door or corner as a possible threat. From the chilling dinner scene to the horrific machinations of relentless antagonist Jack Baker, this game delivers horror at its most intense.
FAQs
Many players cite Silent Hill 2 or Alien: Isolation as the scariest experiences, depending on whether you prefer psychological or survival horror.
No. Phasmophobia is a paid title on PC and remains one of the best multiplayer horror games for groups of friends.
We advise starting with classics like Resident Evil 2 or Dead Space (2023). For story-driven tension, Until Dawn and Alan Wake 2 are essential.
The Resident Evil series dominates sales; Resident Evil 5 and Resident Evil 6 are among its highest sellers.
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