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Horror games have a special place in my heart and just like movies, developers don’t always get them right. But these games, in particular, are peak horror in my book. They range from bloody, grotesque abominations to terror-stricken experiences that make you paranoid of your own shadow. And when I look out my window, seeing the leaves change color with the arrival of Halloween, I know it’s time to break out one of my favorite horror games.
Dead Space 1 & 2
The night my Dad came home with Dead Space and Dead Space 2 for the PS3, I’ve been in an annual fling with both games, back to back. I know them inside and just never get tired of dismembering necromorphs.
Dead Space is the kind of horror game that makes you paranoid of every turn, so much so that I tiptoe my way through the game. The tight corridors, the eerie sounds, and the use of lighting and fog still impresses me to this day, too.
I also love that Isaac’s own movements are used to heighten the suspense and frantic gunplay. It’s not exactly tank controls, but Isaac has a weightiness to him, from the way he turns to the notable delay of alt firing and kinesis.
Little Nightmares 1 & 2
What I want in a horror game, above all else, is atmosphere. I want to be enveloped in whatever twisted dream the developers come up with. Not only does Little Nightmares accomplish that with flying colors, the sequel is just as bizarre and unnerving.
Little Nightmares sparks the same fear I get when I watch It Follows—that unsettling feeling one of these grotesque creatures isn’t far behind, rather than use cheap jumpscares all the time. Instead, the creatures are a metaphorical fire under your butt, putting you in a constant state of panic.
What compounds the entire experience is just the lack of information, not just for the puzzles, but for the world itself. There’s enough environmental storytelling to give you a vague idea of what’s going on, but interpretation is almost always in your court.
Resident Evil 2 Remake
Although I played the original as a kid, I wasn’t very good at it. I don’t recall how many times I watched Leon and Claire end up as zombie food, but the game over screen with “You Died” flashes pretty vividly in my mind to this day. You can cut a four-year-old some slack, right?
I’ve played through the original since then, but it’s the remake I tend to gravitate towards more. It built upon everything that made the original good, while turning Mr. X into an even more terrifying force of nature. No amount of goofing around with him and his inability to use doors to the safe rooms could shake the feeling.
I particularly like the risk-vs-reward gameplay. Resources are limited, so you end up playing inventory Tetris with key items and something that could potentially save your life. You could make a trip back to the safe room, sure, but you’re also risking an encounter with the walking dead.
The Walking Dead: Saints and Sinners
I can’t think of any other VR game that had me hooked as much as The Walking Dead: Saints and Sinners. I’d even go as far as to say it was worth the price of the Oculus Quest and really sold me on the idea of VR as a concept.
First off, you’re tossed into these rather large maps, full of zombies and hostile survivors. That’s terrifying enough, but you can get around them by being stealthy. I always opted for the bow, since it was always quiet. It ended up being hands down my favorite weapon to use because, in a pinch, you could stab zombies with arrows.
But the terror comes from existing in this virtual space. Saints and Sinners had me crawling on the ground, using the walls in my house as proxies for the walls in-game, and peering around virtual corners for zombies that want to nibble on my face.
Onimusha: Warlords
I speak for everyone when I say this: we need more horror games set in feudal Japan because Onimusha: Warlords rules! And although it’s less concerned with scaring you, I know I’d be needing a new pair of underwear if I had to face the demons Samanosuke fights. I’d like to go on living, preferably with my liver intact, thank you.
Make no mistake—Onimusha: Warlords is still a survival horror game, despite leaning heavily into action. Even with all the weapons and magic at Samanosuke’s disposal, demons don’t always go down easy, especially those irritating Dark Crows and beefy Barabazuus.
Onimusha: Warlords isn’t too light on puzzles, either. The decoder boxes are a personal favorite of mine. I really like how you’re encouraged to engage with the story and pay attention because the tidbits of information you get could give you a clue on how to open them.
