Much like horror movies, spooky video games rarely get the acclaim that they deserve. Horror games are often immersive, disturbing, and grant a boatload of gory fun. With the autumn season coming up, there’s no better time to turn off the lights and boot up an excellent horror video game, so we’ve whipped up a list of the very best to help you make a perfect pick. Across the many decades of video game history, there have been countless great horror games, and we want to highlight a wide variety. For that reason, we’re limiting this list to one game per franchise, while also paying equal attention to retro and modern titles. So, if you want to experience some masterful interactive nightmares, look no further! Listed in no particular order, these are the top 10 horror video games of all time!
10. Condemned: Criminal Origins
Released in 2005, Condemned: Criminal Origins is often overlooked, but this Xbox 360 launch title is a standout in the horror genre. Developed by Monolith Productions, who also produced the highly-favored F.E.A.R, this first-person horror game is all about tracking down a serial killer who only kills other serial killers. To discover the identity of this unique culprit, you play as Ethan Thomas, an FBI Agent who is framed for murder and forced to run from the authorities. Despite the bounty on your head, you explore the grimy city of Metro, overrun by violent thugs, and must survive using melee weapons and a handful of firearms. It’s haunting, scary, and feels like a real crime thriller for adults, a genre often seen in films but less so in games. With its unique story and brutal combat, Condemned: Criminal Origins is a grisly story of murder that deserves its spot on this list.
9. Luigi’s Mansion
There are countless good horror games, but if there’s one thing that the genre is lacking, it’s spooky experiences that are still suitable for younger audiences. Leave it to Nintendo to fill the gap with Luigi’s Mansion, a launch title for the GameCube that spawned a cult classic franchise. In this kid-friendly but still-spooky adventure, you control Luigi as he searches through a haunted mansion, sucking up ghosts with the special Poltergust 3000 vacuum. Dozens of Boos are also hidden throughout the mansion to discover and defeat, while a bounty of treasure can also be collected. Although it’s a pretty short game, Luigi’s Mansion is polished all the way through and feels like a true horror adventure that doesn’t rely on blood, guts, or any remarkably morbid content to earn its scares.
8. Eternal Darkness: Sanity’s Requiem
Another underrated horror classic from the GameCube library, Eternal Darkness: Sanity’s Requiem offers a survival horror game unlike any other. In the game, you follow four different characters through exotic locations across the world, spanning history and uncovering a greater conspiracy along the way. Truly inventive in its execution, Eternal Darkness: Sanity’s Requiem earns its spot on this list due to the unique ways it frightens the player. The game’s pervasive narrative about mental disturbance is echoed in several gameplay moments, meant to confuse the player and make them question their own reality. From lowering the game volume on its own to pretending that your saved data has been deleted, Eternal Darkness gets under gamer’s skin in a way that few others have. If you’ve never played this subversive and unique survival horror game, dust off the GameCube and give it a whirl.
7. Dead Rising
The horror genre has endured many tropes and cliches in its history, but in the 2000s, zombies were all the rage. Dead Rising, developed by Capcom, offers a familiar but altogether refreshing zombie experience, where carnage and chaos is top priority. You play as Frank West, a photojournalist who travels to a shopping mall in Colorado, only to find it overrun by hordes of the undead. To get to the bottom of the story, Frank must survive 72 hours in the mall, using any sort of weapon or item he can find. Dead Rising pushes this concept to ridiculous levels, letting you dress up in silly clothes, wield items like frying pans as weapons, and much more. Best of all, there’s a counter at all times that tracks how many zombies you’ve killed, encouraging as much mayhem as possible. Dead Rising might have a few flaws, but its unique brand of zombie destruction makes it an easy choice for this list.
6. Dead Space (2023)
The original Dead Space was an epic sci-fi horror game, but when the remake debuted in 2023, it took both the graphical quality and overall scare factor to the next level. Often regarded as one of the scariest games ever made, Dead Space revolves around Isaac Clarke, an engineer who’s tasked with investigating a mining starship that’s lost communication power. Arriving on the ship, Isaac discovers a horrifying species of creatures, known as the Necromorphs, who have overrun the ship and are hellbent on killing everyone in sight. However, Necromorphs don’t function like your average monster, and in order to defeat them, you must cut off their limbs. As you might expect, this results in an overtly gory third-person shooting experience, full of terrifying encounters and overwhelming tension. For a truly frightening game that doesn’t pull any punches, Dead Space is one of the all-time greats.
5. DOOM
In the world of video games, a lot of credit is due to DOOM, the 1993 first-person shooter developed by id Software. This groundbreaking game took the world by storm when it was released, kicking off a franchise that is iconic for its relentless gore, fast-paced gameplay, and killer music. Set on the moon of Mars, Phobos, this sci-fi shooter tracks a highly courageous space marine as he sets waste to a demonic-infested military base. At the time of its release, DOOM was a technological marvel, showcasing impressive faux-3D graphics long before the likes of Super Mario 64. However, unlike some other highly influential games, DOOM is just as fun to play now as it was in 1993. Simple, anxiety-inducing, but extremely addictive, we can’t help but recognize DOOM as more than just a scary FPS, but one of the best horror games of all time.
4. Silent Hill 2
In sharp contrast to many other horror games, the Silent Hill franchise provides its thrills not through shocking violence, but instead, with a dreary atmosphere and inexplicable weirdness. The most popular and arguably the best entry in the series is Silent Hill 2, which sees protagonist James Sunderland traveling to the foggy town of Silent Hill after receiving a letter from his dead wife. Once inside the city limits, James is subjected to all sorts of paranormal and psychological horrors, as he is forced to fight off mysterious creatures with minimal weaponry, all while navigating grimy streets and decrepit buildings. Although often compared to games like Resident Evil, Silent Hill 2 is more methodical in its scares, slowly building dread throughout the experience and rarely answering all of the player’s questions. More thought-provoking and unsettling than most other survival horror games, Silent Hill 2 stands the test of time and still feels incredibly creepy to play.
3. Outlast
Outlast is a first-person horror game that was developed by Red Barrels, and more so than most of its peers, pushes the boundaries of the genre. Equipped with nothing more than a digital camera and your intelligence, you play as Miles Upshur, a journalist who travels to the Mount Massive Asylum to track down a story. Once inside, you realize that you might be in over your head, as mutated inmates roam the halls freely, with a thick stench of supernatural oddity in the air. What follows is a downright harrowing journey, full of disturbing violence and unrelenting horror, all contained in a devilishly discomforting setting. Outlast is simply not for the faint of heart, as it constantly shocks the player and leaves you feeling vulnerable every step of the way.
2. Left 4 Dead
Although this is a genre most well-known for its single-player stories, a few of the best horror games are ones that are meant to be played with friends. Created by the renowned studio, Valve, Left 4 Dead is a four-player cooperative multiplayer game that pits you and your pals against hordes of fast-moving zombies in a series of high-intensity scenarios. Playing as heroes Bill, Francis, Zoey, and Louis, you and your team must complete four unique campaigns with dwindling ammo and minimal heals, all while being chased down by dozens of deadly foes. To stop you from rushing through each level and encourage teamwork, there are special infected enemies that disrupt or otherwise impede your crew, such as the exploding Boomer, stealthy Smoker, or the gigantic and destructive Tank. Although Left 4 Dead features lots of explosive action, it still nails the sense of dread and danger that every good horror game requires. Even when compared to its sequels, Left 4 Dead is a memorable multiplayer experience and one of the best horror games of all time.
1. Resident Evil 2 (2019)
As the progenitor of the survival horror sub-genre, the Resident Evil franchise is absolutely packed with amazing games, offering both an emphasis on creepy horror and all-out action. Although there are a few games in the series that could be considered as the best of the bunch, the modern, 2019 remake of Resident Evil 2 gets our vote. Featuring state-of-the-art graphics, terrifying encounters, and excellent third-person shooting gameplay, the Resident Evil 2 remake combines the best aspects of the franchise for a bombastic but remarkably scary thrill ride. Playing as either rookie cop, Leon Kennedy, or the skilled fighter, Claire Redfield, you trudge through the urban sprawl of Raccoon City, now infested with zombies after a viral outbreak. Like in the classic Resident Evil games, there are puzzles to solve and items to find, but the gunplay has been refined, lending to a more action-packed adventure. It’s also packed with unlockable modes and extra goodies, making it all the more fun to replay. With its excellent blend of effective scares and awesome action, the Resident Evil 2 is a masterpiece of the genre, making it easy to see why the series is the reigning king of horror games.
Short author bio:
Matt Owen
As a lifelong gamer and overall media fiend, Matt gets his hands on every new game and watches an unhealthy amount of movies and TV: action, horror, mystery, and sci-fi in particular. When not bingeing on entertainment, he enjoys reading and writing short stories, cooking, and producing video and podcast content.