Experience spine-chilling horror with these 10 terrifying games that will keep you up at night, featuring eerie atmospheres, psychological scares, and heart-pounding gameplay.
Horror games have long been a favorite among thrill-seekers, offering pulse-pounding terror, immersive storytelling, and mind-bending psychological scares.
Whether you prefer gory survival horror, unsettling psychological thrillers, or terrifying multiplayer experiences, the best horror games can make you question every shadow and sound.
From haunted houses and eerie forests to grotesque monsters and psychological torment, these games will test your nerves and leave you looking over your shoulder.
If you love the adrenaline rush of fear, here are the top 10 horror games that will keep you up at night.
1. Resident Evil 7: Biohazard
Capcom’s Resident Evil 7: Biohazard took the iconic franchise in a bold new direction, delivering first-person survival horror that brings players face-to-face with sheer terror.
You play as Ethan Winters, searching for your missing wife in a decrepit Louisiana plantation, only to encounter the twisted and sadistic Baker family.
The game’s claustrophobic atmosphere, limited resources, and unpredictable enemies create a truly nerve-wracking experience.
With photo-realistic graphics, eerie sound design, and a gripping storyline, Resident Evil 7 offers an intensely horrifying journey into madness that will haunt you long after the game ends.
2. Outlast
Outlast is one of the most terrifying survival horror games ever made, relying on psychological horror rather than combat to terrify players.
You play as investigative journalist Miles Upshur, who sneaks into Mount Massive Asylum, only to discover grotesque experiments and insane patients lurking in the dark.
With no weapons at your disposal, your only tools for survival are running, hiding, and a night-vision camera that reveals unspeakable horrors in the pitch-black asylum. The sheer helplessness, combined with the game’s brutal jump scares and disturbing story, make Outlast a must-play for horror fans.
3. Silent Hill 2
Silent Hill 2 is a masterpiece of psychological horror, renowned for its disturbing atmosphere, mind-bending storytelling, and grotesque monsters.
You play as James Sunderland, a grieving man who receives a mysterious letter from his deceased wife, luring him back to the fog-covered town of Silent Hill.
As you explore the town’s eerie streets and abandoned buildings, you encounter terrifying creatures like Pyramid Head, as well as nightmarish manifestations of James’ guilt and trauma. The game’s haunting soundtrack, deep symbolism, and psychological twists make Silent Hill 2 an unforgettable and unsettling experience.
4. Alien: Isolation
Alien: Isolation is a masterclass in survival horror, perfectly capturing the tension and dread of the original Alien film. You play as Amanda Ripley, daughter of Ellen Ripley, investigating the mystery behind her mother’s disappearance aboard the Sevastopol space station.
The game’s intelligent, adaptive Xenomorph AI makes every encounter nerve-wracking, as the creature hunts you down relentlessly.
With scarce resources, realistic sound design, and a gripping sci-fi setting, Alien: Isolation is an intensely immersive horror experience that will leave you on edge from start to finish.
5. Fatal Frame II: Crimson Butterfly
Fatal Frame II: Crimson Butterfly is a uniquely terrifying horror game that immerses players in a world of ghostly horrors and supernatural encounters.
You control twin sisters Mio and Mayu, who stumble upon an abandoned village haunted by vengeful spirits.
Unlike other horror games, your only defense is the Camera Obscura, a mystical camera that exorcises ghosts by photographing them.
The game’s spine-chilling atmosphere, eerie visuals, and unsettling ghost encounters make every moment feel terrifying.
Fatal Frame II is a deeply unsettling and memorable horror experience that lingers in your mind long after playing.
6. Dead Space
Dead Space is a terrifying blend of sci-fi and survival horror, plunging players into the dark, blood-soaked corridors of the USG Ishimura, a space station overrun with grotesque creatures known as Necromorphs.
You play as Isaac Clarke, an engineer trying to survive while uncovering the horrifying truth behind the ship’s fate.
The game’s disorienting zero-gravity environments, eerie silence, and sudden, gruesome encounters create an unmatched sense of dread.
With strategic dismemberment mechanics, terrifying enemy designs, and relentless tension, Dead Space is a must-play for fans of sci-fi horror.
7. Amnesia: The Dark Descent
Amnesia: The Dark Descent is a pure psychological horror experience, stripping players of combat abilities and forcing them to run and hide from horrifying creatures.
You awaken in a dark, crumbling castle with no memory of who you are, uncovering terrifying secrets as you explore its eerie halls.
The game’s sanity system causes hallucinations, distorting reality and amplifying fear when exposed to darkness for too long.
With its brilliant sound design, disturbing atmosphere, and unpredictable scares, Amnesia: The Dark Descent is one of the most unsettling horror games ever created.
8. The Evil Within
Directed by Shinji Mikami, the creator of Resident Evil, The Evil Within delivers a nightmarish journey into psychological terror and grotesque horror.
You play as Detective Sebastian Castellanos, investigating a mass murder at a mental hospital, only to be pulled into a twisted, nightmarish world filled with monstrous entities and horrifying traps.
The game’s distorted environments, unpredictable enemy encounters, and cinematic horror sequences create a relentless sense of unease.
With its brutal difficulty, eerie visuals, and psychological twists, The Evil Within is a must-play for hardcore horror fans.
9. Layers of Fear
Layers of Fear is a psychological horror game that takes players into the twisted mind of a disturbed painter descending into insanity.
Set in a Victorian mansion filled with disturbing paintings and eerie hallucinations, the game’s shifting environments and surreal horror elements create a truly unsettling experience.
Unlike traditional horror games, Layers of Fear focuses on atmospheric dread and narrative-driven scares, making players question what’s real and what’s imagined.
The game’s brilliant storytelling, eerie visuals, and unpredictable scares make it one of the most chilling horror games ever made.
10. Phasmophobia
Phasmophobia is a terrifying co-op horror game that puts players in the role of paranormal investigators exploring haunted locations.
Using real ghost-hunting equipment like EMF readers, spirit boxes, and infrared cameras, players must gather evidence and identify different ghost types.
What sets this game apart is its real-time voice recognition, where ghosts react to player conversations, making every encounter feel incredibly immersive and frightening.
Whether played solo or with friends, Phasmophobia delivers a heart-pounding ghost-hunting experience that will keep you looking over your shoulder in real life.
Horror games offer some of the most intense and unforgettable gaming experiences, blending psychological terror, survival mechanics, and haunting atmospheres.
Whether you enjoy jump scares, eerie soundscapes, supernatural encounters, or deep psychological horror, these 10 terrifying games will leave you breathless and sleepless.
If you dare to test your courage, try these games in a dark room with headphones—just don’t be surprised if you find yourself double-checking your surroundings in real life.
