Top Horror Video Games We Keep Coming Back To

There is something strange about horror games. You know they are going to mess with your head, and yet you play them anyway.

00:55 20 June 2025

There is something strange about horror games. You know they are going to mess with your head, and yet you play them anyway. Why? Maybe it is the buzz of creeping through a dark hallway with your heart pounding. Maybe it is the weird satisfaction of surviving a terrifying encounter. Or maybe we just like safely scaring ourselves. Whatever the reason, horror games have a huge fan base that never gets tired of being frightened.

It is not just traditional video games that lean into the spooky side, either. Even some casinos not on GamStop have started adding horror-themed slot games to their collections. creepy soundtracks and unsettling animations, all without the usual annoying casino restrictions. If you have ever wanted a bit of a scare with your spins, these games offer a fun twist.

But if you are after something deeper, with more story, intensity, and lasting fear, horror video games have you covered. 

Resident Evil Series

This series is the granddaddy of survival horror. The first Resident Evil game came out in 1996 and immediately became a hit. Players were dropped into a creepy mansion full of puzzles, zombies, and limited ammo. You had to be smart, careful, and quick to survive in what was a genuine test of nerves.

Over the last 30 years, the series has kept switching it up. Some games leaned into action, others returned to their horror roots, but the atmosphere has never really gone away. For many, the Resident Evil 2 Remake brought the franchise back to its best with gothic visuals, tight controls, and a police station full of dread.

Whether you are dealing with the chainsaw-wielding maniacs in Resident Evil 4 or the family from hell in Resident Evil 7, you never really feel safe, and that constant pressure keeps us hooked.

Silent Hill Series

While Resident Evil throws zombies and monsters at you, Silent Hill plays tricks on your mind with games that are slower, quieter, and way more psychological. The town of Silent Hill is wrapped in fog, and every corner holds something unsettling. It teaches us that the real horror often comes from within. 

Silent Hill 2, in particular, is one of the most talked-about horror games ever, and for very, very good reason. It’s not just scary, it’s often emotional. The plot deals with guilt and trauma, and personal demons. Every creature you face is connected to your character’s past, making it intimate and disturbing at the same time.

The music is eerie, the sound design is simply brilliant, and the visuals are full of subtle terror. And at the risk of sounding overly dramatic: You don’t just play Silent Hill. You live it. 

But when it’s over, it sticks with you.

Dead Space

If space horror is more your thing, you’ll know that Dead Space delivers on all fronts. You’re Isaac Clarke, an engineer stuck on a mining ship filled with horrifying alien creatures. The setting is claustrophobic, and the silence is deafening.

What sets Dead Space apart is its combat system. You don’t just shoot your way out. Oh no. You have to cut off the limbs of the Necromorphs to stop them, bringing a bit of strategy to the chaos.

The audio design deserves a special mention, too. You hear whispers, creaks, and strange noises all around you. It creates a constant sense of dread. Even when nothing is happening, you feel on edge, and surely that is the mark of a truly great horror game?

Amnesia: The Dark Descent

This one changed the game. Amnesia throws you into a dark, gothic castle with no memory of who you are or what you are doing there. Oh, and you have no weapons. None. If you see a monster, your only options are to run or hide.

To make things so much worse, your sanity drops the longer you stay in the dark or witness scary events. The more insane you become, the harder the game gets. Lights flicker, walls warp, and your vision distorts. 

The atmosphere is thick, the tension builds slowly, and the fear feels, well, very real. No jump scares here; this is about sheer dread. The kind that creeps in and refuses to leave.

Outlast

Some horror games give you a weapon. Outlast doesn’t. You are a journalist investigating a creepy psychiatric hospital, and your only tool is a camcorder with night vision. That sounds relatively helpful, until you realise the batteries run out quickly and you’ll spend a sizable portion of gameplay trying to find some spares lying about.

The monsters in this game are not shy. They will chase you, scream at you, and try to rip you apart. And since you cannot fight back, every chase turns into a desperate sprint for your life. The game is relentless, loud, and absolutely terrifying.

But it is not all about gore and shock. The setting itself tells a story. The more you explore, the more you uncover the dark, twisted history of the asylum. 

The Evil Within

Made by the same warped mind that brought us Resident Evil, The Evil Within is a twisted mix of nightmare and reality. You play as a detective who gets pulled into a world where nothing makes sense and everything is trying to kill you.

One moment, you are in a hospital. Next, you are in a burning village. The game jumps between locations without warning, and it keeps you off balance. 

The combat is brutal - those monsters are genuinely unsettling - and the visuals are disturbing. But what makes The Evil Within stand out is the way it blends psychological horror with survival mechanics. You have to manage your ammo, craft supplies, and make tough decisions - and it’s hard. In fact, it’s not just scary, it’s bloody challenging, pardon the pun. 

Layers of Fear

This is a whole different kind of horror game. No creepy old monster tropes and no weapons to carry here. You’re a painter exploring your crumbling mansion while trying to finish a masterpiece. 

But the house has a mind of its own.

Rooms change behind you. Hallways stretch longer than they should. Paintings move when you are not looking. It’s deliciously subtle and oh-so-very-creepy. The horror here comes from the loss of control. You think you know what is going on, then everything shifts.

It’s a slower type of horror game, focused more on atmosphere and story than hardcore battling, but that makes the scary moments hit even harder. The bottom line with Layers of Fear is, it’s about being smart and letting the tension build.

Dead by Daylight

Horror does not always have to be a solo experience, and last up is Dead by Daylight, a multiplayer game where four players try to escape from another player who acts as the killer. Every match is different. Every killer has their own abilities. And every survivor has to work together to stay alive.

What makes it exciting is the unpredictability, with genuinely terrifying music to accompany it. You never know what the killer will do or where they are hiding. You might hear a heartbeat and realise they are right behind you. The chase begins, and it brings pure, unadulterated fear to those playing it.

Plus, the game features killers inspired by classic horror movies, which adds a nice nostalgic touch for fans of the genre. 

And if you’re playing horror games, we can be pretty certain grisly cinema is your thing, too.