The Most Terrifying Games immerse players in a world of horror that far surpasses the experience offered by movies. In a film, you are merely an observer of someone else’s terror, but in the realm of video games, you are thrust into the heart of the nightmare, allowing you to live through the fright yourself. This direct involvement amplifies the horror, making games a unique medium for those seeking an authentic scare. From navigating through haunted landscapes, enduring the desolation of post-apocalyptic settings, to uncovering mysteries shrouded in darkness, the intensity of these experiences can be profound. Platforms like
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Dead Space (2023)
The list should start with one of the most relevant horrors at the moment. The Dead Space remake, released in the winter, recreates the cult horror of 2008 with modern graphics: with trendy effects, technological lighting, and high-resolution textures. The updated game, which was already frightening in its original form, now seems even scarier, as the visuals have reached a new level of realism.
The blood-stained and rust-covered corridors of the “Ishimura” spaceship look much more believable, and the necromorph monsters are more repulsive. Especially after the introduction of a new system for dismembering creatures—some weapons literally rip the skin off walking dead, leaving behind a skeleton with burning red eyes.
Dead Space 2023 feels scarier than its original because the game has introduced an AI director that dynamically throws different troubles at the gamer, ranging from groups of enemies to sudden sound and light effects. As a result, in the new Dead Space, you can’t find a safe place to catch your breath. No, you have to always be on your guard.
Resident Evil 7 (2017)
Many installments of “Resident Evil” qualify as terrifying, but the seventh cranks up the horror to the max. Of course, zombies or people-puppets controlled by parasites are very scary, but Resident Evil 7 terrifies with more human-like and, therefore, more frightening enemies.
The Baker family members, encountered by the protagonist, are not devoid of reason, and it’s precisely their frightening actions and bursts of aggression that make you tremble with fear. People possessed by an unknown entity, who lived normal lives not long ago and still retain a semblance of their former selves, are unforgettable antagonists. Especially when you have to fight them in such an atmospheric and quite grounded location as an old mansion in the middle of a swamp.
Amnesia: The Bunker (2023)
The new “Amnesia” shares similarities with Alien: Isolation, but Frictional Games have managed to create an even more terrifying game in some respects. Firstly, it has an utterly depressing and gloomy setting—trenches and a bunker from World War I. Secondly, the local monster acts even smarter than the Alien and looks quite frightening. Thirdly, the game requires gamers to be inventive and think outside the box in highly stressful situations. Amnesia: The Bunker features elements of the immersive sim genre: the world is highly interactive, and this must be fully utilized to avoid becoming breakfast for the monster or rats.
Phasmophobia (2020)
Most online horrors can’t be called scary because the gloomy atmosphere instantly evaporates in the merry company of friends. But Phasmophobia, where you need to communicate with ghosts via voice, has something so terrifying that not even comedic partners can save you. Phasmophobia can be made even scarier by playing it alone. But, understandably, walking through an abandoned school or psychiatric hospital with a crucifix and lighter, asking spirits questions, is entertainment for the truly fearless veterans of the genre.
Visage (2020)
Here we have a game that’s not easy to recommend even to the most avid fans of creepy adventures. Many gamers call the psychological horror Visage, where the player finds themselves locked in an ever-changing house, the scariest horror of our time. So terrifying that you’ll find countless reviews online from people who couldn’t finish Visage simply because they couldn’t handle the nerves.
P.T. (2014)
Visage, like many modern horrors, was inspired by P.T.—a demo version of the cancelled Silent Hills by Hideo Kojima. This demo can be completed in 20 minutes, but most gamers will likely find them to be an eternity—such is the skill with which the game designer uses psychological tricks to scare players. Unfortunately, P.T. is not legally playable today—it’s available only on, let’s say, “modified” PlayStation 4 consoles. Or on PC—as a fan remake.
MADiSON (2022)
Continuing the theme of P.T. and its successors. MADiSON is another first-person game about a house where paranormal devilry happens. Its rooms constantly transform, replacing one horror with another. MADiSON tries to surprise with a new scare, a new puzzle, a new situation every time—no nightmare has the chance to become dull. And although it can’t be said that the game maintains its level throughout, it has enough memorable moments.
The Mortuary Assistant (2022)
The job of a pathologist is not particularly fun to begin with, let alone a pathologist terrorized by a demon and a group of evil spirits. The only way to get rid of the persistent pursuer is to find and burn the body in which the demon has settled, after learning its true name.
The Mortuary Assistant is an indie horror that doesn’t rely on cheap tricks but instead carefully and intelligently throws various horrors at the player. For example, the devils here don’t rush at you with loud screams out of nowhere—they silently observe, waiting in the numerous dark corners of the empty morgue while the player routinely examines dead bodies.
Such behavior instills more terror than if the entities always acted “head-on.” Moreover, it’s impossible to predict what mischief the demon and its friends will make in your playthrough, as the game randomly generates a sequence of scary moments to make each visit to the morgue unique.
Condemned: Criminal Origins (2005)
All elements of Condemned blend together harmoniously to form one of the most terrifying games of the 2000s. Criminal Origins scares with its grim urban setting—exploring abandoned buildings where deranged societal outcasts have settled. The feeling of complete isolation from the civilized world. A plot that mixes detective and psychological horrors. And quite hardcore gameplay—you need to count every bullet and master a challenging melee combat system to defend against sadistic hobos.
Sons Of The Forest (2023)
If the grey city of Condemned is not to your liking, you can always escape to nature. For instance, to the endless forest of the game Sons Of The Forest. There, everyone can hone their survival skills and learn something new: how to hunt, light a fire, create improvised shelter from available materials, and much more. However, Sons Of The Forest can hardly be called a relaxing camping trip, as one must not forget an important factor—the presence of a tribe of intelligent mutant cannibals in the forest.
Aggressive natives constantly track the player, study him, and periodically raid his base to finally deal with the stranger. If you’ve played The Forest, you roughly know what to expect, but the sequel offers far more variety in mechanics and enemies than the first part.
In Sound Mind (2021)
A game strongly influenced by Silent Hill, Resident Evil, and Alan Wake, but still possessing its own identity despite borrowing some ideas and mechanics. In Sound Mind is a first-person survival horror. It’s the story of a psychologist who visits different worlds created by the diseased imaginations of his patients. In each dimension, he must solve puzzles, find resources and weapons, and confront the local boss ghost. All entities are unique in terms of behaviour and abilities, so there’s no room for boredom.
Inscryption (2021)
Here, many of you will probably be surprised. “A card game among the scariest horrors? With retro graphics? Seriously?” Yes, precisely: Inscryption is a uniquely terrifying horror that blends elements of a card game, “roguelike,” and escape room.
It’s a horror with a distinctive atmosphere. The gamer participates in a card game against mysterious creatures sitting across the table. To escape the nightmare, one must not only master the rules of the devilish “board game” (remember, by the way, that the main character can pull out his teeth to temporarily gain an advantage over the opponent) but also find a way out of the room where the hero is held captive by the forest spirit and other night creatures.
Of course, there are many more terrifying games than we’ve mentioned. However, this time we decided to limit ourselves to just thirteen in honour of today’s special date. But nothing stops you from adding your favourite horrors in the comments to this article. Tell us which games scare you.
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