Guide to Horror Video Games
Time To Read: 12 mins
By 
Freddy Mercery | 
Veena
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Summary
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Guide to Horror Video Games
If you are one of those who love being scared and are drawn to scary atmospheres. If monsters and serial killers don’t bother you, and you have a love for video games, then the best game genre for you are horror video games.
We have for you the best horror video games that you would want to be a part of your arsenal. So come and check it out.
The Halloween season is upon us, so make sure to check out the best horror games that we have for you. The best part about it is you can get the games at the best deals here.
WHAT ARE HORROR VIDEO GAMES?
Horror video games are games that are designed to scare their players.
These games are able to affect the player instinctively, mentally, visually, strategically and psychologically.
Horror games also have sub-genres like survival horror games, action horror games, stealth horror games, jump scare horror games and reverse horror games.
History of Horror Video Games
Horror video games started around 1978.
The early years of horror video games were inspired by horror films. An example is the Project Firestart video game of 1989. The game was influenced by the Aliens movie of 1979. Other video games that had been inspired by horror movies are Friday the 13th and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre.
The game that was able to set a major solid ground for horror video games was Capcom‘s Resident Evil which first launched in 2006. With the establishment of the Resident Evil video game, movies of the same name came after like 2002’s Resident Evil.
DIFFERENT HORROR VIDEO GAME SUBGENRES?
As horror video games grow in popularity, different subgenres have emerged for it. Right now there are 6 main subgenres available:
- Survival horror games
Survival horror games revolve around the concept of “limitation”. Everything will be limited, like your ammo to med-kits. Each item that you can get a hold of counts.
A good example of a third-person survival horror video game is Last of Us (2013). The game first launched for PS3 and had been remastered for PS4 and PS5. The game has unique characters and an engaging storyline. It also offers some of the best scary graphics around.
- Action horror games
Action-horror games involve combat. Players would have to battle monsters and not simply go around them.
An example of third-person action horror gameplay is Dead Space (2008). The game comes with jump scares or psychological horrors at each turn. Dead Space 3 which launched in 2013 comes with multiplayer co-op gameplay. This is the first time the franchise has multiplayer and gets to take on monsters with friends.
- Psychological Horror games
Psychological horror games target the mind and emotions. These types of games will make you question your rational thinking. Psychological horror games have a mix of survival and jump-scare elements.
A great example of a psychological horror game is the Silent Hill franchise. Get to explore the mysterious Silent Hill location and don’t forget to watch your back.
- Reverse Horror games
Normally you would have to run from a monster in a horror video game. However, in reverse horror games, you are the monster with the task of killing the survivors.
The two best examples of reverse horror games are Carrion and Dead by Daylight.
- Multiplayer Horror and coop horror games
Not really a popular sub-genre, multiplayer horror games are not usually horror but they can be. The focus of this sub-genre is teamwork and cooperation.
Call of Duty is not really a horror video game, but it does come with a zombie apocalypse mode. This special mode comes with an independent main gameplay storyline. Another thing that this sub-genre offers is multiplayer co-op gameplay.
The zombie mode is available in Call of Duty: World at War, Call of Duty: Black Ops, Call of Duty: Black Ops II, Call of Duty: Black Ops III, Call of Duty: Black Ops 4, and Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare.
- VR Horror games
VR horror games are quite new. They come with all the above-mentioned types of horror games but are presented in different ways. VR horror games are like first-person games. Players would usually need a VR headset so that they can step into the shoes of the protagonist and be “in” the game.
The VR horror games that are available right now are mostly the latest video games like Resident Evil 7: Biohazard, Five Nights at Freddy’s and The Exorcist: Legion VR.
BEST HORROR GAMES
We have made a list of the best horror video games around. These games can be played on PC, PlayStation, Xbox One, or the Nintendo Switch.
Best Horror Games until 202010) Dead Space (2008)
Dead Space is a horror masterpiece that launched in 2008. The game had been developed by EA Redwood Shores.
The game is set in a mining ship, the USG Ishimura, in the 26th century. Play as Isaac Clarke, who responds to a distress call from the USG Ishimura. He is accompanied by his teammates as they try to discover what has happened to the ship’s crew.
You discover that most of the crew of the ship had been killed by a once-human corpse. The corpse had been infected by an unknown virus.
Isaac must save himself as well as the rest of his crew that is still alive.
The adventures of Isaac Clarke can be found in Dead Space 2 (2011), Dead Space 3 (2013) and Dead Space Remake which will be launching on January 27, 2023. Dead Space is available to be played via Epic Games, Gog.com, Origin, and Steam
Best deal for Dead Space:
9) Silent Hill (2001)
A classic horror game that you should definitely play is Silent Hill 2. The game is developed by Team Silent and is a third-person single-player survival horror video game.
The game’s story is centered on James Sunderland who received a letter from his dead wife. In the letter, his wife mentions that she is waiting for him in Silent Hill.
Silent Hill is a scary, mysterious place that has human-shaped monsters.
The Silent Hill franchise also comes with:
Silent Hill 3 that launched in 2003, Silent Hill 4 The Room that launched in 2004, Silent Hill Origins was made available in 2007, Silent Hill Shattered Memories was launched in 2009, Silent Hill Downpour was launched in 2012, and Silent Hill Homecoming was launched in 2014.
A DLC for Dead by Daylight was also made available and it featured the Silent Hill universe.
New Silent Hill games were confirmed by Konami as well, which are:
Silent Hill Townfall, Silent Hill Ascension and Silent Hill f.
Best deal for Silent Hill:
8) Amnesia: Rebirth (2020)
Amnesia: Rebirth only allows players to run and hide without having the chance to fight.
The game is a first-person single-player survival horror game by Frictional Games. It launched in 2020. Even though the game is relatively new, it is set 100 years in the past.
Play as Tasi who has no memory after crash landing in Algeria. She doesn’t know where her companions are and goes to look for them. While looking, she stumbles upon a French Fort that is filled with ghouls that she has to avoid as she tries to escape.
Amnesia: Rebirth can be played on PC via Steam, Epic Games, Microsoft, and Gog.com. It can also be played on PlayStation 4, Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S.
Best deal for Amnesia Rebirth:
7) SOMA (2015)
SOMA is a first-person single-player horror game that launched in 2015. The game is developed by Frictional Games.
The game is set in the year 2104 in a research facility that is underwater. Get to play as the protagonist Simon Jarrett who finds himself in the research facility PATHOS-II under weird conditions.
SOMA is available to be played on PC via Steam or Gog.com, it is also available to be played on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S.
Best deal for SOMA:
6) Resident Evil 4 (2005)
Redefining scary video games, Resident Evil is a third-person single-player action survival game. Resident Evil 4 is developed by Capcom Production Studio in 2005 and is the fourth game of the series.
The game is about Ashley Graham, the daughter of the US President. Ashley had been kidnapped by a cult based in Spain. You will play as a government agent who is tasked to save Ashley.
As Leon S. Kennedy, you will be exploring from a third-person perspective. You will get to encounter gruesome enemies and villagers that are infected by mind-controlling parasites.
Resident Evil 4 had been remastered for PC via Steam as well as PS4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S and Nintendo Switch.
Capcom announced that a remake of the game will be available for PC and PS5 and will launch by March 2023.
Best deal for Resident Evil 4:
5) Outlast 2 (2017)
Outlast 2 is developed by Red Barrels in 2017. It is a critically acclaimed first-person single-player psychological survival horror game.
Play as Blake Langermann who is investigating the death of a pregnant teenager, Jane Doe. You are accompanied by your wife, Lynn as you go to the Super Region, Coconino Country, Arizona via helicopter.
The helicopter crashes, and you find yourself in the town of Temple Gate. This little town is filled with horrors as the residents have murdered all the children in the name of god.
Outlast 2 can now be played on PC via Steam or Epic Games. It can also be played on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Xbox Series and Nintendo Switch.
Best deal for Outlast 2:
4) Alien Isolation (2014)
An Alien-inspired first-person single-player stealth survival horror video game, Alien: Isolation is developed by Creative Assembly in 2014.
Get to play as Amanda Ripley, the daughter of Ellen Ripley who is the protagonist in the Aliens movie. Set after 15 years after the events of the movie, the game is set in the year 2137. Amanda will go on a journey to figure out why her mother disappeared.
Amanda can reach the space station Sevastopol but it is in complete disarray as it has fallen to an Alien invasion as well as malfunctioning Androids that killed all the humans in the ship.
Alien: Isolation can be played on PC via Steam, Epic Games, Gog.com and Microsoft. It can also be played on PlayStation 4, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch.
Best deal for Alien: Isolation:
3) Resident Evil 2 (2019)
Resident Evil 2 is developed by Capcom in 2019 and it is a third-person single-player action survival horror video game.
The game has the same plot as the Resident Evil 2 of 1998. Raccoon City’s water supply has been contaminated by the T-Virus and made everyone in the city zombies.
Resident Evil 2 can be played on PC via Steam, it is also available on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S and Microsoft Windows.
Best deal for Resident Evil 2:
2) The Evil Within 2 (2017)
The Evil Within 2 developed by Tango Gameworks in 2017 is the sequel to The Evil Within that launched in 2014. This is a third person single-player survival horror game that has includes stealth elements.
You will step into the shoes of Sebastian Castellanos who has lost his daughter Lily in a house fire and was left by his wife Myra. He finds out that his daughter Lily is actually alive and is being used as the Core for a STEM system. Sebastian is hellbent in saving his daughter who is inhabited by monsters.
The Evil Within 2 can be played on PC via Steam and Gog.com. It is also available to be played on PS4, PS5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S.
Best deal for The Evil Within:
1) Resident Evil 7: Biohazard (2017)
Resident Evil 7 is developed by Capcom in 2017. It is a first-person single-player survival horror video game. It is played in a first-person perspective and it the very first title to feature it.
You will play as Ethan Winters who discovers that his wife is being held by the Bakers family who are infected. You will be looking for her in a desolate plantation in Dulvey, Louisiana.
Resident Evil 7 Biohazard can be played on PC via Steam, it is also available on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S.
Best deal for Resident Evil 7 Biohazard:
Best Horror Video Games 2021
6) Little Nightmares 2
Little Nightmares 2 is developed by Tarsier Studios, it is a horror game, puzzle platformer. The game is different from other horror games. It offers 2.5 graphics and lots of puzzles.
Little Nightmares 2 is available for PC via Steam and Gog.com. It also can be played on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S and Nintendo Switch.
Best deal for Little Nightmares 2:
5) Resident Evil Village
Resident Evil Village is developed by Capcom in 2021. This is the sequel to Resident Evil 7: Biohazard launched in 2017. Players will once again play as Ethan Winters who is looking for his daughter. He is now more capable of fighting because of his military training. The game is set in an Eastern European village covered in snow.
Play Resident Evil Village on PC via Steam. It is also available for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S.
Best deal for Resident Evil Village:
4) Tormented Souls
Tormented Souls is developed by Dual Effects and Abstract Digital in 2021. It is a classic horror game that now has a modern look.
Two twin girls went missing in the mansion, as Caroline, you will be looking for them in the mansion that is filled with monsters and strange figures that are hiding in the dark spots.
Tormented Souls can be played on PC via Steam, Epic Games or Gog.com. It is also available for PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox series X|S and Nintendo Switch.
Best deal for Tormented Souls:
3) Days Gone
Developed by Bend Studio for PC, Days Gone is an action survival horror game that first launched for PS4 in 2019.
A global pandemic has killed millions of people, and two years has passed. There are some who became infected and became zombies/Freakers. You will play as a survivor named Deacon St. John.
Days Gone can be played on PlayStation 4 and PC via Steam or Epic Games.
Best deal for Days Gone:
2) Inscryption
Inscryption developed by Daniel Mullings Games is a deck-building horror video game that launched in 2021. The game comes with a deck-building mechanic, which is not common to the genre.
When played alone in the dark, the game has some really scary moments.
Inscryption can be played on PC via Steam or Gog.com as well on PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5.
Best deal for Inscryption:
1) Chernobylite
Chernobylite is a survival horror video game from The Farm 51.
Igor had been having nightmares after receiving a picture of his fiancee that went missing after the Chernobyl disaster. In his search, he unearths strange mysteries that are not known to mankind.
Chernobylite is available to be played on PC via Steam, Epic Games or Gog.com. It can also be played on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S.
Best deal for Chernobylite:
Best Horror Video Games 2022
5) The Quarry
The Quarry is developed by Supermassive Games and it is a survival horror video game that launched this 2022. The game’s plot is determined by the decisions that you make in the game.
Set in Hackett’s Quarry, you have to make sure that the 9 camp counselors would survive against the supernatural beings that are out to get them.
The Quarry can be played on PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S.
Best deals for The Quarry:
4) Dying Light 2 Stay Human
Dying Light 2 Stay Human is the sequel to Dying Light of 2015. The game is developed by Techland and launched this 2022.
Most of the world’s population is dead, and those who were able to survive are living in human settlements that are scattered all over. Play as Aiden as you look for your sister Mia in the walled city of Villedor.
Dying Light 2 Stay Human can be played on PC via Steam and Epic Games. It can also be played on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S.
Best deals for Dying Light 2 Stay Human:
3) CULTIC
CULTIC is developed by Jasozz Games and is a retro-style classic action survival horror game that launched this 2022.
CULTIC offers an old-school gameplay fighting mechanic but is built on a modern engine for lighting, physics, audio, art and 3D world.
Get to fight your way out of a twisted cultic group with the freedom to choose how you would fight.
CULTIC is now available on PC via Steam. It will be launching for consoles PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S and Nintendo Switch by 2023.
Best deals for CULTIC:
2) Scorn
Scorn is a survival horror game from Ebb Software and it offers unique terrifying visuals. The game comes with a silent game story that is delivered through narratives and visuals.
Scorn is available to be played on PC via Steam, Epic Games and Microsoft. It is also available to be played on the Xbox Series X|S.
Best deals for Scorn:
1) SCP: Secret Files
The number one game on our list is the SCP: Secret Files which is truly a masterpiece. The game is developed by GameZoo Studio and launched this 2022.
Play as an assistant to the researcher Dr. Raymond Hamm. Your task will be to organize the SPC Foundation’s top secret files which then brings him on a lot of strange journeys.
SPC: Secret Files is now available on Steam for PC. The console versions of the game are scheduled to launch sometime in 2023.
Best deals for SCP: Secret Files:
Best Upcoming Horror Video Games
3) Dead Space
2008’s Dead Space had been a success, so the developers opted to remake the game and launch it by 2023.
Dead Space remake is set to launch for PC via Steam and Origin as well as for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S.
Best deals for Dead Space:
2) Resident Evil 4
Another remake is in the works, and it is Resident Evil 4. The game is set to launch by 2023 and promises to have amazing visuals. The remake will be made from the ground up.
Resident Evil 4 2023 Remake is set to launch for PC via Steam and on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S.
Best deals for Resident Evil 4 Remake:
1) S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl
Stalker 2: Heart of Chernobyl is developed by GSC Game World and is a first-person survival horror game. This is the fourth installment of the Stalker series and is available for PC via Steam, Epic Games or Gog.com. It will also be available for Xbox Series X|S.
We don’t have much information about the game at the moment. But we are sure that it will be terrifying.
Best deals for Stalker 2: Heart of Chernobyl:
ADDICTION TO HORROR VIDEO GAMES
Usually, when gamers finish a game’s storyline, they rarely try to play the game a second time around. But with horror games, especially the newer ones, there are different ways to kill the monsters which are thrilling every single way. This makes horror games addictive.
Another thing is, horror games have a tendency to make their players reevaluate their mental, cognitive and psychological abilities because of the pressure in most extreme time-limited events.
Are you one of those who love horror video games? If yes, tell us in the comments below.
