Ah, spooky season! That magical time of year when everything is pumpkin-flavoured, the moon feels a little more ominous, and you willingly let yourself be scared half to death. But forget the haunted hayrides and corn mazes; we’re going digital this year with the Top 10 Horror Games that’ll leave you sleeping with the lights on. If you’re brave enough to handle it, that is…?
So, dim the lights, grab your snacks (you might want to skip the popcorn; choking on kernels mid-scream is a thing), and dive into the terrifyingly twisted world of horror gaming.
10. Fatal Frame: Crimson Butterfly
Platform: PlayStation 2
If snapping photos makes you think of Instagram, think again. “Fatal Frame: Crimson Butterfly” replaces selfies with screams as you navigate a cursed village haunted by spirits that would rather kill than photobomb. With a camera as your only weapon, you’ll be playing this with one eye on the game and the other on the exit. Fun fact: the developers had to rush the sequel because the first game was so terrifying that no one wanted to finish it. So yeah, no big deal.
9. Mortuary Assistant
Platform: PC
Remember the innocent childhood wish of being locked in a museum where everything comes to life? Well, say hello to your adult nightmare. Only this time, instead of friendly museum exhibits, you’re alone in a morgue. Your reward for helping the dead move on? Possession. The corpses don’t lie still—they have plans, and let’s say they aren’t friendly. Pro tip: Maybe double-check that resignation letter before signing up for the night shift.
8. Five Nights at Freddy’s 4 (FNAF 4)
Platform: PC, Consoles
A horror list without FNAF is like Halloween without candy. FNAF 4 brings the terrors into your home—literally. This time, you’re just a kid in a bedroom, but the animatronics are still out to stuff you in a suit. Expect jump scares, mechanical screeches, and questioning why you thought it’d be a good idea to play this with the lights off. Spoiler alert: It wasn’t.
7. Amnesia: The Dark Descent
Platform: PC, Consoles
Ah yes, the game that launched a thousand panic attacks. You’re Daniel. You have no memory of how you got here, but surprise! You’re in a decrepit, monster-filled castle. No weapons, no sanity (literally), just you, the monsters, and your bad life choices. You’ll be piecing together Daniel’s past while trying not to scream every time something chases you through the corridors. Let’s be honest—some things are best left forgotten, like playing this alone at 2 a.m.
6. Resident Evil 7: Biohazard
Platform: PC, Consoles
If you thought the Resident Evil series was all about shooting zombies, RE7 says, “Hold my chainsaw.” Taking the horror back to its survival roots, RE7 traps you in a dilapidated mansion full of the world’s worst family reunion. Expect terrifyingly close encounters, grotesque creatures, and a storyline that makes you reconsider every trip you’ve ever taken to the countryside.
5. Phasmophobia
Platform: PC (VR Optional)
Have you ever yelled at a horror movie character not to go into the basement? Well, congratulations! In Phasmophobia, you are that character, and the ghosts don’t play around. Armed with a smudge stick and your best friend (who absolutely refuses to leave the safety of the van), you’ll be hunting down ghosts that could possess you—or worse. Trust me, it’s all fun and games until your flashlight starts flickering.
4. Slay The Princess
Platform: PC
This isn’t your typical “save the princess” fairy tale. This princess wants you dead—badly. She’ll lie, manipulate, and charm her way into your head, and if you hesitate to slay her, you might doom the world. It’s like “Shrek” meets “The Exorcist.” So, if you’ve ever thought rescuing royalty was boring, here’s the game that flips that on its head—by threatening to literally chop yours off.
3. The Outlast Trials
Platform: PC
Think escaping from Billy was hard? Now imagine doing it in VR with three friends who all have their panic buttons. Throw in creepy cults, gruesome gore, and twisted experiments, and you’ve got yourself a game that turns friendships into traumatized therapy sessions. Happy screams, everyone.
2. Dead Space (2023 Remake)
Platform: PC, Consoles
The remake of this iconic game is here, and it’s terrifying all over again. There’s something beautifully horrifying about re-entering the USG Ishimura in 4K, hearing the terrifying whispers, and knowing that something (or many things) is lurking around the corner. As usual, aim for the limbs, but don’t blame me if you start questioning every shadow in your apartment afterwards.
1. Alien: Isolation
Platform: PC, Consoles
The undisputed king of horror games. You, a space station, and a Xenomorph that’s smarter than you (and probably faster). Alien: Isolation perfectly captures the feeling of dread— just like the films, but with way less hope. The Xenomorph adapts to your strategies, meaning the only real survival tactic is to panic, hide, and pray to the space gods. Good luck!
Honourable Mentions
These didn’t make the top 10 but will still keep you awake at night:
- Alan Wake 2 – Because psychological horror always leaves you asking, “Am I going mad?”
- Layers of Fear (2023 & 2016) – Every painting is cursed, and every corridor leads to more unsettling weirdness.
- Little Nightmares – Have you ever wanted to feel tiny and helpless in a world of giant monsters? No? Well, too bad.
- P.T. – The game that never was but still haunts everyone who played it.
- Lethal Company – Imagine a multiplayer horror game where no one knows what they’re doing. Chaos. Pure, horrifying chaos.
- Until Dawn & The Quarry – Two games where bad decisions lead to worse fates. Don’t be that person.
- Visage – One house, one terrified player, and a lot of messed-up supernatural activity.
So, which game are you starting with? Got your eyes on a new title or are you just getting back into some old classics, Whatever it may be you need a powerful PC so you can experience the creepy at max settings! Pick up your next gaming PC from CyberPowerPC because sleep is overrated, and therapy is always an option, especially when you’re running on high FPS and ultra graphics.