Every year, Halloween is the perfect opportunity to rediscover the best video games when it comes to provoking fear. Horror video games offer a unique experience where immersion, sound and interactivity combine to provide a truly frightening experience. Whether you prefer the psychological horror of Silent Hill, the visceral terror of Dead Space or the unpredictable jump scares of Five Nights at Freddy’s, each title offers its own brand of horror.
Video games and horror: till death do us part
Video games have been flirting with horror since the very beginning. As early as the 1980s, basic titles such as Haunted House on the Atari 2600 laid the foundations of the genre, relying on exploration, puzzles and escape rather than frontal action. A few pixels were enough to scare, and the player’s imagination did the rest.
It was in 1992 that a game truly revolutionized the genre: Alone in the Dark. Developed by French studio Infogrames, this 3D horror adventure game laid the foundations for modern survival horror games: a hero isolated in a monster-infested mansion, limited resources, puzzles and an oppressive atmosphere. It is often considered the origin of survival horror, having directly inspired the famous Resident Evil saga.
In 1996, Resident Evil marked the beginning of the golden age of survival horror. The first game to be explicitly defined as such, it popularized the genre with the general public. Who doesn’t remember jumping out of their seat when the zombie dogs burst through the window of Spencer Manor? Deliberately restrictive cinematic camerawork, rationed ammunition, agonizing blind spots: all these elements, introduced by Alone in the Dark and perfected by Resident Evil, would become codes taken up by a myriad of subsequent games.
In 1999, the Silent Hill series brought another facet of videogame fear. Often wrongly labeled a simple Resident Evil clone, Silent Hill in fact offers its own brand of psychological horror: a creepy atmosphere, a tortured story and ordinary protagonists plunged into a supernatural nightmare. The player no longer plays an over-armed agent, but rather that of an ordinary person with little combat experience, which reinforces the sense of vulnerability and empathy in the face of the horror encountered.
In the 2000s, the survival horror genre underwent a number of changes. Flagship titles such as Resident Evil 4 infused more action, to the point where the line between horror and shooter became blurred. Some were worried that the genre was being diluted. However, interactive fear made a big comeback at the turn of the 2010s, thanks to a new wave of games. Independent studios embraced the genre and tapped into our fears: Amnesia: The Dark Descent, for example, redefined terror from a first-person perspective, Outlast urged us to flee, camera in hand, into a frightening asylum, and Five Nights at Freddy’s surprised us with numerous jump scares.
However, it all goes back to the foundations laid by Alone in the Dark, Resident Evil and Silent Hill. These three franchises remain the pillars of the genre, each having defined a unique way of transforming fear into an entertaining experience. More than thirty years after their release, they continue to inspire contemporary creators, proving that video game horror, in all its forms, remains a universal and timeless emotion.
The best horror and survival horror video games
Silent Hill f (2025)
Set in 1960s Japan, Silent Hill f introduces an atmosphere that’s radically different from the rest of the series, while retaining its psychological dimension. The story follows Hinako, an isolated teenager confronted with a strange plague transforming her environment into a thriving nightmare. Themes of trauma and guilt are central to the story, with a more intimate approach than previous installments. The game adopts a third-person view, alternating between exploration, puzzle-solving and confrontations where the protagonist’s weakness imposes caution. The environments are dynamic, evolving with the player’s progress and reflecting their mental state. The flowers and roots that invade the scenery symbolize the decomposition of reality and the beauty of the macabre. The player’s choices subtly influence events, heightening tension and paranoia. Silent Hill f is a return to the roots of psychological unease, with poetically morbid art direction. It’s an ideal Halloween game, combining inner fear and eerie contemplation.
Platforms : PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC
Cronos: The New Dawn (2025)
Set in a future ravaged by a virus that has disfigured humanity, Cronos: The New Dawn plunges the player into a world where survival merges with redemption. The protagonist, an amnesiac traveler, awakens in the ruins of a fallen civilization and must travel back in time to understand the origin of the catastrophe. The universe combines brutalist architecture, rusting technology and devastated landscapes, creating an oppressive atmosphere. Gameplay is based on a methodical approach to survival, with demanding confrontations requiring precision and observation. Enemies can regenerate if not properly eliminated, requiring players to adopt a well-thought-out strategy. Weapons are scarce, resources limited, and light management becomes vital to avoid certain creatures. The game also integrates a temporal dimension, where certain actions in the past modify the future environment. Cronos: The New Dawn is distinguished by its slow pace and desperate atmosphere. It’s the perfect Halloween experience, combining solitude, tension and exploration of a world on the brink of collapse.
Platforms : PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC
Luto (2025)
Luto offers a psychological horror experience centered on loss, depression and grief. The player takes on the role of a person unable to leave their own home, trapped in a space that transforms to the rhythm of their mental state. Each room becomes a metaphor for the protagonist’s emotions, twisting under the effect of fear, sadness and guilt. The gameplay focuses on narrative exploration rather than confrontation: no weapons, no direct enemies, only changing environments, echoing voices and materializing memories. Progress is based on understanding symbols and solving puzzles that gradually reveal the reasons for the trauma. Luto is inspired by the style of P.T. (an aborted project by Kojima Productions, published by Konami) and borrows its slow, immersive tension, playing on sounds, shadows and the distortion of space. The experience aims to provoke an intimate fear, stemming from emotional pain rather than physical danger. It’s a perfect Halloween game, introspective, disturbing and deeply human.
Platforms : PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC
R.E.P.O. (2025)
R.E.P.O. turns cooperative horror into a high-pressure treasure hunt. In teams of up to six, you infiltrate procedurally-generated complexes to retrieve objects governed by credible physics, before extracting them without breaking them while managing noise, light and hostile fauna reactive to chaos. The roguelike loop balances risk-taking and profit, with timed missions, rising threats as you linger, and a return to the hub to invest money earned in equipment upgrades, tools and robotic modules. The proximity chat encourages coordination and moments of collective panic, and the reading of the rooms requires real piloting of movements when carrying a piano or fragile ceramics. This title has quickly established itself as a benchmark in co-op horror, thanks to regular updates and a varied bestiary perfect for Halloween parties.
Platforms : PC
Alan Wake 2 (2023)
Alan Wake 2 continues the story of the cursed writer, trapped in a shadow dimension after the events of the first game. Thirteen years on, a new protagonist, FBI agent Saga Anderson, investigates a series of ritual murders in the small town of Bright Falls. The story alternates between the two characters, creating a link between reality and fiction where boundaries crumble. The atmosphere is a blend of supernatural thriller and psychological horror, with a fragmented narrative that blurs the player’s perception. Mechanics are based on survival, light management and searching for clues. The flashlight remains the main weapon against creatures of the dark, while crime scene analysis helps reconstruct events in the character’s mind. The game harnesses the duality between creation and destruction, fiction and nightmare, while reinforcing the feeling of isolation. Alan Wake 2 offers cinematic immersion and continuous tension, perfect for a Halloween night of twisted tales and distorted realities.
Platforms : PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC
Dead Space (Remake, 2023)
This remake of the cult 2008 game revives one of the pillars of space survival horror. The player takes on the role of Isaac Clarke, an engineer sent on a repair mission aboard the USG Ishimura, a seemingly deserted mining vessel. He soon discovers that the crew has been transformed into monstrous creatures by an alien artifact called the Monolith. The atmosphere uses claustrophobia, heavy silence and metallic noises echoing through the ship’s corridors. The gameplay emphasizes pure survival: ammunition and healing are scarce, and enemies only die if their limbs are severed, requiring precision and composure. The game introduces seamless narrative continuity without loading time, enhancing immersion in fear. Visual and sound enhancements accentuate the sense of isolation and tension. Dead Space retains the essence of the original game while offering a modernized, more visceral and immersive experience. It’s a perfect choice for Halloween, when solitude and terror become your only companions in the void of space.
Platforms : PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC
Visage (2020)
Visage traps the player in a house where past and present intertwine in a spiral of terror. The protagonist, Dwayne Anderson, wakes up in a house marked by family tragedies and an unseen presence. Each room tells a tragic story, and paranormal events manifest without warning, creating a continuous tension. The game relies on slow, psychological horror, where fear comes as much from expectation as from the threat itself. Mechanics are based on observation, light management and character sanity. Staying too long in the dark or witnessing supernatural phenomena destabilizes the player and alters the perception of space. The absence of combat reinforces the feeling of powerlessness, forcing players to understand rituals and symbols in order to advance. The realistic graphics and subtle transitions between nightmare and reality make Visage a testing experience. It’s an ideal choice for Halloween, where anguish builds slowly, until the house becomes a reflection of the player’s madness.
Platforms : PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PC
Resident Evil 2 (Remake, 2019)
This reinterpretation of the 1998 classic takes players back to Raccoon City, an American town ravaged by a virus that turns its inhabitants into the living dead. We play as Leon S. Kennedy, a young rookie cop, or Claire Redfield, a student searching for her brother. The story takes place in a labyrinthine police station, where every corridor becomes a threat. The game retains the essence of survival horror, imposing rigorous resource management and constant tension. The game’s mechanics combine exploration, puzzles and nervous confrontations, with a handheld camera that makes the danger feel even closer. Realistic graphics and sound amplify every scream, every step and every drop of blood. The player must learn to flee rather than fight, while deciphering the mysteries of the virus and the Umbrella Corporation. The remake manages to modernize the pace without betraying the spirit of the original game. Resident Evil 2 is a must-have for Halloween, perfect for those who like to feel the fear rise with every door they open.
Platforms : PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Switch, PC, iOS, macOS
Tormented Souls (2021)
Tormented Souls pays homage to the great survival horror classics of the 1990s, while adding a few modern touches. The player takes on the role of Caroline Walker, a young woman who has come to investigate the mysterious disappearance of twin girls from a former hospital converted into a mansion. This sinister place is home to grotesque creatures and occult secrets that must be revealed through complex puzzles and meticulous exploration. The game’s use of fixed cameras, limited inventory management and manual saves heightens the tension and importance of every decision. Combat demands caution and precision, with every bullet counting against unpredictable enemies. Light and shadows are essential to survival, with some areas only accessible by manipulating energy sources. Tormented Souls manages to recreate the essence of the genre while offering a striking gothic atmosphere. It’s the perfect Halloween adventure, combining mysticism, isolation and classic horror.
Platforms : PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Switch, PC
Phasmophobia (2020)
Phasmophobia offers a cooperative horror experience in which up to four players take on the role of ghost hunters, tasked with identifying the nature of a spirit in various haunted locations. Each mission takes place in abandoned houses, schools or asylums, with only detection equipment such as EMF sensors, infrared cameras or the spirit box to help. The game is distinguished by its intelligent use of voice recognition: the ghost reacts to the player’s words, enhancing immersion and tension. The absence of combat and constant vulnerability create a realistic sense of dread, accentuated by the fact that the death of a teammate turns exploration into a nightmare. The mechanics encourage cooperation and communication, with each role having strategic importance. Realistic sound and dynamic light management amplify the feeling of danger and panic. Phasmophobia is ideal for Halloween, especially in multiplayer mode, when darkness and the screams of a friend are enough to turn an evening into a collective terror session.
Platforms : PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC
Amnesia: Rebirth (2020)
Amnesia: Rebirth places the player in the shoes of Tasi Trianon, a French explorer who wakes up alone after a plane crash in the Algerian desert of the 1930s. While searching for the members of her expedition, she discovers ancient ruins and a supernatural presence that pushes her to confront her own memories. The story is introspective, dealing with fear, motherhood and psychological survival in the face of the unknown. Gameplay is based on exploration and escape rather than combat, reinforcing the character’s vulnerability. Light plays a central role: candles and oil lamps are used to ward off darkness, but their resources are limited. Prolonged exposure to darkness increases fear and alters the character’s perception of the world. Environmental puzzles require observation and calm, while chase sequences maintain constant tension. Amnesia: Rebirth blends existential horror and despair, offering complete immersion in the psyche of a survivor. It’s the perfect game for Halloween, where fear is experienced as much in the mind as in the shadows.
Platforms : PS4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PC, Linux
Outlast 2 (2017)
Outlast 2 takes players into the hellish Arizona desert, where journalist Blake Langermann and his wife Lynn investigate the murder of a pregnant woman. After their helicopter crashes, Blake discovers an isolated village inhabited by two opposing fanatical sects centered around a charismatic prophet. The game is distinguished by its visceral horror and total lack of defense: survival requires escape, hiding and the management of a night-vision camera whose battery quickly runs out. Every exploration becomes a tense ordeal in which light becomes both a guide and a danger. The rhythm alternates between oppressive exploration, chase sequences and symbolic hallucinations that blur reality. The narrative explores faith, madness and guilt in a stifling religious context. Outlast 2 pushes the player to confront horror without ever offering the possibility of a fight, making it a perfect choice for Halloween if you’re looking for a feeling of total vulnerability and a brutal immersion in terror.
Platforms : PS4, Xbox One, Switch, PC
Alien: Isolation (2014)
Alien: Isolation puts the player in the shoes of Amanda Ripley, daughter of the film’s famous heroine, who sets out to find answers about her mother’s disappearance. Her investigation leads her aboard the Sevastopol space station, a vast, dilapidated place invaded by a single xenomorph, as fast as it is unpredictable. The game recreates the retro aesthetic of the original film, with its CRT screens and flickering lights, heightening the feeling of anguish. The experience relies on stealth, listening and patience, as the Alien is invincible and stalks the player by reacting to sound and movement. Every sound, every mistake can be fatal. The mechanics encourage the use of improvised tools, such as motion detectors or smoke bombs, to distract the creature. The Alien’s adaptive artificial intelligence maintains constant tension, creating unpredictable situations in every game. Alien: Isolation is an experience of pure fear, where survival becomes a cold-blooded act. Perfect for Halloween, it’s a game that captures the terror of silence and fragility in the face of an unstoppable threat.
Platforms : PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Switch, PC, macOS
Five Nights at Freddy’s (2014)
Five Nights at Freddy’s transforms a seemingly harmless setting into a mechanical nightmare. The player takes on the role of Mike Schmidt, a night watchman working in a family-run pizzeria whose animatronic mascots come to life after midnight. Trapped in a surveillance booth, he must survive five nights managing electricity, security doors and control cameras. The game relies on constant tension rather than action. Forced immobility, combined with the need to scrutinize every screen to detect the animatronics’ movements, creates intense psychological anguish. Energy conservation is vital, as excessive use of lights or locks leaves the player helpless. The absence of mobility reinforces the feeling of helplessness, and every noise becomes a potential threat. The sudden appearance of a creature often signals the abrupt end of an attempt. Despite its simplicity, Five Nights at Freddy’s redefined fear through suggestion and rhythmic tension. It’s an ideal choice for Halloween, especially for those who like immediate thrills and unpredictable jump scares.
Platforms : PS4, Xbox One, Switch, PC, iOS, Android
The Last of Us (2013)
The Last of Us tells the story of an America ravaged by a parasitic fungus that has decimated humanity. The player takes on the role of Joel, a hardened survivor charged with protecting Ellie, a teenager immune to the infection. Their journey through ruined cities and wilderness areas becomes both a physical and moral struggle, where every encounter can be fatal. The game blends exploration, infiltration and intense combat, with an emphasis on survival. Limited resources force players to build makeshift weapons and opt for stealth rather than direct confrontation. The infected are attracted to sound, making every step in the shadows dangerous. The story, anchored in the relationship between Joel and Ellie, gives the fear a rare emotional dimension. The horror comes not just from the monsters, but from humanity itself. The Last of Us combines tension, emotion and brutality, offering a poignant experience that fits perfectly with the melancholy atmosphere of Halloween.
Platforms : PS3, PS4, PS5, PC
Project Zero (2001)
Project Zero takes place in an abandoned Japanese mansion, once the scene of an occult ritual gone awry. The player takes on the role of Miku Hinasaki, a young girl on a quest to find her brother, who disappeared in this cursed place. Armed with a mystical camera called Camera Obscura, she must photograph hostile spirits to defend herself and uncover the truth about past events. The game is based on a unique mechanic: to defeat the ghosts, you have to photograph them at the precise moment they attack, turning every confrontation into a nerve-wracking duel. Exploring the mansion, with its narrow corridors and dark rooms, reinforces the sense of isolation. The minimalist soundscape, made up of creaks and whispers, accentuates the anguish. Project Zero favors psychological fear over graphic violence, drawing on Japanese folklore to create a lasting sense of unease. It’s a subtle, immersive horror game, perfect for Halloween, especially for those who prefer slow-burning tension and haunted stories steeped in mystery.
Platforms : PS2, Xbox
Supermassive Games: specialists in interactive horror films
Supermassive Games is a Guildford-based British studio that has made a name for itself with interactive horror dramas, where dialogue and story choices shape characters’ fates. The core of their expertise lies in branching narratives, cinematic direction and a recognizable cast, all served up by mechanics designed to be watched and played by several players. This approach has established the studio as a benchmark for interactive horror films on consoles and PC.
Among their flagship series, The Dark Pictures Anthology breaks this format down into standalone stories that explore different sub-genres with the Curator as a common thread. At the same time, the studio’s Until Dawn and The Quarry productions are more ambitious in terms of scope and artistic direction, often seen as showcases of their style and motion capture technology. These titles feature escalating intensity, a prestigious cast, and high replayability thanks to their numerous branching paths.
The Dark Pictures: Directive 8020 (2026)
Directive 8020 takes players into a horrific sci-fi setting aboard a spaceship on a colonization mission. Light-years from Earth, the crew is confronted with an unknown threat after receiving a disturbing signal. Isolation, mistrust and paranoia set in as the survivors try to understand the nature of this evil. Inspired by such classics as Alien, The Thing and Event Horizon, this new episode explores the fear of emptiness, contamination and the loss of humanity.
Platforms : PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC
The Quarry (2022)
The Quarry features nine summer camp counselors who, on the eve of the camp’s closing, decide to spend one last night celebrating. The festive mood quickly turns to terror when they discover they’re not alone in the woods. The night becomes a struggle for survival against enigmatic hunters and an inhuman menace. The story, influenced by the monster movies and slashers of the 80s, has several points of view and possible fates depending on the player’s choices.
Platforms : PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PC
The Dark Pictures: The Devil in Me (2022)
The Devil in Me tells the story of a team of documentary filmmakers invited to visit a replica of the famous “Murder Castle” built by H. H. Holmes, America’s first serial killer. What was supposed to be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity becomes a descent into hell when the guests discover that the place is riddled with death traps and monitored by an invisible host. The story explores fascination with the morbid and psychological manipulation in a claustrophobic atmosphere where survival depends on the player’s lucidity.
Platforms : PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PC
The Dark Pictures: House of Ashes (2021)
House of Ashes takes the action to Iraq in 2003, when a squad of American soldiers discovers a Sumerian temple buried beneath the desert. What they initially mistake for a weapons cache turns out to be an ancient tomb housing predatory creatures. Trapped miles underground, soldiers and enemies alike must work together if they hope to reach the surface. The story combines modern warfare, ancient mythology and survival horror, against a backdrop of tension between the protagonists.
Platforms : PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PC
The Dark Pictures: Little Hope (2020)
Little Hope follows four students and their teacher after a bus accident strands them in a small town shrouded in fog. They soon discover that the place is haunted by ghosts of a past linked to the witchcraft trials of the 17th century. Confronting their visions, the characters gradually piece together a family drama whose echoes span time. The story blends psychological horror, guilt and superstition in an atmosphere reminiscent of the Salem witch trials.
Platforms : PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Switch, PC
The Dark Pictures: Man of Medan (2019)
Man of Medan is inspired by the legend of the ghost ship Ourang Medan. A group of young divers set out to explore a shipwreck off the South Pacific, but their excursion goes awry when they come across an abandoned military freighter. On board, strange hallucinations drive them to paranoia and madness. The player gradually discovers that a chemical weapon dating back to the Second World War is at the root of the nightmare, and that survival will depend on trust between the protagonists.
Platforms : PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Switch, PC
Until Dawn (2015)
Until Dawn is set in a remote cabin in the Canadian mountains, where a group of friends reunite a year after the tragic disappearance of two sisters. The reunion quickly turns into a nightmare as strange and violent events unfold around them. Players alternate between the different characters, and each decision directly influences who survives until dawn. Behind its apparent slasher plot, the story reveals an older threat rooted in local folklore, blending psychological drama and supernatural horror.
Platforms : PS4, PS5, PC
Horror video games are now an essential part of video game culture. They have shaped the collective imagination, influencing cinema, literature and even music through their singular way of exploring fear. More than mere entertainment, they allow us to experience anguish, loneliness and human fragility in an interactive setting where every choice counts. These works reflect our contemporary fears as much as they reveal our fascination with the unknown. Whether introspective, brutal or metaphysical, horror games demonstrate the maturity of the medium and its ability to provoke deep emotions, making fear a universal language at the heart of video game creation.
