Best Horror Games To Play In 2023 For Halloween Friv 0

Friv0 games online free See more

It's the spookiest of seasons, and naturally, Halloween is the best time of the year to check out some horror games. For this list, we're looking at and recommending the best horror games that are available right now, masterpieces of the macabre that are available on digital storefronts or on good old-fashioned physical media. If these games don't get your pulse racing, then you might want to check if your flight-or-fight responses are working properly.

Whether you're into gore-fueled terror from beyond the stars, games that make you question your very existence, or a lo-fi descent into unnerving territory, the video game industry has no shortage of unique and high-quality titles that'll make you hope that your pants are full of ectoplasm and not otherfluids.

The last few years have seen some amazing horror games released, games that we can blame for a 300% increase in white hairs and dangerously high BPMs whenever we're hooked up to a heart rate monitor. Graphical improvements deliver body horror that we never thought was possible before, sharp audio design makes us really regret shelling out extra for surround sound headsets, and the haptic feedback on our controllers sends a jolt down our collective spines whenever something demonic jumps into frame.

At the same time, we've seen video games that are nostalgic reminders of the past, loving tributes to an era of Friday night VHS rentals and PS1 games that managed to leave us chilled by using only a handful of polygons to render monsters. If you're in the mood to sleep with the lights on, here's a look at some of the best horror games that you can play right now.

Alien Isolation

The original Alien film from 1978 still holds up brilliantly as a tight and well-constructed battle against extraterrestrial hostility, and in 2014, developer Creative Assembly bottled that cinematic lightning and used it to power a survival-horror experience that could put the film sequels to shame. Set 15 years after the events of Alien, Alien: Isolation follows Ellen Ripley's daughter Amanda on a mission to unravel the truth behind her mother's disappearance. That's easier said than done, as the decommissioned trading station of Sevastopol is a death trap full of inhabitants who'll gladly stab you in the back, malfunctioning androids, and the ever-present threat of a Xenomorph hunting you down. Easily the best digital recreation of the world of Alien and its horrifying mascot.

We won't lie to you about your chances of surviving against a perfect organism whose mind is unclouded by conscience, remorse, or delusions of morality, but you do have our sympathy.

Read our Alien: Isolation review.

All the great stuff happening on itch.io

There's nothing better than getting a new video game for the price of absolutely nothing, and over on Itch.Io, there's a rich selection of horror games now available. Sure, these are humble and smaller games that are often produced by a single person, but when it comes to inventive and experimental horror, there are some real gems to be had here.

Amnesia series

For more than a decade, Frictional Games has been a boon to the clothing industry thanks to its talent to deliver pants-ruining scares. The Amnesia series is a unique collection of terror, games that find new ways to keep you nervous and on the verge of screaming whenever something awful happens to your in-game character. Dark Descent has an otherworldy force that'll kill you if you make eye contact, Justine is a harrowing expansion to the first game, A Machine For Pigs will make you strongly consider switching to a vegan diet, and Rebirth turns the darkness into your greatest enemy.

There's also Amnesia: The Bunker, which came out earlier this year, in which you play as a French soldier trapped in a bunker during World War I. As if relentless artillery strikes weren't bad enough, you've also got a lethal monster hunting you down and not nearly enough bullets to keep it at bay as you struggle to keep the lights on. Whatever your taste, Amnesia games are thrilling first-person adventures filled with ever-present threats and a constant sense of dread.

DayZ

More than a decade since it first released, DayZ is still a unique trip into an open world infested with the living dead. It's a post-apocalyptic journey into mystery, and while the real terror lies in its steep learning curve, getting your diploma in walking dead extermination is a worthwhile pursuit as you struggle to survive in a world of viral experiences.

Dead Rising

Almost 20 years since the first game was released, and nothing comes close to the gleeful carnage of the original Dead Rising. Sure, later sequels would introduce more detailed combo-weapons and selfies with the infected, but 2006's Dead Rising nailed that sweet spot of action, tension, and survival that future games just haven't been able to reach. Photojournalist Frank West--he's covered wars, you know--finds himself caught in the middle of retail hell when the first game kicks off, a shopping mall full of flesh-hungry cannibals who'll keep you on your toes. Frank's biggest enemy is the clock, as stronger swarms emerge at night, survivors emerge from hiding, and a chance to escape are all tied to a time limit. It's a love letter to Dawn of the Dead that still holds up pretty well to this day.

Read our Dead Rising review.

Dead Space

Dead Space was one of the early hits of 2023, and in a year with no shortage of blockbusters, this remake of the 2008 survival-horror game is still a strong contender for game of the year. It's not hard to see why, as developer EA Motive did more than just take the digital DNA of the original game and slap a fresh coat of 4K paint on it. Instead, this was a sci-fi horror game rebuilt from the ground up and improves on the original with some smart design choices. The end result? Unrelenting terror in the cold vacuum of space, adaptive difficulty that'll keep your palms sweaty, and a leap in graphical fidelity that'll have you reaching for a barf bag every time you run into a Necromorph.

Read our Dead Space review.

Hunt: Showdown

Have you ever wondered how dangerous Michael Myers or Jason Voorhees would be if people were prepared for them and well-armed? Hunt: Showdown kind of answers that question, as this game puts you in the dirty boots of a hunter tasked with eliminating the nightmarish monsters that have infested the Louisiana Bayou in 1895. You'll need to track these creatures down, hunt them, and eventually prepare for a showdown if you want to collect the bounty, but the catch here is that you're in direct competition with other mercenaries looking to score a big payday.

That fusion of competitive tension and savage creatures who can easily annihilate you if you charge in unprepared makes for a potent combo, while the darkly oppressive world, brutal weapons, and high-risk gameplay only amplifies that atmosphere.

Little Nightmares series

A collection of puzzle-platforming horror games, the Little Nightmares series can be fascinating and disturbing in equal measure. While you can't go wrong with any game in the current trilogy, it doesn't get much better than Little Nightmares II. The first sequel dials the creep factor up to 11, leaving you feeling uncomfortable and traumatized by the time that the end credits have started to roll on this weird and distressing children's tale come to life.

Mundaun

A horror game with hand-drawn visuals and a unique fear system, Mundaun is set in the Swiss Alps and is inspired by designer Michel Ziegler's own terrifying experiences holidaying in the Alps as a child. That blend of realism and supernatural elements makes for a fascinating game, and on top of the fear meter that has an impact on how much control a player is, there are puzzles to solve and a haunting environment to explore. While it's not the scariest game on this list, Mundaun is one of the most visually memorable.

Outlast series

One of the big success stories of the early 2010s, the Outlast games are masterclasses in jump scares and fear-fueled intensity. The first game set the bar high with its Mount Massive Asylum location that was home to homicidal monsters looking to bump you off as you stumbled through the dark, and its 2017 sequel amped up the frights with more gore, smarter enemies, and trippy sequences. Then you have the Outlast Trials, a prequel that focuses heavily on teamwork and allows you to share your terror in multiplayer. If you ever wanted a video game adaptation of Saw--that isn't terrible--the Outlast series is a killer combo of old-school horror and impressive visuals that'll leave you too scared to turn off your lights.

Phasmophobia

One of the big Twitch hits when it first debuted in 2020, Phasmophobia is Paranormal Activity with a multiplayer twist. You've got all the ghost-detecting equipment you could ask for--but none of the ghost-busting gear--several haunted locations, and several phantasms that don't take too kindly to the living. It's terrifying to play solo, but when you're with friends, the built-in voice recognition adds a new layer of immersion as spooks and specters listen in on your conversations and react to them. For an even bigger scare, try the game out in VR to get some fearful face-time with the ghosts and demons that you encounter.

Puppet Combo's library

How scary could a low polygon-count be? Scary enough to make you shout out the name of several deities, as developer Puppet Combo has a talent for retro scares. If you're convinced that they just don't make games like they used or you're looking for a more nostalgic scare, Puppet Combo should be your next stop. A game development studio influenced by PS1 survival-horror titles, bloody 80's slasher flicks, and the golden age of VHS home videos, these are modern-day riffs on the past that'll put a smile on your face and a knife in your digital back.

Resident Evil series

Resident Evil fans have been spoiled for choice over the last couple of years, thanks to a Resi-Renaissance at Capcom that has seen stellar sequels, high-quality remakes, and original projects produced. The underrated Resident Evil: Revelations series helped get the series back on track with smaller adventures that focused on the survival-horror aspects of the series, but the heart-pounding rebirth really kicked off with the spooky Resident Evil 7. Resident Evil Village is a gorgeously atmospheric descent into terror, while the remakes of Resident Evil 2 and 3 look like a million bucks while evolving the core gameplay for a modern audience.

While it's not as unrelentingly spooky as the other games, Resident Evil 4's remake is easily the best of the lot, a pulse-pounding blend of survival-action, one-liners, and blockbuster moments that's hard to top.

Signalis

A nostalgic and haunting game that pays homage to its inspirations, Signalis doesn't get bogged down by the horror classics of the past. Instead, you've got a game fueled by its love for the PS1 days of Silent Hill and Resident Evil, builds its own terrifying top-down 2D pixel universe, and throws you into the deep end. What sets Signalis apart is that it never feels overwhelmingly scary, but it does create an atmosphere of constant dread where you'll never want to let your guard down. In some ways, being constantly on edge can be more effective than a well-timed jump scare, and the eerie environment excels at making you brace yourself for the worst.

Read our Signalis review.

Silent Hill 2

After being dormant for a decade, Silent Hill is making a big comeback in the future. Part of that renaissance includes a remake of Silent Hill 2 by horror game studio Bloober Team, but the team has its work cut out for it. The original Silent Hill 2 has long been considered to be not only one of the best in the series, but one of the best horror games of all time. A tragic tale with esoteric puzzles as protagonist James Sunderland finds himself trapped in his own personal hell, Silent Hill 2 is a game of personal demons, anguish, and guilt.

While the gameplay might be dated after two decades, the story certainly isn't. This is still a masterpiece that gets more shocking the deeper you go.

Read our Silent Hill 2 review.

SOMA

Ever felt like playing a video game that'll give you an existential crisis? Then SOMA is a pretty good option, one that comes from the twisted development labs of Amnesia developer Frictional Games. Sci-fi horror set at the bottom of the ocean, SOMA is a surprisingly thoughtful game that focuses on themes of identity, consciousness, and what it means to be human. Of course it also has lethal dangers lurking around the corners of the underwater facility that you're trapped in, as corrupted humans, twisted creatures, malfunctioning robots, and an AI pulling your strings will leave you feeling unsettled and scared long after you've turned the game off.

Read our SOMA review.

Supermassive's library

We're living in a glorious age of games that leverage high-quality visuals with superb sound design, technological advances that Supermassive Games have used to carve out a unique niche in the horror game genre. The likes of Until Dawn, The Inpatient, and The Dark Pictures Anthology have been cinematic experiences, horror games of a choose-your-own-demise variety that uses a Butterfly Effect system to make every decision count as you attempt to avoid a terrible fate. Terror for a generation of genre fans who want a more interactive take on thrills and chills, these games look fantastic and are often anchored by a cast of Hollywood heavyweights that excel in their roles while you take control of the story.

Sylvio 2

When the proverbial poop hits the fan, horror games usually put you into a fight-or-flight mode as something menacing begins to lurch toward you. Not Sylvio 2, as like the original title, this is a first-person horror game that is stripped of rapid-fire jump scares and enemies out for blood. Instead, Sylvio 2 goes all in on dread and combines psychological horror with a unique gameplay mechanic that revolves around sound. A video and sound analyzing tool lets you find hidden messages and clues on how to interact with your environment, but as you'll discover, sometimes you'll wish that those mysteries stayed buried in this short and sweet adventure.

The Evil Within series

If anything was going to give Resident Evil a run for its money, it was a survival-horror game developed by RE creator Shinji Mikami. While The Evil Within and its sequel didn't exactly go on to give Capcom sleepless nights, there's still so much that the game gets right in this grisly space. If you can overlook some of the more annoying issues, you'll find a horror experience with gorgeously gruesome level design, an intricate story, and scares that'll spike your heart rate up quicker than five minutes strapped to a Jigsaw-branded treadmill. Possibly one of the purest survival-horror games of all time, you're always outgunned in a world of nightmares where you have to think fast and run even quicker when confronted by bloodthirsty monsters.

The Texas Chain Saw Massacre

People can be terrible, but people wielding chainsaws, farm weapons, and wearing a mask made from someone's face? They're much worse and encountered frequently in The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. Gun media's survive-'em-up puts a new 4v3 spin on the asymmetrical horror multiplayer genre, creating a game of unique jump-scares that holds the source material in the highest regard. Faithfully replicating the original film's groundbreaking scares into an authentic game of chainsaw cat-and-mouse, The Texasshain Saw Massacre is a unique blend of suspense and tension.

Read our The Texas Chain Saw Massacre review.