The weather grows cooler. Nights stretch their darkness longer. Shadows dance across your walls while jack-o-lanterns smile toothy grins illuminated by dim flickering candlelight. Spooky season is officially here. As we inch closer to Halloween, there is no better time to turn out the lights, put on some headphones, and dive in to a great a horror game.
However you like to be scared, whether it’s the slow burn of a disturbing psychological horror, or tense fast paced action laced with a generous amount of jumps scares, horror games are able to deliver a thrill that even the best horror films can’t replicate.
The best horror games have a unique ability to draw you into the disturbing. Atmosphere, tension, sound design, unsettling stories, and you in control of it all. CyberPowerPC’s custom gaming pcs deliver the power to play every scream-inducing title below at max settings with smooth performance.
Now, let’s look at why horror games are so captivating and 134of the best horror games to get your scare on with this Halloween.
Why Horror Games Captivate Us
Fear is one of the most primal emotions there is. Since the existence of stories, humans have been drawn to tales that tap into this emotion. Think of how many tales exist of things that evoke fear, from monsters, to ghosts, to unknown or unexplained occurrences. Horror games take that deep seeded fascination with this feeling and turn it into something interactive.
The Psychology of Fear in Gaming
When we’re scared, our bodies release adrenaline and dopamine. That cocktail of chemicals makes fear oddly enjoyable, particuarly when we logically know we are safe from any real harm.
Unlike passive media, games heighten immersion and tension by forcing players to act under pressure. That interactivity turns up the tension.
The Evolution of Horror Video Games
From early 2D experiments like Haunted House on the Atari 2600 to the incredible graphics of Resident Evil 4 Remake and Silent Hill 2 Remake, the genre has constantly evolved. There is no one right way to make a horror game and there is something out there for every kind of thrill seeker.
Now, let’s explore 14 of the best horror games to play this Halloween. We’ve got classics, modern fare, multiplayer, and indie titles for you!
14 Scary Games to Play This Halloween
Solid Choices
Silent Hill 2 (Original & Remake)
Still unmatched for psychological horror, Silent Hill 2 remains the genre’s gold standard. Its story of grief and guilt haunts players long after the step away from the game. The Remake is an excellent reimagining in Unreal Engine 5. Whether you play the original or the Remake, both are worthy ways to experience James Sunderland’s tale.
Resident Evil 7: Biohazard
RE7 saw the series reinvent itself once again. The first Resident Evil game to go with a first person view, RE7 is pure claustrophobic terror.
Amnesia: The Dark Descent
Amnesia takes power away from the player by arming you only with a lantern to light your path. Without any means to defend yourself, you will descend into madness where every creak and shadow tests your nerves. The feeling of helplessness really lends itself to making The Dark Descent an unforgettable experience.
Modern Horror
Resident Evil 4 (Remake)
How do you follow up a masterclass in action and tension? You remake that masterclass completely faithfully. Resident Evil 4 Remake brings the classic game up to modern standards with improved graphics and fluid action gameplay.
Silent Hill F
Set in 1960s Japan, Silent Hill F is a surreal new chapter for the series. It features an excellent story that explores personal trauma.
Dead Space (Remake)
A stunning revival of sci-fi horror. The lighting, sound, and dismemberment mechanics make every moment claustrophobic and tense. Modern hardware finally does justice to the nightmare of the USG Ishimura.
Chronos: The New Dawn
Chronos: The New Dawn is a bit slept on. It’s a surreal cosmic horror adventure from the same development team that brought us the excellent Silent Hill 2 Remake. Take on terrifying enemies that can merge together into stronger forms with limited ammo in tense combat that compliments the game’s eerie otherworldly atmosphere.
Alan Wake 2
A masterclass in psychological storytelling, Remedy’s sequel-that-almost-never-happened blends a detective mystery with full-blown supernatural terror. It’s both beautiful and disturbing, and a great way to push your hardware with stellar graphics.
Frights with Friends
Phasmophobia
Grab your EMF reader and your bravest friends — this ghost-hunting co-op game is still one of the best multiplayer horror experiences around.
Lethal Company
A unique blend of comedy and scares, Lethal Company traps players in abandoned industrial zones full of unpredictable creatures. Plug in your microphone to have an unforgettable time with your pals.
Dead by Daylight
The ultimate cat-and-mouse multiplayer horror. One killer hunts four survivors. Good luck!
Indi Horror Games You May Have Missed
Slay the Princess
An unconventional visual novel that subverts fairy tale tropes with unsettling, branching storytelling. It’s short, smart, and unforgettable.
Mouthwashing
A weird and artsy fartsy indie experience that mixes body horror and existential dread. Perfect for fans of experimental design and psychological unease.
Signalis
A haunting sci-fi horror game dripping in retro aesthetics. It blends classic survival horror gameplay with a dreamlike narrative that will be lingering in your mind long after you roll credits.
Factors to Consider When Choosing Scary Games
Gameplay and Graphics
Within the horror genre, a variety of gameplay mechanics exist. Series like Resident Evil lean into action, providing you with an arsenal of weapons to take on terrifying foes. Whereas series like Silent Hill, while they contain action elements, tend to focus on environmental story telling, atmosphere, and solving puzzles.
What you need to decide is what kind of horror game you want to play.
The Horror Experience
Do you want slow plodding horror that taps deep into your psyche or are you looking for jump scares? Either way setting the mood can enhance your horror gaming experience.
Try spicing things up a bit by playing in a dark room and putting on a pair of headphones that really immerse you in the world of the game. These small differences can add up to make for a more thrilling experience.
User Reviews
While review scores are helpful to get a general idea for the quality of a game, they are not the end all be all. Read community reviews, find creators who’s tastes align with your own and try a variety of the tried and true classics to find the fright factor that is right for you.
Replayability & Mods
Titles like Resident Evil 4 Remake and Dead by Daylight thrive on replayability. Mods can add fresh challenges or visual upgrades to keep the fear alive.
System Requirements & Optimization Tips
Even the scariest games lose their edge if they stutter or lag. Aim for at least 16GB RAM, a modern CPU, and a GPU that supports ray tracing for maximum immersion. Keep shadows and lighting effects enabled — they’re crucial to atmosphere.
CyberPowerPC’s gaming PCs have you covered with hardware and performance that is scary good.
The Future of Horror: Beware These Titles!
No matter what kind of game you are in to these days, it seems like there is a never ending flow of quality games. Here are some upcoming horror games set to arrive in the next year or so that we think any gamer should keep their eyes out for.
Upcoming titles to watch:
- Resident Evil Requiem
- Halloween: The game
- Alien Isolation 2
- Clive Barker’s Hellraiser: Revival
- OD
Here at CyberPowerPC, many of our employees are particularly looking forward to Resident Evil Requiem and Hideo Kojima’s OD project.
Gamer Beware, You’re In for a Scare!
This Halloween, whether you are wandering through the fog of a Silent Hill Game or teaming up with friends in Phasmophobia, you’ll find no shortage of ways to test your nerves. Mix classics with hidden gems and popular favorites and experience it all in the highest fidelity possible.
Explore our on sale gaming PCs for horror titles
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the #1 scariest horror game?
It’s pretty subjective. Many consider Silent Hill 2 quite scary, some say Alien Isolation. It depends on what scares you.
Which horror games are best for beginners?
Resident Evil 4 Remake and Phasmophobia are good starting points some scares, but with plenty of tools to help you survive.
Which horror games run well on lower PC specs?
Some good options from this list that run on lower spec PCs include Phasmaphobia, Lethal Company, Signalis, Mouthwashing, Slay the Princess, and Amnesia the Dark Descent. Some other good options would be the original (not remake) versions of Resident Evil 4, Dead Space, and Silent Hill 2.