Catch Me If You Can...
In my never-ending pursuit to find the best horror games that feel truly scary or are reminiscent of the 90's and early 2000's horror but actually play well, I took upon myself to gather up all modern horror games that are worth playing. What defines a horror video game? Most people typically assume that there are simple answers, such as ghosts, zombies, space, or any other single word category. While it's difficult to pin down and categorize horror into a single genre, or even sub-genres, what makes horror games keep us up at night is the fear of the unknown. We can characterize this as a basic uncertainty, ranging from the unknown lurking around every corner to the never ending pursuit of the antagonist. Humans have harbored fear of the unknown since ancient times, and video games can provide us with a glimpse into this terrifying realm. Games can give us a glimpse into this abyss. While some gamers may not consider Doom a scary game, its release likely frightened many kids and adults, and it may still do so today. Everyone's fear is a scale or spectrum. There's not one set number you can place. P.T. was one of the scariest things I ever experienced, and some people laughed the entire time. Some may consider this just a coping mechanism, and others may be able to easily overcome their own fears.
Rather than doing this chronologically, I have broken this series up into multiple categories. These games may also fall into other categories, and some may think a single game feels like something else to them while playing it. Horror has also made a comeback over the last five years. Just looking on SteamDB shows that indie horror titles are at an all-time high; however, there is also an onslaught of utter garbage in every storefront.
I hope to sort these out, as good modern indie horror is hard to come by. It's like sorting through the bargain bin at Wal-Mart. Do you really need to play Hitler: BDSM Bunker or another "creepy" Hentai game only to discover it's complete garbage? While a lot of these games play off of current memes and satirize political issues, they aren't "real" games. For every 10 P.T. clones, there's a single good survival horror out there trying to be something different. For every 20 Five Nights at Freddy's or Poppy Playtime clones there's a hidden gem of a text adventure buried under the heaping steaming pile of crap.
My reading of "From Ants to Zombies" by Alexander Chatziioannou inspired this entire idea. It completely transformed my viewpoint and understanding of horror games. What I won't include are obvious AAA titles from the Resident Evil series or games like P.T. We all know them; everyone has played one of these, and you already know if you love them or hate them. I won't incorporate any Early Access games or titles released before 2014, unless they belong to a series that has seen a release within the past decade. I will also not include remakes or remasters such as the most recent Dead Rising, Silent Hill 2, or Dead Space games, for example. I wanted to mostly highlight indie horror and games that may have had a larger budget but were easily overlooked or forgotten.
The Ten Categories
New Retro: These are games that try to bring back the feeling and nostalgia or horror games from the 90's and early 2000's. PS1 and Nintendo 64 style graphics, older visual effects, maybe even older play styles like tank controls. This category will be last as to highlight the future of horror gaming.
Psychological: This is one of the most common categories in horror. These games usually play a lot of tricks on the mind, have heavy use of music, ambiance, jump scares, or heavily use the story is scare the player.
Zombies, Ghosts, and Creatures, Oh My!: These games are usually considered not as scary to some, but usually still have creepy monster design or mostly use monsters to terrify the player.
Space: Space is a great factor of "Fear of the Unknown". Games set in space or use the vast void or outer space to scare us.
Relentless Pursuer: Games that constantly keep you on your toes with antagonists that just won't let off. These games aren't as popular as they once were.
Fear of the Abyss: These games use phobias to usually scare the player. This doesn't completely excludes space, but mostly includes games that take place in the ocean.
Eldritch: Lovecraftian horror is the easiest way to describe this, however this can also describe games with entire art style devoted to bio-mechanism, gross organics monsters throughout, and overall giving a feeling of uneasiness or a larger than life monster or being that you can't ever see, but it lets you know it's there.
Survival Horror: The most popular genre and what most people think of when they think of horror games. These usually have the player using resource management to survive whatever baddies that come at you. These are also more on the atmospheric side.
Boomer Shooter Nightmares: There has been a huge surge of Boomer Shooters in the ire of Doom in the last five years. While Doom itself doesn't make the list there are so many great indie shooters out there that it needed its own category.
Errant Children: This category includes both protagonist and antagonistic children in the game. These are very uncommon, and have mostly dropped out of favor over the last decade, but a few still exist.
Flathead (2024)
Platforms: WIN
Flathead is a thrilling game of over or under, set in a dark machine with various gadgets. Players must save points to escape before the terror approaches. The game offers strategic gambles with various tools and strategies, increasing odds and accumulating points. The game also features a gritty analog horror aesthetic. While the game is short lived the constant fear of having to look behind you with an ever present entity is just on another level scary.
Lethal Company (2023)
Platforms: WIN
As a contracted worker for the Company, collect scrap from abandoned moons to meet profit quotas. Use the cash to travel to new moons with higher risks or buy fancy suits. Explore nature and rummage through derelict, steel, and concrete underbellies. Guide crewmates using radar, remote access, and tools from the Company store. Communicate with crewmates to carry valuables and avoid leaving anyone behind at night. While the game did go viral for goofy antics that players experienced, the game can be genuinely terrifying when taken seriously. There's always something chasing you and having to rely on your team mates to guide you through the area safely adds to the tension.
My Friendly Neighborhood (2023)
Platforms: WIN
The Friendly Neighborhood, a beloved Saturday morning puppet show, has been a source of entertainment for years. However, as interest waned, the studio closed, leading to a decline in toy sales and niche fandoms. Years later, the studio returns to broadcasting old episodes, but the puppets are eating each other. Handyman Gordon is sent to investigate, finding the neighborhood has become less welcoming. A mix of action and adventure, is perfect for horror fans looking for a different experience. This is a horror version of Sesame Street, make no qualms about it. Somebody was seriously sacred of giant puppets on the dev team, but the game also has real tension and dread. Despite the goofy puppets their animations, attitude, voice acting, and overall demeanor are insanely scary and I had to stop playing the game for awhile just because of how intense the chases in the game are and the ever present puppet stalkers.
Killer Frequency (2023)
Platforms: WIN, PS5, PS4, XSX, XB1, NSW
In 1987, former radio DJ Forrest Nash is live on air in small-town Gallows Creek, USA, where every call is life or death. As the only person in town who can run a phone line, Nash must solve puzzles to save callers from a mysterious killer. The horror comedy features a unique 1st person narrative, branching dialogues, and a retro slasher setting, with a fully voiced cast and an original 80's soundtrack.
Madison (2023)
Platforms: WIN, PS5, PS4, XB1, XSX, NSW
MADiSON is a first-person horror game with a compelling narrative. Luca must endure brutal torture from MADiSON, a demon, to complete a sinister ritual. Each character has a unique story, and players must navigate through the game using an instant camera, manual photos, and interaction with entities.
Bendy and the Ink Machine (2017)
Bendy and the Dark Revival (2022)
Platforms: WIN, MAC, LNX, PS4, PS5, XB1, XSX, NSW, AND, IOS
Bendy and the Dark Revival is a first-person horror game, set in a creepy animation studio. Players navigate through ink-tainted enemies, puzzles, and the Ink Demon, seeking their way back to the real world.
Until Dawn (2015)
Platforms: PS4
The game features eight friends returning to an isolated mountain retreat where two of their group members disappeared a year prior. Players control a group of unique characters, portrayed by an all-star cast, and decide their fate through their choices. The game uses cutting-edge visual technology to bring the nightmare to life, leaving players breathless with every step. I did not include the recent remake that just came out due to it's lower quality and many issues.
