25 best horror games to play with the lights off in 2024

Starting from 1992, with the release of the very first part of Alone in the Dark, horror projects have become an integral part of the gaming industry. Every year, dozens of new titles are released: some bring something original and unique, like Signalis or Little Nightmares, while others, like Outlast, adhere to the classic formula of scaring players.

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In our selection, we’ll discuss the 25 scariest games of recent years — from psychological thrillers to survival horror, which will leave no player indifferent.

System Shock Remake

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The original part, released back in 1994, is considered by many users to be a benchmark for both immersive sim + horror. The main character finds himself on a space station where everyone has died due to the actions of one of the most notable villains in game development history — SHODAN. 

The protagonist must stop her from destroying humanity. This is truly a task of cosmic proportions, but the user will have many ways to solve it. The oppressive, confined atmosphere of the orbital ship, populated by terrifying creatures, won’t leave the player alone and will constantly hinder their path to saving the world. 

This title will particularly appeal to fans of cyberpunk aesthetics and the immersive sim genre.

Alan Wake 2

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Of course, no horror top list can do without a game about a writer battling his nightmares. The sequel, as promised by the developers from Remedy, turned out to be truly frightening. There is much more emphasis on the oppressive atmosphere and the dark corners of Alan Wake's soul than in the first part. 

There is a bit less focus on combat. Sometimes the game allows you to shoot monsters, but the combat system looks, feels excellent. This title is much like a horror/thriller movie (thanks to modern graphics + effects) that keeps you hooked with a strong, dynamic plot and vivid, colorful characters. 

It’ll undoubtedly appeal to all fans of the first part and admirers of the works of Hitchcock, Lynch, King.

The Callisto Protocol

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The next representative of the genre in our top is a recent project from the developers of the legendary Dead Space. Being experts in space aesthetics, the authors of The Callisto Protocol have recreated not just an oppressive atmosphere of a dark future but have pushed it to the limit. 

According to the plot, the main character must escape from a prison located on Callisto, one of Jupiter's moons. The inmates have turned into wild monsters, and Jacob Lee has no choice but to flee from this cursed place. 

At release, and even now, the title has mixed reviews. Nevertheless, it is an outstanding game with photorealistic graphics, effects that continue to amaze throughout the playthrough. Experienced fans may not find anything new here, but newcomers will definitely enjoy getting acquainted with the genre.

Murder House

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This project is styled after PlayStation 1 games, so be prepared for heavy controls, unusual camera angles, and pixelated, angular graphics. However, the authors focused not only on the visual part but also on the plot: it mimics B-grade horror films from the eighties and is largely similar to a slasher. 

A film crew arrives at the abandoned house of a serial killer to shoot a report, after which they are hunted by the Easter Ripper. The project recreates the oppressive atmosphere of the early parts of Silent Hill + Resident Evil and will appeal to all lovers of this aesthetic.

Resident Evil 4 Remake

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Of course, we couldn't overlook one of the most famous game series, which has inspired many developers to experiment in the horror genre. The remake of the fourth part maintains a high standard of quality and, naturally, compared to the original, the title has undergone significant changes. 

These changes affected both the plot, which became more serious, darker, and the controls: Leon's movements feel heavier, he cannot roll but can move, shoot simultaneously. 

The visual part deserves special praise: thanks to modern graphic standards, the gloomy village somewhere in the depths of Spain looks stunning. I recommend it to everyone. Besides, I advise you to play the remakes of the second, third parts as well.

Still Wakes the Deep

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A short but beautiful, captivating story about the life of an ordinary worker on an oil rig. Surprisingly, the game rarely scares with classic jump scares, as it is more about a thick atmosphere. There is no weapon or any possibility to resist the monsters and the collapsing station. In this and many other aspects, the project continues the ideas of Amnesia + Dear Esther, which are more psychological horror. 

The developers don't invent anything new but follow established rules: without distracting with unnecessary shooting, inventory management, the player immerses in a dark world that becomes increasingly frightening, incomprehensible, and somewhat absurd with each passing hour. 

Recommended for both newcomers to the genre + seasoned fans.

Escape the Backrooms

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The backrooms concept involves endless office corridors that can be considered an otherworldly realm. Thanks to its simplicity + universality, many indie developers experiment with it, creating everything from simple simulators to complex horror games with puzzles. 

One feature of Escape the Backrooms, which will be a plus for some players, is that it supports cooperative mode. There is no deep and developed plot, only one goal — to escape from this paranormal space while solving simple puzzles, avoiding deadly monsters. This title will appeal to fans of the genre,lovers of co-op playthroughs.

The Quarry

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Supermassive Games are masters at creating interactive horror movies. Their project Until Dawn, released in 2015, showcased what the PlayStation 4, talented game designers, and writers are capable of. Since then, this studio has confidently occupied its niche. 

In The Quarry, like its predecessor, there is a strong, dynamic plot, many typical horror-slasher characters (who both make you smile and empathize with them), and around two hundred endings. 

The graphics + facial animations deserve special mention. In the first hours of play, it is hard to believe that technology has come this far, as the characters look so realistic. It will undoubtedly appeal to fans of interactive cinema, horror enthusiasts.

Layers of Fear Remake

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Layers of Fear once again proves that games can definitely be considered a form of art. It's not just about the story, which is directly connected to an artist and his tragic fate, but also about the visual elements, music, level design, environment. Every corner of this title begs to be explored and examined, so detailed are the locations + their connection to the main story. 

There are no life-threatening monsters, the main enemy here is imagination, constantly painting danger behind every corner or slightly open door. 

This title is an excellent representative of the psychological horror subgenre. It frightens but at the same time keeps you hooked until the very end. Highly recommended.

The Mortuary Assistant

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The next project in our top list is scary just by its title. Yes, you’ll actually have to perform almost all the duties of a mortuary assistant. For some people, this alone can be terrifying, but after the first 30 minutes of play, it gets even scarier. 

In her new job, Rachel (the main character) experiences numerous hallucinations where the morgue completely changes. The player will have to study them to learn the truth about the girl while avoiding encounters with demons. 

This project is recommended only for experienced genre fans.

PANICORE

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PANICORE is a variation of the classic concept of "run away from the monster". Here, players (the project supports co-op, by the way) take on the role of paranormal investigators who encounter a terrible monster in these locations. The heroes have no means of defense against the monster: at most, they can slow it down. 

This title is drastically different from other co-op projects like Content Warning or Lethal Company — it's not fun but genuinely scary + creepy. The title doesn't generate dozens of funny, absurd situations: it keeps you tense and wary of every rustle and being quiet. The monster has a mechanic for detecting the players' location based on the volume of their speech in the voice chat. 

This project will especially appeal to newcomers to the genre.

CONSCRIPT

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A distinctive feature of this horror is that there is nothing paranormal or supernatural here. All the horror lies in the setting, atmosphere, as the events of CONSCRIPT unfold in the trenches of Verdun, on the fields of World War I. 

The main character must find his brother while fighting enemy soldiers, solving puzzles, and trying to carry all the necessary items since the inventory is limited like in Resident Evil. 

This title is recommended for all players and those wishing to learn about the terrible historical events of the early twentieth century.

WORLD OF HORROR

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This title can be described as a mix of visual novel, roguelite, RPG with an absolutely unique visual style. Players can immerse themselves in an absurd world inspired by Lovecraft, Junji Ito. The gameplay focuses on investigating crimes, usually quite horrific, tragic, fighting monsters from urban legends, gaining experience. All this is needed to stop the apocalypse and the arrival of gods on earth. 

The project can be off-putting and cause quite strong discomfort, but this is its main goal: the soundtrack, art, and plot are all aimed at creating rejection + discomfort, resulting in that very primal, irrational horror. Recommended for genre veterans with a strong psyche who are not afraid of new challenges.

Resident Evil Village

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Like the seventh part, this project also has a first-person perspective and a more "shooter" gameplay, although the main series features, such as limited inventory, are present. Technically, the title is superb: art design, gameplay, mechanics — CAPCOM developers have once again set a high standard of quality for their projects and delivered. 

The plot involves Ethan searching for his daughter in the depths of Romania. The premise is already quite unusual, as is the setting, reminiscent of medieval legends of vampires, werewolves. 

As a horror project, this part may fall short compared to some other entries on our list, but it can still be very frightening. For getting acquainted with the genre, Village is a great option.

SIGNALIS

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The game was created by just two people over eight years. Perhaps that’s why it turned out to be detailed, high-quality, and full of cultural references, allusions. 

SIGNALIS is more of a psychological horror that captivates with its atmosphere of hopelessness and loneliness. The setting is deeply developed, but the title does not directly tell the whole story of the world, plot. 

The player, exploring an underground base on an uninhabitable planet, must piece together information about the events that occurred there. The sole goal is to find Ariane, the closest person to the main character Elster. 

Many philosophical questions are raised here, such as the self-awareness of androids. The project rarely intentionally scares with jump scares: it creates an uncomfortable environment that makes you want to understand it as quickly as possible. It’ll appeal to many genre fans.

OMORI

Image: Ensigame

This project cannot boast an abundance of monsters + jump scares. However, every minute spent in the game creates a feeling of discomfort, anxiety — important elements of psychological horror. The main characters are essentially two: a boy named Sunny, going through tough times, and his alter ego Omori, living in an imaginary world with imaginary friends. 

This fictional reality includes distant lands, mysterious creatures, as well as inner demons + fears that become more mysterious and frightening with each plot twist.

Gameplay-wise, it’s a JRPG with all the genre's inherent elements: turn-based combat, location exploration, side quests. 

The visual style might be off-putting, but the story told in OMORI, and the eerie scenes painted by Sunny's traumatized subconscious, will leave no one indifferent. Recommended for fans of Yume Nikki, End Roll, Earthbound.

MADiSON

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The main character, 16-year-old Luca, has blood on his hands, and his father is pounding on the locked door of his room. What happened here? This scene plunges players into the terrible events that befell this family. 

The player needs to explore the house, solve quite complex puzzles, and avoid encounters with demons, as the character has no means to fight them. One of the tools is a camera that can change the environment, but it won't help in battling the demons. 

Gameplay-wise, visually, the title resembles P.T. + Visage, so if you are a fan of those projects, you’ll definitely like MADiSON.

Labyrinthine

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The name perfectly reflects the content of the project. The main character needs to escape from a procedurally generated maze filled with various monsters. There is also a story mode where, on the contrary, users need to delve deeper to investigate the case of a missing woman while solving various puzzles. 

The project is cooperative, and even though you can invite friends, the narrow passages and dark lighting make you feel uncomfortable. When the sound of approaching footsteps is heard nearby, it becomes genuinely frightening because players don't know where to hide, just to keep running forward. 

Some users might also be interested in the cosmetic item system, various tasks available with each new entry into the confusing + dark corridors. Labyrinthine captivates and keeps you glued to the screen for many hours and is recommended for all genre fans.

FAITH: The Unholy Trinity

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This title seems to have come straight from the era of arcade machines. Its unusual styling may initially seem off-putting and outdated, but the solo developer has crafted excellent gameplay around it. 

As a horror project, it rivals its genre counterparts: it features many puzzles, terrifying locations, enemies (which, incidentally, must be exorcised rather than killed), as well as a tense atmosphere + plot. The cut-scenes, made from real videos digitized into 8-bit graphics, are particularly impressive and create a striking dissonance. The monsters, demons in this style look genuinely creepy! 

This title may not appeal to all users, but it is highly recommended for those interested.

Maid of Sker

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This project is part of the Sker series with a unique setting and a well-developed story based on Welsh mythology. The project is a survival horror title where you need to hide and run from monsters. They guard the hotel, which the main character sneaks into to recreate a song that can lift the curse from the place, its inhabitants. 

Sounds are one of the main features of the title, and the developers have emphasized this aspect. The hero must not only hide from the monsters but also hold their breath and avoid coughing, as the enemies react quickly to any noise. 

This killer feature makes the gameplay much more tense. Maid of Sker doesn't require full immersion in the series. Even if you’re not familiar with the other games in the franchise, this project will provide plenty of scary moments and keep you engaged for several evenings.

The Outlast Trials

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The Outlast Trials takes the already iconic series to a new level. Following modern genre trends, the developers have made the new game in the franchise cooperative. Judging by the good reviews from the community, this has only benefited the project. 

In this part, players take on the roles of test subjects in the notorious Murkoff research center and try to escape from the testing ground, which is, of course, filled with enemies. You cannot defeat them, as that is an established principle of the series: you can only hide, deceive, escape. 

If you’re not tired of the wave of cooperative horror projects, we highly recommend this part of Outlast.

Little Nightmares 2

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Little Nightmares became a bright star in the gaming industry. Taking the best elements from Limbo + Inside, the developers at Tarsier Studios made their project completely original, still remembered fondly by many users. 

Conceptually, the second part of the series is no different from the first: it's a platformer with puzzles, and the main task of the hero + the player is to escape from a mysterious place. The most wonderful aspects of the title are the details, the well-developed world (although it may not seem so due to its ambiguity), various puzzles, and the frightening, somewhat absurd, environment. 

The project is recommended for all players interested in horror games.

Fears to Fathom — Ironbark Lookout

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The Fears to Fathom series is a collection of scary stories told by eyewitnesses of tragic events. The fourth part, Ironbark Lookout, tells the story of a fire lookout in a national park investigating the mysterious disappearance of three children. The playthrough won't take much time but will provide an unparalleled experience of 80s aesthetics. 

Besides investigating, you’ll also have to perform the duties of a forest lookout: measuring temperature and wind speed, and talking to the town's residents to uncover new details of the case. 

The title clearly resembles Firewatch, so if you enjoy that atmosphere, we highly recommend it.

Phasmophobia

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This project is, in many ways, a precursor to cooperative horror games before they became mainstream. Phasmophobia can be described with the most classic words: creepy, dark, and scary even with friends. Using various tools, such as a camera, users must find evidence of paranormal activity in a dark house. 

The supernatural entities, of course, don't sit idly by but constantly make their presence known. Additionally, this title is one of the first in the genre where voice chat influences gameplay. Ghosts constantly listen to conversations and appear where they are least expected. 

Although the project is still in early access, the developers have done significant work, and the current state of the project is quite commendable. It's perfect for playing at night without lights.

The Medium

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The Medium is a high-quality horror game inspired by the early Silent Hill parts. However, it is more of a meditative, slow-paced adventure that gradually immerses you in the irrationality of what is happening. The killer feature of the project is the protagonist's ability to explore not only the objective reality but also the otherworldly one, where the environment takes on a sinister form. 

She does this simultaneously, with the screen split into two parts: one side showing the abandoned hotel in the present, and the other — its astral form. The title is memorable for its well-developed, dramatic story, as the heroine discovers the secrets of the once-abandoned hotel and her own abilities. 

The title will appeal to all fans of the genre.

We hope you enjoyed our selection of the best horror games. Of course, this is not an exhaustive list of recent projects. Do you have any favorites in this genre? Be sure to let us know in the comments!

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