2026 has already been a pretty great year for horror, with games like RE9 and Crisol: Theater of Idols kicking things off in the scariest way possible. However, there are still so many great games waiting to show their claws on the horizon, some bringing back some iconic horror bad guys, and others introducing players to a whole new world of fear that they have never seen before.
Related
Horror Games That Use Players’ Microphones
Using the player’s microphone in gameplay is an excellent way to increase immersion and tension in horror games. Here’s which titles did it the best.
Being a horror fan is great because there are so many different ways to explore the medium, which means that it is virtually impossible to run out of things to play year after year. And now, players have a whole host of terrifying experiences to look forward to, regardless of whether they are looking for sci-fi, modern, or something in between the two.
Rearrange the covers into the correct US release order.
Easy (5)
Medium (7)
Hard (10)
Start
Rearrange the covers into the correct US release order.
Easy (5)Medium (7)Hard (10)Start
8
Clive Barker’s Hellraiser: Revival
Welcoming A Familiar Face
Details:
- Brings back a horror icon
- Grotesque and outlandish enemy designs
Hellraiser is back, and he looks even deadlier than ever, introducing players to a world of pain unlike anything else. The game isn’t pulling any punches, and players will quickly find themselves thrown into the deep end, having to smash, cut, and bash their way through a variety of enemies that each bring their own unique and unsettling aesthetic.
Underneath all the brutality lies a savior story that will put players right into the heart of the madness, forcing them to push on through whatever horrors the architect himself decides to throw at them. In a lot of ways, it feels like a return to greatness for the genre, as for the first time in a while, one of the genre’s biggest names will be back at the helm, only this time, they look more real than ever.
7
ONTOS
Far From The Underwater Nightmare
Details:
- New horror IP from SOMA devs
- Deeply psychological narrative
ONTOS comes from the developers of iconic horror titles like SOMA and Amnesia, only this time, the undersea and underground terrors have been replaced with a more stylish sci-fi hotel. The setting appears very abstract and futuristic, with a few old-school features in there as well, but the real standout is the story, which will see players grappling with the complexities of the human in a much more personal way than they may have liked.
Related
10 Most Flawless Horror Games Released Since 2010
Flawlessly terrifying and nightmare-inducing, these horror games are some of the best (and scariest) we’ve had since 2010.
Like many of the developer’s other games, the world feels pretty claustrophobic at first, yet the lunar structure somehow feels surprisingly inviting, helped by a mysterious cast of characters that all have their own hidden motives and reasons for being there. Any horror fan should for sure keep ONTOS on their radar, and for those who are yet to enjoy the catalog of greatness from Frictional Games, now is the perfect time to play through them all.
6
Silent Hill: Townfall
Clouded In Mystery
Details:
- First-person perspective
- Unique tools for puzzle solving
Silent Hill: Townfall is yet another entirely new experience in the franchise that sees players venturing to an isolated Scottish town that has a very familiar-looking mist engulfing it. Rather than the third-person perspective seen in the most recent entries, Townfall puts the camera straight into the player’s eyes, making the environment feel more close-up and adding a whole lot more tension to every encounter.
But that doesn’t mean they can’t defend themselves, and when mist does reveal the creatures hiding inside it, players will have to fight back with whatever weapons they can get their hands on. Three games in three years from one of the biggest horror franchises feels like a dream, but once players set foot into this latest installment, they are going to want nothing more than to escape the nightmare.
5
Directive 8020
Every Choice Matters
Details:
- Cinematic choice-based narrative
- Sci-fi setting with body horror focus
Directive 8020 is yet another cinematic horror experience in a long line of hits that will force players to make tough and quick decisions aboard a vast interplanetary spaceship. Visuals are king here, and everything from the faces of the characters to the horrifying enemy designs feels like a major step up, bringing the scares far closer to the real world.
What makes the game so exciting are the rewind and cooperative features that completely change how the experience plays out. Players can rewrite certain events and uncover additional paths, and if they are too scared to go alone, they can freely hand over the controller, letting each person take on the role of a different character, and ensuring those dark movie nights feel even more exciting.
4
Subnautica 2
Return To The Oceans
Details:
- New world but similar mechanics
- Co-op option for up to four players
Subnautica 2 is finally ready to show itself to the world, and after a long wait, players are more excited than ever to see what direction the follow-up expands the franchise into. A new planet and a new set of characters, players will still be able to explore and build out an underwater base of operations, only this time around, they can do so with a group of pals.
Related
Best Games Like Resident Evil (By Era & Horror Style)
Capcom’s Resident Evil is the most well-known horror franchise, and fans are likely to enjoy these games.
The gameplay loop remains roughly the same, but there is a whole new set of mysteries to uncover that may lead players down a pretty dark path if they are willing to explore it. The original is a favourite among horror fans for good reason, and only time will tell if the sequel lives up to the hype and manages to induce some thallasphobia-driven nightmares all over again.
3
Cthulhu: The Cosmic Abyss
Far Beneath The Waves
Details:
- Mind-bending environments
- Lovecraftian, detective narrative
Cthulhu: The Cosmic Abyss is a brand new Lovecraftian horror experience that will push players’ sanity to its absolute limit. Deep in the Pacific Ocean, a mining base has encountered more than a few problems, and it is up to the player to unravel exactly what kind of occult actions are causing its downfall.
While traditional horror games see players exploring a world by themselves, here, they have access to an AI companion, Key, who will help them solve puzzles and figure out just how deep the darkness below runs. Lovecraft fans will absolutely fall in love with this game, and just like many other oceanic horror titles, it may be the catalyst for a newfound fear of water.
2
Grave Seasons
Cozy Meets Creepy
Details:
- Farming sim infused with horror
- Investigating murders and farming crops
Grave Seasons is a genre blend that many cozy game enjoyers will adore straight away, blending life sim mechanics with a horrific mystery that only they can solve. The warm and charming town looks perfectly normal on the surface, but it becomes clear that a supernatural presence is slowly picking off the community from the shadows.
Risking their own safety, players need to wander out and uncover clues to figure out exactly what is going on, all while tending to their crops and attempting to enjoy a peaceful life. A bit more calming than crazy, but still a spooky game worth keeping in mind for those looking to enjoy something a little bit different in the scary world.
1
Halloween
Mr Myers Returns Once More
Details:
- Asymmetrical horror from a genre titan
- Unique single-player story mode
Halloween, as a franchise, has existed for about as long as horror gaming has, and over the years, the two have crossed paths on more than a few occasions. Now, players get to step into the shoes of the killer himself, hunting down survivors and even getting to witness firsthand the events of the original movie.
Asymmetrical horror has seen its fair share of movie icons, from Texas Chain Saw to Killer Klowns, but there is perhaps no bigger figure than Mike Myers, and players will have to figure out exactly how to escape his grasp as if they were really being stalked. It has a compelling multiplayer loop, an interesting single-player mode, and it represents a full circle for a horror series that has been around for over 40 years.
More
8 Must-Play Horror Games, Ranked
With so many iconic horror games across the decades, we’ve selected some of the most important that prove as a must-play for every horror fan.
