The 7 Scariest Horror Games Of All Time

Video games are perfect for transporting you to unbelievable worlds where you can live out your wildest fantasies, where your imagination is truly the only limit. In the case of horror games, that can result in some of the most emotionally disturbing and gut-wrenching interactive experiences available, but fans of the genre can't seem to get enough. Like a good horror film, scary games give us the opportunity to confront our fears in a safe environment, free from any actual bodily harm. That said, it doesn't always make the scares any less frightful or keep them from haunting our dreams.

 

In an effort to celebrate this beloved genre of macabre creativity, we're listing off our picks for the top 7 scariest horror games of all time. Keep in mind, these games are listed in no particular order, as fear is a highly subjective emotion. Regardless of what fears keep you up at night, we can assure you that these terrifying horror games will make your skin crawl and your hair stand up straight. These are our picks for the top 7 scariest horror games ever made!

The Top 7 Scariest Horror Games

1. P.T.

Originally created as a playable teaser for the now-defunct horror game Silent Hills, P.T. is widely regarded as one of the scariest, if not the absolute scariest pieces of media ever made. Played from a first-person perspective, you move slowly through a continuously looping hallway, solving puzzles and trying to figure out the focal mystery. With ghastly apparitions hiding in the corners, disembodied voices echoing in your ears, and a persistent feeling of dread, it's hard not to get anxious when playing P.T. It's a shame we'll never see the full game, but as it stands, P.T. is a brief nightmare you won't forget.

2. Dead Space

There are three main games in the Dead Space franchise, but the original takes the cake when it comes to providing a spooky atmosphere and revolting gore. Set on the derelict industrial spaceship the Ishimura, the game follows silent protagonist and engineer Isaac Clarke, sent with a skeleton crew to investigate the ship after an unexpected blackout. Unfortunately for Isaac and company, a gruesome alien species known as the Necromorphs infest every grimy corner, waiting to pounce. With its gloomy tone, innovative third-person shooting mechanics, and some stellar creature designs, Dead Space is a terrifying sci-fi horror game that everyone should try out.

3. Resident Evil 7: Biohazard

The Resident Evil games are some of the most iconic experiences in all of horror gaming, but Resident Evil 7: Biohazard takes things to horrifying new heights. Swapping the traditional third-person controls for a modern first-person perspective, the game follows Ethan Winters, a normal guy who goes searching for his missing wife in the swampy lands of Louisiana. After stumbling upon the Baker mansion, home to a crazed group of cannibals with seemingly superhuman powers, Ethan's mission goes from bad to worse. Vulnerable, underpowered, and scared out of his wits, Ethan must save his wife and escape from the demented killers before it's too late. While Resident Evil 7: Biohazard might not be the best Resident Evil game out of the bunch, it's definitely the scariest, especially if you play it in virtual reality.

Resident Evil 7: Biohazard available at Hardy Games

4. Outlast

Unlike other horror games, Outlast completely disarms the player, leaving them with only their wits and a handheld video camera to survive the ordeal. Playing as freelance journalist Miles, you travel to the Mount Massive Asylum to research rumours of violent and illegal human experiments. Once you arrive and become trapped in the crumbling building, the severity of the situation sets in, as crazed killers roam free and demented doctors await. With only your video camera to document the events, you must run, hide, and evade anything that comes your way. As the night progresses, the nightmare only becomes more horrifying, packed with gory body horror and blood-soaked scares. Due to its unrelenting pace and smart application of the found footage sub-genre, Outlast decidedly secures a spot on our list of the scariest video games of all time.

5. Alien Isolation

Video games that are based on movies don't have the best track record. These adaptations are usually subpar cash-ins, designed to swindle you out of your hard-earned cash through nostalgia or hype. Luckily, Alien Isolation is one of the few exceptions, providing an anxiety-inducing atmospheric horror experience that effortlessly emulates the tension of Ridley Scott's classic films. In the game, you play as Amanda Ripley, the daughter of Sigourney Weaver's iconic character Ellen Ripley from the original Alien movie. Determined to uncover the truth behind her mother's disappearance, Amanda heads to the Sevastopol space station, only to find it damaged and in disrepair. With a deadly xenomorph lurking in the shadows, Amanda must use stealth and her cunning wit to survive the night. With an emphasis on sneaking over shooting, Alien Isolation is an incredibly unnerving game that does the source material justice. Whether you're a fan of the Alien films or stealth games, this is one horror game that will surely satisfy.

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6. Until Dawn

Developed by the creative minds at Supermassive Games, Until Dawn combines the tone of classic horror slasher films with choice-based gameplay, resulting in a compelling and terrifying cinematic experience. In the game, you control eight different characters as they venture to the Blackwood Mountain lodge, a snowy and secluded cabin with a violent history. In the surrounding woods, an unknown terror awaits, making survival nearly impossible. As you progress through the game, you'll make important decisions that change the overall story, offering a replayable tale with branching narrative paths. In Until Dawn, there's no retrying if a character dies either, so you'll have to live with the consequences of your decisions. Unique, immersive, and exceptionally disturbing, Until Dawn is easily one of the scariest games of all time.

7. Condemned: Criminal Origins

Condemned: Criminal Origins is a first-person crime horror game that follows Ethan Thomas, an FBI crime scene investigator hunting down Serial Killer X, a murderer who kills other serial killers using their personal modus operandi. Although played from a first-person perspective, Condemned emphasizes melee combat over firearm gameplay. As you explore the seedy city of Metro, you'll scour for clues on a never-ending goose chase, using a variety of gadgets to examine blood spatters and more. With a continuously gloomy tone, grisly violence, and some of the most memorable jump-scares in all of gaming history, Condemned: Criminal Origins is one of the most underrated horror games out there.