Video games aren't usually linked to a particular time of year. Yes, there are Christmas games, and perhaps even installments in series that take place at a certain time of year. No other genre can be as intrinsically linked to a particular holiday quite like horror games can, though. Yes, we might play games that scare us all year round, but just like horror movies, playing scary games at Halloween adds a little something extra to the experience.

Even though a lot of games can fall under the horror umbrella, not all of them invoke the same feelings. Whether it's jumpscares, psychological horror, or perhaps a game that's a little less scary with a spooky backdrop you're after, there are a lot of games to choose from when it comes to picking what might be best to play this Halloween. We've tried to handpick a few in an attempt to cover all those bases and more to help you fulfill your gaming needs for the upcoming spooky season.

Updated October 8, 2024 By Sai Vsr: Halloween is around the corner, so it's a perfect time to do things to celebrate the spooky season. One of the easiest ways to pay tribute to Halloween is to sit down and play some games. After all, the holiday is all about horror, and there are plenty of great horror games out there for you to play. We put several of the best in this collection when we originally wrote it. And now, we've gone back to the piece to add a few more.

  • Alien: Isolation

    $25 at Walmart

  • The Quarry

    $20 at Best Buy

  • Dead by Daylight

    $19 at Walmart

  • Alan Wake Remastered

    $22 at GameStop

  • Resident Evil 4

    $49 at Walmart
  • See More

  • Dead Space

    $69 at Walmart

  • Five Nights at Freddy's: Security Breach

    $32 at Walmart

  • Little Nightmares: Complete Edition

    $28 at GameStop

  • Luigi's Mansion 3

    $60 at GameStop

Best Horror Video Games For Halloween

Outlast

Survive. Record. Expose The Truth.

Like Follow Followed Survival Horror Systems OpenCritic Reviews Top Critic Avg: 77/100 Critics Rec: 52% Released November 4, 2013 ESRB Mature // Intense Violence, Blood and Gore, Sexual Content, Nudity, Strong Language Developer(s) Red Barrels Publisher(s) Red Barrels Engine Unreal Engine 3 Steam Deck Compatibility Playable
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Outlast is a terrifying first-person survival game where you're a journalist investigating a psychiatric hospital overrun by violent patients. Armed only with a night vision camera, you must navigate dark corridors, avoid dangers, and uncover the asylum's dark secrets to survive.

Genre(s) Survival Horror Powered by Expand Collapse Pros & Cons
  • Intense, heart-pounding atmosphere.
  • Unique camera mechanic adds to the tension.
  • Compelling storyline with unexpected twists and turns.
  • Limited combat options.

Outlast is straight-up one of the scariest games out there. As an investigative reporter, you head into the freaky Mount Massive Asylum with just a camera to document the madness. The game uses darkness and limited visibility like a pro to create this totally oppressive atmosphere that'll have you genuinely terrified.

What makes Outlast so intense is how utterly helpless you feel. You can't fight back at all; your only choices are to run, hide, or meet your maker. Pair that vulnerability with the night vision camera, and you've got a unique, nerve-wracking gaming situation on your hands. The asylum's freaky inhabitants and dark secrets suck you into this compelling story that pushes you forward, even when you're scared stiff.

Some might find the jump scares and graphic content too much to handle. But if you've got the stomach for it, Outlast takes you on an unforgettable trip into crazytown.

Alien: Isolation

The Ultimate Game Of Cat-And-Mouse

Like Follow Followed Survival Horror Systems OpenCritic Reviews Top Critic Avg: 81/100 Critics Rec: 76% Released October 7, 2014 ESRB M for Mature: Blood, Strong Language, Violence Developer(s) Creative Assembly Publisher(s) Sega Engine Cathode Franchise Alien
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In Alien: Isolation, you play as Amanda Ripley, who is the daughter of Ellen from the movies. Her luck is just as bad as her mother's as she ends up on a space station, getting hunted by a Xenomorph. You must use stealth and hide-and-seek skills to survive.

Genre(s) Survival Horror Powered by Expand Collapse Pros & Cons
  • Great AI for the Xenomorph
  • Very scary
  • The combat against regular enemies isn't very good

The first Alien movie was about escaping from the dangerous and terrifying Xenomorph. That was clearly the inspiration for this game, too. Unlike in some of the films, you don't fight the creature in Isolation. You're forced to sneak around and hide as you're no match for the beast.

This makes the game feel different from the average Alien title and a lot of horror games in general. Yet, not being able to defend yourself makes the experience much more terrifying, so be prepared for that.

The Quarry

Isn't Summer Camp Fun?

Like Follow Followed Survival Horror Drama Thriller Systems OpenCritic Reviews Top Critic Avg: 79/100 Critics Rec: 78% Released June 10, 2022 ESRB M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Mild Sexual Themes, Strong Language Developer(s) Supermassive Games Publisher(s) 2K Engine Unreal Engine 4 Multiplayer Online Multiplayer, Local Co-Op Number of Players 1-8
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The Quarry has a classic horror setup, as it's about a group of teenagers at the end of summer camp. Yet, instead of a traditional murderer hunting them, it's something more supernatural. Your actions and decisions are the teens' only chance of survival.

Genre(s) Survival Horror, Drama, Thriller Powered by Expand Collapse Pros & Cons
  • Your choices matter
  • Contains many different endings
  • Excellent cast
  • Exploration is slow

A recent trend in the horror genre has been narrative adventure games. This has mainly been perpetrated by Supermassive Games. And it has worked its magic again with The Quarry. The gameplay in this title is mostly about hitting quick-time events, making choices, and doing bits of exploration.

The enjoyment comes from experiencing the story and seeing how your choices impact the tale. After all, your choices do matter in this one, as all the main characters live or die based on what options you pick.

5.0/5 Dead by Daylight

A rare chance for you to play as a slasher movie monster

Like Follow Followed Horror Survival Systems OpenCritic Reviews Top Critic Avg: 70/100 Critics Rec: 47% Released June 14, 2016 ESRB M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Strong Language Developer(s) Behaviour Interactive Publisher(s) Behaviour Interactive Engine Unreal Engine 4 Multiplayer Online Multiplayer Cross-Platform Play PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One & Xbox Series X|S
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In this asymmetric multiplayer game, you either play as a killer or a survivor. Naturally, the killer's job is to murder all the other players. As for the survivors, they have to escape before they can get eliminated.

Genre(s) Horror, Survival Powered by Expand Collapse Pros & Cons
  • Controlling a killer while hunting civilians is a unique gameplay experience
  • Range of killers
  • Scarier than the typical horror multiplayer game

There are several asymmetric multiplayer horror games out now, and Dead by Daylight is one of the main reasons for that. Its success has spawned a few similar titles. None of them provide the same level of excitement as this one, though. So, DBD is the genre leader.

It's also a stand-out horror game in general because it offers a multiplayer experience that still manages to be scary. Being a survivor can be terrifying as you know a monster is stalking you. It's less spooky to be the killer, but the lack of scares is made up by how satisfying it feels to chase down survivors.

Alan Wake Remastered

Welcome To Bright Falls

Like Adventure Systems OpenCritic Reviews Top Critic Avg: 80/100 Critics Rec: 76% Released October 5, 2021 ESRB t Developer(s) Remedy Entertainment Publisher(s) Epic Games Engine havok, proprietary engine Franchise Alan Wake
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Alan Wake is about a famous author with writer's block who goes on vacation with his wife. Yet, it isn't a nice trip, as the place they visit is unsettling. This is a remaster of the 2010 game.

Genre(s) Adventure Powered by Expand Collapse Pros & Cons
  • Play an absolute classic just in time for Alan Wake 2
  • Confirmed that the game is directly linked to Remedy's Control
  • Short, ten-hour game. Finish it over one Halloween weekend
  • Beware some of that awful Alan Wake dialogue

Alan Wake came into our lives in 2010 and the hype surrounding the release of the sequel 13 years later just goes to show how big an impact the game had. Following the fictional author after which the game is made, you're tasked with tracking down your missing wife, unraveling a mystery as you go, living through a story Wake himself wrote.

The remastered version of Alan Wake launched on modern platforms, both current and last-gen, in 2021, and whether you've played it already or not, with Alan Wake 2 coming, there has never been a better time to try it out for the first time or revisit it.

5.0/5 Resident Evil 4

Leon's Back, And He Looks Better Than Ever

Like Follow Followed Survival Horror Systems OpenCritic Reviews Top Critic Avg: 92/100 Critics Rec: 98% Released March 24, 2023 ESRB M for Mature 17+ due to Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Strong Language Developer(s) Capcom Publisher(s) Capcom Engine RE Engine Franchise Resident Evil
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This is a full remake of the iconic Resident Evil 4. It follows the adventures of Leon Kennedy as he tries to rescue the President's daughter from a cult. These cult members aren't like regular people, though. There is something strange going on in the area.

Genre(s) Survival Horror Powered by Expand Collapse Pros & Cons
  • An even better version of an already fantastic game
  • Another relatively short game with replay value
  • No need to have played the others to love it
  • Released in 2023 so still quite expensive

Everything and anything is prime for the remake or remaster treatment, but I'm not sure anyone has mastered the formula quite as well as Capcom has via its RE Engine and the recent Resident Evil remakes. Capcom outdid itself in 2023 through Resident Evil 4 Remake, somehow making what might well be the best game in the series even better.

If you're not looking for something psychological and simply want to spend your Halloween being made to jump out of your skin by various monsters leaping out at you before making them pay for that in a number of gruesome ways, then Resident Evil 4's remake is for you.

4.0/5 Dead Space

Even In Remade Space, No One Can Hear You Scream

Like Follow Followed Survival Horror Systems OpenCritic Reviews Top Critic Avg: 89/100 Critics Rec: 97% Released January 27, 2023 ESRB Rated M for Mature for Blood and Gore, Strong Language, and Intense Violence. Developer(s) EA Motive Publisher(s) Electronic Arts Engine Frostbite Franchise Dead Space
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For this 2023 remake, the developers completely rebuilt Dead Space from the ground up. So, it includes modern graphics and gameplay. The premise is the same as it's still about an engineer making his way through a ship filled with dangerous monsters.

Genre(s) Survival Horror Powered by Expand Collapse Pros & Cons
  • Another remake that arguably outdoes the original
  • If gore is your thing then yeah, settle in
  • Often on sale so check all the links above before buying just in case
  • If gore is not your thing, Dead Space is not for you

2023 was a hot year for horror remakes. So hot that one as good as Dead Space has largely been forgotten, some people even forgetting it was released this year. That's not okay in my books, and I'm using this opportunity to pick out some perfect Halloween games to give it a much-deserved boost.

Relive Isaac's horrifying trip to the Ishimura in search of his girlfriend and the rest of the team only to find the ship has been overrun by necromorphs. Of everything suggested so far, this game is the one that is definitely not for the faint of heart. Also, even if you have played it before, jump back in and shout about it to convince EA the sequels need remakes too.

Five Nights at Freddy's: Security Breach

Technically Just One Night At Freddy's, But It's A Good One

Like Horror Systems OpenCritic Reviews Top Critic Avg: 72/100 Critics Rec: 55% Released December 16, 2021 ESRB T For Teen Due To Fantasy Violence Developer(s) Steel Wool Games Publisher(s) Scott Games Franchise Five Nights at Freddy's
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Security Breach is a unique entry in the Five Nights At Freddy's series. This is because it only takes place over one night and features open-world elements. Yet, the scary animatronic beings are still here, and you have to avoid them while trying to escape the mall.

Genre(s) Horror Powered by Expand Collapse Pros & Cons
  • Bridge the gap between now and the movie adaptation
  • The latest in the long-running, very popular series
  • Available on all the latest platforms
  • Called Five Nights, but the game takes place during just one night
  • Helps if you've played the previous games, but not absolutely necessary

Much like Alan Wake, Five Nights At Freddy's is another series that will be getting a lot of extra attention around Halloween this year. In fact, if all goes to plan, the movie adaptation of Five Nights At Freddy's will now be launching on the same day as Alan Wake 2. Whether you plan on checking it out on the big screen or not, Security Breach is well worth your time this Halloween.

The latest game in the series, available on all platforms has you assume the role of a child, trapped in Freddy Fazbear's Mega Pizzaplex where they must survive the night. Sounds simple, except the Pizzaplex is filled with infected animatronics trying to kill you. Not suitable for anyone with toys in their house unless they're prepared to never trust any of them ever again.

OpenCritic Reviews Top Critic Avg: 78/100 Critics Rec: 60%

Not only is Little Nightmares a horror game, but it's also a puzzle platform title. In it, you control an odd creature that has to get away from even stranger and creepier creatures. This complete edition includes both the base game and its DLC.

Powered by Expand Collapse Pros & Cons
  • All of the original game's DLC included
  • Start catching up ready for the third game in 2024
  • Does not include Little Nightmares 2
  • Only available digitally from certain retailers

2024 is already shaping up to be a good year in games even though it hasn't even started yet. Little Nightmares 3 was revealed at Gamescom's Opening Night Live, so that means you've got until next year to catch up on the series.

Whether you have played the first game or not, its Complete Edition is worth picking up as it's the best way to play the game. Although it doesn't include the second game, you'll need to buy that separately, it does include the post-launch DLC that came after the first game. Help Six escape the Maw and then explore its secrets once you're done.

5.0/5 Luigi's Mansion 3

Yes, This Definitely Counts As A Horror Game

Like Follow Followed Adventure Systems OpenCritic Reviews Top Critic Avg: 85/100 Critics Rec: 91% Released October 31, 2019 ESRB E For Everyone due to Comic Mischief, Mild Cartoon Violence Developer(s) Next Level Games Publisher(s) Nintendo Multiplayer Online Multiplayer Franchise Luigi's Mansion
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It's Luigi's time to shine in Luigi's Mansion 3 as he must walk around a haunted mansion, battling ghosts to save his friends. The game has horror, puzzle, and action-adventure elements.

Genre(s) Adventure Powered by Expand Collapse Pros & Cons
  • A Halloween game for the whole family
  • Quietly one of the most successful Switch games to date
  • Gives Luigi a well-deserved spotlight
  • Like all successful Nintendo games, it's still expensive years after launch

Not all horror games perfect to play at Halloween need to leave you sleeping with the lights on later that night. Halloween is also about kids for a lot of people, so after they're done trick or treating, gather around and play a little bit of Luigi's Mansion 3. Mario Kart has ascended beyond spinoff status now, so my vote for the best Mushroom Kingdom spinoff now goes to the Luigi's Mansion games.

The third installment, available on Nintendo Switch, might well be the best of the series so far. If you've been looking for an excuse to play it, make it Halloween 2024, and push those sales so it becomes the next series Nintendo and Illumination gives the movie treatment. Forget The Legend of Zelda, it's not like everyone has been playing anything from that series this year.

FAQ

Are There Any Michael Myers Games?

None of the games above feature Michael Myers, the iconic character from the series of Halloween movies. Odd when this is a guide all about Halloween games, but the thing is there aren't any games based on the Halloween movies. You can be Myers in Dead By Daylight though, as well as Nicholas Cage, and he was also one of Call of Duty's guest characters in Ghosts.

What Are Some Kid-Friendly Horror Games?

As noted in the Luigi's Mansion 3 entry, Halloween is for kids too, so you might want to know a few more good horror games you can play with your children. Goosebumps games, the Ghosts 'N Goblins Remake, and Zombies Ate My Neighbors are all good options that shouldn't scare them too much.

Are Scary Games Bad For You?

While a zombie jumping out at you in a video game and making you leap out of your skin in real life is fun for a lot of people, much like going to see a horror movie, if you have a heart condition, carefully consider and research the horror games you play before diving in. An elevated heart rate through shock and fear, even when simulated, isn't advisable for everyone.

NEXT: Little Nightmares 3 Pre-Order Guide