The constant improvements in console hardware and game engines have gone hand in hand with the rise in prominence ofthe horror genre, as the more immersive and realistic a horror game is, the more terrifying and ultimately captivating it can be. Titles likeResident Evil 7: Biohazard,Outlast 2,andAmnesiaexemplify this, with their meticulous designs that have unsettled millions of players.
The increase inhorror games’realism has proven to be too much for some people, who find some of the latest releases too scary to enjoy, despite their interest in the horror genre. Thankfully for such gamers, numerous excellent games have plenty of horror elements but don’t try to terrify their audience too much. What is and what isn’t scary is, of course, subjective, but for most people, these games will provide anexperience that is intensebut never too frightening.
Updated on June 13, 2025, by Ritwik Mitra:Horror gaming has turned its reputation around after a period when jump scares used to be pretty common in most mainstream horror games. Now, players have realized that it’s way more important for games to set a vibe and unnerve players instead of unleashing wave after wave of poorly-paced scares with little to no buildup. The fact that some of the best horror games aren’t outright scary is proof enough of this.
Daniel Mullins is a name held in high regard in the indie community, and most people were more than intrigued byInscryption’samazing presentation. The game’s dark and brooding aesthetic makes it clear from the get-go that there’s something sinister lurking in the background.
It would be a crime to talk what it strives to achieve since players should go in completely blind to enjoy this experience. The game takes players on a wild ride and is pretty unnerving without resorting to cheap scares.
Omoriis one of the most emotional video games players can try if they love games likeEarthboundandUndertale. The title’s charming aesthetic hides a deep, dark secret that rears itself in the form of chilling psychological horror.
While there are moments whenOmoridelves into a route of true and utter horror, most of these instances are present in the Hikikomori route. Most new players will go through the normal route, which delivers an exceptional story about grief, trauma, and acceptance.
For anyone who has played either of the first twoFEARgames, it may be a surprise to see one of the franchise’s entries on this list.FEARandFEAR: Project Originwere both among the scariest games of their respective years, with the series' iconic antagonist Alma being the main source of panic-inducing jump scares.
FEAR 3, however, made the divisive decision to give the series' staple horror a backseat, in favor of a heavier focus on FPS gameplay; this shift was common at the time, with Capcom taking a similar direction withResident Evil 6.
Shortly after Human Head Studios’Preywas released in 2006, reports and rumors started circulating about a sequel. This sequel would go on to become one of gaming’s most prominent examples of a title entering “development hell” beforeit was eventually canceledin 2014.
Most people assumed that this was the end of thePreyfranchise, though Bethesda and Arkane Studios teamed up to announce a newPreygame. Arkane Studios’Preywas released in 2017 and implemented an entirely new narrative, rather than continuing the original story as the canceledPrey 2had planned. Although some loyal fans were disappointed with the change in direction, the general perception ofPrey(2017) was very positive.
Somahad a huge weight of expectations on its shoulders in 2015, as the game was developed by Frictional Games, who quickly became one of the horror genre’s most esteemed developers after they released the groundbreakingAmnesia: The Dark Descentin 2010.
Frictional Games took a complete change in direction from theirAmnesiaseries withSoma, as the game offers astory-driven adventurecentered around the potential dangers of technological advancements that wouldn’t feel out of place in theBlack MirrorTV series. Although the game’s implications are dauntingly thought-provoking, the game itself isn’t too scary, and it even offers a “safe mode.”
Darkest Dungeon, as the name suggests, is adungeon-crawling RPGthat has become infamous for itsbrutal and unforgiving difficulty level. The game puts players in control of a roster of heroes, who explore a series of dungeons that lie beneath a gothic mansion.
Darkest Dungeonfirmly falls into the category of “you either love it or hate it,” as its difficulty makes it an excruciating experience for some and an addictive challenge for others. Not only does the game have perma-death, but players also have to keep an eye on each hero’s Stress Level, which increases as they explore dungeons and can seriously harm them if it gets too high.
Tarsier Studios’Little Nightmaresturned heads when its initial trailers dropped, with its unique horror art style intriguing yet unsettling many people. The art style isn’t all that is unique aboutLittle Nightmares, however, as the game also provides two genres that very rarely interconnect: puzzle platforming and horror.
The combination of genres may sound like a hot mess on paper, though it offers a surprisingly well-balanced and well-designed experience that overallprovides a solid 3-4 hour adventure.Little Nightmaresmay not be too scary, though it is thoroughly disturbing.
Valve’s sequel toLeft 4 Deadwas released in 2009 and offered one of the mostenjoyable online multiplayerexperiences of the decade. The game received an impressiveMetascore of 89, with praise being directed towards the game’s enemy variety and fast-paced action.
For numerous years,Left 4 Dead 2was one of the many Valve titles that had players desperate for a third entry;Left 4 Dead 3still seems to be more of a dream than a reality, but there has been confirmation of a spiritual successor,Back 4 Blood.
Remedy Entertainment’sAlan Wakewasreleased exclusively on the Xbox 360 in 2010 before coming to PC in 2012. The gameplay took clear inspiration from Capcom’s iconicResident Evil 4while adding an interesting offensive mechanic that lets players startle enemies with the use of a light source.
Alan Wake’s combat isn’t what made the game stand out though, it wasits incredible narrative. Inspired by American novelist Stephen King, the game’s story is a supernatural mystery that will have players scratching their heads from chapter to chapter. In terms of the game’s fear factor,Alan Wakeis fairly vanilla in its entirety, though there is a jumpscare towards the end of the game that easily frightened players should prepare for.
It’s a great time to give Remedy Entertainment’s oft-underappreciated gem a try, asAlan Wake Remasteredwas released on October 5th, 2021 and its sequel blew everyone’s minds. Along with a fresh coat of paint that gave the once dreary visuals a new lease of life, the remastered game also includes both DLC episodes, which are vital for understanding the fullAlan Wakestory. Like the original, anyone wondering “IsAlan Wakescary?“can rest assured that the game never gets too frightening.
Along with007 GoldenEye,the originalDOOMis one of the most influential first-person shooters in the genre’s history. Truth be told, anyDOOMgame could have been featured on this list, butDOOM 3takes the cake as it is debatable whether the other titles can even be classed as horror.
Despite having the most horror elements,DOOM 3still isn’t a particularly scary game due to how powerful the protagonist is, and how easily he can mow down hordes of enemies. In a sense,theDOOMfranchiseis more of a horror game for the enemies than it is for the protagonist.
