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 upcomingspooky season.
Updated July 19, 2025 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.
Survive. Record. Expose The Truth.
WHERE TO PLAY
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.
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.
The Ultimate Game Of Cat-And-Mouse
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.
The firstAlienmovie 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.
Isn’t Summer Camp Fun?
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.
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 withThe 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 matterin this one, as all the main characters live or die based on what options you pick.
Dead by Daylight
A rare chance for you to play as a slasher movie monster
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.
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.
Welcome To Bright Falls
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.
Alan Wakecame into our lives in 2010 andthe hype surrounding the release of the sequel13 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, withAlan Wake 2coming, there has never been a better time to try it out for the first time or revisit it.
Everything and anything is prime for the remake or remaster treatment, but I’m not sure anyone has mastered the formula quite as well asCapcomhas via its RE Engine and the recentResident Evilremakes. Capcom outdid itself in 2023 throughResident 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, thenResident Evil 4’s remake is for you.
Even In Remade Space, No One Can Hear You Scream
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.
2023 was a hot year for horror remakes. So hot that one as good asDead Spacehas 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 convinceEAthe sequels need remakes too.
Five Nights at Freddy’s: Security Breach
Technically Just One Night At Freddy’s, But It’s A Good One
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.
Much like Alan Wake,Five Nights At Freddy’sis 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’swill 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.
Little Nightmares: Complete Edition
The Biggest Version Of Little Nightmares
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.
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.
Yes, This Definitely Counts As A Horror Game
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.
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 ofLuigi’s Mansion 3.Mario Karthas 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 onNintendo 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 seriesNintendoand Illumination gives the movie treatment. ForgetThe 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 inDead By Daylightthough, as well as Nicholas Cage, and he was also one ofCall 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.
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.
