Summary
- DRM can restrict access to horror games on Steam, but some titles like Tormented Souls offer a classic feel without DRM limitations.
- The Last Door provides immersive horror through a point-and-click experience that is psychological and story-driven.
- Doki Doki Literature Club blends mild discomfort with deep horror, allowing players to interact with the game via file editing for a unique experience.
When choosing a horror game on Steam to quench that thirst for fear, many players assume their access to the title is permanent, that once bought, it’s theirs to keep. But this isn’t always guaranteed. Many games on Steam are protected by DRM (Digital Rights Management), which often requires an active connection to the Steam client to verify ownership, primarily to deter piracy. If the platform goes offline, an account is suspended, or access is otherwise restricted, players could suddenly find themselves locked out of the very games they paid for.
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Thankfully, some horror titles on Steam are DRM-free, meaning they can be launched directly from their installation folder without needing to run Steam at all. Some need a few tweaks to function properly. For fans of the genre, this is a valuable feature—especially when internet access is spotty or unavailable. There's something uniquely chilling about being able to dive into a terrifying single-player experience completely offline, free from the grasp of always-online services.
8 Tormented Souls
The Original Resident Evil Feel
Tormented Souls
- Released
- August 27, 2021
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ due to Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Mild Language, Partial Nudity
- Developer(s)
- Dual Effect Games
- Genre(s)
- Horror
- Platform(s)
- PC, PS5, PS4, Switch, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One
- OpenCritic Rating
- Fair
No game series defines horror quite like Resident Evil, with titles spanning multiple decades and offering some of the most interesting and terrifying horror experiences out there. Tormented Souls looks to be a heavily inspired reimagining of the classic entries in the series, taking elements like fixed camera angles, intricate puzzle-solving, and plenty of body-horror to keep the chills coming throughout the whole game. It is a great modern take on the original games and has more than a few tricks up its sleeve to keep players on their toes. And the lack of DRM makes the game feel even more classic, similar to the olden days when playing a game was as simple as putting in a disc.
Part of what makes the game so great is the adaptation of all the key components that made Resident Evil so good, and bringing in a bunch of new ideas and a different story makes the game feel distinctly different yet familiar at the same time. The gore is a standout, as the game is certainly not for the faint of heart and will make even veteran horror fans feel a bit squeamish in some of the more violent and gruesome sections. While the game isn't super long by any stretch, it provides more than enough scares to excite any horror fan and is perfect for Resident Evil fans looking to recapture some of the joy from the series.
7 The Last Door
Pixelated Horror At Its Best
The Last Door
- Released
- May 20, 2014
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T for Teen - Suggestive Themes, Use of Drugs, Violent References
- Developer(s)
- The Game Kitchen
- Genre(s)
- Adventure, Point-and-click
- Platform(s)
- PC, Android, iOS, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series S, Xbox Series X, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5
Horror games come in all shapes and sizes, ranging from psychological puzzle adventures to simplistic walking simulators full of jumpscares and frights. But sometimes, it is nice to experience fear from a whole new perspective and setting. The Last Door does exactly that, bringing the elements of fear from the horror genre and putting them into a suspense-filled nightmare of darkness and secrecy at every turn. Point-and-click horror games have never been in short supply, but this entry into the catalog feels completely different due to the simplistic art style and emphasis on story beats that are both emotional and horrible all at the same time.
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Removing all the intensity found in more action-heavy titles in the genre, the player will feel a sense of relaxation at first, moving the mouse around the scenes and uncovering a few hidden details along the way. But it doesn't take long for the corner to be turned into a dark realm full of pain and suffering that will make the player think twice about leaving the lights off. A great game for any fans of the point-and-click genre and anyone on the fence about the lack of freedom to move, The Last Door is the perfect example of horror done right in a medium that has been around as long as video games themselves.
6 I Have No Mouth, And I Must Scream
A Bleak Future Too Close To Home
I Have No Mouth, and I Must Scream
- Released
- October 31, 1996
WHERE TO PLAY
A dozen quotes, a thousand pop culture references, Ellison's opus I Have No Mouth, and I Must Scream has been haunting fans of the horror genre for half a century and is all the more relevant now with the rapid expansion of AI and technology. Bringing the classic piece of literature into the video game world is a perfect way to experience the tale, as the game is a very faithful retelling of the narrative, but with some additional details added to help with visualization and build upon the abstract horrors found in the original text. Without DRM, the player feels truly connected to the world and the universe, and it is a fitting bit of irony that a game about the dangers of technology is more freely playable than the characters within.
Classic horror games have a different feel to the modern ones, as the emphasis on shock-horror and flashy jumpscares just wasn't around back then. Instead, the horror is much more psychological and based on true fears and emotions and this game encapsulates that idea perfectly. By having the player engage with several characters and their deepest and darkest fears, the player will have their own fears come to light, and the sense of unease and discomfort found here is hard to find elsewhere in the genre.
5 Five Nights At Freddy's: Into The Pit
The Horrors Continue
Five Nights at Freddy's: Into the Pit
- Released
- August 7, 2024
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T For Teen // Blood and Violence
- Developer(s)
- Mega Cat Studios
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
If the early 2000s was the era of Resident Evil, then the 2010s was the age of FNAF. No video game series caught the eye of the entire globe quite like it, and with a slew of sequels, revivals, spin-offs, and more, the universe keeps growing and expanding with every entry, with Into The Pit being one of the best entries to date. Departing from the security station and entering the world of a child, the player follows the same five-night pattern as the rest of the series, but with a new chilling art style and horror approach that departs from the tradition in new and terrible ways.
With such a rich universe full of iconic horror characters that have been causing nightmares for over a decade, Into The Pit takes the foundation of animatronic horror and flips the script by introducing better exploration elements, better puzzles to solve, and a more cohesive story that is still filled with plenty of tiny details and elements to fascinate and confuse the diehard fans who have been picking the series apart ever since it released. A new hit with the FNAF fans and the perfect horror game to enjoy on a dark night, without the constraints of networks or connections.
4 Doki Doki Literature Club
Something Just Isn't Right
Doki Doki Literature Club!
- Released
- September 22, 2017
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Team Salvato
- Genre(s)
- Visual Novel, Horror
- Platform(s)
- PC
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
Few sub-genres of horror can come close to the fear found in the psychological. There is something about an extra level of subconscious unsettlement that adds to the fear and is significantly more appealing than simple shocks or ghost stories. Doki Doki Literature Club strikes a fine line between mild discomfort and mind-melting horror, as on the exterior, no one would suspect a thing. A cute visual novel about a group of friends who like writing. Simple enough. But after a short while, the darker themes begin to creep in, and the happy times are cut short in place of horrors that are very real and genuinely frightening on a deep and personal level.
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Being DRM-free is the cherry on top because the game allows the player to edit specific files in the game directory to change the outcome of certain events and characters. There is something so wonderful about being able to alter the code of the game and having the characters respond to the changes by breaking the fourth wall and corrupting the very files of the game itself. It's chilling and causes a significant amount of fear by reaching out and interacting not just with the game but directly with the player, bringing in some incredibly dark themes to push the player to their limits of comfort.
3 Amnesia: The Dark Descent
A Horror Game Icon
Amnesia: The Dark Descent
- Released
- September 8, 2010
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ // Blood and Gore, Language, Nudity, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Frictional Games
- Genre(s)
- Survival Horror, Indie Games, Adventure, Action, Puzzle
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Android, Xbox One, Microsoft Windows, macOS
The horror genre has evolved many times through countless titles and takes, from shooters to visual novels. The Amnesia series is practically the poster child for immersive horror experiences where all the weaponry goes out the window, with the only way to survive being to hide and pray for safety. The popularity of video game horror exploded, thanks to Youtube, and Amnesia: The Dark Descent is one of the titles that ushered in an entire wave of classic horror games that put the player through scenarios worse than hell itself.
The exploration in the game is truly horrifying, as the limited light and uncertainty in direction makes every step feel like it could be the last. With very little to go on and nothing but survival in mind, every decision and path taken is impactful, and being isolated and alone in the depths of the castle is an experience that is only elevated by the disconnection from the outside world, thanks to the lack of DRM. Even today, the original game holds up against modern titles and stands as one of the best horror experiences out there.
2 Milk Inside A Bag Of Milk Inside A Bag Of Milk
Looks Can Be Very Deceiving
Milk Inside A Bag Of Milk Inside A Bag Of Milk
- Released
- November 11, 2022
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- t
- Genre(s)
- Visual Novel
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo Switch, PC
Milk is a game that is better to experience completely blind and with no concept of what lies behind the short but impactful playtime. The game is far more conceptual and artistic than anything fans of the horror genre will have experienced before, and it provides a deep look into a world that is often left unspoken of, full of both amusement and despair. The visual style is striking enough to lure anyone in, being so distinct and unapologetically unique that at times it is hard to understand exactly what the images on screen represent, whether everyday objects or something far more sinister.
With a small price tag and very little time needed to experience it, it's a great title to jump into alone for an escape away from the world, and it gives an unsettling feeling that few other titles can replicate in the same way. Artistic games like this are large in number and broad in their scope and meaning and can either be groundbreaking pieces of history or fall short at the start line for several reasons. Milk is definitely in the first category, offering an unforgettable ride that leaves the player feeling a little more empty by the end and a whole lot more uneasy as well.
1 FNAF
The New Era Of Horror
Five Nights at Freddy's
- Created by
- Scott Cawthon
- Creation Year
- 2014
- Developer(s)
- Scott Games, Mega Cat Studios, Steel Wool Studios, Illumix
- Publisher(s)
- Scott Games, Clickteam LLC USA, Illumix
An iconic horror series that can be experienced in its entirety without any connections to a network or other service, FNAF is one of those names that sends just as much excitement as it does fear into the hearts of anyone who hears its name. Global recognition and a universe so expansive that it can't even be contained to just video games, playing through the mainline series and experiencing the sheer terror of running out of power for the first time, is unforgettable and truly special. The games need no introduction, and the first six in the series can all be played without DRM and with all the death and horror they brought all those years ago.
Each interaction in the series brings something entirely new, from new mechanics, updated visuals, and new enemies to overcome to entirely different gameplay approaches that keep the same surveillance perspective but alter the gameplay in new ways to keep every title feeling different from the last. For any fans of the series wanting to recapture the thrills, they are well worth a replay, and for any horror fans who have yet to experience the heart-attack levels of fear, it is a series unlike any other that should be played at least once.
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