Summary
- First-person horror games offer unparalleled immersion and a sense of walking through haunted environments.
- Survival in games like Pathologic and SOMA relies on exploration, decision-making, and uncovering hidden stories.
- Subnautica blends horror with vast underwater exploration, emphasizing the fear of the unknown depths.
Horror games have evolved immensely over time, from simplistic point-and-click adventures to full-blown open worlds full of terrifying creatures and mysteries to uncover. The quality and quantity of horror titles today are higher than ever, with an endless list of games from any setting and perspective imaginable, but perhaps the most immersive and scary of them all is the first-person experiences where the player feels as though they really are walking through that haunted mansion or underwater shipwreck.
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Having the perspective behind the very eyes of the character adds a level of immersion that other horror games can never achieve. When combined with a sprawling world full of expansive structures and labyrinths full of monsters and threats, the experience is elevated to new heights. It is hard to beat the feeling of entering a new area for the first time and being forced to press on into the unknown.
8 Pathologic
These Buildings Feel Different Somehow
Pathologic
- Released
- June 9, 2005
WHERE TO PLAY
Pathologic is a brutal and atmospheric first-person horror game that places players in a decaying town afflicted by a mysterious and deadly plague, with an older-style aesthetic that adds to the level of horror significantly. Choosing between three distinct protagonists, each with their own story and motives, players must navigate a hostile environment where survival hinges on careful decision-making. The oppressive atmosphere and surreal setting create a constant sense of unease, perfectly blending survival horror with psychological dread and creating a gameplay experience that never feels safe.
Exploration in the game is not optional, but critical to success, as players must meticulously search the sprawling and, at times, confusing town to gather scarce resources, uncover hidden storylines, and form alliances with the less-than-friendly locals. Every street and building could hold life-saving supplies or devastating traps, and with time always against the player, venturing into unknown areas becomes a gamble that can determine the fate of both the protagonist and the town itself.
7 SOMA
An Underwater Nightmare With No Escape
SOMA
- Released
- September 15, 2015
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- t
- Developer(s)
- Frictional Games
- Genre(s)
- Horror
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong
Straight out of a sci-fi-horror movie, SOMA transports players to an abandoned underwater research facility where something has gone terribly wrong. Players awaken in this eerie environment with no memory of how they got there, quickly discovering that the facility is overrun by strange, malfunctioning machines that appear to have gained a sense of sentience for an unknown reason. The game explores profound themes like consciousness, identity, and the nature of existence, all wrapped in a slow-burning psychological horror experience, and rather than relying on cheap jump scares like other horror titles, the game uses atmosphere, isolation, and philosophical dread to unnerve the player at every turn.
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Exploration is at the heart of SOMA’s horror, and navigating the world feels both inviting and terrifying at the same time. Players must carefully venture through flooded corridors, dark maintenance tunnels, and massive ocean floors to piece together the story of what happened, with each new area revealing fragments of humanity's final days and forcing players to confront disturbing moral choices. Progress is often tied directly to this exploration, rewarding those who dare to delve into the facility’s most haunting secrets and delivering an unforgettable experience that remains one of the best horror titles to date.
6 The Forest
The Trees That Never Seem To End
The Forest
- Released
- April 30, 2018
WHERE TO PLAY
In T he Forest, the desert island idea is blended perfectly with a heavy dosage of survival-horror and absolute terror. Following a plane crash, players are forced to survive off the land, against the elements and a lurking, hostile presence that begins to reveal itself as the days go on. As players search for their missing son, they slowly uncover the horrific truth about the island’s inhabitants and the sinister experiments hidden within its depths.
The real horror in the game is as much about the growing dread of discovery as it is about the immediate threat of violence and the added need for exploration, which adds another layer to the fear as players need to push forward to survive, but may pay the price for doing so at the same time. The island is dotted with all manner of structures, man-made and natural, each requiring players to brave terrifying environments in search of answers. Some sections, like the underground areas in the vast caverns, add some claustrophobic tension that never feels like a break from the fear, and even when the sun eventually comes back up, the horrors never cease in the trees all around.
5 Scorn
Every Area Brings A New Fear
Scorn
- Released
- October 14, 2022
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ due to Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Partial Nudity, Sexual Themes
- Developer(s)
- Ebb Software
- Genre(s)
- Horror
- Platform(s)
- PC, Xbox Series X
- OpenCritic Rating
- Fair
Space is the perfect setting for a sci-fi-horror experience that blends tension and survival to create an environment that demands to be explored. Scorn is one of the best examples of space horror done right, thrusting players into an expansive world that is just as disgusting as it is interesting. Navigating the fleshy corridors full of darkness and horror feels satisfying and encourages players to continue pushing on in order to progress and figure out the increasingly complex set of puzzles that litter the rooms and structures.
While the game does incorporate some shooter elements, they definitely take a back seat to the atmosphere and flavor of the world, as each new area is full of not only horrifying creatures but elaborate machines that vary in scale and utility. It's a game that's not for the faint of heart and a game that is best experienced completely blind to truly appreciate the level of detail and true horror that lies within.
4 Amnesia: The Bunker
Remember The Way You Came Or Else
Amnesia: The Bunker
- Released
- May 16, 2023
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- t
- Developer(s)
- Frictional Games
- Genre(s)
- Survival Horror
- Platform(s)
- PC, PS4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong
Amnesia: The Bunker shifts the series' traditional psychological horror into a more open, semi-sandbox environment, placing players in a World War I-era underground bunker with just as much horror and terror as any other game in the franchise. Trapped with limited supplies and stalked by a relentless creature, players must find a way to escape before their resources run dry, creating a sense of helplessness and claustrophobia that adds so much additional pressure on top of the existence of the enemy.
Exploration is at the heart of the terror, and just like any good survival-horror game, players must enter each and every room with care and a good eye for resources and hidden details that could be the difference between life and death. Every decision to venture deeper carries a real risk, as the creature responds dynamically to player noise and actions, adding an additional level of fear for what might come next. Uncovering the secrets of the bunker often means putting survival on the line, raising the tension to constant, unbearable levels, and by the end of the game, players are left gasping for air yet begging for more.
3 Alien Isolation
An Empty Ship That's Both Inspiring And Terrifying
Alien: Isolation
- Released
- October 7, 2014
WHERE TO PLAY
The horror classic transported into the gaming world with perfection, Alien: Isolation captures the terrifying essence of survival horror in space and stays true to the roots of the source material. No giant guns, no hordes of enemies to take down, just a single unstoppable Xenomorph hunting the player throughout. Every encounter with the alien is a fight for survival rather than a typical action sequence, and the game's commitment to recreating the aesthetic and tension of the original Alien film sets it apart as one of the most authentic horror experiences.
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Exploration is vital to both survival and storytelling in the game, as players must carefully scour the station’s labyrinthine corridors for crafting supplies, audio logs, and mission-critical items, all while remaining silent to avoid detection. Every new area offers both opportunity and danger, forcing players to balance curiosity with caution in a gigantic ship that seems to have no end and continues to throw surprises and problems at the player around every corner.
2 Resident Evil: Village
A Small Town With Mysteries Around Every Corner
Resident Evil Village
- Released
- May 7, 2021
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Strong Language
- Developer(s)
- Capcom
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, PlayStation VR2, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch, PC, iOS
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
The horror genre in gaming wouldn't be complete without Resident Evil, and the 8th mainline installment is among the best in the series. Continuing the story from where the previous game left off, players travel to a seemingly abandoned village full of beast-like creatures, surrounded by giant structures that contain further horrors that need to be uncovered. Every area feels unique, and while the game does blend the shooting with the horror, it leans into the latter in a big way through its enemy design and emphasis on terrifying world-building.
Certain sections and areas are restricted from the start, encouraging players to return with additional tools and keys to venture deeper for additional loot and story details that can reveal information that would otherwise be kept hidden. And the way the map is constructed, players are constantly faced with new environments and exploration challenges that demand careful attention to detail, and face them with unique puzzles that have become the staple of the genre, and are quickly cut off by the horrifying creatures that are waiting nearby.
1 Subnautica
The Sea Feels So Empty, But You're Never Truly Alone
Subnautica
- Released
- January 23, 2018
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- E10+ for Everyone 10+: Fantasy Violence, Mild Language
- Developer(s)
- Unknown Worlds Entertainment
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
It might not be the first word to describe the game, but Subnautica certainly contains more than a few elements of horror to keep players scared in the underwater world. Survival initially revolves around gathering resources, crafting tools, and building safe habitats, but a larger mystery unfolds beneath the waves as players venture deeper, presenting horror not through monsters alone, but through the sheer vastness and unpredictability of the environment. For any player with fears of the deep, just the size of the open sea is enough to elicit fear and may even give players a newfound respect for the magnitude of the unknown depths.
Exploring the world defines the experience in Subnautica, as players must dive into increasingly hostile biomes, from vibrant reefs to pitch-black ocean trenches, in search of critical upgrades and story clues that come together like a beautiful jigsaw by the end. Every expedition carries real risk, as oxygen levels, pressure, and dangerous predators can end a journey abruptly. The thrill of discovery is perfectly balanced against the terror of the unknown, and while it might not be a traditional horror experience, it is certainly one to look out for and a game that will make the player think twice about taking that trip out to sea.
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