Despite how tough it can be to get into the horror gaming genre, some of these scary games are so much fun to play, and have such interesting stories, that players will be thoroughly invested as they make progress in these nightmarish titles. The big hitters in this genre sell like hotcakes and become insane success stories.
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Players who want to check out imaginative titles that can scare the wits out of them will have a blast playing these horror games that are proving to be on a path to cult classic status.
World Of Horror
A Roguelike Horror Game Inspired By Junji Ito's Work
World of Horror
- Released
- December 8, 2023
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T For Teen Due To Blood, Use of Alchohol and Tobacco, Violence
- Developer(s)
- panstasz
World of Horror is the perfect horror game for players who want a game inspired by the nightmarish works of Junji Ito. The fact that the art style of this game was crafted entirely in MS Paint is hard to digest, carving out a niche that will help this game become a cult classic in no time.
Players must save their town from a Lovecraftian threat, solving several chilling mysteries where survival isn't guaranteed. The game is unforgiving even on medium difficulty, and players are encouraged to clock in a few playthroughs on Easy before they get the hang of how things work.
Ten Bells
One Of The Best Anomaly Horror Games
- Released: August 30, 2024
- Platforms: PC
- Developers: Hillfort Games, Acrylic Pixel
P.T.'S impact on the industry can be felt to this day, sparking the rise of the anomaly horror genre. Players love the idea of spotting anomalies in familiar environments and figuring out if they did a good job or not, with the best games in the genre well on their way to becoming cult classics.
One of the best anomaly horror games players can get their hands on right now is Ten Bells. Exploring a quaint pub and trying to figure out what is going wrong in this environment makes for a great time, as players make slow yet steady progress in this title.
Iron Lung
A Short, Claustrophobic Horror Experience
Iron Lung
- Released
- March 10, 2022
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- t
- Genre(s)
- Indie Games, Adventure, Simulation
- Platform(s)
- PC, Nintendo Switch
A short yet memorable horror game with PS1-inspired low-poly graphics, Iron Lung is a chilling experience where players explore an ocean of blood in a small submarine. This setup is just as chilling as it sounds and becomes scarier once players catch a whiff of a monster hunting them down as they explore this location.
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The game doesn't overstay its welcome and ends with a bang. All of this ensures that players will have a great time with Iron Lung and its incredible atmosphere, with the game's cultural relevance helping it become a modern cult classic.
Darkwood
One Of The Most Chilling Survival Horror Games Fans Will Enjoy
Darkwood
- Released
- August 18, 2017
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- m
- Developer(s)
- Acid Wizard Studio
- Genre(s)
- Survival Horror
Fans who demand hard horror games where players will get scared of unknown threats will have a blast with Darkwood. The limited vision cone ensures that exploration is a nightmare to deal with, especially with scary threats looming around every corner.
Players must force themselves to scavenge for loot that will help them survive every day in this chilling world. Death can arrive at a moment's notice, which adds to the tension of this scintillating soon-to-be cult classic horror game.
Fear & Hunger
A Hard RPG Steeped In Horror Elements That's Intense And Compelling
Fear & Hunger
- Released
- December 11, 2018
WHERE TO PLAY
Players who need a hard-as-nails turn-based RPG will love what Fear & Hunger brings to the table. From the moment players start their first game and are torn apart by wolves in no time, they know they're in for a rough time.
Fear & Hunger is not for the faint of heart, with the game harboring many disturbing elements that are hard to digest. However, the core gameplay loop is so tantalizing that players will love to hit their head against a brick wall over and over again until it finally breaks down. The game's passionate community makes it clear why so many people are already calling this title a cult classic.
Mouthwashing
A Chilling Psychological Horror Game That Sticks With Those Who Play It
Mouthwashing
- Released
- September 26, 2024
WHERE TO PLAY
Mouthwashing is the length of a feature film, but it will leave a greater impression than most lengthy video games. The crew of the Tulpar is lovable (for the most part), which is what makes the events they go through so harrowing.
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The game deals with many disturbing and sensitive subject matters, but players who can stomach the game's horrors will love what Mouthwashing brings to the table. It's one of the best horror games players will love sinking their teeth into, with the discussion surrounding this title being quite similar to that surrounding most cult classic media.
Inscryption
A Roguelike Deckbuilding Game With Horror Elements That Goes Down A Wild Route
Inscryption
- Released
- October 19, 2021
WHERE TO PLAY
Inscryption does the impossible and turns a card game into one of the most harrowing things players can subject themselves to. Players love the idea of uncovering and figuring out this game's mysteries, helping it become a cult classic horror game.
The game goes down some wild routes and will surprise players to no end with its twists and turns. Mastering the game's mechanics will help players reach the end before they decide to play around with Kaycee's Mod and complete the game at a harder difficulty.
Omori
An Amazing Psychological Horror RPG That's A Blast To Play
OMORI
- Released
- December 25, 2020
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ Due To Blood, Strong Language, Violence
- Developer(s)
- OMOCAT, LLC.
- Platform(s)
- PC, PS4, Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
A horror RPG inspired by EarthBound, players will love what Omori brings to the table. This title's psychological horror trappings are in a class of their own and ensure that players will be strapped in for a wild ride.
Sunny's adventures in Headspace hide something traumatic that takes a while to uncover. It makes for one of the most shocking plot twists in gaming history and helps Omori establish itself as a masterpiece that fans will have a great time with. It's easy to see why most people already consider this title to be a cult classic.
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