Summary
- Summer may be for fun in the sun, but horror game fans have options like Hooked on You and Welcome to Elderfield.
- Get into the spooky spirit with horror dating sims, killer flirtations, and terrifying farm life simulations.
- For gamers seeking summer chills, explore horror games like R.E.P.O., Silent Hill 2, and Dredge.
Summer is now rolling in, with promises of sunshine, warm weather, and longer days. It's the perfect time of year to put down the controller and head outside for some fun in the sun with family and friends, rather than shutting themselves inside with video games.
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But the great outdoors isn't for everyone, especially those who enjoy the darker things in life, such as horror games. One might think it is quite an impossible task to find a good horror game that is apropos for the current time of year, but there are a few that can be good to settle down with blackout curtains and a nice cold drink.
1 The Quarry
Live The Life Of A Summer Camp Counselor
The Quarry
- Released
- June 10, 2022
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Mild Sexual Themes, Strong Language
- Developer(s)
- Supermassive Games
- Platform(s)
- PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong
Summer camps are blissful memories for many people who spent their summers away in the rural wilderness, partaking in fun activities and making some friends, and some may have even gone on to be counselors when they were old enough. It should be a peaceful and fun time, but that is not the case for the counselors of Hackett's Quarry, who find their stay extended when one counselor sabotages their van in the hopes that another night can get him back his summer fling.
Things go from bad to worse when it turns out that Hackett's Quarry is not a safe for them to be this night at all, as it is a full moon, and there be lycans close by, including the head owner of the camp himself, and now they must do what they can to survive the night without becoming dinner, or a werewolf themselves.
2 Hooked On You
Chase The Killers Instead Of Being Chased
Hooked on You: A Dead by Daylight Dating Sim
- Released
- August 3, 2022
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T For Teen // Violent References, Blood, Suggestive Themes, Language, Use of Alcohol
- Developer(s)
- Psyop
- Genre(s)
- Visual Novel, Horror, Dating Sim
- Platform(s)
- PC
- OpenCritic Rating
- Fair
The most popular and successful asymmetrical multiplayer horror game, Dead by Daylight, challenged players to control one of the four Survivors that must escape the trial, and another player to be the Killer to sacrifice them before they can make their escape. One might think there isn't much room for romance in this game, and they are partially correct, as instead they made Hooked On You, a horror dating sim set in the same universe.
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Taking a break from the acts of chasing, terrorizing, and killing, four of the most popular killers (Wraith, Trapper, Huntress, and Spirit) are enjoying some R&R on a tropical island, as is the player, who has their eyes set on these dangerous yet delightful killers. Flirting has never been so possibly deadly before, but that's all part of the fun! What's more, players get to enjoy the sights of a tropical parade without even needing to leave the comfort of their sofa.
3 Dead Island
A Tropical Getaway Gone Horribly Awry
Dead Island
- Released
- September 6, 2011
WHERE TO PLAY
Partying it up in a hotel on a tropical island sounds like the perfect way to spend summer with friends, but they awaken to something much worse than the world's hardest hangover--an emergency broadcast warning all patrons to evacuate the hotel, as a zombie outbreak has transformed most of the populace into mindless shambling undead looking to sink their teeth into some living flesh. From there on, the survivors need to find supplies and a way to contact the outside world for help before they succumb to the hordes of undead.
Though battling undead isn't exactly a typical summer affair, the backdrop of the resort is about as summery as it can get, with long stretches of beaches, hotel pools, palm trees, and a sunny sky that strangely enough, doesn't prevent Dead Island from feeling and playing like any other good zombie horror game. So, grab a gun and a parasol, they will be needed for this summer outing.
4 Until Dawn
For Those Who Miss Winter
Until Dawn
- Released
- August 25, 2015
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Sexual Themes, Strong Language
- Developer(s)
- Supermassive Games
- Genre(s)
- Horror
- Platform(s)
- PS4
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong
Summer isn't the season for everyone, as some find it too hot, burn easily in the sun, and have a deathly fear of all the insects that start crawling out of the woodwork, and those people may miss the snow, the cold, and the quiet of winter. For those looking to relive those days and escape the clutches of summer, Until Dawn might just be the perfect game for them. Returning to the Washington Lodge in the winter, one year after the disappearance of Hannah and Beth, their winter getaway is anything but possible.
Hunted by a masked killer and something that may not be altogether human, the group of friends find themselves separated into their own nightmares, and just have to hold off until dawn, which is when rescue services will be on their way. Plenty of blood, guts, gore, terror and snow, Until Dawn is the quintessential winter horror game for those who want to forget just what time of year it is.
5 R.E.P.O.
Kill Some Time With Friends In The Latest And Maybe Greatest Horror Co-op Game
R.E.P.O.
- Released
- February 26, 2025
WHERE TO PLAY
Summer brings about the best time of year for students, and that is the summer holidays, plenty of time off to play games with friends and family. Games such as Marvel Rivals and Fortnite are always popular picks, but those looking for something more in the vein of horror should check out R.E.P.O. A meet-the-quota style of game, up to four friends control an avatar as they explore creepy locations to try and find loot to appease the Taxman.
Sounds simple enough, but there will be monsters between them, their precious loot, and the extraction point they need to haul it over to for it to count. Some creatures seem deceptively harmless, like the duck, while others are just outright dangerous and terrifying. Players need to keep out of sight and keep quiet to survive the monsters they encounter, because if all four players die, it's game over.
6 Welcome To Elderfield
Farm Life Is Sometimes More Of A Nightmare Than A Dream
Welcome to Elderfield
- Developer(s)
- Chris Cote
WHERE TO PLAY
Summer is the perfect time to delve into a farming simulator, as most people consider running off to the countryside to rear a farm away from the hustle and bustle of the city at one point or another. While there are perfectly fine games for this, such as Stardew Valley, gamers might have already poured far too many hours into this, or want something that's not quite so overtly wholesome. Hey, horror fantasists can have these dreams too!
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For a countryside escape more akin to a nightmare, gamers should check out Welcome to Elderfield. A peculiar hybrid of RPGs, farming sims, and horror, there are undoubtedly sinister forces at work here, and dangers to confront besides sleeping late and forgetting to water a few crops.
7 Silent Hill 2
Revisit A Beloved Vacation Destination
Silent Hill 2
- Released
- October 8, 2024
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ // Blood and Gore, Language, Sexual Themes, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Bloober Team
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, PC
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
Summer is the perfect time to vacation with loved ones. The weather is normally better so that they can truly enjoy whatever place they have chosen has to offer, and sometimes one place is so truly special it becomes a favored holiday destination. For couple James and Mary Sunderland, that place is the eponymous town, Silent Hill, which is said to be their special place. A letter from his dead wife prompts James to return and search for her.
Now far from an idyllic tourist-friendly place, Silent Hill is a land of mist and monsters, but that isn't going to stop him from looking for her. The truth is revealed at the game's twelfth hour. Though it's not quite the break the player might have been expecting, it is sure to be a summer holiday they won't forget anytime soon.
8 Dredge
Partake In A Popular Summer Pastime
Dredge
- Released
- March 31, 2023
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- E10+ For Everyone 10+ Due To Animated Blood, Fantasy Violence, Mild Language, Use of Tobacco
- Developer(s)
- Black Salt Games
- Genre(s)
- Adventure
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong
Fishing is one of the best summer pastimes, grabbing some picnic food, sitting down next to a lake and casting a line, waiting in peace and tranquility to see if anything bites. This activity might be a bit too slow and safe for gamers, who want something a little more exciting and interactive while keeping in the spirit of summer. If that's the case, Dredge could be the perfect replacement to actual fishing.
The captain of a one-man fishing boat, the player will sail across the vast ocean, occasionally stopping at port towns or islands as they catch fish. During the day, all seems right in the world, but nighttime is when all the monsters come out to play. Peculiar fish and sea monsters, quite capable of wreaking merry havoc, present very real and very frightening danger, making this fishing game anything but peaceful.