As Halloween 2025 approaches, players can choose from a wide range of horror experiences — from tense multiplayer chases to introspective remakes and cooperative ghost investigations. Below are ten games that capture different facets of fear and are suited to the season.
Dead by Daylight — asymmetric multiplayer terror
Released in 2016 by Behaviour Interactive, Dead by Daylight is a leading title in asymmetric multiplayer horror. One player becomes the killer while four others attempt to survive and complete objectives within tense maps.
Available on PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch and mobile, the game receives frequent updates that add new killers, maps and modes inspired by franchises such as Halloween, Silent Hill and Resident Evil. Characters have unique abilities that change match dynamics, and seasonal Halloween events add themed rewards and decorations.
Until Dawn — narrative horror with branching choices
Originally released in 2015 and remastered for PS5 and PC in 2024, Until Dawn follows a group of young people trapped in an isolated mountain cabin where player decisions can lead to character deaths. The game combines realistic visuals, an atmospheric soundtrack and a choice-driven script whose outcomes hinge on player actions.
Gameplay alternates between exploration, suspenseful set pieces and quick-time events, emphasizing psychological tension and making trust and decision-making central to the experience. The remastered edition brings visual enhancements and new immersion features while preserving the original’s slow-burn horror.
Darkwood — survival horror from a top-down perspective
Developed by Acid Wizard Studio and released in 2017, Darkwood is a psychological horror game with a top-down view set in a mysterious forest. Available on PC, PlayStation, Xbox and Switch, the title forces players to scavenge by day and survive nights filled with threats.
Limited resources make every choice meaningful; crafting and building barricades introduce strategic layers, while random events and characters ensure each playthrough differs. Darkwood relies on atmosphere, sound design and gradual discovery rather than jump scares, delivering a dense, unsettling experience despite modest graphics.
Outlast 2 — helplessness and dread in an isolated community
Outlast 2, released in 2017 by Red Barrels, casts the player as an investigative journalist lost in a remote region of Arizona where a fanatical cult commits horrific acts. The game is available on PC, PlayStation, Xbox and Nintendo Switch.
Armed only with a night-vision camera, players must run, hide and document events. The limited camera battery, ambient sounds and the protagonist’s panicked breathing heighten a pervasive sense of vulnerability. The rural setting and themes of religious fanaticism contribute to scenes that linger after play ends.
Resident Evil 4 (remake) — action-horror blend
The 2023 remake of Resident Evil 4 refreshed the influential title with modern visuals and gameplay while retaining its core story of Leon S. Kennedy confronting parasitized villagers. Available on PC, PlayStation and Xbox, the remake balances action and suspense to strong effect.
Over-the-shoulder camera work and updated combat systems enhance immersion, and the remake’s improved graphics and unsettling environments preserve the original’s tension while appealing to contemporary players.
Silent Hill 2 (remake) — psychological horror revisited
The Silent Hill 2 remake launched in early October 2025 as a highly anticipated reimagining of the 2001 classic, temporarily exclusive to PlayStation 5 and PC. It follows James Sunderland, who arrives in the foggy town after receiving a letter from his deceased wife.
The remake emphasizes emotional horror and the protagonist’s guilt, backed by Akira Yamaoka’s atmospheric sound design. While it uses a modern camera and enhanced combat, the game maintains the original’s slow, introspective pacing and disturbing atmosphere.
Alien: Isolation — cat-and-mouse in space
Released in 2014 by Creative Assembly, Alien: Isolation is often cited as one of the best first-person horror games. Available on PC, PlayStation, Xbox and Nintendo Switch, it follows Amanda Ripley aboard an abandoned space station where a Xenomorph hunts relentlessly.
The game emphasizes stealth, improvisation and hiding rather than heavy firepower. The Xenomorph’s unpredictable behavior, precise sound design and faithful film-inspired ambiance create prolonged tension and frequent moments of terror.
Phasmophobia — cooperative paranormal investigation
Launched in 2020 by Kinetic Games, Phasmophobia became popular among streamers and friends for its cooperative approach to horror. Available on PC and compatible with virtual reality, it places up to four players in the roles of paranormal investigators tasked with identifying the type of ghost haunting various locations.
Voice recognition and microphone interaction make the ghost react to players’ speech, producing unpredictable and frightening encounters. The game receives ongoing updates that add maps, entities and graphical improvements.
Doom 3 — sci-fi horror remastered
Originally released in 2004 and remastered as the BFG Edition in 2019, Doom 3 blends horror and science fiction within a UAC base on Mars where an experiment opens portals to hell. It’s available on PC, PlayStation, Xbox and Switch.
The BFG Edition improved graphics and gameplay adjustments for modern platforms. Doom 3 alternates claustrophobic exploration with combat against demons and grotesque creatures, offering a more direct, action-oriented form of horror.
F.E.A.R. — supernatural FPS with cinematic tension
F.E.A.R. (First Encounter Assault Recon), released in 2005, merges military action with supernatural horror and is available on PC, PlayStation and Xbox. The story involves psychic phenomena, a mysterious girl and enemies influenced by otherworldly forces.
The game pairs slow-motion combat mechanics with advanced AI and a gradually unfolding narrative. Despite older visuals, F.E.A.R. remains effective at sustaining unease through sudden shocks and a cinematic presentation that influenced later titles.
