If you play video games to get relaxed… well, know that not all games are relaxing. For example, racing games can boost your adrenaline as well as shooter games, but there is one genre that does it best of all, and that’s horror. Horror games bring that fast heart beating, sweating, and the general feeling of discomfort and dread, but hey; if you are like me, you like to be scared a little bit, right? Like it or not, I’m going to count down the top 22 Horror Games for PC to send shivers down your spine and test your bravery. So, dim the lights in your room, and get your headphones as the list of 22 Best PC Horror games is below.
In-depth rankings of the top 22 horror video games for the PC are provided in this article, providing players with a spine-tingling experience. These games are made to immerse players in frightful and suspenseful settings, including everything from psychological horrors to fierce survival encounters. These games offer the ideal balance of terror and excitement, whether it’s squaring up against terrifying creatures, working out challenging riddles, or exploring ominous and atmospheric locales. Prepare to enter the most sinister gaming worlds with this carefully chosen collection of PC horror games.
1. The Evil Within 2
We’ll kick off the list with The Evil Within 2. Why? Well, simply because this game will make you pee your pants and run to your mommy. No, I’m not kidding. The game puts you in the role of Sebastian Castellanos, who is an ex-detective looking for solace at the bottom of the glass. But, the evil corporation called MOBIUS tells him that his daughter Lilly is located in the STEM, and there you are, venturing into this horrific and terrible virtual world in order to save Lilly. The game will exploit every single fear that you have, with its intense and spooky setting. Here, you’ll be able to kill enemies, but some of them will rip your head off or chew you off like a gum. You know what to do, and if you don’t read my intro again.
2. Outlast 2
Outlast 2 is a strong contender for the best horror game for computer ever. It’s played from the first-person perspective, which makes it more immersive as you venture into Arizona to save your wife from that sick and twisted Papa Knoth. The game will seriously test your nerves and make you sweat like never before, especially in the beginning when you encounter Marta, that scary woman with an ax. It’s a beautiful game, with beautiful graphics and setting, but as you are unarmed and unable to fight, this will also be your demise if you aren’t careful.
3. Alien: Isolation
Alien: Isolation has one of the most advanced AIs I’ve ever seen in the game. If you watched the movie, the setting is similar, as you are on a space station called Sevastopol, trying to run away from the Alien and Androids trying to kill you. However, the star here is none other than Alien. Oh, boy, it’s starting to be hot in here! This horrific creature is hungry, and will hunt you not just in the game, but in your dreams as well! You have to outsmart this creature by hiding under tables, in the closets, and be quiet as the Alien is lurking in the shadows. I’m not kidding; Alien: Isolation will make you shake in horror as you play it.
4. Soma
If you are up for a unique horror experience, where you can do more than just walk, then Soma might be a very smart choice. As this isn’t a walking simulator, you’ll solve puzzles and do various stuff in order to escape the underwater facility that’s unknown to you. Oh, and the game begins really original, with our protagonist doing a brain scan, and then boom! You are located in this place full of horror, dread, and sense of terror. The story here is unfolded as you play the game, which leads up to a satisfying ending, that you’ll love. Soma is both terrifying and emotional experience, offering you a rollercoaster of emotions.
5. Resident Evil 7: Biohazard
Resident Evil 7: Biohazard brings back that old-school horror, and is a worthy game in the franchise. However, this game plays from the first-person perspective, which is different from the previous games. Nevertheless, this works great here, offering a more immersive, yet more terrifying experience. Ever heard about Baker family? Now it’s time to be introduced to the three members of that family that will haunt your every dream, and make your every move cautions and dreadful. The big part of the game is set in claustrophobic Baker’s house, as well as a shipwreck in the second part of the game. No open world, no huge spaces, and no beautiful environments. This game will crush you with a ton of horror!
6. Hello Neighbor
On the first look, Hello Neighbor looks like another cartoonish, trying-to-be-scary game, but hey, cross that road and head for that big house. Are you brave now? Seriously, it’s all about going to visit your neighbor’s house, which is directly across the road of your house. And if you are wondering how scary a visit to the neighbor can be, then you need to play Hello Neighbor. As the game still isn’t released, you can play it in Beta phase, which also works pretty well.
7. Observer
Observer is a proof that PC Indie games are sometimes really good. This cheap game provided me with one of the most notable horror experiences, and it looks stunning! You are in the role of Daniel Lazarski, who is on a venture to save his son from the dangerous AI that’s been plaguing Poland for a long time. A cyberpunk horror genre finally got its finest game! And no, this isn’t a walking simulator, but a really spooky, unnerving and dreadful experience. Observer costs a little less than your typical AAA game but offers unforgettable moments with two different outcomes.
8. Get Even
Get Even is a perfect example of psychological horror done right! The game will not only make you confused and scared, but also put you under constant tension as every move you make in the game will have an effect on the ending. On top of that, Get Even combines those survival elements with some great first-person shooter sequences, so you’ll have to focus on finding the clues to saving that damn girl in the asylum and not getting yourself killed.
9. Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice
Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice will make you question every decision in the game and wonder what the hell are you doing on that deserted island! Well, the answer is simple, Senua is here to make an ultimate sacrifice and save her love interest Dillion. As our terrified Senua suffers from psychosis, you will have to suffer with her, by hearing those annoying, yet helpful voices that will guide you through the game. I recommend using the headphones with this one, as the game is HUD-less, informing you of various stats using voices in Senua’s head; pretty authentic!
10. Amnesia: The Dark Descent
How many times have I tried Amnesia: The Dark Descent and not been able to finish it?! Let me count. Our protagonist Daniel is an amnesiac that wakes up in a deserted castle from which he needs to escape. But, do you have what it takes to do that? Expect some ugly jumpscares, floor squeaking, wall scratching, and distant shadow of those terrifying creatures trying to mutilate you. This game will freeze your blood and make your feet cold as the Antarctic as you navigate through the dark corridors of the castle. Be sure to play it alone, and you may as well visit the nearest psychiatrist soon.
11. Layers of Fear
You surely don’t know how hard it is to be a painter but don’t worry, Layers of Fear will teach you a lesson. Here, you are in a role of a painter that has one last work to finish, as he indulges into the horror of his own mind and tries to escape the dread and the terror that he is surviving. Layers of Fear will let you explore the game, as the environment is changing, the sounds are becoming more terrifying and the dark atmosphere occupies the game. Believe me, you don’t want to dream about this game, and if you dare, go buy it… if you dare, boy!
12. Dead Space 3
Dead Space 3 is both a great survival horror game for PC and a good third-person shooter. Call it and classify it how you want, but Dead Space is a staple of the horror genre, being it a first, second or the third game in the series. Dead Space 3 returns with the most amazing and smooth gameplay and visuals, as our Isaac Clarke fights the hordes of Necromorphs. In Dead Space 3, you’ll fight for your life as you collect various weapon parts, items and upgrade your equipment. It’s a perfect mixture of horror and peaceful sections in the game where you can rest a little bit and do some crafting.
13. F.E.A.R
F.E.A.R is one of the greatest shooter games ever. When it came out, I was so amazed at that bullet-time effect that slows down time, letting you pick off the enemies one by one. And although it’s a shooter game, F.E.A.R introduces that horrifying and nerve-wracking Japanese horror elements that will freeze your blood. The main antagonist here is Alma, a little girl following Point Man ( the protagonist) through the game. F.E.A.R also has one of the best AIs in the shooter game, so you’ll often find yourself surrounded by enemies that will kill you like you are a rat.
14. Manhunt 2
This psycho-horror will make your stomach twist as you grab that hammer or an ax, and smash your enemy’s head on the floor. Manhunt 2 is a brutal horror experience that combines elements of shooting and stealth gameplay into a game worth trying if you have a strong stomach. It’s a graphical game, displaying every bit of the nasty world in Manhunt 2, from raping, smashing heads, suffocating, blowing someone’s head with a shotgun, etc, etc; you get it. Manhunt 2 is an unforgivable experience, it’s dark, it’s brutal, and depressive, but that’s the thing in horror games, like it or not!
15. Condemned: Criminal Origins
Speaking of Criminal Origins, this game is criminally underrated! Condemned: Criminal Origins is released around decade ago, but don’t let that steer you away from this horror diamond. It’s a game focused on solving puzzles, gathering evidence, and searching for fingerprints as you search for a serial killer responsible for a murder in a fictional city of Metro. The game takes advantage of its claustrophobic environment, cornering you in dark places and letting you beg for mercy as you investigate a crime scene. If you have Xbox 360 or PlayStation 3, you are lucky, because you can play the sequel, which is also a solid game.
16. Call of Cthulhu: Dark Corners of the Earth
Call of Cthulhu is for true fans of H.P Lovecraft. By the way, haven’t you heard of him? He is a great writer, and I recommend his work. Now, back to the game, Call of Cthulhu: Dark Corners of the Earth puts you in the role of detective Jack Walters, who is a private investigator, who took a case of a missing person at Innsmouth. But, there is something more sinister here, and it doesn’t look quite right, forcing you to fight for your life in order to stay in one piece. The game also came out more than a decade ago, but it’s still a great horror experience.
17. Little Nightmares
Little Nightmares is a fascinating puzzle-platformer that will keep you on the edge as you enter a whimsically terrifying universe. Play as Six, a small child stranded on the enigmatic underwater ship known as The Maw. To survive, explore unsettling landscapes populated by monstrous animals and work through difficult riddles. As you move through the twisting corridors of this nightmare realm, the game’s gloomy mood and superb graphic design induce a continual feeling of discomfort. In this intriguing and unnerving quest, get ready to face your childhood anxieties and discover The Maw’s mysteries.
18. DOOM 3
The new DOOM game isn’t a horror, but a great FPS game. However, DOOM 3 made a brave change in 2004, by introducing some horror elements and it quickly became one of my favorite games of that year. Don’t think I’m a fool for putting the older games on the list; these games will kick your butt so hard that you won’t even think of sitting again. The same is with DOOM 3, which merges that streamlined horror experience with great PC action sequences worth remembering and playing again. If you like this game, you can also try Quake 4 for a daily dose of nostalgia.
19. Slender: The Eight Pages
Get ready for the most punishing horror experience ever, in Slender: The Eight Pages. I’ll admit it- I never finished the game, but I made sure that I give my 100% in trying. It’s scary as hell, and it’s sometimes very nerve-wracking to play, but I love it, love it, love it! The Slender in this game is ruthless and again makes that static on your screen as it approaches, making it a very uncomfortable experience. When you collect the eight pages (and there’s almost zero chance of doing so) you then have to go to a specific location to finish the game. As I said, it’s sometimes hard to play, but it’s more than enough to give you an adrenaline dose for the day. Oh, and it’s a free game for PC!
20. Obscure
I remember watching the Obscure trailer while I was still in my school days, and boy oh boy, that was spooky! Then I decided to play it, and I was quickly afraid to go to sleep. Leafmore High School has been a dangerous place for some time, involving some mysterious disappearances which need to be investigated. So, five students from that school decide it’s a good idea to do that, and well… they regret it quickly. Thankfully, the game supports 2-player gameplay, so you can now experience true horror with your friend, but make it a sleepover… just in case.
21. Among the Sleep
Among the Sleep has a really interesting concept, and its horror is based on a baby’s feelings that are quickly transformed into a world of horror and dread. The only friend here is your teddy bear, and as you are a toddler in the game, your chances of surviving the harsh conditions of the game aren’t that big. This, however, makes the game super-intense, from the beginning to the end, as you get an appropriate reward in the end, in form of a satisfying ending that puts a beautiful piece of strawberry on the cake.
22. Layers of Fear 2
In Layers of Fear 2, go on a chilling trip inside the troubled artist’s head. This psychological horror game, which takes place aboard an ocean liner, delves deep into the realms of fear and delusion. You must negotiate a shifting environment loaded with morbid images and perverse puzzles as an actor stuck on a nightmare set. Discover the sinister truths about your past while being tormented by paranormal entities that thrive on your fear. Layers of Fear 2 creates a terrifying environment and a gripping story that will make you doubt your own sanity.