What Are The Scariest Games In The World?

Here is a list of the scariest horror games that you must play in 2023.

Looking for the scariest and best Horror games in the world? Then, don’t worry as you’re in the right place. Let’s face it, who doesn’t like a good old scary game? Most of us like to watch or play something scary that can get our heart racing and our palms sweaty. No matter the sleepless nights you go through afterward, you won’t hesitate to do it again right? We will show you a list of the scariest games to play in. And a gentle warning, this is not for the faint of heart!

Best and Scariest Horror Games in the World

Before we start, we’d like to let you know that this list is not ranked by any means. We feel it wouldn’t be right to judge these games as each of them come from different genres. With that being said, since you’re in the mood for some spine-tingling action, let’s go.

1. Resident Evil Village

lady dimitrescu resident evil village

We start off with Resident Evil Village – a game that won the Game of the Year in the 2021 Steam Awards. And rightly so, it put no foot wrong. Though you can call it more of an action-packed game, Resident Evil Village still does everything in its capacity to scare you. Whether you’re hiding from Lady Dimitrescu and her daughters or facing countless monsters, you are bound to get the creeps one way or another.

2. Dead Space Remake – Best Horror Games

Dead Space Remake

The cult classic Dead Space was known for its eerie environments, incredible story, and frightening enemies. Dead Space Remake stayed true to the original horror game while making improvements in certain areas. The game can create an uneasiness like no other and fill you with fear from the get-go. For the ones who played the original, it was a nostalgia trip filled with terrifying moments. So, don’t be surprised if you think you are the only one who is having a hair-raising experience aboard the USG Ishimura.

3. Sons of The Forest

Sons of the Forest

Sons of The Forest – a sequel to the 2014 hit – comes under the survival horror genre. But it still has all the makings to be the best horror game. The important part is that it can instill fear in more ways than one. A huge variety of enemies will do their best to make your time on the island a living nightmare. Be it the Twins who are actually conjoined mutants or Fingers – who have a torso full of fingers.

Even during broad daylight,  Sons of The Forest has the ability to scare you out of your wits when you come across the deadly monsters that inhabit the island. Let’s not talk about what happens after the sun sets on the island. You will only be armed with a small lighter which can hardly illuminate your hand!

4. Dead by Daylight

DEAD BY DAYLIGHT

They often say that you’re less scared when you play a horror game with your friends. Well, Dead by Daylight is here to prove everyone wrong. Filled with loads of jump scares, it is a unique 4v1 survival game. There’s no doubt that Dead by Daylight is one of the best multiplayer horror games of all time.

The objective of the game for the four survivors is to repair five of seven generators and exit the location. All this while one player plays a deadly game of hide and seek, or should I say hide and “kill”? To add to your misery, the killer can be a character from Nightmare on Elm Street, Saw, The Ring, or The Texas Chainsaw Massacre.

5. Outlast

outlast

Many believe that Outlast, without a question, is one of the best horror games ever made. Since it has no combat mechanisms, this is a purely “survival” game. Your only weapon of choice is actually a camera. And we call it a weapon because you can defend yourself with it. Well, unlike other games which require a torch light to see in the dark, Outlast makes you rely on your camera. The night vision feature helps you see through the dark inside the abandoned psychiatric hospital.

This simply adds to the growing tension. You are bound to get plenty of jumpscares as you hold your camera each time. The camera is actually a double-edged sword but honestly speaking, you can’t survive without it. If a good story is what you look for in horror games, then Outlast aces it with room to spare. However, be advised, the game has several gore and violent scenes. So, play at your own risk.

6. Alien: Isolation

alien isolation

There is a major factor that can make or break horror games – predictability. Once you know where the next jump scare is going to be, the game will be pointless. Well, what if we tell you that there’s a game that can scare you no matter how many times you play it? Released in 2014, Alien: Isolation has a replayability factor like no other and its game AI is also one of the smartest till date.

Inspired by the Alien franchise, you play the role of Amanda Ripley who is tasked with finding out what happened to her mother Ellen Ripley. The search leads you to Sevastopol Station – a space station that is a dwelling place for Xenomorph from the original film.

Fooling Xenomorph is easier said than done. Throughout the game, the alien learns your patterns. So, don’t try hiding in the locker over and over again. If Xenomorph finds you there once, it will look for you in the locker by default next time.

Moreover, many players feel that Xenomorph actually toys with them. It can sometimes pretend to not notice you but will soon catch you the next time you make a move. In simple words, there is no such thing as a safe place in Alien: Isolation. And the worst part is that Xenomorph cannot be killed, so spraying your bullets over it will be futile.. Gives you the creeps isn’t it?

7. The Quarry

the quarry

If you want to immerse yourself in a well-written horror story while also being on your toes, then The Quarry is the one you should play. The game has some pretty likable characters. One of the reasons is that the cast behind them has actually acted in real movies.

The Quarry is an interactive horror game that lets you control nine students who try to survive their last night at a haunted camp. You will come up against supernatural creatures and even some hostile locals that will leave your characters clinging to dear life!

8. Resident Evil 2 Remake

resident evil 2 remake

The original classic was released in 1998 and was considered one of the scariest games of that period. Fast forward to two decades later, Resident Evil 2 Remake makes our list again of the best horror games ever made. It is not only a combat-heavy game that has you dealing with several zombies but is also quite scary in its own right. From dark hallways to runners jumping at you from nowhere, get ready to keep your wits about you at all times!

9. Alan Wake

alan wake

Out of all the games in this list, Alan Wake has the least jump scares or violence. Even then, the developers have managed to strike a perfect balance between easing the tension and giving players a breather to transitioning to a darker setting and raising anxiety levels. Alan Wake can seamlessly go through these changes in one go while also enjoying. Your character in the game is actually a renowned author who is going through severe writer’s block. To find his lost wife. Alan Wake comes to Bright Falls, a mountain community that is hiding a terrible secret.

10. Resident Evil 7: Biohazard

Resident Evil 7 biohazard

Lastly, we have Resident Evil 7 – which is surely one of the best horror games of all time. It is by far one of the scariest games of the franchise. Stuck in a home with a dark history, Ethan is tasked with decoding cryptic puzzles to save his wife. The house is filled with various enemies, killer insects, and members of the Baker family themselves. You are not afforded a sense of calm for even a moment as you will encounter members of the Baker family no matter which part of the house you go to.

Several players also complained that they found RE 7: Biohazard “too scary”. It reached a point where the developers admitted that they had to tone down the horror quotient in Resident Evil Village.

With that, we have reached the end of our list of the best and scariest Horror games in the world. If you’re in the mood to get spooked, then go ahead and try out any game from our list above. However, if you’re craving more, take a look at the best free horror games on Steam or the best multiplayer horror games right here on Gamer Tweak.