With Halloween upon us, days are getting colder, nights are getting longer, and the season for all things scary is in full swing. While television shows and movies can be a great way to scratch that itch, your best bet for an immersive horror experience you can enjoy at home is a good video game. And with so many to choose from, you can find your perfect fit, whether your preferences lean more toward atmospheric, psychological, or in-your-face jump scares.
If you're not sure where to start, here are seven hand-selected options that range from lightly chilling to full-blown frightful, perfect for waiting out the rain from the comfort of your couch:
1. Pools
Pools is, at its core, a walking simulator. Like many other games in this genre (such as Firewatch and The Stanley Parable), this means that the gameplay mechanics are minimal, making it perfect for those who haven't dusted off their controllers in a while. Instead of relying on jump scares or quick-time events, this game developed by Tensori leans on liminal stage design, an atmospheric soundscape, and the player's imagination to evoke a sense of dread that steadily builds from start to finish.
The first-person perspective and realistic graphics of the game enhance this sense that something is not quite right, drawing the player in as they walk, run, and swim their way through seemingly endless stretches of tile and water. Will you find answers that make sense of this aquatic labyrinth, or will you be left with more questions in the end?
2. The Sinking City
When it comes to classic horror, few writers' works are held in as high regard as those by H.P. Lovecraft. The Sinking City pays homage to this fictional universe, offering a new perspective while incorporating unmistakable elements of Lovecraftian lore, making it feel both like a fresh experience and a familiar favorite.
In this game developed by Frogwares, players take on the role of Charles W. Reed, a private detective and war veteran who has come to the city of Oakmont, Massachusetts seeking insights about a bizarre and nightmarish series of visions he's experienced. However, he quickly finds himself entangled in the occult undertow of the town as he lends his gift for finding the truth to the citizens he encounters there. The combat mechanics of the game create a fast-paced environment, while the investigative elements are perfect for those who enjoy puzzle-solving, leading to a balanced and rewarding gameplay experience.
3. The Cube Escape Collection
The Cube Escape Collection is a series of nine interconnected point-and-click horror games created by indie game developers Rusty Lake. While each game can be enjoyed individually, they function better as chapters in an anthology, with each one deepening the lore of the universe. Heavily inspired by Twin Peaks, the narrative of the collection is surreal and non-linear, featuring anthropomorphized characters, corrupted souls, and echoes of the past, along with humanizing themes such as loss and regret.
The gameplay of the Cube Escape Collection is reminiscent of classic point-and-click experiences, and relies on a sharp eye to observe how the elements of the environment fit together and notice the things that seem just a little bit out of place. With each solution comes a new piece of the puzzle, both literally and metaphorically, as the player uncovers the mysterious and macabre truth about Laura Vanderboom and her family.
4. Little Nightmares III
The latest addition to the popular franchise developed by Supermassive Games, Little Nightmares III is a puzzle platformer with a dark twist. Set in the same dreary and dystopian universe as the first two installments in the series, the game follows the experiences of Low and his companion, Alone, as they face monstrous threats, navigate treacherous environments, and chase the threads of Low's memories, uncertain of what they'll find.
Unlike the first two games in the series, Little Nightmares III offers the player the option to navigate the world alongside an AI-guided companion, or with a friend in its online co-op mode. This makes it a great pick for those who feel that there's safety in numbers, or those who are looking to convince their horror-hesitant pals to give the genre a chance.
5. The Devil in Me
The Devil in Me is the fourth installment in another successful franchise developed by Supermassive Games, The Dark Pictures Anthology. In this game, the cast of characters—members of a documentary film crew—set out to a replica of H. H. Holmes' 'Murder Castle' to get the perfect story for their true crime show, Architects of Murder. However, it doesn't take them long to realize that while the hotel may be a reproduction, the danger that they're in is very real.
Like all of the other games in this collection (which include Man of Medan, Little Hope, and House of Ashes), The Devil in Me plays more like an interactive movie than a traditional gaming experience. However, unlike a movie, there's not one singular storyline that unfolds. Rather, the player's dialogue choices, decision-making skills, and reaction to quick-time events directly impact the relationships between characters, the course of events, and, ultimately, the fate of everyone involved. This structure means that the game has a high replay value, practically begging you to try again and see what new outcomes you can create. And with both online and couch co-op modes, it's perfect for a movie night with local or long-distance friends.
6. Homebody
Have you ever wished that Groundhog Day was a psychological horror story? If so, then Homebody might be just what you're looking for. This game, developed by Game Grumps, follows the shut-in protagonist, Emily, who has ventured out of her comfort zone to meet up with her old friends for the sake of their long-standing tradition of watching the Perseid meteor shower together. However, after arriving at the location—a remote cabin owned by artist Parker Nest—Emily has little time to awkwardly catch up with everyone before the night takes a dark turn, and the time loop begins. From there, it's up to Emily to fight against the seemingly inevitable, while her friends continue carrying out their original actions on repeat, unaware of what awaits them.
While the game has a slasher-horror vibe on the surface, its deeper threads plunge into themes of mental illness in a way that's both authentic and heart-wrenching. This combination of elements creates an edge-of-your-seat experience that lingers with you long after the game is over.
7. Alan Wake II
If there's one game that proves that a sequel can exceed its predecessor, it's Alan Wake II. Its live-action sequences and narrative structure make it an enthralling experience reminiscent of watching a procedural drama, while its universe perfectly expands on the narrative from the original Alan Wake, as well as that of its related game, Control. While the titular character, Wake—an author whose writing has the power to shape his reality—is a key player, the game also features a story following FBI agent Saga Anderson as she and her partner investigate ritualistic murders in Bright Falls.
The game's developers, Remedy Entertainment, have never denied the influence of Twin Peaks on the universe of Alan Wake, and that inspiration really shines through in this installment of the franchise. Despite being a survival horror game, there's a surreal tint over the whole experience, which is perhaps felt most acutely when in Anderson's "Mind Palace" or Wake's "Writer's Room," which give players the opportunity to inspect and manipulate information free from the dangers of the outside world. Which, if we're being realistic, are abundant.