Horror games progressed over the years, mediocre and better ideas introduced by producers shed new light on the genre and added more thrills, until ordinary jumpscares became just ordinary jumpscares without any breath of fresh air.
Now, the popularity of horror gaming grows every year thanks to the varied and scary treatments woven into the plot, as well as graphics that can be frighteningly realistic.
We’ve ranked games that feature scary monsters, engaging and suspenseful storytelling, and dark open worlds. Are you ready?
| Game | Release | Genre | Developer | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Condemned Criminal Origins | 2006-04-11 | Action & Shooter | Monolith |
 | Resident Evil 2 Biohazard Re2 | 2019-01-25 | Action | Capcom Development Division 1 |
 | The Dark Pictures Anthology Little Hope | 2020-10-30 | Adventure | Supermassive Games |
 | Resident Evil 6 Complete | 2013-03-22 | Adventure | CAPCOM |
 | Dying Light Definitive Edition | 2015-01-26 | Adventure | Techland |
 | Dying Light 2 Reloaded Edition | 2022-02-04 | Adventure | Techland Publishing |
 | The Sinking City | 2019-06-27 | Adventure | Frogwares |
 | Left 4 Dead 2 | 2009-11-16 | Action & Shooter | Valve |
 | The Darkness II | 2012-02-09 | Action & Shooter | Digital Extremes |
 | Vampyr | 2018-06-05 | RPG | DONTNOD Entertainment |
Vampyr
| Release date: | 2018-06-05 |
| Genre: | RPG |
| Developer: | DONTNOD Entertainment |
Torn between what he can and must, the Doctor made a Hippocratic Oath, part of which is the phrase ‘First do no harm’, just before he became a vampire. The prevailing situation exacerbates his bloodlust since these are the days of the Spanish Flu in London.
The world is partly opened where your detective skills will come in handy. What does this potential victim do? What are his habits? And what new powers will you achieve by drinking his blood?
You can enter a flat only if you’re invited, there’s plenty of fighting, turning people into vampires, and progressing the skill tree. The ending depends entirely on your decisions, sometimes difficult to make.
The Darkness II
| Release date: | 2012-02-09 |
| Genre: | Action & Shooter |
| Developer: | Digital Extremes |
The comic book series served as the inspiration for the game, providing an engaging storyline. Jackie Estacado is a hitman and belongs to the mafia. His secret weapon is a deadly power known as the Darkness, manifesting as Demon Arms and supernatural abilities.
Moments will have you wondering what is true and what is not. Your tentacles rip out the hearts of victims, tore limbs, and quarter bodies, while light blurs your vision, being the weak point.
The plot is dark and twisted, constantly surprising you with something new in this FPS game. The producers have provided multiplayer mode with up to four friends to walk together through the exciting path of the hitman and his bone-chilling ways of eliminating enemies.
The Sinking City
| Release date: | 2019-06-27 |
| Genre: | Adventure |
| Developer: | Frogwares |
Secret rituals, serial killers, nightmarish monsters, an open world inspired by H.P. Lovecraft, and three game endings. A lot is going on in this game. The Oakmont city and the dark forces lurking in the obscure streets attracted a detective experiencing terrifying nightmares.
There are no markers on the map. To unravel the quests you must seek the path and clues yourself. You will traverse the world on foot, by boat or diving, and horrific entities you will hold at gunpoint with 1920s weapons.
The main character is an intriguing figure, fitting into the game’s atmosphere. As Charles W. Red, you must uncover the town’s mystery and the reason for the flood by defying disturbing visions and loss of sanity.
Resident Evil 2
| Release date: | 2019-01-25 |
| Genre: | Action |
| Developer: | Capcom Development Division 1 |
Both productions have the main characters trapped in cities controlled by the undead. These are typical survival horror games, where deciding what to take with you is difficult because of the limited inventory, and every bullet is like gold dust.
In the second part, as rookie cop Leon or a student Claire, you must find a way out of Raccoon City. Depending on which character you choose, the storyline will vary. After solving puzzles, and fighting monsters you will unlock the B Scenario.
In the sequel, you’ll follow elite agent Jill and mercenary Carlos from behind their backs. The movement speed is slightly improved here, and dodge attacks are a new feature. Through exploration, you’ll acquire essential items and discover new passages by climbing ladders or opening doors.
Left 4 Dead 2
| Release date: | 2009-11-16 |
| Genre: | Action & Shooter |
| Developer: | Valve |
The aggressive Infected overrun free-to-explore cities. There are two simple rules, survive and reach a safe room with the Survivors. Five expansive campaigns take you and your comrades-in-arms through graveyards, swamps, and various cities.
You can carry different types of equipment including dual-wielded guns, Molotov cocktails, first aid kits, or defibrillators, and you have a wide choice of game modes: Campaign, Singleplayer, Versus, Survival, and Scavenge. In each of these, your team will consist of four members.
There are new weapons and items in this installment, and in each campaign, you will meet at least one new Infected. The plus side is that the AI Director 2.0. customizes the game according to the Survivors’ performance providing an individual experience.
Explore and overcome fear
The inherent anxiety of chaotic city life (or non-life) will draw you into a life-and-death struggle, often confronting the protagonist with difficult decisions. Urban exploration is an essential element of these horror games, offering you the fun of discovering new corners of the world and unsettling spaces.