Horror is quite a subjective genre where it comes with different styles, can be portrayed in a variety of ways, and brings a different level of fear to each player. All that said, the truth behind what makes a good horror game is something that may differ between users, which is why it is great to see the game industry flooded with options! This year alone we have seen a lot of awesome horror games and there are even more to come. Here’s a quick list, in no particular order, so you can get in on all the latest scares out there!
THE MORTUARY ASSISTANT
As a new apprentice in the River Fields Mortuary, you have put in months of hands-on practice with the mortician. Late one night, you get a call asking for you to take care of a few embalmings that had come in as the mortician was feeling under the weather. Realizing this is your moment to prove you’re worthy of becoming a mortician of your own, you head in to handle the task.
However, while you are here, it seems that something is different. Perhaps it’s the bodies… perhaps it’s something about yourself. It isn’t long into the night shift that you get a call from the mortician and learn the truth. Now, knowing that you aren’t able to leave, you must finish the job you came to do and try to survive!
Fear Scale: 9/10
Type: Defenseless
Our Review: 9.5/10 - read here
The Mortuary Assistant is now available on PC via Steam and they are making a movie out of this title!
GHOSTWIRE: TOKYO
After finding himself in a car accident, Akito soon finds himself to be possessed by a spirit who goes by the name KK. Immediately after the possession that ultimately saved his life, Akito witnesses a white fog engulf the city and make everybody it touches vanish. In the fog walks an army of spiritual aggressors who are entering the world of the living.
Thanks to his newfound connection with KK, who turns out to be a detective not ready to give up on a mission to stop Hannya - the one behind the blending of spiritual and living worlds, Akito remains the last remaining human in the city. This realization springs him to check on his sister Mari who is in the hospital. There he will learn that his sister is the key soul that Hannya needed to complete his goal.
Now he must learn to control the powers he has gained through his connection with KK, master the ability to use them in a fight, and take down those who stand in the way of saving his sister! Conveniently, this goal lines up with KK’s who is hellbent on stopping Hannya at all costs. But will they be able to stop his plans and save Mari in time? Can they even survive long enough to get to him?
Fear Scale: 5/10
Type: Action-Adventure
Our Review: 9/10 - read here
Ghostwire: Tokyo is now available for PC via Steam and PlayStation 5.
MARTHA IS DEAD
Twin sisters, Guilia and Martha, grew up in 1940’s Italy. In the midst of war with a father that is an army General and a mother that acts much more strict than their father, it isn’t an easy childhood. For whatever reason, their mother grew fond of Martha and blamed everything she could on Guilia. Perhaps it was because Martha was deaf, but the bias was apparent.
One late evening while Guilia was taking pictures by the lake, she saw a body in the water! Once she brought them ashore, she saw that it was her sister Martha. In a small state of shock, she took her necklace that said Martha and put it on just before her parents arrive at the scene. Confusing Guilia to be Martha and their deceased daughter to be Guilia, she now finds herself in the awkward position of pretending that she is Martha - the beloved deaf daughter.
Now, she battles her guilt while trying to find the answer to many questions. Who killed Martha? What really happened by the lake that morning? Why was Martha in Guilia’s dress? How long can she pretend to be Martha? These personal battles rage within while the war around their country trickles through their lives as well. Can she survive long enough to find any of the answers? Does she even want to, or better yet deserve to, live?
Fear Scale: 6/10
Type: Defenseless, Exploration
Our Review: 8.5/10 - read here
Martha Is Dead is now available on PC via Steam, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S.
DYING LIGHT 2 STAY HUMAN
Following the closure of the first game, the world’s scientists had managed to find a way to bring the pandemic to an end. However, they didn’t want to stop at simply containing the virus; they wanted to do more with it. So, in secret, they continued to run tests and eventually weaponized the virus. This turned out to be a drastic mistake that quickly lead to another outbreak.
Improved and volatile, the virus spread faster than before and quickly ran rampant throughout the world. Bringing the world to an end and leaving only a handful of cities still surviving, only maintaining their humanity through scrutinizing situations. Forcing everybody to remain within the light during the day and living near a constant flow of UV lamps at night and indoors, the remaining survivors did everything they could to stay human.
Players take on the role of Aiden, a wanderer (which is called a ‘Pilgrim’ in-game) that has no true home and is on a mission to find his sister. Separated when they were children at the start of the pandemic, finding Mia has been his only focus in his travels. All of his information has led him to this city and here he must earn the trust of the people if he wants to get the information and help he needs to find his sister.
Fear Scale: 4/10
Type: Action-Adventure
Our Review: 9.5/10 - read here
Dying Light 2 Stay Human is available now on PC via Steam and Epic Games, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S.
EYES IN THE DARK
The action of the game takes place inside the mysterious and ever-changing Bloom Manor. As Victoria arrives for a visit to her grandfather, she discovers the mansion has been overridden with dark, monstrous creatures. Armed with a flashlight, she makes he way through the attic and into the manor proper. She finds her grandfather, only for him to be snatched up by the eldritch forces that have taken the house for their own. It is up to Victoria to venture through Bloom Manor, defeat the monstrous Guardians, and rescue her grandpa.
Fear Scale: 3/10
Type: Roguelite
Our Review: 9/10 - read here
Eyes in the Dark: The Curious Case of One Victoria Bloom is available now on PC via Steam and Epic Games Store.
MADISON
MADiSON’s story is heavily veiled throughout its runtime. I really don’t want to give out too much information on it as playing the game is the best way to experience it. I will say that it does a fantastic job of implementing various twists and turns to keep the story interesting. It manages to tie in ideas from various horror films such as The Babadook, Insidious, and Hereditary, intersecting in a cohesive, effective, and original way. When this game wants you to feel something narratively, it goes all-in on it. I was hooked from start to finish.
Fear Scale: 9/10
Type: Survival
Our Review: 10/10 - read here
MADiSON is available now on PC via Steam, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch.
FOBIA - ST. DINFNA HOTEL
What starts out as an investigation into what has happened to a number of people who went missing while staying in the area turns into an escape attempt from unworldly powers! Unknown as to what happened while staying in the hotel, a quick event that led to your loss of consciousness leads you to awaken in a nightmare. Now you must solve your way through a maze of debris, monsters, and confusion if you wish to ever check out of the St. Dinfna Hotel.
Fear Scale: 8/10
Type: Survival, Puzzle
Our Review: 7.5/10 - read here
Fobia - St. Dinfna Hotel is now available on PC via Steam, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S.
THE QUARRY
There are a lot of rumors and stories surrounding Hackett’s Quarry, yet another year has passed and another successful summer camp was held. Now that all the kids have gone home, the final day is here and the teenage counselors of the camp are packing up to head home themselves. However, due to the idiotic and romantically desperate decision of one of the teenagers, the car is unable to start and it is too late in the day to call for a tow truck.
Forced to spend one last night at the camp, their leader Chris Hackett tells the counselor group to lock themselves inside of the lodge and stay inside for the night before leaving the site hastily and abruptly. Naturally, a group of teenagers isn’t about to listen to the rules of their leader that isn’t even there, let alone they are going home in the morning.
Following this series of bad yet expected teenage choices, the worst night of their lives is about to begin. The problem is, they don’t even know that there is even any danger to worry about!
Fear Scale: 6/10
Type: Choice-Based Narrative, Survival
Our Review: 8.5/10 - read here
The Quarry is available now on PC via Steam, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S.
DREAD X COLLECTION 5
Dread X Collection 5 is an anthology of horror games developed by very talented indie developers. The collection includes 12 titles, each with its own unique story, gameplay, and feel. The game's “hub” is centered at Outpost 3000, which is a space-themed kid's party and play place. You are all alone and celebrating your birthday, which gives quite a creepy feeling in itself.
The Outpost 3000 serves as a metagame and a center point for hopping from game to game. It also has its own lore within the area that can be discovered the more games you play. Everything from unwanted managers, to finding comic book pages about the legendary Stranglemaw that preys on children. It is a very unique experience and offers some interesting lore while trying to unlock all the anthology titles Dread X Collection 5 offers.
The 12 horror games are all themed around “entertainment” which vary from parties to museums and even amusement parks. There is truly a wide variety of settings, all of which feel unique and frightfully entertaining. You can check out the full list of titles and a brief description of each game here.
Fear Scale: 7/10
Type: Mixed
Our Review: 8.5/10 - read here
Dread X Collection 5 is available now on PC via Steam.
THE HOUSE OF THE DEAD REMAKE
Some idiot scientist thought he could create a powerful, biogenetic creature that would follow his every command. Along the way of creating this creature, he has created countless other atrocities that didn’t quite make his cut. Now, all of the atrocities have been let loose and are killing the scientists that worked in his secret Mansion laboratory. Sent there to stop the horrors from escaping, it is up to you to put an end to his plans and take out his biogenetic creature!
Fear Scale: 3/10
Type: On-The-Rails Shooter
Our Review: 9/10 - read here
The House of the Dead Remake is now available on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam.
HONORABLE MENTIONS: COMING SOON!
Of course, the year isn’t over yet! There are still some titles to look forward to before 2023, and even just as we get into the new year. So, before you head off to pick your next scare, here are some suggested titles to look out for in the coming months:
The Dark Pictures Anthology: The Devil In Me - First Impression | Release Date
The Callisto Protocol - Release Date
Dead Space Remake - Release Date
Resident Evil 4 Remake - Release Date
Sons of the Forest - Release Date
