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The 20 Best Horror Games Of The Last 20 Years

From Dead Space to Alien: Isolation, we’ve gathered the scariest games since the turn of the millennium

kotaku.com

Horror games scare you in ways that nothing else can. The tactility of their terror and the immersiveness of their worlds can make it hard for scaredy cats to even give one a chance, let alone get through it. Beating a horror game is one of the most triumphant feelings you can experience as a gamer, as it marks not only your prowess with a controller, but your impressive intestinal fortitude. Maybe you're one of the brave souls comfortable with playing games that terrify you, or you're trying to overcome your fear and delve into a horror title you've only heard of, but never dared to play. That's what this list is for, to point you towards the best horror games of the last 20 years.

The List

Spoiler

Alien: Isolation (2014)
Haunting Ground (2005)
Phasmophobia (2020)
Silent Hill 2 (2024)
Alan Wake 2 (2023)
999: Nine Hours, Nine Persons, Nine Doors (2009)
Resident Evil 7 (2017)
Little Nightmares 2 (2021)
Dead Space (2008)
P.T. (2014)
Condemned: Criminal Origins (2005)
Until Dawn (2015)
Slay The Princess (2023)
Doom 3 (2004)
Signalis (2022)
Slender (2012)
Devotion (2019)
Mundaun (2019)
INSIDE (2016)
Amnesia: The Bunker (2023)

 

[Fake]

Can we ban Kotaku from here?

 

[Dr.Morris79]

No Soma

Thought as much from that piss farm. Probably didn't even finish it.

 

[solidus12]

No Siren Blood Curse?

 

[Edder1]

No Soma

Thought as much from that piss farm. Probably didn't even finish it.

Soma wasn't a very good game, it's saving grace was the narrative that was also uneven in places. Overall interesting concept, but the game mechanics were very shallow, while the whole hiding from monsters game mechanic just not fitting in the overall mood of the game.

What they needed to do was make the game revolve around world exploration and solving puzzles, and also give you some tools to fight against the bad guys. Amnesia the Bunker showed that Frictional are capable of top tier gameplay, so hopefully they can blend storytelling they are known for and mix it up with interesting gameplay like they did in Amnesia the Bunker.

 

[TheInfamousKira]

 

[Flabagast]

No SOMA makes this a pretty trash list

 

[XXL]

The best horror games are all VR games.

RE4 VR
RE7 VR
Alien Isolation VR mod

 

[RoboCain]

I'm curious about horror games people. Please post your own lists.

 

[Rush2112]

Amnesia: the bunker over dark descent? Also, I always thought outlast had a massive influence on moving the genre to mainstream.

 

[Shake Your Rump]

I didn’t even know 999 was a horror game!

I haven’t played many, but resident evil 7 was decent. Until Dawn was fantastic. The Quarry, however, is the worst “game” inaccessible ever experienced.

 

[Rickyiez]

The Evil Within, helo?

 

[ssringo]

Haunting Ground (2005)

Odd choice. Not because I don't think it couldn't make someone's top 20 horror games or whatever. But the little blurb about the game reads like someone googled the game to get a bit of info (and that gamer cred) instead of having first hand experience. Especially compared to the other entries that the guy wrote. Like, they mention "solving puzzles" but not that failing many of these puzzles or otherwise making mistakes result in a fairly large variety of gruesome deaths; amplified by you not seeing what actually happens but instead fairly effective shots of blood pooling, screaming, sounds of bodily harm, maniacal laughter, etc.

 

[Vick]

P.T. is there and that's all that matters, Silent Hill 2 is there, Alien: Isolation is there. List is valid.

Resident Evil 7 (VR) is also there, one Amnesia is there. Dead Space is there.. even though, while loving DS, DS2 and DSR to death, I never really found them scary.

Only really missing one for me is Resident Evil 2 Remake, although at least part of the terrifying experience was probably due to my first run being on Hardcore.

 

[TheDarkPhantom]

Ahh yes, another list for everyone to complain about. Some thoughts:

- P.T is probably the scariest thing I've ever played

- The Evil Within is the best survival horror of the past 10 years and one of the best ever, not being on the list is criminal

- SOMA should be there

- Darkwood is a scarier then 75% of the games on that list, very cool indie title

- happy to see Signalis and Inside get some love though I didn't find either of them "scary"

- 999 is not a horror game lmao

- Silent Hill 2 remake is an instant classic and is mandatory in any top 5 list from now until eternity

 

[DarkstarRising13]

Since when has Kotaku been the prime source for gaming news?

 

[Tajaz2426]

Where is that Outlast game or whatever where you the reporter dude?

Quick Sea story time folks, been around the world over 6 times on deployments and 3 of those to the “Suck”. I don’t scare easily and when I returned in 12-13 from a pump I got this game.

It scared the shit out of me and jumped so hard at one point at the beginning I hoped back into the wall so hard my head indented and my head mate started beating on the door thinking something happened.

How is this not in the Top 20? Ludicrous.

 

[Arachnid]

TBH I appreciate the fact that they chose one game from each franchise instead of throwing in 3 Amnesias or REs (with the exception of PT and SH2; tbh a tech demo like PT shouldn't be on the list of tops). That said...

Cry of Fear?
Evil within?
Bloodborne?
Outlast Whistleblower?
Darkwood?
Dying Light 1?
Soma?
The Last of Us 2? (I get there's controversy here, but it had some god tier horror sections)
Siren?

Have we really been so barren with horror games that 999 and PT are in the top of the last two decades?

 

[TwinB242]

I had to rub my eyes multiple times to make sure I wasn't hallucinating when I noticed that Soma wasn't on the list.

 

[Shrap]

Outlast's influence alone makes it a must for this list, especially when the 5 minute pile of shit that is Slender is on there. And Outlast happens to be a legitimately great game that still holds up.

The Bunker is not even close to The Dark Descent. It went for the Alien Isolation formula while Dark Descent pioneered a whole new style of horror game at the time.

Soma has possibly the greatest story of any horror game and creates a sense of existential dread unlike anything else. To not include it is criminal.

Inside is not a horror game nor is 999. Drop them. Little Nightmares I can kinda see but I'd still say it's more of a puzzle platformer with a horror theme.

 

[Vick]

The best horror games are all VR games.

VR impact cannot be overstated. It can legit turn a 5-6/10 horror experience, even in a Home Theatre with pure-black panel and perfecr near-black performance, to a 10/10 heart attack inducing nightmare.

But not all "best horror" are VR.

Spoiler

The original upload of this legendary video being deleted from YT is a crime. Not as real as P.T. and Silent Hills being cancelled, but a crime stll.

P.T. is, and always will be, the best horror game

Always, forever, unto the end of time

www.polygon.com

"It's the scariest game ever made": how game hacker Lance McDonald is uncovering P.T.’s hidden secrets

News, reviews and opinions on the biggest video games.

www.vg247.com

P.T. is still the purest horror game around, and one of the smartest on PS4

P.T. is the smartest game on PS4. Here's why...

www.gamesradar.com

Here’s what it’s like to play the scariest game ever made — which isn’t even available to buy

It's Halloween! Get into the spirit and watch our coworker get frightened playing this mysterious game.

www.businessinsider.com

Still you have a point, as I genuinely believe the last and randomly generated portion of P.T. in VR could likely and unironically cause real deaths.

Resident Evil 7 is VR was so damn transformative, even its simple Kitchen Demo is almost unbearable to sit through.

 

[Laptop1991]

No, FEAR, although it's Kotaku so no surprise there lol.

 

[Salz01]

Inside is a horror game?

 

[Kacho]

The Evil Within is the best survival horror of the past 10 years and one of the best ever, not being on the list is criminal

Curious why you think that. I thought the gameplay was kind of bad, and the game felt like a mess structurally with a nonsense storyline. I will give credit to the big bad monster though, forget his name. He was creepy as hell and his ability to hide was genius.

Edit: The Kepper/Box head


I think the second game is scarier, or specifically that Grudge woman that would show up randomly. Instant pause and walk away encounters.

Edit: Anima


That’s it I’m replaying both of these games.

 

[Nickolaidas]

"Kotaku-"

Stopped reading right there.

"by Alyssa Merc-"

Really, REALLY stopped reading right there.

 

[fart town usa]

list is shit without this.

Spoiler: spoiler

 

[peek]

Can we ban Kotaku from here?

What?? Why? Its free entertainment xD

 

[TheDarkPhantom]

Curious why you think that. I thought the gameplay was kind of bad, and the game felt like a mess structurally with a nonsense storyline

The gameplay is as good as - if not better than - any Resident Evil (and superior to SH), level design and variety is amongst the best the genre has ever seen. Narrative is one of the strongest elements though it can be confusing leading to many not "getting" it. The match mechanics are a brilliant gameplay mechanic with the duality of opening up secrets vs using them to burn corpses ensuring your safety. There are many moments in this game that are still crystal clear in my memory though I haven't played it since release. Ch. 9 in particular is a highlight, the mansion you explore being one of the all-time great levels in this genre of game. Fantastic bosses (The Keeper easily rivals Pyramid Head, arguably better) round out what is a generous package, I remember clocking 20+ hours on my first playthrough. Overall I consider it another Mikami masterpiece, was really only technical issues that marred the experience at release (for me).

TEW2 is fucking fantastic too. Though not directed by Mikami (he produced) it continues the vibe established in the first game, introduces some legendary new monstrosities (like the girl you mentioned, a monster who earned her spot in the survival-horror hall of fame...) and experiments with some open-world type levels that had some of the coolest, most intense emergent gameplay moments I've experienced in my nearly 40 years of hardcore gaming.

At the end of the day much of this is subjective though the metacritic on TEW is astonishingly low, STEAM has it at a 9/10 with 18,211 positive reviews, that is more in line with reality, the game is *at least* a 9 for me.

Edit: and how could I forget the GOAT-tier save room music:

 

[jshackles]

I'm so torn on this list running the gamut from P.T. (awesome) to 999 (wtf) that I have to believe this was only ever meant to be rage bait

 

[bender]

I'm so torn on this list running the gamut from P.T. (awesome) to 999 (wtf) that I have to believe this was only ever meant to be rage bait

999 is great.

I'd take the original Amnesia over anything Frictional did afterwards and especially Soma (I know people like the story, which not for me is appreciable, but the game itself isn't scary at all).

 

[violence]

No RE4 remake? Yeah ok.

 

[SkylineRKR]

I think they avoided Remakes. There is no RE2R on this list too.

But SH2, PT, RE VII, Alien Isolation are there. Its not bad really. Even Condemned.

 

[violence]

I think they avoided Remakes. There is no RE2R on this list too.

But SH2, PT, RE VII, Alien Isolation are there. Its not bad really. Even Condemned.

They chose the silent Hill 2 remake. Seems like they’re choosing one per franchise as well, but that was not stated.

 

[DeepEnigma]

AW2 over Outlast on the list for horror?

Nah.

 

[Danjin44]

Can we ban Kotaku from here?

No, this place is not resetera.....just dont click on the article.

 

[Yoshi97]

Is resident evil 4 not a horror game?

 

[Dr.Morris79]

Soma wasn't a very good game

 

[Kacho]

The gameplay is as good as - if not better than - any Resident Evil (and superior to SH), level design and variety is amongst the best the genre has ever seen. Narrative is one of the strongest elements though it can be confusing leading to many not "getting" it. The match mechanics are a brilliant gameplay mechanic with the duality of opening up secrets vs using them to burn corpses ensuring your safety. There are many moments in this game that are still crystal clear in my memory though I haven't played it since release. Ch. 9 in particular is a highlight, the mansion you explore being one of the all-time great levels in this genre of game. Fantastic bosses (The Keeper easily rivals Pyramid Head, arguably better) round out what is a generous package, I remember clocking 20+ hours on my first playthrough. Overall I consider it another Mikami masterpiece, was really only technical issues that marred the experience at release (for me).

TEW2 is fucking fantastic too. Though not directed by Mikami (he produced) it continues the vibe established in the first game, introduces some legendary new monstrosities (like the girl you mentioned, a monster who earned her spot in the survival-horror hall of fame...) and experiments with some open-world type levels that had some of the coolest, most intense emergent gameplay moments I've experienced in my nearly 40 years of hardcore gaming.

At the end of the day much of this is subjective though the metacritic on TEW is astonishingly low, STEAM has it at a 9/10 with 18,211 positive reviews, that is more in line with reality, the game is *at least* a 9 for me.

Edit: and how could I forget the GOAT-tier save room music:

Perhaps I was too harsh. I’m enjoying TEW1 despite the flaws.

 

[CLW]

Can we ban Kotaku from here?

 

[nial]

No Siren Blood Curse?

This, but SIREN 2.

It sure as hell deserved a spot more than fucking Doom 3.

 

[Killer8]

Alyssa Mercante is clinically retarded yet even she can recognize the superiority of Dead Space (2008) over its remake.

 

[AeonGaidenRaiden]

Again with this PT bullshit. PT was a looping hallway demo that lasted 30 minutes., its not a game.

 

[Angry_Megalodon]

The list is a joke without Soma, Resident Evil Remake, or Eternal Darkness. Siren, arguably.

 

[Vandole]

No Zombie U? No Lone Survivor? Well that's a damn shame.

 

[hemo memo]

P.T is not a game.

 

[kubricks]

Fuck Kotaku

 

[Evil Calvin]

P.T. is there and that's all that matters, Silent Hill 2 is there, Alien: Isolation is there. List is valid.

Resident Evil 7 (VR) is also there, one Amnesia is there. Dead Space is there.. even though, while loving DS, DS2 and DSR to death, I never really found them scary.

Only really missing one for me is Resident Evil 2 Remake, although at least part of the terrifying experience was probably due to my first run being on Hardcore.

PT is a 'playable teaser' not a full game

 

[Mozzarella]

Why do journalist suck off P.T so hard? is it because it was made by the Kojima?

 

[NeverYouMind]

The gameplay is as good as - if not better than - any Resident Evil (and superior to SH), level design and variety is amongst the best the genre has ever seen. Narrative is one of the strongest elements though it can be confusing leading to many not "getting" it. The match mechanics are a brilliant gameplay mechanic with the duality of opening up secrets vs using them to burn corpses ensuring your safety. There are many moments in this game that are still crystal clear in my memory though I haven't played it since release. Ch. 9 in particular is a highlight, the mansion you explore being one of the all-time great levels in this genre of game. Fantastic bosses (The Keeper easily rivals Pyramid Head, arguably better) round out what is a generous package, I remember clocking 20+ hours on my first playthrough. Overall I consider it another Mikami masterpiece, was really only technical issues that marred the experience at release (for me).

I played it two days ago and it has far more than technical difficulties. The only two weapons that work consistently as expected are the bolt thrower and grenade. Beyond that every weapon has issues. The bolt crafting pretty much breaks the game outside of mandatory sniper sections and Saw-tier trap disarming marathons. Some levels are cool but so many are just a waste of time. Chapter 9 has interesting narrative elements but random Ruvik insta-death tag sessions requiring lapping him into boredom are pretty bad. The transition areas at the end also make no sense and waste time. Only part of the game that felt fun was the giant spider chase. Apartment hopping between dilapidated buildings was neat though.

 

[TheDarkPhantom]

Only part of the game that felt fun was the giant spider chase.

Cool story, bro