Follow Us
When the lights go out and silence fills your room, there’s nothing more thrilling than the echo of footsteps that aren’t yours — or the whisper that seems to come from behind you. That’s the magic of horror gaming.
If you love the adrenaline rush of facing your fears, the world of horror games in 2025 is better — and scarier — than ever. From psychological thrillers that toy with your mind to survival experiences that test your courage, these titles are designed to make you question every shadow.
So grab your headphones, turn off the lights, and let’s dive into the 27 best horror games to play in the dark in 2025.
1. Alan Wake 2
Developer: Remedy Entertainment
Genre: Psychological Horror / Action Thriller
Alan Wake 2 is a masterpiece of storytelling and atmosphere. You play as Alan Wake, a novelist trapped in a nightmare realm, and FBI agent Saga Anderson, investigating supernatural murders in Bright Falls. The story unfolds like a psychological maze — full of eerie forests, flickering lights, and dark entities.
The game’s lighting system is revolutionary — shadows feel alive, and every beam of light becomes your only weapon against the darkness. The combination of tension, cinematic storytelling, and disturbing imagery makes Alan Wake 2 a true psychological horror experience you shouldn’t miss.
Why play it in the dark?
Because the game’s visuals are designed for darkness. Every flicker of light feels like hope — and every second of silence feels like death approaching.
2. Alien: Isolation
Developer: Creative Assembly
Genre: Survival Horror / Sci-Fi
Alien: Isolation is not just a game; it’s a test of your patience and nerves. Set fifteen years after Ridley Scott’s Alien, you play as Amanda Ripley, daughter of Ellen Ripley, searching for her missing mother aboard the derelict Sevastopol space station.
What makes this game terrifying is its AI-driven Xenomorph — a creature that hunts you, learns your patterns, and never stops. You can’t kill it; you can only hide and hope it doesn’t hear your breathing.
Why it’s iconic:
Every step echoes in the empty corridors. Every door hiss makes you freeze. The sound design alone can raise your heart rate — especially with headphones in the dark.
3. Tooth and Claw’s Library
Developer: Indie Horror Studio
Genre: Psychological / Puzzle Horror
A new indie title gaining attention in 2025, Tooth and Claw’s Library traps you in an ancient library where every book hides a cursed story. You solve riddles, piece together lost pages, and confront ghostly librarians who seem to know your past.
The game’s hand-painted visuals and ambient whispers create a deeply immersive environment that grows more sinister the longer you stay.
Why it stands out:
Its slow-burn horror builds dread through curiosity — a rare blend of intellect and fear.
4. Amnesia: The Bunker
Developer: Frictional Games
Genre: Survival Horror / Psychological Horror
Set during World War I, Amnesia: The Bunker throws you into a claustrophobic nightmare. You awaken alone in a dark bunker, with limited light and a mysterious creature hunting you. The environment is semi-open, meaning danger can come from any direction.
Your only safety tool is a hand-cranked flashlight — which makes noise. Managing fear, noise, and limited resources creates constant psychological tension.
In the dark:
Every flick of your flashlight feels like a heartbeat — bright, brief, and fading fast.
5. The Mortuary Assistant
Developer: DarkStone Digital
Genre: Psychological / Simulation Horror
Ever wondered what working in a mortuary feels like after midnight? The Mortuary Assistant answers that question in the most terrifying way possible. You play as an assistant tasked with embalming the dead — but some bodies have darker secrets.
The game’s real-time haunt system ensures every playthrough is unique. Demonic voices, whispers, and hallucinations appear randomly, creating genuine unpredictability.
Why it’s terrifying:
It blurs the line between routine and ritual. You never know whether you’re performing a job… or a possession.
6. Dead Space (2023 Remake)
Developer: Motive Studio
Genre: Sci-Fi / Survival Horror
The Dead Space remake is everything fans hoped for — and more. Set aboard the USG Ishimura, you play as Isaac Clarke, an engineer trying to survive against monstrous Necromorphs.
The updated visuals and reworked sound design make the game scarier than ever. You can hear creatures crawling through vents, whispering Isaac’s name, and tearing through steel.
Best part:
Its new “Intensity Director” system dynamically adjusts scares — meaning no two moments feel the same.
7. Little Nightmares
Developer: Tarsier Studios
Genre: Puzzle Platformer / Psychological Horror
Little Nightmares looks like a fairytale gone wrong. You play as Six, a small child in a yellow raincoat, navigating a twisted world of grotesque adults and impossible spaces.
The game’s childlike perspective amplifies the horror — making everyday objects feel gigantic and deadly. Its art design is chillingly beautiful, and the ending lingers long after the credits roll.
Why it’s special:
It proves that horror doesn’t need blood — only atmosphere and imagination.
8. The Outlast Trials
Developer: Red Barrels
Genre: Multiplayer / Survival Horror
The Outlast series is back — and this time, you don’t have to suffer alone. The Outlast Trials takes you to a Cold War facility where human subjects are tortured under the guise of psychological experiments.
Whether you play solo or with friends, the game’s gruesome visuals, eerie sounds, and unpredictable AI make every moment feel unsafe.
Why play it in 2025:
Because it combines cooperative chaos with deep terror — and no one escapes unscarred.
9. Phasmophobia
Developer: Kinetic Games
Genre: Multiplayer / Ghost Hunting
A global sensation, Phasmophobia is a ghost-hunting simulator that turns paranormal investigation into pure fear. You and your team enter haunted houses to identify ghost types using tools like EMF readers, spirit boxes, and cameras.
The genius lies in its use of voice recognition — the ghosts actually respond to your voice. Whisper their name, and they might whisper back.
Play it in VR for ultimate terror.
10. The Complex: Expedition
Developer: DreamCore Interactive
Genre: Sci-Fi / Survival Horror
Imagine exploring a deserted research facility with something alive — and hungry — inside. The Complex: Expedition combines isolation, suspense, and scientific horror in a way few games do.
The deeper you go, the more reality itself seems to bend. Flickering lights, time distortions, and cryptic messages make you question your sanity.
Why it’s haunting:
It’s a journey into the unknown — with every door hiding something you wish you never found.
11. Resident Evil 2 (2019 Remake)
Developer: Capcom
Genre: Survival Horror
Even years later, Resident Evil 2 remains one of the best horror games ever made. Following Leon Kennedy and Claire Redfield in their desperate escape from zombie-infested Raccoon City, it offers the perfect mix of survival, puzzles, and cinematic storytelling.
The tension never fades — especially with Mr. X stalking you in real-time, his heavy footsteps echoing down dark corridors.
Why play it now:
It’s a modern horror classic that still feels fresh and terrifying.
12. Signalis
Developer: rose-engine
Genre: Retro / Psychological Horror
A pixel-art gem, Signalis blends science fiction and existential horror. You play as Elster, a humanoid searching for her lost partner in a derelict facility.
Despite its minimalist visuals, the game’s atmosphere, music, and cryptic narrative create deep emotional unease.
It’s eerie, beautiful, and utterly unforgettable.
13. SOMA
Developer: Frictional Games
Genre: Psychological Horror / Sci-Fi
Frictional Games created a masterpiece with SOMA. Set in an underwater base after a catastrophic event, you uncover horrifying truths about identity and consciousness.
Unlike other horror titles, SOMA focuses on existential dread rather than jump scares. Its story makes you question what it truly means to be human.
Why it’s still worth playing:
It’s a rare horror game that terrifies your mind, not just your heart.
14. Until Dawn
Developer: Supermassive Games
Genre: Interactive Drama / Survival Horror
Until Dawn turns horror into a cinematic experience. You control eight teenagers trapped in a mountain cabin, hunted by something unspeakable. Every decision you make affects who lives and who dies.
The branching storylines and photorealistic performances make it a perfect choice for friends to play together in the dark.
One wrong choice can kill your favorite character.
15. Sylvio 2
Developer: Stroboskop
Genre: Exploration Horror
A hidden gem in the indie horror scene, Sylvio 2 lets you play as a ghost recorder exploring haunted areas to capture voices from the afterlife.
Its slow pace, eerie silence, and unique ghost voice mechanic create a feeling of creeping dread rather than loud terror.
Perfect for players who love subtle, psychological scares.
16. Observation
Developer: No Code
Genre: Sci-Fi / Psychological Horror
You’re not the survivor — you’re the system. In Observation, you play as an AI assisting a stranded astronaut. But as the story unfolds, something strange begins controlling you.
The game’s clever perspective shift makes you feel both powerful and helpless, and the atmosphere of isolation in space is genuinely chilling.
17. The Blackout Club
Developer: Question
Genre: Co-op / Stealth Horror
A group of teenagers investigates strange events in their small town. What they discover is a supernatural entity controlling the adults.
Combining stealth, teamwork, and mystery, The Blackout Club offers a thrilling multiplayer horror experience — perfect for groups that want story-driven scares.
18. Lethal Company
Developer: Zeekerss
Genre: Multiplayer / Comedy Horror
Don’t let the memes fool you — Lethal Company is both hilarious and terrifying. You and your friends explore abandoned industrial complexes to collect valuables while avoiding grotesque monsters.
Its voice chat integration, random scares, and unpredictable AI make it one of 2025’s most streamed horror games.
19. The Walking Dead: Saints and Sinners
Developer: Skydance Interactive
Genre: VR Survival Horror
Step into the apocalypse like never before with this immersive VR experience. You scavenge for resources, fight walkers, and make moral choices that shape your survival story.
Why it’s terrifying in VR:
Every swing of your weapon, every sound, every scream feels real.
20. Silent Hill 2 Remake
Developer: Bloober Team / Konami
Genre: Psychological Horror
The Silent Hill 2 Remake brings back one of the greatest horror stories ever told. You play as James Sunderland, drawn to the foggy town after receiving a letter from his dead wife.
The remake enhances everything — visuals, sound, and emotional storytelling — while preserving the original’s haunting soul.
This isn’t just horror; it’s heartbreak in fog.
21. The Headliners
A fresh indie title in 2025, The Headliners mixes media paranoia and supernatural conspiracy. You play as a news editor discovering broadcasts that predict real-world deaths.
Each night grows more surreal as you question whether you’re reporting the news — or causing it.
It’s hauntingly modern and disturbingly relevant.
22. Slay the Princess – The Pristine Cut
Developer: Black Tabby Games
Genre: Visual Novel / Psychological Horror
A fairytale turned nightmare. You’re told to slay a princess locked in a cabin — but she’s not what she seems. Every dialogue choice changes the story, revealing new horrors and alternate realities.
Why it’s terrifying:
The horror lies in morality — every choice feels wrong, no matter what you do.
23. REPO
Developer: NeonLung Studios
Genre: Cyberpunk Horror
In a dystopian future, debt collectors harvest organs as payment. You play as one such “repo” agent, torn between duty and conscience.
Its neon-lit world, body horror, and emotional depth make it one of the most original horror titles of the year.
24. Look Outside
A minimalist yet spine-chilling indie horror. You’re home alone, and someone — or something — is watching you from the window.
Short, tense, and beautifully executed, Look Outside delivers pure paranoia in under an hour.
Best played alone at 2 a.m.
25. Cronos: The New Dawn
A cosmic horror experience set on a dying planet. You uncover alien relics that warp reality and reveal humanity’s insignificance.
Its combination of Lovecraftian storytelling and sci-fi mystery creates a heavy, unsettling sense of cosmic dread.
Perfect for fans of SOMA and Dead Space.
26. Luto
Developer: Broken Bird Games
Genre: Psychological Horror
A deeply emotional journey through grief and depression. Luto explores how mental illness can trap you in a never-ending nightmare.
Its surreal environments and poetic storytelling make it one of the most thought-provoking horror games of 2025.
27. No, I’m Not a Human
Developer: Unknown Indie Studio
Genre: Existential / Abstract Horror
A strange and unsettling game that plays with perception, identity, and self-awareness. You slowly realize that you might not be who — or what — you think you are.
Why it’s unforgettable:
It challenges your sense of reality, making you question where the game ends and you begin.
Final Thoughts
The world of horror gaming in 2025 proves one thing: fear never goes out of style. Whether you prefer creeping dread, psychological terror, or chaotic multiplayer screams, these 27 best horror games to play in the dark offer every shade of fear imaginable.
So, turn off the lights, put on your headphones, and let the darkness welcome you — because sometimes, the best way to face your fears is to play them.
FAQs
1. What is the scariest horror game to play in 2025?
Alan Wake 2, Amnesia: The Bunker, and Silent Hill 2 Remake stand out as the scariest horror games of 2025. They combine deep psychological elements, cinematic visuals, and unpredictable tension that keep players terrified from start to finish.
2. Which horror game is best for playing with friends?
If you love multiplayer experiences, Phasmophobia, The Outlast Trials, and Lethal Company are perfect. They mix teamwork, chaos, and fear, ensuring no two sessions are ever the same.
3. Are there horror games suitable for beginners?
Yes, Until Dawn and Little Nightmares are ideal for newcomers. They focus more on storytelling and atmosphere than complex gameplay, making them accessible yet deeply immersive horror experiences.
4. Which horror game has the most emotional story?
Silent Hill 2 Remake and SOMA offer profoundly emotional narratives. They explore human guilt, memory, and identity while delivering psychological terror that stays with you long after you finish playing.
5. What’s the best VR horror experience in 2025?
The Walking Dead: Saints and Sinners continues to dominate VR horror. Its lifelike mechanics, immersive storytelling, and realistic combat make it feel like you’re truly fighting for survival in a decaying world.
