The best horror games to play in 2025

Horror games have always been part of the gaming world and are among the most popular genres. Last week, we published a selection of the best titles to play for Halloween. Malicious entities, spine-chilling scenarios, and crazy atmospheres were all part of the mix. This time, we’re offering a whole range of pure horror games, where the key words are screamers, pressure, and panic.

It’s difficult to tackle this theme without mentioning the games from Red Barrels, the studio behind the must-play Outlast and Outlast 2. These games are among the most popular horror games in the community. Although they were released in 2013 and 2017 respectively, they have stood the test of time and maintained their place on the podium. The studio decided to revamp the concept of their franchise radically with their latest installment, The Outlast Trials in 2024. Available in co-op mode, its gameplay combines action, strategy, and stealth, all under constant tension. Players must endure a series of terrifying trials, avoid sadistic enemies, and try to keep their sanity intact. There is a lobby and a character progression system, via a passive skill system. Continuously updated, a substantial amount of content already awaits those who dare to venture there. Guaranteed thrills and chills!

The famous Silent Hill 2 has been available for a year now. It’s an excellent remake of the game of the same name, originally released in 2001 on PlayStation 2. Praised by critics, this title has also allowed a whole community of gamers to discover this franchise, which had been absent from the picture for many years. Following this commercial success, new projects are currently in development. Keeping up with adventures involving firearms, Amnesia: The Bunker also offers an interesting experience, set in the trenches of World War I.

Returning to cooperative games, we present the famous Phasmophobia. The goal is to explore cursed locations and work with your team to identify the evil spirit that haunts them. Easy to learn and understand, all in a chilling atmosphere. A stratospheric success since its release in 2020, it has now sold over 20 million copies. Demonologist offers something similar, taking the concept to the extreme of directly exorcising the malevolent entity. Zort has also won over a community of players. Finally, Pacify is an enjoyable experience despite its short duration. Players must conduct investigations in several small, well-designed levels with interesting mechanics. Screams, chills, and laughter are guaranteed.

Let’s return to more traditional, one-player titles that have a slower pace, such as Visage, Song of Horror, and even Layers of Fear. These three games are well worth checking out, each with its own unique identity. For something more unusual, Signalis is played in aerial view in pixel art style. Among the Sleep lets you play as a baby searching for its mother in a very strange nightmare. Poppy Playtime is set in a unique universe and challenges players to survive the vengeful toys of an abandoned factory. Finally, if you’re brave enough to experience horror in VR, look no further than Madison and Five Nights at Freddy’s: Help Wanted. Both titles are available via SteamVR and PSVR2.

With so many interesting options, the choice is tough. Between cooperative games that offer an interesting dynamic, those with palpable tension, and titles available in VR… it’s hard to know where to start. Feel free to check out the trailers for these games below to choose your next experience, if you dare.