Horror shooters. Best horror games on pc Horror dungeon shooters
An asymmetric multiplayer horror game reminiscent of the cult movie The Thing: players locked in a location must figure out which of them is a dangerous monster masquerading as a human.
The game keeps the participants in constant tension and famously plays with genres: while the lights are on, this is a detective quest where everyone is watching each other and looking for evidence of their suspicions, but when the map plunges into darkness, the most natural action begins, where the infected try to kill normal people. Thus, good reaction and deduction skills are equally important in Deceit.
19. Slender Series
A series of games spawned by an Internet legend about an otherworldly creature called Slenderman and spawned countless clones of dubious quality with monotonous gameplay and cheap screamers.
But, regardless of the followers, the original is worthy of attention: players will have to explore the locations, look for notes scattered around it, shedding light on the secrets of the plot, and try their best not to catch the eyes of the monster. The main character is helpless in front of the monster, so when you meet him, you can only run without looking back, which makes the game very scary and tense.
18. Knock Knock
Knock-Knock (or Knock-Knock-Knock) is a horror game from the Russian studio Ice-Pick Lodge, which gave us the games Pestilence (Utopia) and Turgor. Here, gamers are invited to hold out in a mysterious house until dawn, running from room to room, turning on the lights everywhere and hiding in shelters in case of danger.
Despite the somewhat monotonous gameplay, Knock-Knock remains a rather scary game, and besides, it attracts with a pretty picture and an intriguing mysterious story.
17. Left 4 Dead Series
Left 4 Dead can hardly be called a very scary game, even if it is made in the setting of a zombie apocalypse. This is rather an exciting adventure, where four players make their way to the goal, killing hundreds of monsters.
However, there is still some suspense in the game. Some campaigns, especially at high difficulty levels, are capable of challenging, forcing you to make every effort, literally cut through the crowds of the walking dead. And, of course, one cannot but mention the meetings with the Witches - this is one hundred percent horror, even if it lasts no longer than a minute.
16. Alan Wake
A game that takes not fear, but atmosphere. The story of a writer who came to a provincial town to gain inspiration, and eventually encountered supernatural forces and lost his wife, is full of secrets and omissions, and the authentic environment and colorful characters only add to its mystery.
In Alan Wake, there are no screamers and savoring brutal murders, but the game sets the right mood, intrigues and captivates, which is often beyond the power of much scarier games.
15. The Forest
14. Dying Light
A project that constantly radically changes its gameplay, alternating between ordinary action and intense horror. It's all about the enemies: in the daytime, the epidemic-infected city is inhabited by slow zombies, which you can deal with without much effort, while at night very dangerous monsters come out to hunt, posing a mortal threat to those who did not have time to get to the shelter in time.
Of the other benefits Dying Light it is worth noting the open world, many tasks, well-developed parkour and hand-to-hand combat systems, as well as co-op and asymmetric multiplayer, in which one of the players becomes a hunter monster and tries to destroy human opponents.
13. Five Nights at Freddy's Series
Our list of the scariest games would be incomplete without an indie project that at one time simply blew up YouTube and Twitch, and also generated a lot of followers. This is about five nights at Freddy`s is the brainchild of game designer Scott Cawthon.
As it turned out, watching YouTubers and streamers squealing when they meet animatronics is very fun and interesting, so the debut game quickly went viral, and the developer released several sequels. Now the popularity of the series has come to naught, but it is definitely worth getting acquainted with it - for all the primitiveness of the game mechanics, FNAF is quite capable of challenging your self-control.
12 Dead By Daylight
An asymmetric multiplayer horror game dedicated to the confrontation between ordinary people and maniac monsters, including both completely new characters and killers known from films like Freddy Krueger or Michael Myers.
Matches in Dead By Daylight are one-on-four, but that one can easily take out all four if they don't team up and coordinate. Random level generation and the human factor make each fight unique and unrepeatable.
11. Little Nightmares
The story of a girl in a yellow raincoat who is trying to escape from the ship-womb, filled with grotesque creatures, driven only by the desire to fill up.
At first sight, Little Nightmares is an ordinary, albeit damn stylish, platformer with puzzle elements. But the further the player progresses through the story, the more shocking details of the Womb open before him, and the main character appears in a completely unexpected light. The game takes literally 4-5 hours, but even with all the transience, it will give you a lot of vivid impressions.
10. Layers of Fear
9 SOMA
A game from the creators of Penumbra and Amnesia that poses very adult, serious and even philosophical questions to the players. It's scary not from the monsters or the environment (although both are done quite well), but from the thoughts that creep into the head during and after the passage.
Otherwise, SOMA is a typical walking simulator, with a leisurely pace, rare elements of horror and beautiful locations in their gloom.
8. Amnesia Series
Another horror game with a helpless protagonist forced to hide from nightmarish monsters. Amnesia series games tell fascinating, mystical stories about people who face unexplained evil.
It is very difficult to survive when you cannot fight back the enemy, so in Amnesia you have to hide, distract the monsters, run away without looking back. The tension is replaced by real horror when the monster notices a careless player, and the protagonist's ragged breathing is drowned out by the beating of his own heart. Such an experience is remembered for a long time.
7. Outlast Series
And again, the main character, who cannot fight back the enemies. Developers can be understood: the introduction of such game mechanics is the easiest (lazy) way to make the game scary, but still, many gamers would like to not only be afraid, but also fight fears.
However, Outlast has something to praise. Here, the atmosphere of the madness of the environment into which the protagonist enters is perfectly conveyed. The mental hospital in the original and the religious community in the sequel live by their own laws and are not very welcoming to random visitors. In order not to fall into the hands of bloodthirsty madmen, you have to hide and run away, trying to see the road in pitch darkness through the lens of a video camera with a night vision device and hoping that the batteries will not run out at the most inopportune moment.
6 Alien: Isolation
One of the best horror films based on the cult universe of Aliens is the best gift for fans of the genre. The game tells the story of Amanda Ripley, the daughter of the main character of the movie saga, who goes to the Sevastopol space station to find information about her missing mother. There she finds not only information, but also a xenomorph, who gradually cracks down on all the inhabitants of the station.
The authors of Alien: Isolation have implemented one of the best AI in horror. The behavior of the Alien here cannot be predicted, it can appear anywhere and find even a well-hidden player. Playing cat and mouse with an unpredictable opponent makes the gameplay of the project very intense, but at the same time exciting.
5. Dead Space series
A cult series created (and, unfortunately, already successfully buried) by the company Electronic Arts in collaboration with Visceral Games. dead space invites players to fight Necromorphs - terrible creatures that appear thanks to an alien artifact and use corpses for their existence.
The protagonist of the series, engineer Isaac Clarke, does not stand on ceremony with monsters. He successfully transforms working tools into deadly weapons and carries in his arsenal many ways to destroy monsters. Due to this, however, at times the gameplay almost completely goes from horror to action.
4. Limbo/Inside
Two games from Playdead Studios, filled with riddles and omissions and enveloping a gloomy atmosphere of hopelessness, combined with a minimalist stylish picture. According to one theory, the action of Limbo and Inside takes place in the same universe, but the developers do not confirm (or deny) this.
As for the Limbo/Inside gameplay, both games are platform games with puzzle elements. The main character must go through a series of locations, overcome the obstacles encountered on his way and get rid of the enemies pursuing him.
3. The Evil Within Series
The brainchild of Shinji Mikami, creator resident evil, talks about the consequences of experiments with a machine that can combine people's minds and create new worlds based on them (spoiler: nothing good came of it). Main character The Evil Within - detective Sebastian Castellanos, finds himself in a creepy surreal world inhabited by zombies, ghosts and other creatures.
Mikami, with his characteristic fantasy, created a whole universe full of mysteries, secrets and hints. Understand the intricacies plot The Evil Within is no less interesting than killing the possessed. However, the gameplay in the games of the TEW series is also all right: gamers are waiting for high-quality action, alternating with stealth, the ability to upgrade the protagonist's abilities and create ammunition for weapons.
2. Resident Evil series
A famous franchise with several dozen games on various platforms, a number of books, several films and animated films.
Things haven't always been smooth sailing for the Resident Evil game line. Some horror games were not shown on the PC, others were of dubious quality, the series drastically changed direction several times. But despite all this, Resident Evil remains one of the best horror franchises in which you can find games for every taste: with an emphasis on action, with co-op, with classic "slow" gameplay and puzzles. First of all, you should pay attention to the license plates of Resident Evil 4, 5, 7, the Revelations sub-series, as well as remasters of the first issues of the series.
1. Silent Hill Series
In the first place of the top of the scariest games, we put the Silent Hill series. Inspired by various literary and film works, it plunges players into the depths of nightmares created by the subconscious of the characters. Silent Hill is a city where terrible things have happened. Silent Hill is a place that makes all the hidden fears and desires of people come true. Silent Hill is a purgatory that punishes the sins of those who deserve it.
The first trilogy is considered the best in the series. In turn, many call Silent Hill 2 the best in the trilogy - the one where the famous Pyramid Head comes from. This is not only a horror, but also a great story, the ending of which makes you think seriously. However, other issues of the series, in addition to the first three parts, are also worthy of attention. Not all of them went to the PC, but with the help of emulators, you can fill in these gaps. Alas, today the series is officially dead, and one can only hope that someday Konami decides to revive it.
Where to buy: Most of the games in the series have been withdrawn from sale on official digital services.
Worthy of attention: Call of Cthulhu: Dark Corners of the Earth, FEAR, observer, The Suffering, The Binding of Isaac, Among the Sleep, Penumbra, Darkwood, Clive Barker`s Undying, Clive Barker`s Jericho, Obscure, Lucius, The Cat Lady, Friday the 13th, Hunt: Showdown, Agony, 2Dark, Doki Doki Literature Club
In this category, those who like to tickle their nerves will find the most interesting horror shooters. Here you can have a great time shooting all sorts of monsters - zombies, vampires, demons and other evil spirits.
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Fear as a form of entertainment
People love to be afraid. Children's stories about a coffin on wheels, films about vampires, werewolves and ghosts, finally scary games on PC, in which players fight various monsters. Modern technologies allow you to create incredibly realistic projects that can truly scare gamers and give them a lot of vivid impressions.
Various scary shooters act on the imagination in different ways. Some gradually build up the atmosphere in order to shock with the element of surprise, others show bloody scenes in full detail, others limit the character in resources and ammunition so that the player cannot feel safe. Somewhere the gameplay is built on non-stop action, and somewhere you have to hide and run away from enemies that are superior in strength.
The scariest games
Our selection contains the scariest shooters for personal computers. This setting is becoming more and more popular, and even those games that did not initially have elements of horror eventually acquire separate levels and modes in which gamers can tickle their nerves. For example, a shooter available for free download, in addition to the traditional “capture the flag” and “desmatch” modes, invites gamers to take part in battles with and even try themselves in the role of the walking dead.
A scary first-person shooter takes players to a post-apocalyptic city roamed by horrific mutants and heavily armed men, seeking funds to existence.
The popular online action game covers the theme of survival in a zombie apocalypse. Here the player will always feel helpless: even if he can hide from the walking dead, he may encounter hostile other players.
is one of the best horror shooters on PC where gamers go through levels while fighting zombies and other monsters.
The list of the best scary shooters is extensive, and it is regularly updated with new releases, so you should visit this category more often for interesting game projects.
Shooters are one of the oldest genres in video games. They come out every year, and among the so-called indie projects, there are often AAA-class titans. Against the backdrop of historical battles and fantastic shootouts, the developers do not forget about horror. If you like not only to stuff your enemies with lead, but also to get scared or plunge into a gloomy atmosphere, then shooters have no particular problem with this. On the contrary, “shooters” in the horror genre come out so often that you don’t have time to try everything. Authors of the gaming section « DARKER » voted for the top five first-person shooters that have appeared since 2013.
5th place: "Cry of Fear"
Experience shows that an unofficial modification can eventually develop into something more. This happened with "". Initially, it was a modification to Half-Life, but in 2013 the developers released a full-fledged game. In it, 19-year-old Simon was hit by a car, after which the guy was chained to a wheelchair. In order to somehow cope with depression and overcome psychological trauma, he decided to write down emotions and moods in a diary - in it he did not depend on a wheelchair and once woke up in Stockholm at night. The city was completely empty. But this is only at first, because then creatures from nightmares crawled out into the streets.
The monsters of "Cry of Fear" are vaguely similar to the creatures from "", which only enhances the already creepy atmosphere. The hero constantly shoots back in the narrow aisles of the streets of Stockholm, as well as in corridors and rooms where there is not much to turn around. The fact that we play a first-person shooter, that is, we see everything through Simon's eyes and face the creatures face to face, escalates the situation. The choice of weapons is rather small and standard: a pistol, a shotgun, a rifle, and more. Even sometimes you have to resort to melee weapons. But from this "Cry of Fear" does not lose, on the contrary - it gains in credibility, which only plays into the hands of the atmosphere.
4th place: "Killing Floor 2"
This shooter is focused on a cooperative game. Six people throw on one of available cards(now there are more than a dozen of them), where they try to survive, shooting back from waves of numerous opponents. After surviving four, seven or ten attacks under the onslaught of all kinds of monsters, players must then defeat the final boss. Enemies in "Killing Floor 2" are called "experimental samples" and with each new wave there are more and more of them. Among them are zombies, mutants, berserkers, stalkers, butchers, sirens and many others. There are also special enemies, for example, there is a 100-year-old Nazi scientist. The more partners in the team, the more numerous and stronger the creature.
Of course, it would not be so interesting just to shoot back from crowds of creepy-looking enemies, however, in Killing Floor 2 there is a pumping system and buying weapons. After the end of the next wave, players have the opportunity to contact the Merchant and purchase weapons and equipment. For killing monsters, money and experience are given, which can be spent on special characteristics. There are not many of them, but they bring tangible benefits. For example, a field medic and a sniper, a demoman and an arsonist, commandos. All of them and other classes bring variety to the strategy of playing in a team. Especially considering the fact that the creatures intend to get close, since among them there is only one species with the ability to shoot.
3rd place: "Dying Light"
Polish developers from Techland have brought something new to the genre of shooter and zombie apocalypse - parkour. In "", you can try to fight off the crowd of the walking dead, but it is often easier and safer to escape by jumping from roof to roof. The fictional Mediterranean city of Harran is in the grip of an epidemic that is bringing the dead back to life. The main character - an undercover agent - finds himself in the middle of nowhere, trying to complete a mission. He joins one of the communities, which is defending itself from both zombies and bandits. And only this would be fine, but at night it’s better not to meddle in the streets of Harran at all - the number of living dead is increasing, they are becoming more aggressive, and a new type of infected appears - Jumpers. "Dying Light" can hardly be called a pure shooter, because in addition to firearms, melee weapons play a big role in it. In any case, in order to survive, the walking dead have to be shot and shredded.
The situation has changed somewhat in the large addition "". From the streets of Harran, the player was taken to the nearby countryside to unravel the mystery of the inhabitants, who are supposedly immune to the virus. The surrounding landscape is huge, it is not so easy to cross it. And although the parkour element does not play a special role, the hero now has a personal transport. On it, you can not only ram a crowd of zombies, but also shoot them right from the cockpit. If you leave the buggy, then for survival you will have everything the same as in the main part. Unless there will be some new types of weapons, among which, for example, a crossbow. Get ready to use it and other firearms in jumper nests.
2nd place: "Wolfenstein: The New Order"
The Nazis won. In such a world, the once famous soldier William Blazhkovich once came to his senses after a coma. And he began to shoot old enemies. However, in "" the enemy appeared before him more advanced in terms of technology - after all, fourteen years had passed. Nazi patrols march through the streets of the captured cities, accompanied by flying droids and mechanical dogs. The intelligence of opponents has also increased - victory will not be easy, especially since Blazhkovich can be killed with two or three shots. Of course, shooting in shooters is a fundamental element, but in Wolfenstein you will periodically have to flee and wait out the danger in cover. And while it's possible to take a machine gun or a shotgun in both hands and give the Nazis big problems, sometimes it's smarter to sneak up on a soldier from behind and stab him.
In addition "" we will be told the background. In it, Blazkowicz will go to Wolfenstein Castle to get secret documents that indicate where the Skull (the main villain) is hiding. But the castle is guarded by many soldiers, armored dogs and cyborgs with machine guns. As in the original part, it is possible to kill Nazis covertly, or you can arrange shootouts, but in this case you won’t be able to sit out, as you will be bombarded with grenades. One way or another, Blazhkovich will be able to stand up for himself - there will be a lot of weapons in his arsenal. It will also come in handy in the second chapter of the add-on, when the hero goes to excavations and encounters burning Nazi zombies.
1st place: "Doom"
In 2016, the players waited for the next part of the famous series of shooters "Doom" - in a row, but without a number in the title. And now the main character will again have to eliminate the consequences of an unsuccessful experiment on Mars, due to which a portal to Hell has opened. He will do this in his own cruel and cynical way, without mercy for the demons: he will shoot someone, break someone's skull, and saw some with a chainsaw. All this adrenaline is played - there is more than enough action, there are bloody finishing moves, there is a weapon for almost every taste.
In addition, the picture in the new "Doom" looks great and juicy. The environment is well designed and detailed. The design of the monsters did not let us down either, among which there are many familiar fiends: pinkies, revenants, mancubuses, as well as one-eyed cacodemons. The battles with huge bosses are also impressive. And for a snack, if the story mode seemed not enough for you, and you crave brutal shootings, pay attention to the multiplayer. It is not perfect, but you will not get bored in it also for the reason that there is a wonderful level editor, which means that online battles will be provided with a variety of arenas. And to make the characters somehow different from each other, the developers added a setting appearance and weapons.
Below is a selection of the top 33 Horror games for PC.
resident evil
Release date: 1996-2017
One of the most popular series that not only created the survival horror genre in the form familiar to us (the very first Resident game Evil), but also turned it upside down 2 times (in particular, the fourth and seventh parts of the series, which radically changed the usual gameplay and mechanics).
The first three parts are made in a pseudo 3D style, where three-dimensional models of characters move on static backdrops. There are few weapons and cartridges, opponents (mostly zombies and representatives of infected flora and fauna) are tenacious. The player really has to survive. The fourth, fifth and sixth parts of the franchise boast full 3D and a third-person view, a large number of weapons and opponents who, moreover, have learned to use weapons and have become somewhat wiser. The games have more action. The seventh and final part of the series is similar in spirit to the first three, but now we play in the first person, and the game itself is sharpened for a virtual reality helmet (although it plays beautifully from the monitor).
F.E.A.R.
Release date: 2005
A first-person shooter with horror elements in which we, as an operative of a special forces unit, confront a rebellious squad of cloned soldiers, and also encounter a ghostly girl named Alma. The game has 11 episodes with a rather intricate plot. Of the gameplay features, it should be noted the presence of a slow motion mode, in which the character can dodge flying bullets and move faster, thereby gaining an advantage in battle.
Separate mention is worthy of opponents who are really capable of repulsing the player here. Opponents shoot from behind cover, do not hesitate to use grenades, are able to coordinate with each other, and reload their weapons, always hiding in cover. Even today F.E.A.R. often cited as an example to other games when it comes to artificial intelligence.
Penumbra 1 and 2
Release date: First 2007 Second -2008
Genre: Survival Horror
A survival horror game with a very cool physics model, which creates a realistic sense of presence. In particular, the movements of objects are carried out not by a simple click, but by moving the cursor in a certain direction (for example, to open a door, you need to click on the handle and, as it were, pull the door towards you). There are no firearms in the game, and the entire gameplay is based on solving puzzles and fighting monsters with the help of improvised means.
The second part in terms of its gameplay has not changed much, but unlike the first part, there is more emphasis on territory exploration and tense moments. The quest component has been greatly facilitated. In fact, it all comes down to finding keys and codes, and only in some places you have to apply logic. In addition, now you just need to hide from enemies or run away from them, and not fight.
Dead Space Series
Release date: 2008-2013
A chilling trilogy, made in the genre of sci-fi survival horror, and tells about the adventures of a simple engineer Isaac Clarke, who, by the will of fate, found himself at the center of the confrontation between people and necromorphs (terrible creatures that dead people turn into under the influence of an alien signal). The mechanics of the game are somewhat reminiscent of the Resident Evil series, and the atmosphere is reminiscent of the films "Alien" and "The Thing".
We control the character with a third-person view. One of the features of the game is the presence of a variety of spacesuits that strengthen the main character and give him various bonuses. There is also the possibility of improving items using a workbench. There are many varieties of monsters, and each appearance is often able to scare the player so well. In the third part, a cooperative for two people was introduced, while the plot in this case will be slightly changed.
LIMBO
Release date: 2010
An exciting puzzle platformer with horror elements in which we, as a boy, find ourselves in a creepy other world where we need to find our sister. In fact, this is a two-dimensional side-scroller with an excellent physics engine, thanks to which our protagonist can move objects in the environment. Also, our character can run, jump, climb vines, etc.
The gameplay of the game is based on the so-called "trial and death" method, when due to one wrong action the character dies and the player has to start from the last checkpoint. Moreover, there are a lot of traps and all kinds of ways to kill the protagonist here. The project was highly appreciated by critics, journalists and the players themselves, in addition, he received many awards, including for his visual style.
Amnesia: The Dark Descent
Release date: 2010
Genre: survival horror
A very atmospheric survival horror from the creators of the Penumbra series, in which notes of past games of the company are guessed, but Amnesia is more convenient and friendly for players. The player here will have to solve various puzzles in most cases, and meeting the enemy face to face is fraught with loss (so you often have to run and hide). Interaction with objects almost completely copies the performance model from previous studio games.
An interesting feature of the project is that the AI of the opponents adapts to the player. Those. artificial intelligence will always be reasonably smart, but not so smart that you can't go further. Although deaths here you most likely cannot avoid. The game was warmly received by both critics and players, who often noted that, unlike the same Outlast, in which the feeling of fear disappears when there are no opponents nearby, Amnesia constantly puts pressure on the player, causing panic and paranoia.
SCP 087
Release date: 2012
Genre: survival horror
Imagine that you are on a staircase that extends so far into the depths that its end is simply invisible. There are no signs of human presence around, no doors or windows, and the depth of your descent can only be judged by the numbers on the walls. In your hands you have a weak lantern, and the silence is interrupted only by breathing coming from somewhere below. This is how this one starts creepy game, in which you have to go down a terrible staircase all down and down, and down, and down ... What will you meet down there on one of the flights? And most importantly - will you survive this meeting?
The game is characterized by an oppressive atmosphere and a constant expectation of something terrible. The atmosphere of horror is pumped up not only by terrible sound effects, but also by shadows periodically appearing out of nowhere. In general, the game is a rather interesting psychological horror quest, where each passage is unique due to randomly generated events.
Slender: The Eight Pages
Release date: 2012
Genre: survival horror
A first-person indie horror game in which the player, in the role of a girl named Kate, will travel through the forest, collecting notes left by children, and escape from the terrible Slender (character of a famous urban legend). The goal of the game at first glance is extremely simple - to collect 8 notes, which will be in a random place each time you play. However, finding these very notes is complicated by the fact that Slender will follow you, meeting with which does not bode well.
The search area for notes is quite extensive. Our heroine can turn the flashlight on and off, as well as use the zoom of the camera in her hands. Interestingly, the probability of the appearance of Slender directly depends on the number of notes collected by the player. Slender himself, if he is not noticed next to him for a long time, is able to turn the player towards him, ruin his camera and end the game.
Lucius
Release date: 2012
Genre: Psychological quest
Fascinating psychological horror adventure. The protagonist here is a child who is the son of Lucifer himself. On the sixth birthday of the protagonist, dad gives our protagonist a number of supernatural abilities and sets the task of killing all the inhabitants of the house in which the boy lives. It is clear that we will kill secretly, setting up "accidents" for our victims. Obviously, the project drew inspiration from films such as The Omen and Rosemary's Baby.
The abilities of the hero are interesting - here you have telekinesis, and pyrokinesis, and the ability to subordinate someone to your will. The murder scenes are brutal and realistic. There is only one location - a mansion, but at the same time it is truly huge and the little maniac has a place to roam. There is some non-linearity in the game.
The Cat Lady
Release date: 2012
Genre: Quest, Psychological horror
Psychological two-dimensional point-and-click horror game, in which the whole gameplay is based on moving between locations, finding active points, solving various puzzles and interacting with characters. At the bottom of the screen is an inventory with found items that will need to be used depending on the situation. The game has a lot of dialogues where the player will have to choose an answer. At some points, the player's actions will affect the ending of the game.
The project is distinguished by deliberately grotesque graphics. The black and white palette prevails here. The scenes of violence are incredibly cruel, besides, topics such as suicide, depression, death are raised in the game. However, despite all the gloom, there are humorous and even positive moments here.
Slender: The Arrival
Release date: 2013
Genre: survival horror
Continuation of the famous indie horror movie Slender: The Eight Pages, with more realistic graphics and an interesting plot. Unlike its predecessor, which had only one location, here the action of the game takes place in several places (a house, a mine, etc.). Our character must complete various missions and not get in the way of Slender. There are no weapons here. The protagonist will only have a flashlight in his hands, so when meeting with the villain, it is advisable to run away “wherever your eyes look” (however, due to the interference on the screen that occurs when Slender approaches, it turns out to run just at random).
It is noteworthy that with the increase in the complexity of the game, not only the antagonist increases, but also the tasks that we need to complete in the levels. For example, on one of the levels you will need not only to find generators, but also fuel for them.
Outlast
Release date: 2013
Genre: survival horror
Survival horror from the first person, in which journalist Miles Upshur comes under control. The protagonist arrives at the Mount Massive hospital to conduct an independent investigation into the murders taking place there, but it quickly becomes clear that breaking into the hospital is not the best idea of a journalist. Crazy patients roam everywhere, and a former guard starts chasing the hero, looking more like a huge mutant.
The main feature of the game is that our protagonist is armed with absolutely nothing. In his hands he only has a camera with a night vision function - and this is the only item that he can use. The gameplay is based on solving simple puzzles, covert movement, overcoming various obstacles and searching for secluded places. The project received positive reviews and even won the Best of E3 2013 nomination.
Knock knock
Release date: 2013
Genre: Indie, Horror
An exciting horror adventure in which the player needs to help the protagonist who is in a creepy house to hold out until dawn. Game process is built around wandering around the house, where you need to turn on the lights in the rooms in order to interact with objects. In particular, the clock found will speed up the time until morning, and in some places you can wait out the danger. An interesting feature of the game is the presence of such indicators of the character as memory and vision, which make their own adjustments to the gameplay. The game is on the list.
Interestingly, the time in the game can not only speed up, but also, depending on the actions of the player, it can slow down or even go back. At the levels, the character can meet the so-called "Guests from the Forest", from whom he will have to run away and look for shelter, picking up various tactics passing.
Betrayer
Release date: 2014
Mystical horror with a first-person view. From the first minutes, the game tries to keep us in suspense, both with a picture and sound design, as well as fear of the unknown. The world is presented here in black and white with the addition of red, which gives the game an atmospheric feel. The inhabitants of Fort Henry have disappeared somewhere, the dead are roaming around, strange totems and statues from the ashes are scattered everywhere, very similar to people. This is what we have to figure out.
The mystical atmosphere is a key element here, and it really worked out well. The monochrome palette inspires anxiety, and the huge forest, in the wilds of which we will have to spend most of the game, is fraught with not only answers to questions, but also something terrible that is best not to meet. At some point, we will be able to try on the role of a medium, communicating with the dead and shedding light on the past of the colony.
DreadOut
Release date: 2014
Genre: Survival horror puzzle
A captivating adventure indie horror game in which we, as a girl, Linda, and a group of her friends find ourselves in an abandoned city full of ghosts. In our hands mobile phone with a camera that helps to recognize the undead. In fact, the gameplay here is based on walking around the neighborhood, photographing interesting things, as well as searching for plot items and clues. However, a mobile phone helps us fight off ghosts and other evil spirits, which for some reason are afraid to get in the photo.
In general, the game is very atmospheric and creepy. The sound part here presses no worse than the visual part, and all sorts of wheezing, rustling and other otherworldly sounds are not just a background, but help to find key places.
Among the Sleep
Release date: 2014
Genre: survival horror
A first-person horror adventure in which we, as a two-year-old child, are trying to find our mother. The kid suddenly wakes up at night in pitch darkness and finds that his mother is nowhere to be found. But he finds his teddy bear, with which he begins to travel around the house, as well as through various paranormal worlds in search of his mother.
The game instills horror in us with the help of a unique atmosphere, because a two-year-old kid is vulnerable and frightened, and obviously will not be able to fight back the evil spirits hiding in the dark. The levels are interesting, with a touch of symbolism. The atmosphere here is in the first place - any rustle, any shadow makes the heartbeat quicken, and the music and sounds seem to come to us from childhood nightmares.
Five Nights at Freddy's
Release date: 2014
Genre: Survival horror, point-and-click
A popular indie horror game set in a pizzeria where the player has to survive several nights as a security guard. Unlike the characters in most horror games, our protagonist cannot leave his room, but with the help of a special control panel, he can watch the animatronics (robot enemies that attack every night), open and close doors, and turn on the light.
The game received a lot of accolades, mostly for its original approach to the horror genre. Many noted that the game mechanics are able to pump up a "sense of tension", which only intensifies with every minute spent in the game. Indeed, the inability to give at least some rebuff to imminent danger makes one feel extremely helpless.
Damned
Release date: 2014
Genre: Survival horror, Co-op
An unusual horror game tailored for multiplayer. We have 4 survivors and 1 monster that is also controlled by a live player. The action takes place in hospitals, hotels and other locations. The survivors must find a way out (collecting the necessary items along the way), and the monster, respectively, must kill all the players. There are several types of monsters, each with its own unique combat and gameplay abilities. People do not differ in any special specializations, and their task here is to escape from the monster and try to hide.
present here and random events. So, for example, certain objects may or may not appear on the level. Collectable items also appear randomly. The exit for survivors appears in a random place. In addition, various frightening events periodically trigger (naturally randomly).
Alien: Isolation
Release date: 2014
An excellent survival horror from the first person with elements of stealth, developed with reference to the famous film directed by Ridley Scott "Alien". The gameplay here is based on moving around the multi-level space ship, in order to find quest items, while hiding from xenomorphs or rebuffing them. A motion detector will help you advance and research, as well as a number of other auxiliary tools that can be combined with each other (the game even has a simple crafting system).
An interesting feature of the game is the inability to cause lethal damage to strangers. Those. all weapons, including a flamethrower, will only help us scare away an alien creature. For this reason, most of the game you have to act quietly and unnoticed. The xenomorphs themselves are incredibly cool. Each individual has its own manner of behavior, as well as a number of instincts and feelings that they actively use. For example, if a player hiding under a table accidentally touches a creature, it will feel it.
The Evil Within 1 and 2
Release date: First - 2014 Second - 2017
Genre: survival horror
Survival horror from a third person. The protagonist is a police detective investigating mass murders in a psychiatric clinic, he himself finds himself in a world of monsters, cruelty and violence. The game is notable for its high complexity and it is often much easier to run away or hide from the enemy than to engage in an open battle with him. In general, the game is somewhat reminiscent of the Resident Evil series, but does not mindlessly copy it, but rather borrows some gameplay solutions.
Traditionally for the genre, there are critically few cartridges here, but the presence of a simple stealth saves when you can sneak up on the enemy and kill him with a knife. The game is incredibly atmospheric. Monsters are original, unique and really capable of scaring, especially in the face of a constant shortage of cartridges, first-aid kits, etc. Interesting feature games - the presence of traps, mines and other traps that the main character can fall into himself, or can use for his own purposes, luring enemies there.
Monster
Release date: 2015
Genre: Survival horror, stealth action, roguelike
An original mix of genres such as survival horror, stealth action and roguelike. The player will take control here of a character who finds himself on a ship drifting in the sea, which also houses a terrible monster. The task is to escape from the ship, avoiding encounters with a monster, a meeting with which promises imminent death (at the same time, the death of the character is irreversible here and entails a return to the very beginning of the game).
The level, which is the whole ship, is randomly generated each time, so it is impossible to learn the location of the locations. There are no weapons in the game, which means that the pursuing monster cannot be killed by anything (however, you can delay it for a while, for example, with a fire extinguisher). For this reason, it remains only to hide from the monster, along the way finding the items necessary for a successful rescue.
Fran Bow
Release date: 2015
Genre: Point-and-click with horror elements
A psychedelic horror adventure game with all the classic trappings, namely a solid plot, interesting characters and puzzles. The gameplay combines genre-standard pixel-hunting, puzzle-solving, and a dialogue system with multiple choice of answers. The key gameplay feature is built around a jar of pills, the use of which allows the heroine to see a kind of underside of the world.
According to most players, this project, if not a masterpiece, is a very, very worthy representative of the genre, which is able to keep you at the monitor screen until the very end. The plot is dynamic, and each of the five chapters is a separate, unique journey in terms of mood.
SOMA
Release date: 2015
Genre: survival horror
Another game from the creators of Penumbra and Amnesia, made, as you might guess, in the survival horror genre. This time we have to visit an underwater research facility, where robots are starting to look more and more like people. The gameplay mostly copies the rest of the company's games, but the emphasis here is on storytelling. In general, we all also have to solve puzzles, find keys and hide from monsters.
Game resources positively evaluated the project, which really turned out to be interesting, creepy and intriguing. The plot is really interesting, and the crazy machines, as it turned out, are able to scare no worse than all kinds of monsters from Amnesia, etc. In general, if you like deep and interesting stories, and if you are a fan of other games from this developer, then SOMA will be a great pastime for you.
Layers of Fear
Release date: 2016
Genre: psychological horror
Psychological horror with an excellent plot, from which, at the end of the story, it even becomes somehow uncomfortable. Our protagonist is an artist, striving to complete his greatest creation, his masterpiece, by all means. It is worth noting that there are no opponents as such, and this game is not about fighting monsters. The main emphasis is on research and atmosphere.
Any rotation of the camera in this game can completely change the environment around you. Sometimes it will even seem that you are starting to go crazy. The game world is a mansion filled with the best works of art. The plot also touches on the dark secrets of the tragic past of the artist, who sacrificed everything for the sake of his creation.
Dead by Daylight
Release date: 2016
Genre: Survival horror, multiplayer
Third-person multiplayer survival horror, in which players are invited to take on the role of a killer, or one of the survivors, around which the gameplay is built. The main task of the survivors is not to die at the hands of a maniac and escape outside the map (for this you need to find and turn on 5 generators). The killer must find and, accordingly, kill all the survivors in one of the possible ways.
Survivors are able to feel the approach of the killer, which gives them the opportunity to hide. In addition, when escaping, they can overturn barricades that the maniac will have to break. In turn, the killer sees through the entire map the operation of traps or an explosion from an unsuccessful repair of the generator. It is noteworthy that there is some pumping in the game - we can get useful permanent perks, or things and improvements that will work during the level.
INSIDE
Release date: 2016
Genre: Platformer, puzzle
A mystical platformer from the creators of the famous LIMBO, which in some ways even looks like last game studios - the main character (a nameless boy in a red sweatshirt) moves mainly to the right side of the screen and overcomes various obstacles and trials. There are also many physical puzzles in which you need to interact with objects.
There is no interface in the game, and you can follow the plot only in the course of events taking place on the screen. The protagonist does not have any special abilities and dies pretty quickly, including from falling from too high a height or serious injuries. For this reason, you will hide from enemies, or simply avoid direct collisions with them. If you are not lucky enough to die, then you will be thrown back to the last checkpoint.
Narcosis
Release date: 2017
Genre: Horror, Survival
A grim survival game in which you, in the role of an industrial diver, will desperately fight for your life. Can you make it to the surface before your suit runs out of oxygen or goes crazy? The game was conceived as a student project, but in the end it became an excellent and unusual horror game with a fascinating and original plot that starts in reality and goes into surrealism.
The gameplay features include the presence of such a parameter as stress, which increases oxygen consumption and can lead to changes in the perception of space and time. The waters around you are also far from friendly, so a knife, flashlight and flares will be your main assistants at depth. A heavy space suit weighing half a ton and water pressure also make themselves felt. In general, the game is very atmospheric, however, rather unhurried, which can scare off fans of hurricane action.
last year
Release date: 2017
Genre: Multiplayer first-person horror
An interesting network horror action game based on teenage horror films, when several teenagers confront a lone maniac. Essentially the same thing is happening here. We can try our hand at the shoes of one of the teenagers (each, by the way, with their own unique skills), surviving surrounded by maniacs, or vice versa, take control of the killer and gradually “cut out” the players one by one. In both cases, the task is rather difficult.
In total, the game currently features 5 classes of survivors, which are tracing paper from classic cinematic templates (blonde cheerleader, football player, nerd, etc.). To escape from the maniac, teenagers need to complete various quests, simultaneously escaping from the pursuer, who in turn is able to surprise, for example, go into stealth mode or teleport a short distance right behind the back of an unsuspecting teenager. The game is currently in the testing phase.
Routine
Release date: 2017
Genre: Action, Horror
A non-linear first-person horror action game in which we, as an astronaut, have to explore an abandoned lunar station. The task of the protagonist is to find out the reason for the mysterious disappearances of the station workers. To reveal all the secrets of the lunar base, our hero will have to explore every corner of it. At the same time, the developers guarantee the effect of complete immersion, which is achieved both by the absence of various indicators and by the atmosphere, which, by the way, resembles the films "Moon 2112" and "Alien".
The features of the project should also include irreversible death, multiple endings, as well as realistic interaction of the protagonist with his environment. At the moment, according to the assurances of the developers, the game is almost ready, but they are still working on “polishing” some gameplay moments. Will wait.
Lust for Darkness
Release date: 2018
Genre: indie
An erotic arthouse indie horror game in which we play as a certain Jonathan Moon, who has received a letter from his wife who disappeared over a year ago. Following the notes from his wife's letter, the protagonist finds a mysterious mansion where monstrous rituals are performed. Now Jonathan will have to not only find his wife, but also try to survive in the chaos around him.
The gameplay of the game is not very diverse - basically the player in the role of Jonathan needs to explore locations, read all kinds of notes and solve simple puzzles. Monsters encountered on the way cannot be killed, so you will have to constantly run away from them. At a certain stage, the hero will receive the “vision of the mask” ability, which must be used periodically to pass.
CONCLUSE
Release date: 2018
Genre: indie
Free indie horror in the spirit of old school horror (especially the first parts of Silent Hill and others like it). To emphasize the relationship of the game with the old horror, the developers made it in a gloomy black and white style, adding a white noise effect to the screen.
The plot in the game is simple - you are an ordinary resident of a certain town in which all the inhabitants suddenly disappeared, and now the player's task is to figure out what is still happening here. The gameplay is based on the study of locations, search and finding various items and keys to advance further, and solving puzzles of varying difficulty. The game has an oppressive atmosphere, creepy sounds and a good storyline.
witch hunt
Release date: 2018
Genre: Indie Simulation
Indie witch hunt simulator with a horror component, which takes place in the 18th century. The gameplay is focused on exploring the area, finding clues and destroying evil. At the same time, the game has non-linearity and a great atmosphere. In the story, we, in the role of a professional witch hunter, arrive in a small town where something is already wrong, and the local mayor asks us to rid the city of a terrible monster.
The hero is armed with a pistol and a musket with silver bullets, as well as a saber - this arsenal helps to cope with ordinary undead. Also, our character at a certain distance can feel monsters (heartbeat accelerates), and for mana points you can turn on a special "Evil Vision", which allows you to look through the eyes of a monster. In the town you can find totems that indicate where to look for the target, as well as purchase silver crosses, which, once installed, beat monsters with an aimed lightning strike. You can also buy useful skills and equipment for your character from merchants. Money can be found at locations or earned directly by your profession.
Horror is a popular genre of computer games, the highlight of which is the survival of the protagonist in combination with the disclosure of the main, usually dark secret of the plot. The plot of such games always instills fear and excitement in the player. Such games are complemented by sudden twists in the plot, the appearance of "monsters" and high-quality rendering of objects for a more terrifying look.
With the development of computer and gaming technologies, new and new games of this genre began to appear. All of them have their own differences and plot, but belong to the same genre. In the article, the top 12 games of the most popular horror genre released in the recent past and available in game center Steam.
Release date: year 2013
Genre: psychological horror, medical experiments
Developer: Red Barrels
Publisher: Red Barrels
Outlast is one of the most famous horror games. The game begins with a description of the plot, according to which the main character finds himself in a psychiatric hospital, abandoned relatively recently.
The hero - a journalist, moving along the corridors of an abandoned building, runs into a group of madmen who start chasing him in order to kill him. Unlike other horror games, the player character does not have weapons, and must simply hide and run away from them. Players appreciate in the game interesting story and high quality detail.
Release date: 2016
Genre:
Developer: Behavior Digital Inc.
Publisher: Starbreeze Publishing AB
Dead by Daylight - no less popular game in the horror genre with a view from the first and third person. The user, at the beginning of the game, must choose the character he wants to control. They differ in endurance, strength and ability.
Throughout the game, the gamer will have to run away from their killers, who suddenly appear in various places. Dead by Daylight attracts players with its plot, which develops very quickly and unexpectedly.
Release date: 2018
Genre: survival horror open world, crafting
Developer: Endnight Games Ltd
Publisher: Endnight Games Ltd
The Forest is a partially open-world horror game in first or third person. The main location of the game is an uninhabited island, where the main character ended up as a result of a plane crash. During the game, the gamer will have to get his own food and build a house, while defending himself from local residents - cannibals who started hunting him.
The main task of the gamer is to search for the son of his game character, who was stolen by local natives. Players will find an interesting and unexpected plot, as well as a large number of quests and mysteries that they have to solve.
SOMA
Release date: 2015
Genre: story-driven horror, Sci-Fi
Developer: Frictional Games
Publisher: Frictional Games
SOMA is a popular horror game with custom first and third person view. The game takes place underwater, at the PATHOS-2 station. The main opponents of the player are robots that have acquired the features of a human character.
As the game progresses, the gamer is given tasks that he must complete in order to advance in search of the main thing - getting an answer to a question related to his past.
Release date: 2015
Genre: open world survival, parkour, zombies
Developer: Techland
Publisher: Techland Publishing
Dying Light- computer game with a custom first-person view and an open world, in the horror genre. The main action of the game takes place in the non-existent city of Harran, whose territory was covered by a zombie apocalypse.
The protagonist, who is a special purpose agent, joins a group of city residents who are defending themselves from a potential threat - zombies. Throughout the game, the gamer will have to solve riddles and quests, as well as show their intuition and ingenuity to get out of difficult situations.
Hellblade Senua's Sacrifice
Release date: 2017
Genre: mystical horror with a deep plot
Developer: Ninja Theory
Publisher: Ninja Theory
Hellblade Senua's Sacrifice - horror, with a view from the first or third person. The main action of the game takes place in an open world, in an abandoned city. The main plot is divided into peaceful interaction with the outside world and battles against anti-heroes.
The game attracts with its plot, drawing of objects and gameplay.
Release date: 2017
Genre: atmospheric psychological horror
Developer: CAPCOM Co.,Ltd.
Publisher: CAPCOM Co.,Ltd.
RESIDENT EVIL 7: BIOHAZARD is a VR-ready horror game. The game belongs to the Resident Evil horror series and was developed for various consoles and operating systems.
The gameplay of the game is a first-person shooter in a closed space. The player will also have to solve puzzles of various difficulty levels.
Release date: 2017
Genre: cartoon graphics, adventure horror, puzzle
Developer: Tarsier Studios
Publisher: BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment
Little Nightmares is a single-player horror game with puzzle and quest elements. The plot of the game takes place on an unusual submarine, where the main task of the player is to find a way out and get to the upper deck where the guests are sitting.
The main game character, a little girl named Sixth, has to find the necessary items, and use them to get out of the trap. Players are attracted by an incredibly interesting and mysterious story that arouses interest among players of all ages.
Release date: 2017
Genre: adventure horror slasher
Developer: YGGDRAZIL GROUP CO.,LTD
Publisher: YGGDRAZIL GROUP CO.,LTD
Home Sweet Home is a popular horror game with a custom first-person view. The main character of the game is a certain Tim, whose life has completely changed after the disappearance of his wife.
The game captivates with its plot, the main task of the gamer is to find the wife of the game character. If the player encounters his enemy, the ghost, the game ends in defeat.
Release date: year 2014
Genre: survival horror from above
Developer: Acid Wizard Studio
Publisher: Acid Wizard Studio
Darkwood is a popular horror video game. Main character games - a doctor who, at the beginning of the story, finds the protagonist bleeding. Finding the key from him, he realizes that he knows much more, so he takes him home.
Throughout the game, the character will have to survive, find answers to unsolved riddles, while escaping from an epidemic-infected forest.
Release date: 2017
Genre: 3rd person psychological survival horror
Developer: Tango Gameworks
Publisher: Bethesda Softworks
The Evil Within 2 is a continuation of the well-known third-person horror game. According to the plot, the main character of the game lost his daughter in a fire and his wife, for unknown reasons.
Immediately after he notices her missing, he begins to conduct his own investigation, and look for answers to unsolved questions. The game has three levels of difficulty, which differ in the further course of events.
Release date: 2017
Genre: cooperative survival horror
Developer: IllFonic
Publisher: gun media
Friday the 13th: The Game is a popular first and third person horror game. The script of the film "Friday the 13th" was taken as the basis of the plot, when developing the game, the main location is Kid `s camp"Crystal Lake". The game has two modes: single player and multiplayer.
There are 8 players in total, one of them, Jason, is a killer who preys on others. In the multiplayer mode, the role of Jason is chosen randomly, in the single-player mode, the player himself can choose who he wants to play as.
In addition to our top 12 best horror games on PC, we invite you to watch this video review of other prominent representatives of this genre.
