Top 10 Most Tense Horror Games Ever | Articles on WatchMojo.com (2024)

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#10: “Until Dawn” (2015)

Supermassive Games’ precursor to their now cult-status and wildly successful Dark Pictures Anthology was a revolution in the survival horror game space. At the time, there weren’t many games like Until Dawn - A-list Hollywood actors, minimal gameplay mechanics, and a dynamic story that truly made your decisions matter helped it stand out from the typical AAA releases. A year after the apparent death of his twin sisters, Josh (supremely portrayed by Rami Malek) invites his friend group back to the freezing mountain lodge where it happened. As you play through the game, you’ll quickly learn not everything is as it seems, and the tense atmosphere coupled with the winter setting will make you feel truly isolated. Your choices throughout the story matter, and sometimes an obvious choice might spell doom for one of your characters.

#9: “Five Nights at Freddy’s” (2014)

Another horror icon that trades in gameplay mechanics for great tension and story, Five Nights at Freddy’s took the world by storm. Basically a resource-management sim and point-and-click survival game disguised as a terrifying night shift as a security guard at Freddy Fazbear’s Pizza, the game sees you trying to survive from midnight to 6 AM by tracking the anthropomorphic animatronics as they skulk around the restaurant. Defenseless and alone, the game is surprisingly tense despite its child-friendly setting. Don’t let this fool you, because if Freddy makes it to your office, you’re done for. And it ain’t pretty. You use the security cameras, doors, and lights to track their movements, but have limited power to do so, creating an atmosphere of tension and dread knowing your light is about to go out.

#8: “Visage” (2020)

Heavily inspired by Hideo Kojima’s Playable Teaser (Or PT), Visage is a first-person psychological horror game that creates an extremely tense atmosphere through its audio design and claustrophobic traversal. It has a never ending sense of dread throughout, making it one of the best horror games in recent memory. The story is also extremely dark; players take control of Dwayne Anderson who commits suicide after murdering his wife and children. The game is a trippy jaunt through the house as you learn about its inhabitants, and experience supernatural and paranormal events as you attempt to escape. The tension is nonstop and unforgiving, and the game’s visuals will surely keep you up at night. Plus, what other game do you know that has a sanity meter in it?

#7: “Silent Hill 2” (2024)

When the original Silent Hill 2 was released in 2001, it epitomized what a psychological horror video game should be, subsequently setting the standard for its sequels and other games in the genre that followed. Fast-forward to October 2024, and we finally have the long awaited remake to one of the most beloved horror games of all time. The tension and uncanny atmosphere makes its glorious return, this time with 4K resolution and modern graphics, and promises the same uncomfortable and claustrophobic environments as the original. Navigating the dense fog and tight alleyways we’re familiar with while dodging grotesque Cronenberg-like monsters will ensure you always play this game during the day. And yeah - Pyramid Head is just as terrifying as you remember.

#6: “Alien: Isolation” (2014)

With a sequel freshly announced just days ago, there’s no better time to experience this tense sci-fi horror masterpiece. Alien: Isolation takes the spirit of the original film and cranks the tension up to 11, and is another easy entry on many horror game fans’ personal Mount Rushmores. Taking the name “survival horror” quite literally, the game encourages the player to prioritize stealth, survival, and conservation over full-out attacks while evading the terrifying Xenomorph. Tight maneuvering, limited ammo, and the relentless, unkillable Alien pursuing you throughout the game creates a real sense of dread, and its anxiety-inducing atmosphere makes Alien: Isolation one of the tensest horror games around.

#5: “Fatal Frame II: Crimson Butterfly” (2003)

Japanese horror films are some of the most harrowing in the world, and their video game counterparts are no different. The Fatal Frame series has always faithfully recreated the spirit of these films, and its second entry Crimson Butterfly does it the best. In it, players control twin sisters Mio and Mayu Amakura as they explore the haunted village Minakami. Using the series’ famous Camera Obscura, you’ll take photos of extremely terrifying ghosts as a way to combat them, as you unravel the mystery of the Crimson Sacrifice Ritual and escape with your lives. Similar to older Resident Evil games, Fatal Frame 2 utilizes the not-very-intuitive tank controls, creating an even deeper sense of dread and tension as you navigate through tight corners and fixed camera angles. The ghosts in this game appear and reappear in unpredictable locations, and will surely often catch you by surprise.

#4: “Amnesia: The Bunker” (2023)

Just like how Alien: Isolation has the Xenomorph as a constant threat throughout, Amnesia: The Bunker builds its tension through a relentless, unkillable monster that chases you until the end. You’ll of course have limited ammo, light, and space to maneuver as you fight to survive. As the title suggests, the game takes place in a bunker during the height of WWI, thrusting French soldier Henri Clément into a tense and horrifying fight for his life. Throughout the roughly eight-hour playthrough, you’ll need to solve puzzles, navigate pitch black spaces, and avoid the grotesque monster to make it out alive. Just be careful not to use your flashlight too often - it’s loud as hell to start up and that creepazoid will find you.

#3: “Dead Space” (2023)

Another remake that outshines the original, 2023’s Dead Space is the definitive way to experience the iconic, tense, terrifying space horror game. Clearly inspired by and paying homage to the Alien franchise, Dead Space tells the story of Isaac Clarke, a ship engineer assigned to the mining vessel USG Ishimura, as he investigates a distress call and encounters horrors beyond imagination. Although it is a bit more action-oriented, Dead Space still offers plenty of intense, terrifying moments throughout, and chopping off Necromorph limbs with the Plasma Cutter as they relentlessly chase you is as fun as ever.

#2: “Outlast” (2013)

This jaunt through the Mount Massive Asylum broke many a psyche back in the day, and for good reason. If you’ve played Outlast, you’d know that what awaits in Mount Massive Asylum is some of the most terrifying survival horror gameplay of all time. There is no combat, and instead, you’ll have to navigate the dimly lit halls and dodge the murderous patients in a bid for survival. One of your only sources of light is through the camcorder, and the filter makes coming across an enemy even more terrifying, similar to found footage horror films. The music is eerie as all hell, and emphasizes the nonstop tense and claustrophobic atmosphere. Kudos to you if you’re able to make it through in one piece.

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

“The Evil Within 2” (2017)

“Soma” (2015)

“P.T.” (2014)

#1: “Resident Evil 7: Biohazard” (2017)

Capcom’s soft reboot of their iconic franchise is the best of the best when it comes to tension and environmental storytelling. Resident Evil 7 is objectively one of the tensest horror games you can play, and is a great jumping on point for new fans. As new protagonist Ethan Winters, navigating the Baker house and avoiding its monstrous denizens. coupled with its eerie sound design are some of the most harrowing and uncomfortable experiences you can get in the modern gaming age. It ushered in Capcom’s second renaissance, and remains a pillar of both the franchise and genre to this day.

What do you think of our list? Did we miss any? And what are you playing this Halloween season? Let us know in the comments below.