Scary games push players to the edge, delivering jump scares, terrifying creatures, and situations that feel genuinely perilous. The world of games spans countless genres, from fast-paced action to heart-pounding horror. This list highlights top horror experiences from 2022 and 2023, along with classics that predate the current era by many years. In short, these are some of the most unforgettable horror titles to explore and fear in equal measure.
Dead Space Remake
- Platforms: PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X/S
- Multiplayer: no
The original Dead Space is often praised for its atmosphere, and the 2023 remake elevates that vibe with sharper visuals and crisper sound design. The gameplay has been refined to feel tighter while keeping the relentless dread intact. Isaac Clarke, the engineering protagonist, returns to the Ishimura, a mining ship turned nightmare. What starts as a repair job quickly unravels into a descent through a haunted, blood-streaked labyrinth where every corridor hides danger. The remake sustains tension from start to finish, never letting the fear fade as the discoveries pile up and the necromorph threat closes in.
Enhanced graphics and sound design immerse players in space horror in a way that feels current and immersive. The experience remains faithful to the original concept while offering modernized mechanics that make interactions and scares more immediate. A detailed tour through the ship reveals how small environmental cues can foreshadow peril, rewarding careful exploration.
Resident Evil 4 Remake
- Platforms: PC, PS5, PS4 and Xbox Series X/S
- Multiplayer: no
Another landmark remake revisits a beloved entry in the horror canon. While the pace has shifted toward a more action-forward approach, the remake preserves the core tension and foreboding of the original. The new visuals render brutal encounters and grotesque mutations with unsettling realism, amplifying the sense of danger during every assault and escape sequence.
The story follows Leon S. Kennedy as he travels to a secluded Spanish village in search of the President’s daughter, Ashley. There, a sinister cult and a terrifying virus twist ordinary life into a nightmare. Players brace for battles against a spectrum of foes—from conventional zombies to grotesquely mutated beasts—while clever puzzles remind everyone that success hinges on more than just good aim. The remake invites players to relive the experience with heightened intensity and refined controls.
Fatal Frame: Mask of the Lunar Eclipse (re-release)
- Platforms: PC, PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch
- Multiplayer: no
In 2023, Koei Tecmo revived the series with a re-release of Fatal Frame: Mask of the Lunar Eclipse, a title originally exclusive to Nintendo platforms. This update makes the haunting tale accessible on modern systems, attracting fans of Japanese folklore and those drawn to quiet, eerie atmospheres as much as outright frights. The game centers on characters who explore shadowy locales haunted by spirits, with a singular weapon—a camera that banishes phantoms as soon as the lens catches their form.
Striking visuals that capitalize on high resolution and refreshed controls keep Fatal Frame relevant. The re-release also adds new costumes, which stand as charming distractions during tense ghost-battles rather than essential, offering a touch of playful fan service amid the dread.
Scary games and horror
For a broader glimpse into cinematic-grade terror, the cataloging of notable titles continues to grow with each season. The common thread across these games is a commitment to atmosphere, pacing, and the sense that survival hinges on wit as much as on firepower. Players may find themselves slipping into a horror marathon where each title builds on the last, inviting reflection on what makes a moment truly scary and why certain settings linger long after the credits roll.
Note: This overview compiles some of the most influential horror experiences of recent years, presented to help fans decide what to explore next and to rekindle memories of past scares.