23 Best Horror Games On Steam

Key Takeaways

• Steam offers a variety of horror games, from indie titles to remakes of classics like Until Dawn.
• Popular co-op horror games like Devour and Dead by Daylight offer immersive multiplayer experiences on Steam.
• Horror game franchises like Resident Evil and Phasmophobia provide intense and terrifying gameplay options for PC players.

Steam is by far one of the best places for PC players to purchase games. There is a wide variety of genres that can be enjoyed through Steam, from the adorable cozy titles that help players to relax to the more intense experiences such as horror games.

Horror has been a popular genre for players for countless years, with many horrifying titles gracing both consoles and the PC. Unlike other platforms, Steam allows for plenty of unheard-of horror games to also have a chance to reach gamers who might enjoy them. Some of the best horror games are available on Steam, and with so many different types available, all kinds of gamers are certain to find something they’ll enjoy.

Updated on October 16, 2024, by Megan Smith: As Halloween fast approaches, many players may be looking for an assortment of horror games to play during the spooky month of October. Steam has some of the best horror games due to not only having plenty of titles made by AAA companies but also a wide variety of spooky indie games. Some of the best horror games on Steam are those that have been made by a small group of developers or even a single person, while plenty of remakes of horror games have also made their way to Steam too. These are by far the best horror games on Steam to enjoy for Halloween, as they aren’t only the scariest games on Steam, but some of them even have some incredible stories.

23 Until Dawn (2024)

This Classic Interactive Horror Is Finally Available On PC

Until Dawn was released exclusively for the PlayStation 4 back in 2015. Nine years later, the horror drama title received a remake from Ballistic Moon that saw it not only brought to the PlayStation 5, but also made available to players on Steam too. While some players have had issues with this remake of Until Dawn, it cannot be denied that it now being available on PC means that one of the scariest games is now on Steam.

Players that may have already watched others play the original Until Dawn should still try out the remake because this version of one of the best horror games on Steam also includes a new ending as well as new narrative sequences.

22 Zoochosis

Prevent The Animals From Transforming Into Monsters

Bodycam horror games on Steam have risen in popularity in recent years, with one of the most looked forward to games being Zoochosis. In this horror title, the player takes on the role of a zookeeper, but their job is made harder when a mutant virus has begun to spread throughout the zoo, turning the animals into horrifying mutants.

Players must locate the infected animals and find a way to make a vaccine for them in the hopes of curing the animals while also avoiding the ones that have already begun to change. Zoochosis is not only one of the best horror games on Steam due to its frights, but also due to the multiple endings available that will have players coping with the scares repeatedly in the hopes of getting a good ending.

21 Dead By Daylight

Escape Or Become The Killer In This Multiplayer Horror

A great co-op horror experience players should be willing to try on Steam is Dead By Daylight. In this online multiplayer title, four players are survivors, while one player acts as the killer. It is the goal of the survivors to get generators to work in hopes of escaping the killer. Even with an arguably average Metascore, the fact that the monster is controlled by another player and not AI makes this game of hide-and-hunt one to remember.

Meanwhile, the player that is the killer must attack and capture the survivors before putting them onto hooks in the hope of sacrificing them to the Entity. With various maps to explore and multiple different killers, those who are playing a Survivor would be surprised at how easily frightened they can become by the sudden appearance of the killer.

20 Dying Light

Parkour Around An Urban Environment Filled With Zombies

While players are unable to defend themselves in Outlast, Dying Light is the complete opposite, as gamers have access to various weapons that they can use against the hordes of zombies that infect the city of Harran.

Players may enjoy the parkour opportunities available throughout the city, but they will also be helping other survivors of the city stay safe from the zombies that lurk in the streets. Dying Light also features an unbelievable story that many horror fans will enjoy while exploring the game’s daunting open world, especially when it’s dark.

19 Poppy Playtime

Get To The Bottom Of What Went Wrong Against Horrifying Toys

Poppy Playtime garnered popularity similar to that of Five Nights at Freddy’s. This game was split into various chapters that were gradually released chapter by chapter on Steam.

Players who are interested in a horror experience that follows murderous toys can enjoy the first chapter of Poppy Playtime entirely for free on Steam. With a mix of puzzles and frights, Poppy Playtime has hooked an audience that is interested in playing more and putting an end to the dangers of these toys.

18 Outlast

A Psychological Experience Where The Player Can Only Hide, Run, Or Record

Another staple of the horror genre has to be Outlast. This survival horror game shocked players when it was first released and continues to be played by many gamers who have a deep love for the genre.

Exploring an asylum that has been taken over by its residents with nothing but a camera to record the horrors makes Outlast a tense, atmospheric title. Players are likely to encounter some gory scenes, as well as the horrifying people that created them while they sneak around the facility to find some answers.

17 Darkwood

Survive In A Deep Forest Where The Dark Is The Biggest Horror

Some of the best horror experiences on Steam are created by smaller indie developers. One great example of this is the horrific horror title called Darkwood. Not only does this survival horror game feel void of color, but it also makes for an incredibly ominous experience.

The drawn nature of the title allows the player to witness some horrendous things, from people who have become disfigured to how dangerous the world feels when one can only see ahead of them. Players won’t ever feel safe while playing Darkwood, as even their own base can be a deathtrap if the windows haven’t been boarded up and the lights haven’t remained on.

16 Five Nights At Freddy’s

Survive The Night Against Possessed Animatronics

Another well-known horror game franchise that started its popularity on Steam is Five Nights at Freddy’s. Ever since the success of the first title, this game that sees the player work the night shift keeping murderous animatronics at bay has since welcomed several more titles to expand on the original’s simple premise.

With the original Five Nights at Freddy’s being quite the classic, it has one of the greatest reviews on the Steam store page. It can also be purchased for a fair price, which is sure to encourage those curious to give this tense and unnerving horror game a go.

15 Little Nightmares

Explore the Maw As An Almost Defenseless Little Girl

Little Nightmares is another horror franchise that has continued to gain popularity over the years. Both the first Little Nightmares and the second one can be purchased from the Steam store, where players are in for an eerie experience.

Both games have been well-received on PC, with many players still showing great appreciation for the original title, which saw them play as the tiny yellow coat-wearing girl as she hides and avoids the monsters that lurk in the Maw. Until she finally encounters the woman that is in charge of it all.

14 The Forest

Mutants And Cannibals Threaten The Player’s Survival

There are plenty of survival horror games that force players to test their luck in a forest environment. However, few could ever compete with The Forest, originally released on Steam in 2018. In this title, players are tasked with finding where their son has been taken all while defending against various cannibals and abominations that live on the island.

Part of the horror factor in The Forest is exploring the island to find out what has happened to the other people who were on the flight that crashed. Sitting in the dark hoping that no monsters appear is also sure to enhance the game’s sense of dread. This is exactly why The Forest is one of the best horror games on Steam.

13 Alien: Isolation

Hide From The Xenomorphs That Lurk Across The Ship

Alien: Isolation is an intense first-person horror experience where players are unable to fight back against the monster that is hunting them. While players may feel they are in for an easy time at the start of Alien: Isolation, as they easily avoid the Xenomorph, the aliens will learn to adapt, making things much harder.

Someone who uses the vents will often need to switch up their tactics, as the Xenomorph will begin to spend more time there, knowing that this is an area that the player frequents. Besides these intense moments, Alien: Isolation also features an incredible story for those brave enough to dive in.

12 Scarlet Hollow

An eerie Visual Novel With An Even Weirder Art Style

Visual novels can be horrifying, as proven by Scarlet Hollow, which features an incredible and eerie art style. Returning to the coal town the player’s family built to take part in the funeral of their aunt, the player will learn that the game has plenty of mysteries for them to uncover.

The player may only need to survive a week in this creepy place, but every dialogue option and choice they make will determine how well that goal plays out. Scarlet Hollow plans to be seven chapters long with the first four already released.

11 Inscryption

A Card Game That Is Incredibly Creepy

Horror can also be combined with various other genres to create a unique experience. With Inscryption, players are tasked with building the perfect deck of cards in the hope of beating various opponents on a game board while attempting to escape from the game they are being forced to play.

The title goes deeper than Leshy’s Cabin as players reveal darker secrets that are trapped both within the cards and the creepy story that is uncovered as they advance deeper into the game. One thing that doesn’t change that seals Inscryption as one of the best horror games is how it allows players to step away from the game to explore the world around them while still remaining trapped.

10 Silent Hill 2 (2024)

Return To The Town Of Silent Hill To Relive Memories

Remasters of past horror games have continued to be some of the best horror games on Steam, with the Silent Hill 2 remake being another brilliant horror game to release in 2024. With better accessibility settings and a graphical upgrade, Silent Hill 2 can be enjoyed by both players that loved the classic horror title, and allowing it to be introduced to a whole new group of horror game lovers.

Exploring the town of Silent Hill in the remake is a phenomenal horror experience as players take control of James after receiving a letter from his late wife. Going back to this town that is filled with memories is both therapeutic and horrifying through all the monsters James must fight and puzzles the player must solve.

9 Doki Doki Literature Club!

A Creepy Title With A Cutesy Facade

Gamers shouldn’t be fooled by the externally cutesy style of Doki Doki Literature Club!. This adorable game that tricks players into thinking they are just writing poetry reveals a much darker theme underneath. Doki Doki Literature Club! might not have players exploring a haunted school, but each part of the dialogue in the visual novel cements its place as one of the best horror games on Steam.

The game will start to glitch, and horrid things will begin to happen as the player attempts to please the girls that are also part of the club. For those who enjoy unnerving horror experiences, this game is a must-play.

8 Dead Space (2023)

A Remaster Of A Classic And All Its Frights

Classic horror games that have been remade are also available on the Steam store, with games like the 2023 version of Dead Space being perfect for any gamer looking for another survival horror experience. Dead Space (2023) is filled with all the classic scares and gore of the original title, featuring a brand-new lick of paint to make it look incredible on improved PCs.

With all new audio, gameplay, and visuals, players who have even experienced the original 2008 version of Dead Space are sure to find themselves experiencing a whole new intense adventure as Isaac Clarke as he uncovers what has happened to the crew on the USG Ishimura and searches for his girlfriend, Nicole.

7 Devour

Complete A Ritual Before Getting Killed

While horror games are often best experienced alone, in recent years, Steam has seen an increase in multiplayer spooky titles, with Devour being a great example. In this game, players control cultists as they attempt to complete a ritual to rid themselves of a monster that lurks around every corner.

It’s important for players to work as a team if they hope to beat the possessed cultist who was at the core of a ritual gone wrong. With plenty of maps to choose from, each with a unique mechanic, Devour is a great horror game for those on PC. With more being added to the game regularly, and a VR mode to put players directly into the scares, Devour shows a lot of promise.

6 Amnesia: The Dark Descent

A Classic Horror Experience Filled With Puzzles

Released in 2010, Amnesia: The Dark Descent was the first Amnesia title to be released from the horror franchise, and it has continued to impress players over the years. As the name of the survival horror game suggests, players descend into a living nightmare filled with complex puzzles and horrifying monsters.

Many years later, Amnesia: The Dark Descent continues to be a staple horror game that players can experience through Steam, with many of the future games also available on PC. While a promising title that has since seen itself as part of a successful franchise, Amnesia: The Dark Descent continues to be a much-loved title.

5 Slay The Princess

A Visual Novel With A Dark Twist

In Slay the Princess, players are tasked with killing a princess who is expected to destroy the world and everyone in it. However, nothing is truly as it seems in this “choose your own adventure”-style game, as players must interact with the ominous woman over and over again to finally find the true ending.

Witnessing this innocent-looking princess mindlessly chew through her own wrist is one of many horrifying things that can occur in this drawn adventure that many gamers will shudder at. For horror enthusiasts, it’s must-play on Steam.

4 Resident Evil 2

One Of The Greatest In The Resident Evil Franchise

Unsurprisingly, the Resident Evil franchise is also home to one of the best horror games that gamers can play through Steam. While the entire franchise can be enjoyed on PC, by far the greatest of the bunch is Resident Evil 2, in which players take control of Leon or Claire.

Due to this also being a remake of the classic horror title, players can expect even better graphics that make for a more horrifying survival horror experience. With the remake bringing the series’ horror to PC players, it’s the perfect gateway to the rest of the Resident Evil franchise for Steam users.