Introduction

Halloween is fast approaching, my dear readers! Once more, the spookiest holiday is here and you know what that means… candy—I mean spooky gaming time! Being a fan of horror games my whole life, I’ve played quite a fair amount of them and wanted to share my knowledge—and love for the genre—with you readers here at SunsetNerdVerse! From shooters in space to escaping evil schools filled with ghosts, this list should have a little bit of everything for those who love horror games. Here is my Top 10 Scariest Games to Play Before Halloween! Grab a blanket, some flashlights, and lock your doors—this list isn’t intended for those afraid of what might lurk in the depths of your closet or under your bed…

Honorable Mention: P.T.

Release Date: August 12, 2014
Console(s): PS4

There can be no list of the scariest games ever made without mentioning probably one of the biggest horror games that never fully came out—P.T. Helmed by Hideo Kojima and Guillermo del Toro, P.T. was actually a demo for a new game, Silent Hills, which would have been a true new entry in the series. Players assumed the role of an unknown man trapped in his home and confronted by a ghostly entity named Lisa. P.T. would have easily been number one on this list, but as many of you know by now, playing it today is nearly impossible. Unless you downloaded it on your PS4 way back when, it has since been delisted and cannot be re-downloaded. There are workarounds—which we don’t recommend—and some have even spent ridiculous amounts of money on consoles with P.T. installed. P.T. remains one of the best horror experiences ever made, and if it were still playable, it would sit comfortably at the top of this list.

10. Fatal Frame II: Crimson Butterfly

Release Date: November 1, 2004
Console: PS2

Cameras are great for capturing perfect moments—a family BBQ, a graduation, a wedding, or a ghostly image. Fatal Frame II arms players with the famous Camera Obscura and forces them to survive in a cursed village filled with evil spirits. Playing as Mio, you must search for your sister Mayu and escape this supernatural nightmare. What makes Fatal Frame II so unnerving is that you’re not armed with traditional weapons—only your camera. It’s an experience that’s both beautiful and terrifying. The game is pricey these days, but multiple ways exist to play it, and a remake is slated for release in 2026!

9. Silent Hill 4: The Room

Release Date: September 7, 2004
System(s): PS2, Xbox

As an apartment renter, playing Silent Hill 4: The Room can be a daunting experience. While not often recognized as one of the best in the franchise, it holds a special place in my heart—and I’m not alone. Trapped inside his apartment by unearthly chains, Henry Townshend discovers a strange hole in his bathroom that leads into a literal nightmare. Shifting between first-person perspective and traditional third-person, the game turns your only safe space into a haunted nightmare. Silent Hill 4 takes a familiar, comfortable setting and twists it into something utterly terrifying.

8. Siren

Release Date: April 20, 2004
System(s): PS2

Most survival horror games follow the same formula: kill or evade enemies, manage scarce resources, and escape. Siren changes that entirely. You play as several protagonists trapped in the mysterious village of Hanuda, where the locals—the Shibito—are anything but human. The standout mechanic, “Sightjacking,” allows players to see through the eyes of both allies and enemies. It’s brilliant and horrifying. Seeing through an enemy’s eyes as they chase you never gets easier. Siren remains one of the PS2’s most terrifying experiences, spawning two sequels—Forbidden Siren 2 and Siren: Blood Curse—though the original is still unmatched.

7. The Mortuary Assistant

Release Date: August 2, 2022
System(s): PC, PS5, PS4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S

Some jobs just aren’t for everyone, and being a mortuary assistant definitely tops that list. In The Mortuary Assistant, you play a young woman who discovers her workplace is filled with restless spirits and demonic entities. Every scare is procedurally generated, ensuring no two playthroughs are ever the same. You’re not a soldier or an investigator—you’re just a person facing horrors far beyond comprehension. It’s one of the most nerve-wracking experiences I’ve ever played, and even short sessions left my heart racing. Proceed with caution!

6. Corpse Party

Release Date: April 25, 2016
System(s): PSP, 3DS, PSN

Corpse Party is one of Japan’s most iconic horror titles. Based on an old PC game, this reimagining by Team GrisGris follows a group of students who perform a charm meant to bind their friendship forever—but instead transports them to a haunted version of their school. You’ll guide different characters as they try to survive vengeful spirits and find a way home. The game spawned multiple sequels, manga, and even an anime adaptation. If you love Japanese horror, Corpse Party is a must-play this Halloween.

5. Eternal Darkness: Sanity’s Requiem

Release Date: June 24, 2002
System(s): GameCube

The GameCube isn’t known for horror, but Eternal Darkness: Sanity’s Requiem is a hidden gem. This psychological horror masterpiece tells a story spanning generations, with each character uncovering dark secrets tied to ancient gods. Its standout feature is the sanity mechanic—when your character’s sanity slips, the game itself starts breaking the fourth wall, playing tricks on you directly. Even today, it’s a unique and deeply unsettling experience that every horror fan should try.

4. Five Nights at Freddy’s

Release Date: August 8, 2014
System(s): PC, Nintendo Switch, PS4, Xbox One

Five Nights at Freddy’s barely needs an introduction. You play as a night guard at Freddy Fazbear’s Pizza, a family restaurant with malfunctioning animatronics that come alive after hours. The gameplay is simple—monitor cameras, conserve power, and survive the night—but its tension and jump scares are legendary. The franchise exploded into a full-blown phenomenon with sequels, books, and films, but the original remains the scariest and most effective.

3. Resident Evil 7: Biohazard

Release Date: January 24, 2017
System(s): PS4, PC, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch

Resident Evil 7 revitalized the franchise with a terrifying first-person perspective. Players step into the shoes of Ethan Winters, searching for his missing wife in a decaying Louisiana mansion. What follows is a nightmare filled with grotesque enemies, limited resources, and the unforgettable Baker family. Every encounter is intense, and even after years, RE7 still stands as one of Capcom’s scariest creations.

2. Alien: Isolation

Release Date: October 7, 2014
System(s): PS3, PS4, PC, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch

Alien: Isolation is the game every fan of the franchise deserved. You play as Amanda Ripley, daughter of Ellen Ripley, as she searches for her mother aboard the USCSS Torrens. The ship is plagued by malfunctioning androids, a failing AI, and—of course—one deadly Xenomorph. With limited resources and a single unstoppable enemy, the game delivers nonstop dread. Few titles capture the helpless tension of Alien: Isolation.

1. MADiSON

Release Date: July 8, 2022
System(s): PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch

Many games have tried to recapture what P.T. did for horror, but MADiSON is the closest anyone’s come. This first-person psychological horror game blurs the line between reality and nightmare. You explore a single haunted house, though it often expands into warped, surreal environments. Every step feels suffocating. Its unpredictable scares and oppressive atmosphere make MADiSON one of the most terrifying horror games of the modern era. Just don’t expect to sleep easily afterward.

Conclusion

Spooky and scary games are the best way to get that adrenaline rush before Halloween! Sure, some let you fight back, but that doesn’t make them any less terrifying. I still jump when playing The Evil Within or Dead Space despite being armed to the teeth. Horror games are perfect for this time of year, and if you’ve somehow missed any of these, now’s the time to fix that. Just don’t blame us if you can’t sleep with the lights off afterward…

—Aaron