October’s always the perfect time to dive intohorror games, and it looks like horror fans will be spoiled for choice this year. From the already-divisiveSilent Hill 2remake to the less thoroughly transformed return ofUntil Dawn, there are a lot of obvious options to leap for. Even theStarfieldDLCShattered Spaceis getting into the spirit, adding a touch of cosmic horror to a game that otherwise focuses more on the joy of exploration than the fear of the unknown.
Despite these opportunities at hand, there’s a better way to celebrate the Halloween season than grabbing the newest blockbuster games. Major production values can sometimes heighten the fear factor, but the more interesting and immersive scares tend to be found in smaller titles that never over-play their hands. If a costume party or slasher film isn’t set to occupy Halloween night, slotting in a creative indie horror game with a short runtime virtually guarantees a great time, and there are some fantastic options to choose from.
World Of Horror Is A Black & White 1-Bit Marvel
There’s Nothing Quite Like This Roguelite RPG
One look atWorld of Horrorshows just how different it is from any AAA horror experienceon the market. A black-and-white style that crams the screen with text and pixelated drawings is as enticing as it is overwhelming, wearing the influence taken from horror manga artist Junji Ito on its sleeve. Learning the ropes can definitely be a challenge, especially considering the heavy influence of random chance, but success feels all the more rewarding for it.
10 Best Horror Games Of 2023
2023 was a standout year for horror games. Here are the best horror games of 2023, based on critical reviews, player opinion, and awards recognition.
World of Horroremploys aroguelite structure that encourages repeated playthroughs, so seeing the majority of what the game has to show can take a while.A single successful run is only likely to last an hour or so, however, making it a good choice for quick entertainment. Either way, it’s worth keeping in mind that the desire to venture once more into the breach could end up lasting deep into the night.
Detention & Devotion Offer Unique Taiwanese Horror
Schools & Apartments Have Never Been This Scary
Detentionis just about as high-profile as short indie horror games can get, but anyone who hasn’t yet checked it out should at least consider doing so. Created by the Taiwanese studio RedCandleGames,it’s a fascinating look into the cultural and historical context of 1960s Taiwan, and that’s without ever verging on being a dry educational experience. Careful tension-building and a unique art style that leans into a handcrafted appearance makeDetentionenrapturing, priming its scares to be as effective as possible.
Although it’s not available on Steam anymore,RedCandleGames followed upDetentionwithDevotion, which leaps to the 1980s and moves from the first game’s school setting to an apartment complex. WhileDetentionis a side-scroller,Devotionoffers a more directly immersive first-person experience, and it handles the new challenge just as well. A DRM-free version of the game can still be purchased directly from the RedCandleGames website. BothDetentionandDevotioncan be completed in three hours or so, qualifying them as very small commitments.
An Anthology Series That’s Consistently Creative
For truly bite-sized horror, it’s hard to find a better option than theDread X Collectionseries.All fiveDread X Collectiongames are, true to the name, collections, packaging anywhere from 7-12 small horror games with diverse styles into anthology bundles. Naturally, the endeavor can feel a little hit-or-miss, but every entry has some memorable inclusions, and allowing publisher DreadXP to do the curating saves time and effort that might otherwise be spent searching trawling digital storefronts for hidden gems.
Prepare For The Scariest Halloween Ever Thanks To Stacked Horror Game Releases
Horror fans are spoiled for choice this spooky season, with a wide variety of games across genres, platforms, and developers to pick from.
The best thing about theDread X Collectiongames is how low-commitment they are. If one part of any pack just doesn’t feel interesting or scary, it’s easy to bounce to another, preventing Halloween night from being waylaid by a boring game and sunk cost fallacy. There’s also just an unbelievable amount of creativity on display, and even games without much fear factor, like the first collection’sHand of Doom, are often so charming and atmospheric that they still end up being perfect choices for the season.
There’s No Shortage Of Small Indie Horror Games
A Continually Growing Market Keeps Delivering
AlthoughWorld of Horror,Detention, andDread X Collectionare all great experiences, they’re only a few standouts in a fantastic indie scene of compact horror games.One place to look that can provide a ton of qualifiers is the library of games from Chilla’s Art, a Japanese two-man studio with well over twenty short horror titles published on Steam. Diving into more divisive choices likeParatopiccan also be worthwhile, especially for those who prize atmosphere and eccentricity over the particulars of narrative structure and conventional scares.
There’s also a great world of short horror games created in RPG Maker, likeMad Father,The Witch’s House, andIb.
For something a bit longer than the games above but shorter than most major releases,Crow Countryis a surprisingly cozy 2024 standoutthat marries a retro PlayStation style with fresh polish, and it can still be completed in one night with a bit more of a marathon approach. Getting a little loose with genre opens up its own alternatives. AlthoughRusty Lakeshouldn’t be primarily labeled as horror andThe Norwood Suitedefinitely doesn’t qualify, they’re still offbeat and potentially unnerving in just the right ways.
10 Scariest Characters In Non-Horror Video Games
It may be no surprise that horror titles have plenty of frightening foes, but truly terrifying characters can be found in any sort of game.
As titles like theResident Evilremakes have thoroughly proven, there’s a lot of joy to be found in some of horror’s most high-budget experiences. But even if those games take up a lot of time this October, it’s absolutely worth squeezing in one or two smaller indie titles to shake up the season.Horroris often at its best when it plays up the weird, uncanny, and unknown, and venturing off the beaten path this Halloween is the best way to find things that truly embrace that spirit.
