In the modern age, players are spoiled by the sheer amount of horror games available at their fingertips. The Indie gaming scene has exploded, giving gamers access to a near-endless amount of horror-theme adventures that they can dive into at a moment's notice. But quantity doesn't always mean quality, and there are many horror releases that fall short of being "spectacular."

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There have been some seriously frightening, and incredibly exciting, horror games released for each generation of consoles, and developers continue to gain access to new and exciting tools that allow them to amp up the scares as time goes on. But the past has seen its fair share of beautifully crafted horror experiences, many of which "new age players" missed out on. Here's a look at some of the best horror games that all horror fans need to play at least once.

Updated October 30th, 2022 by Alex Moore: There are a lot of fantastic horror games out there and developers are constantly pushing the envelope in the modern age in an attempt to provide players with the best scares possible. Thankfully, these new visionaries have a lot of incredible source material to draw from. The popularity of horror games exploded during the 90s and paved the way for the unrelenting presence of the contemporary horror genre. Here's a look at even more fantastic classic horror games that everyone should play at least once and updated information concerning remakes of some of these beloved titles.

11 Zombies Ate My Neighbors (1993)

A blast from the past, Zombies Ate My Neighbors isn't particularly scary, especially compared to the titles on this list, but it's absolutely a must-play. Gamers that get their hands on this top-down shoot-'em-up will definitely see the horror influences, as the pixilated arcade-style SNES game is filled with homages to horror's past. There are Frankenstein-esque creations, giant bugs, and, of course, a slew of zombies.

Although Zombies Ate My Neighbors can be a bit difficult for the uninitiated, it's definitely a ton of fun to play and gamers should have a blast trying to conquer all 48 stages of the horror-filled romp.

10 Clock Tower (1995)

Clock Tower Gameplay With Scissor Monster

Originally released for the SNES, Clock Tower is a survival horror point-and-click adventure game that had several sequels. Eventually re-released two years later for the PS1, Clock Tower never had a commercial release outside of Japan; however, there are various fan translations in existence. It is praised for its haunting atmosphere and its influence on the survival horror genre.

Clock Tower follows orphan Jennifer Simpson and other orphaned girls being adopted by the Barrows family. Shortly after arriving to the Barrows' manor, one of the girls is killed. Jennifer and the rest of the girls are soon stalked by the killer, known as Scissorman. Jennifer must find a way to escape the clutches of Scissorman, leading to one of the various endings of the game. This game is one of atmospheric horror's rawest experiences, and a great treat for those who wish to attempt their escape from Scissorman.

9 Parasite Eve (1998)

Although Parasite Eve feels like a title that belongs in the same vein as Resident Evil and Silent Hill, it's actually a game that's more akin to Final Fantasy and turn-based RPGs. What made Parasite Eve unique is that players were free to move around when battling against enemies, but their attacks would come by targeting specific enemies and then auto-attacking. They were even free to use skills and items via menus, as one might do in a traditional RPG setting.

Underneath the unique, albeit somewhat confusing combat, Parasite Eve is a rather chill yet chilling horror experience. It's not nearly as hair-raising as some other titles on this list, but it has a unique premise and was a very different overall adventure during its time, earning it a special place among other horror classics. Parasite Eve is rumored to be receiving a potential remake courtesy of Square Enix, yet nothing has been confirmed as of writing.

8 Silent Hill 2 (2001)

The PlayStation and PlayStation 2 saw their fair share of great horror-survival titles, with many players pointing towards the Resident Evil series as the best of the bunch. But there are quite a few horror fans that missed out on Silent Hill, a franchise that established its footing around the same time. At its core, Silent Hill was very much like Resident Evil, with players attempting to survive a horror-stricken world, picking up weapons and hoarding scare ammunition and supplies as they solved puzzles and battled horrific monsters.

Silent Hill 2, considered by many to be one of the best Silent Hill games ever made, set itself apart from other survival horror games by crafting a fog-laden game world that was seriously terrifying. Great sound design, grotesque monsters, and a rather gripping story make Silent Hill 2 a must-play release. And with the confirmation of a Silent Hill 2 remake by Konami, even more fans will be able to enjoy this beloved entry with updated visuals, sound design and more.

7 Fatal Frame 2: Crimson Butterfly (2003)

Fatal Frame II Crimson Butterfly Sae Kurosawa

Fatal Frame 2: Crimson Butterfly began development shortly after the completion of the first game, which was deemed so scary that some gamers could not complete it. Because of this, Fatal Frame's developer, Tecmo, opted to create a more interesting storyline to encourage players to see the game through. Despite this, horror was still a central aspect to the second game and Crimson Butterfly is considered to be one of the scariest games ever made.

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The player controls protagonist Mio Amakura as she and her sister Mayu explore a ghost town, uncovering its secrets along the way. Mayu follows mysterious red butterflies deeper into the village as she falls under its spell, with Mio discovering the failed Crimson Sacrifice Ritual and the ensuing disaster that shrouded the village in darkness. In order to prevent a repeat of the past, Mayu rushes to uncover the rest of the truth before it is too late, with a special camera called the Camera Obscura allowing her to defeat various negative ghosts and spirits that are doomed to repeat their actions in the village. With several endings and a story that immediately enthralls its audience, Fatal Frame II is a must-play for any horror fan.

6 Obscure (2004)

Obscure Promo

One of the more underrated titles in a generation filled with classic horror games, Obscure takes everything you love about cheesy teen slasher films and puts it into game format. A product of its time, especially given the advertised inclusion of Sum 41 on its soundtrack, this title was easily overlooked. The fact that games such as Resident Evil 4 and Doom 3 got released in the same year, as well as an abysmal sequel released a few years later lacking the heart of the original contributed to its relative... obscurity. In fact, the problem of a horrible sequel is honestly very fitting for a slasher (looking at you Friday the 13th).

Despite all of this, the characters and plot are all wonderfully campy and sure to give slasher fans nostalgia. Each of the five playable characters has their own clichéd personality and unique abilities to further the story and allow for different runs of the campaign. It also features a deep crafting system and the inclusion of more common survival horror characteristics. This ode to teen slasher films certainly left an imprint on its fans and deserves to be more recognized.

5 Resident Evil 4 (2005)

Resident Evil 4 GameCube Logo

Resident Evil has become a storied franchise over the years. The original title captivated players by locking them within a creepy mansion and ambushing them with all sorts of zombified and mutated creatures. The Survival Horror release perfectly blended action with captivating puzzles and the next two sequels to follow were just as nerve-wracking.

Developers really stepped things up with the release of Resident Evil 4, which saw a new version of Leon Kennedy that was a far cry from the rookie Raccoon City police officer that players had seen in Resident Evil 2. The fourth installment took players to a new location and was filled with a wide array of mutated humanoids that were incredibly unsettling compared to the monsters seen in the past. With the addition of a shop system, a rather engrossing story, and some amazing gameplay, Resident Evil 4 is arguably the best title in the franchise. And, in accordance with the previous remakes of the first three RE titles, as well as the current spree of horror remakes, the Resident Evil 4 remake will be arriving for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, PC, and Xbox Series X/S on March 24, 2023.

4 BioShock (2007)

Bioshocks Big Daddy

One of the most influential games in narrative-driven first-person shooters, 2K Marin and Irrational Game's 2007 hit BioShock, left audiences speechless upon release. Incorporating dystopian and utopian ideas from various political minds of the 20th century, BioShock follows the main character, Jack, as they crash-land in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean before approaching a mysterious lighthouse and taking a bathysphere down to the dilapidated Rapture. Upon picking up a hand radio and receiving help from an unknown Atlas, Jack is asked to help Atlas in stopping the business magnate and creator of Rapture, Andrew Ryan. Now having to fight and survive the crumbling Rapture and its various crazed denizens, Jack is thrown headfirst into the perils of Rapture and must make many difficult decisions to survive.

BioShock borrowed many aspects from RPGs and survival horror while being a game that pulls from many various art forms and expertly blends them together into a beautiful game. The survival horror elements are made very clear through the game's environment, use of music, and enemies among other things. It is one of the highest-rated games to date for various reasons, however, the unnerving atmosphere, morality-based storyline, and great sound design all make it a must-play horror game.

3 Dead Space (2008)

Dead Space Isaac Clarke vs Necromorph

For fans of Sci-Fi Horror, they need look no further than Electronic Art's Dead Space. This hair-raising experience is filled with expertly crafted sound design and the grim atmosphere surrounding the USG Ishimura ship and the horrifying Necromorphs upon it. Immersion is a huge part of the game, with an in-universe HUD, real-time cutscenes and audio logs, as well as fluid character animations.

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Since its release, Isaac Clarke has become a horror icon with the space engineer becoming one of the most recognized game characters. Dead Space has some truly frightening moments and unique gameplay, and with a remake available as of January 2023, this is a perfect game to start or continue your horror journey.

2 Alan Wake (2010)

Although Alan Wake was fairly recent compared to some other releases on this list, it's still "classic" by today's standards. It's absolutely an adventure that every horror fan should take too. The title follows the misadventure of a plagued writer as he attempts to overcome some very personal demons and write his next best-selling horror adventure.

Unfortunately, things become a bit too real for Alan Wake and players must make their way through a series of deadly locations, armed with a powerful flashlight and an array of weapons to help protect themselves from the evils that lurk in each area. It's a great survival horror release and one that's often overlooked.

1 Amnesia: The Dark Descent (2010)

Amnesia The Dark Descent

Last but certainly not least, Amnesia: The Dark Descent is a survival horror adventure game that has become very well-known due to the countless content creators that have trudged through the horrifying tale for their communities. The game follows the protagonist, Daniel, as he traverses an ominous Prussian castle in the 1830s while trying to maintain his sanity from various monsters and unsettling events. Solving puzzles and discovering various notes and clues help to inform you of Daniel's past and the circumstances of the strange castle.

Amnesia received numerous awards and is heralded as one of the scariest games of all time. The game's sound design and use of horror elements that focus on sight and sound helped to set it apart from its contemporaries. This is a survival horror release perfect for seeing just how long you can last before succumbing to the terrors of the game.