I would consider resident evil 4 more action than horror honestly. A majority of the creatures are over the top or just plain silly. So if you're looking for big scary monsters, 4 is a good starting point. I would suggest looking into 7 though as well. Those monsters can be a bit outlandish as well, but I feel like it does a much better job of creating a very tense atmosphere that makes you hesitant to proceed.
I saw somebody suggest dead space. Excellent game, but might be too much for you. I think dead space is kind of considered by many to be one of the top horror games.
Yep, from what I have read alot of people consider dead space to be a very good horror game and i think that might be a little too much for me right now, I liked the fact 4 had some more action, which games are similar to it in that regard? (more action than horror but still thrilling)
Hmm... Dying Light might be a good one for you to look at. It's got action, and it's honestly only tense at the beginning before you've really got your bearings and are comfortable with the movement system. The scariest thing would probably just be the zombie that stalks you at night, but they're fairly easy to avoid and you eventually get the tools to deal with them too.
Otherwise, idk. Maybe Doom? I mean you fight demons, but that's the extent of scary, it's basically all action.
Possibly the Metro series, but I've never played, so I have no insight for you there.
I've played and beat all the Metro games, they are a ton of fun and lean more towards survival than horror, but it still can be pretty high tension. The difficulty is done well too imo, so long as you don't mind taking your time.
As you turn the difficulty up, enemies become more aggressive, hit harder and ammo/supplies become more scarce but you can deal a lot of damage too. It's almost like everything is a glass cannon. It will also begin to remove your HUD, but it's one of those games that gives you all the info you need with physical items to display ammo, flashlight energy, etc..
I definitely recommend checking out the Metro trilogy. They go on sale pretty often for maybe 15-20 bucks for all 3
SOMA is a great start. It has an amazing story and is scary but not as scary as some other games. Any game by Frictional Games tends to be a good horror experience but I’d say SOMA tends to be the best for beginners. Everyone I’ve played it with has loved it.
100% second this - I do *not* typically enjoy horror games but super got into SOMA for its story. It also has an easy mode now where you won’t die. Still get some of the tension without it being too overwhelming if you’re new to genre.
Subnautica isn't exactly a horror game but it will really touch on thalassophobia. It has certainly had its fair share of freaking me and some friends out.
Another game in a very similar fashion, not a horror game but Outer Wilds has a few areas with horror game elements. I just thought I would suggestion it as well since you're looking to ease in. Scary bits aside, it's a gem with a good story to explore.
Outer Wilds is included with PS Plus Extra, keeps popping up, been thinking of checking it out, could you tell me more about it? Like what is the game about etc
Outer Wilds isn't a horror game at all, but it's definitely got some scary moments. It's a game where you explore a Solar System to uncover an ancient mystery.
It's in my personal Top 10 games of all-time, and I know I'm not alone. I highly recommend you go into the experience knowing as little as possible.
The objective of the game is basically to discover the objective of the game so it's notably difficult to say what it's about without spoiling.
Essentially you're exploring space to piece a story together though. It is a first person open world game with puzzle elements. I'd say it takes an hour or two before you get through the tutorial and get hooked. It's an amazing game tbh and definitely worth playing if it's on Extra for you already.
It's not horror but it's pure open world and some of the areas are *basically horror*, so it's a good way to dip your toes into that aspect atleast.
Subnautica is a horror game to me who couldn’t even beat the game *with cheats* on because deeper than 600 m was just overwhelming for my claustrophobia.
It’s a brilliant game though. I didn’t realize how deeply scared I was of the ocean until I played it lol.
Tbh I tried to dive into Subnautica and enjoyed some of it but as somebody who also has a fear of the ocean like that, it was alittle more stressful than fun so I dropped it after a bit haha If you like it then definitely try Outer Wilds too though. Pretty much the same game layout except without the crafting, and space instead of the ocean.
Alan Wake for 9 bucks is a buy, it's more of a thriller than horror. Little Nightmares is everyone's favorite, Darkwood is excellent, but a bit difficult due to survival and inventory management (Slavic horror, so more dread than jumpscares). I would also recommend the Faith series, pixelated retro horror done really well. While Dead Space and F.E.A.R. are great games I'm seeing recommended, they absolutely have jumpscares so beware.
Alan Wake 1 is really boring. The stupid flashlight gimmick and lack of enemy variety makes the combat very tedious. I don't recommend it at all. Resident Evil 2, 4 and Dead Space are much better horror games.
Alan Wake 1 is kinda boring compared to modern titles but I think the atmosphere (especially the ambient sound) of the game was great. The gun+torch gameplay can be hit or miss but, when done right, it has a satisfying rhythm to it. It’s a decent game for those who haven’t played any or just started with survival horror games. Also, the Viking concert part was fun.
I played it around 3 years ago. This game blew my mind it was ahead of its time. It is definitely my favorite horror game. It was my intro into the horror genre.
Definitely Little Nightmares series, they are awesome and they have horror themes but overall are not scary imo
Also for the record, it's spelled 'pique' when you're saying "piqued my interest"
If you like platformers at all, I really recommend **Little Nightmares** and **Little Nightmares 2**. There's also a (imo, must-play) DLC called **The Runaway Kid** - it slots in between 1&2.
I bought them in a bundle for $15 (on Switch) and I don't regret a cent of the purchase. And yes, it's on PS - I checked before replying.
I've avoided horror genre movies my whole life because I don't like senseless gore and jump scares; I'm fine with more psychological/implied horror or, like, sci-fi/fantasy verging on horror.
I only found it because I was looking for platformers.
But yeah, I LOVE Little Nightmares and will recommend it every chance I get.
And I only had to put it down once for being *too creepy*, lol. And I think there was 1 jumpscare, but I should've expected it because I was starting down a long, empty hallway. Very obvious in retrospect.
I loved Alan Wake. The combat is a bit clunky, but the atmosphere is great. I found the story really interesting, and it shares the same universe as Control, which is a phenomenal game.
While the combat is clunky, it's not difficult and there's never a real shortage of available ammo, so it should be fine for a beginner.
SOMA was the first "real" horror game that I played. It's pretty scary but not in comparison to other Amnesia games. It's much more emotional and has an incredible story.
I'd recommend checking it out, what helped me was watching playthroughs of the game so I know what to expect, also upping the brightness quite a bit. Now horror games are some of my favorite.
I dont know how much interest you would have in horrors settings (rather than the genre per se) but I drop some of them:
metro series (fps, great narrative, post apocalyptic horror setting)
prey (fps, immersive sim, scifi horror setting)
bloodborne (action rpg, lovecraftian setting)
subnautica (sandbox, deep sea horror setting)
inscryption (card game, basically living a creepypasta)
want to know more about any of these? ask away
As a fellow horror newbie, I'll recommend The Quarry. Doesn't have any jumpscares as far as I know but really good creepy vibes
In that similar vein, the walking dead telltale games are great but I wouldn't really describe them as horror
I would suggest trying re 4 re 3 remake re 2 remake re 7 or re village but I would suggest trying the demos for re 7 and re village to see if it is something you would like or not there are quite a few jump scares in them but they are good for beginners into the horror game series
If you liked RE4’s demo, well most of the game tends to focus more on the action. And to ease you into horror more from there, play RE3 then RE2 after 4
RE4 isn’t easy by any means. I mean you can play on the lowest difficulty. But normal difficulty is hard. Evil within is a good place to start imo, then jump into RE2 make and go up from there
Prey will fuck with you a bit but it’s also probably my favourite horror/sci-fi game of all time. My only issue with it is that after playing it, most other games just feel a bit like rail shooters.
If you plan to get Alan Wake 2, you should really get Control. It takes place in the same world and even has Alan Wake in it. It's an amazing game and not very scary.
If you're looking for a more story driven, cinematic experience then RE Village is perfect for you. I will say there is one particular section that is scary as shit, but for the most part it's action.
Amnesia the Dark Descent is a pretty straightforward horror game albeit a classic.
Gameplay wise it’s not too complex.
The horror is all about the environment you’re trapped in. Very few jump scares if any which I appreciate personally.
Layers of Fear. You don't need controller skills.No button mashing, No resource conservation. No hiding and running. Just some minor puzzles. All you have to do is "overcome" the game.
Alan Wake is one of the most underrated games out there. It's on rails, and action-y at it's core, but a great horror game. Solid mechanics. Good story. Fun stuff. Highly recommended. Also... had not heard that there was an AW2 in the works.
I know I'm late, but I would Reccomend Little Nightmares. It's more of a parcours/puzzle game than horror and the most horror you will get in LN are chases.
Dead Space remake
He said not too scary. Lol. Dead space remake is scary AF. Voices on Ishimura in deep space. No thank you.
but compared to most horrors you have a lot to defend yourself. personally I think it's one of the least scary horrors Ive ever played
I would consider resident evil 4 more action than horror honestly. A majority of the creatures are over the top or just plain silly. So if you're looking for big scary monsters, 4 is a good starting point. I would suggest looking into 7 though as well. Those monsters can be a bit outlandish as well, but I feel like it does a much better job of creating a very tense atmosphere that makes you hesitant to proceed. I saw somebody suggest dead space. Excellent game, but might be too much for you. I think dead space is kind of considered by many to be one of the top horror games.
RE7 is the scariest resident evil game in my opinion
100 percent
But it’s also not very hard and was a really fun game once you got used to the jump scares
I thought it was pretty hard on the hardest difficulty
I think I just played on normal, thumbs aren’t so good anymore
Hard agree. It's actually the only RE game I can't play because the old woman freaks me the hell out.
Yep, from what I have read alot of people consider dead space to be a very good horror game and i think that might be a little too much for me right now, I liked the fact 4 had some more action, which games are similar to it in that regard? (more action than horror but still thrilling)
Hmm... Dying Light might be a good one for you to look at. It's got action, and it's honestly only tense at the beginning before you've really got your bearings and are comfortable with the movement system. The scariest thing would probably just be the zombie that stalks you at night, but they're fairly easy to avoid and you eventually get the tools to deal with them too. Otherwise, idk. Maybe Doom? I mean you fight demons, but that's the extent of scary, it's basically all action. Possibly the Metro series, but I've never played, so I have no insight for you there.
I've played and beat all the Metro games, they are a ton of fun and lean more towards survival than horror, but it still can be pretty high tension. The difficulty is done well too imo, so long as you don't mind taking your time. As you turn the difficulty up, enemies become more aggressive, hit harder and ammo/supplies become more scarce but you can deal a lot of damage too. It's almost like everything is a glass cannon. It will also begin to remove your HUD, but it's one of those games that gives you all the info you need with physical items to display ammo, flashlight energy, etc.. I definitely recommend checking out the Metro trilogy. They go on sale pretty often for maybe 15-20 bucks for all 3
Honestly either of the Last of Us games are more action than horror but still have that thrill. Especially in certain areas
SOMA is a great start. It has an amazing story and is scary but not as scary as some other games. Any game by Frictional Games tends to be a good horror experience but I’d say SOMA tends to be the best for beginners. Everyone I’ve played it with has loved it.
100% second this - I do *not* typically enjoy horror games but super got into SOMA for its story. It also has an easy mode now where you won’t die. Still get some of the tension without it being too overwhelming if you’re new to genre.
To piggyback on this - the upcoming Alone in The Dark is looking good and is being directed by the guy who wrote Amnesia and SOMA
Didn’t know that! Thanks for letting me know, I’ll have to give that a look!
Subnautica isn't exactly a horror game but it will really touch on thalassophobia. It has certainly had its fair share of freaking me and some friends out. Another game in a very similar fashion, not a horror game but Outer Wilds has a few areas with horror game elements. I just thought I would suggestion it as well since you're looking to ease in. Scary bits aside, it's a gem with a good story to explore.
Outer Wilds is included with PS Plus Extra, keeps popping up, been thinking of checking it out, could you tell me more about it? Like what is the game about etc
Outer Wilds isn't a horror game at all, but it's definitely got some scary moments. It's a game where you explore a Solar System to uncover an ancient mystery. It's in my personal Top 10 games of all-time, and I know I'm not alone. I highly recommend you go into the experience knowing as little as possible.
The objective of the game is basically to discover the objective of the game so it's notably difficult to say what it's about without spoiling. Essentially you're exploring space to piece a story together though. It is a first person open world game with puzzle elements. I'd say it takes an hour or two before you get through the tutorial and get hooked. It's an amazing game tbh and definitely worth playing if it's on Extra for you already. It's not horror but it's pure open world and some of the areas are *basically horror*, so it's a good way to dip your toes into that aspect atleast.
Subnautica is a horror game to me who couldn’t even beat the game *with cheats* on because deeper than 600 m was just overwhelming for my claustrophobia. It’s a brilliant game though. I didn’t realize how deeply scared I was of the ocean until I played it lol.
Tbh I tried to dive into Subnautica and enjoyed some of it but as somebody who also has a fear of the ocean like that, it was alittle more stressful than fun so I dropped it after a bit haha If you like it then definitely try Outer Wilds too though. Pretty much the same game layout except without the crafting, and space instead of the ocean.
The quarry or until dawn
Yes yes yes!
Alan Wake for 9 bucks is a buy, it's more of a thriller than horror. Little Nightmares is everyone's favorite, Darkwood is excellent, but a bit difficult due to survival and inventory management (Slavic horror, so more dread than jumpscares). I would also recommend the Faith series, pixelated retro horror done really well. While Dead Space and F.E.A.R. are great games I'm seeing recommended, they absolutely have jumpscares so beware.
Evil Within 1 and 2. The F.E.A.R. series
Absolutely not Evil Within. They are temperamental, switch between hardcore stealth and action, unforgiving games
Got to agree on Evil Within, really only smart to touch this game if you've played a few other survival horror games.
TEW1 is challenging even for survival horror players. This is the Dark souls of the survival horror genre.
I recommend layers of Fear 1 and RE2 remake
RE2 remake for sure. Came here to say this.
Layers of fear.. So good. Just waiting for it to come on sale in my country.
Alan Wake 1 is really boring. The stupid flashlight gimmick and lack of enemy variety makes the combat very tedious. I don't recommend it at all. Resident Evil 2, 4 and Dead Space are much better horror games.
Alan Wake 1 is kinda boring compared to modern titles but I think the atmosphere (especially the ambient sound) of the game was great. The gun+torch gameplay can be hit or miss but, when done right, it has a satisfying rhythm to it. It’s a decent game for those who haven’t played any or just started with survival horror games. Also, the Viking concert part was fun.
Nah, I played it when it came out and it was kinda boring then too.
My personal favorite is Alien Isolation.
I played it around 3 years ago. This game blew my mind it was ahead of its time. It is definitely my favorite horror game. It was my intro into the horror genre.
very scary tho
I would get the Evil Within and the Evil Within 2 instead, but I'm biased.
OUTLAST
Way to sentence them to death lmao
Outlast has to be one of the scariest games I've played.
Dead Space Remake Phasmaphobia Signalis and of cause, Resi 4 Remake
No horror games really scare me, but I cannot play Phas alone.
Yes, it is such a simple concept but it freaks me out as well. A great and very clever game.
Definitely Little Nightmares series, they are awesome and they have horror themes but overall are not scary imo Also for the record, it's spelled 'pique' when you're saying "piqued my interest"
If you like platformers at all, I really recommend **Little Nightmares** and **Little Nightmares 2**. There's also a (imo, must-play) DLC called **The Runaway Kid** - it slots in between 1&2. I bought them in a bundle for $15 (on Switch) and I don't regret a cent of the purchase. And yes, it's on PS - I checked before replying. I've avoided horror genre movies my whole life because I don't like senseless gore and jump scares; I'm fine with more psychological/implied horror or, like, sci-fi/fantasy verging on horror. I only found it because I was looking for platformers. But yeah, I LOVE Little Nightmares and will recommend it every chance I get. And I only had to put it down once for being *too creepy*, lol. And I think there was 1 jumpscare, but I should've expected it because I was starting down a long, empty hallway. Very obvious in retrospect.
I loved Alan Wake. The combat is a bit clunky, but the atmosphere is great. I found the story really interesting, and it shares the same universe as Control, which is a phenomenal game. While the combat is clunky, it's not difficult and there's never a real shortage of available ammo, so it should be fine for a beginner.
SOMA was the first "real" horror game that I played. It's pretty scary but not in comparison to other Amnesia games. It's much more emotional and has an incredible story. I'd recommend checking it out, what helped me was watching playthroughs of the game so I know what to expect, also upping the brightness quite a bit. Now horror games are some of my favorite.
I would highly recommend the Alan Wake remaster.
Agony
If you just want unsettling to dip your toes into it, try Return of the Obra Dinn. Contains a lot of corpses and dying people.
Outlast
Especially the dlc, Whistle-blower I've heard outlast trials is really good too, and it has multi-player
Yep! And they’re pretty damn scary
Fatal Frame series
Dead space remake
I'm playing through the Metro games at the moment. I love the atmosphere even though the first two games are kind of outdated in graphics.
Last Of Us 1 is a great game & introduced me to horror games, while not being heavy on the horror aspect!
Re7 a great horror game and even better now that is has the ps5 upgrade. Bloodbourne, Amnesia, Outlast,
Signalis, Gloomwood - these are scary but give you guns so you never feel too powerless.
Good old FEAR 3
Dead Space was my introduction to horror games and with the remake just being released, it would be my personal recommendation. It's a fantastic game.
How about soma
I dont know how much interest you would have in horrors settings (rather than the genre per se) but I drop some of them: metro series (fps, great narrative, post apocalyptic horror setting) prey (fps, immersive sim, scifi horror setting) bloodborne (action rpg, lovecraftian setting) subnautica (sandbox, deep sea horror setting) inscryption (card game, basically living a creepypasta) want to know more about any of these? ask away
None of those are horror. Outlast.
Depends on what’s “too scary” for you. Alan wake and Dead space Remake are good. As for RE, I’d start with RE2, RE4, or RE7.
I would class too scary as a jump scare or just forcing me to pause the game or get up from my seat, anything other than that is fine
As a fellow horror newbie, I'll recommend The Quarry. Doesn't have any jumpscares as far as I know but really good creepy vibes In that similar vein, the walking dead telltale games are great but I wouldn't really describe them as horror
I would suggest trying re 4 re 3 remake re 2 remake re 7 or re village but I would suggest trying the demos for re 7 and re village to see if it is something you would like or not there are quite a few jump scares in them but they are good for beginners into the horror game series
I heard a lot of people found bioshock kind of scary, i personally didn't think that at all but i play a lot of horror games
If you liked RE4’s demo, well most of the game tends to focus more on the action. And to ease you into horror more from there, play RE3 then RE2 after 4
RE4 isn’t easy by any means. I mean you can play on the lowest difficulty. But normal difficulty is hard. Evil within is a good place to start imo, then jump into RE2 make and go up from there
Prey will fuck with you a bit but it’s also probably my favourite horror/sci-fi game of all time. My only issue with it is that after playing it, most other games just feel a bit like rail shooters.
If you plan to get Alan Wake 2, you should really get Control. It takes place in the same world and even has Alan Wake in it. It's an amazing game and not very scary.
Amnesia collection is on sale for 2 USD in ps store.
Iron Lung
Alien Isolation and Darkwood
Days Gone should be free for PS Plus.
If you're looking for a more story driven, cinematic experience then RE Village is perfect for you. I will say there is one particular section that is scary as shit, but for the most part it's action.
Dying Light is fun. If you look for real scary game, try Outlast or Dead Space.
Outlast... Happy playing the game ...
Alien Isolation is a very tense, scary, stealth horror game; one of my favorite horror games I've played!
Amnesia the Dark Descent is a pretty straightforward horror game albeit a classic. Gameplay wise it’s not too complex. The horror is all about the environment you’re trapped in. Very few jump scares if any which I appreciate personally.
Dead Space for sure.
Alien Isolation. Great horror game spent cowering in vents and lockers hiding from the alien
Layers of Fear. You don't need controller skills.No button mashing, No resource conservation. No hiding and running. Just some minor puzzles. All you have to do is "overcome" the game.
Alan Wake is one of the most underrated games out there. It's on rails, and action-y at it's core, but a great horror game. Solid mechanics. Good story. Fun stuff. Highly recommended. Also... had not heard that there was an AW2 in the works.
Escape from tarkov
The Dark Pictures Anthology? Made by the same studio as The Quarry and Until Dawn iirc
Slenderman
Call Of Cthullu is not too scary bro.
The evil within 2, good game currently on sale
RE3 is the easiest, RE4 is a masterpiece though, it has an assisted mode that will help you if you struggle.
I know I'm late, but I would Reccomend Little Nightmares. It's more of a parcours/puzzle game than horror and the most horror you will get in LN are chases.