Spooky season is upon us! And that means many of us will be wanting to get into the Halloween spirit. It’s also the perfect time to dive into some scary video games. Thankfully, there are plenty of horror bangers to choose from. That’s why we’ve put together this list of the best horror games to play on Halloween in 2022.
Horror games are often underrated and overlooked in the mainstream, much like their cinematic counterparts. But it is undoubtedly one of the most popular video game genres.
And there’s no better way to spend this Halloween than playing some of the top horror games out there.
Of course, horror games are great whether you’re brave enough to play alone or want to experience them with a group. So they can even make for an excellent Halloween activity with friends.
But if you don’t usually play horror games, you might not be sure where to start. And even if you do, there are just so many to choose from.
If you want to get into the spirit of All Hallows’ Eve this year, check out our list of the best horror games to play on Halloween in 2022…
Best Horror Games To Play On Halloween (2022)
Until Dawn
Available on: PS4
Until Dawn is an excellent choice if you want to play a horror game in a group. It’s an interactive horror about a group of young people who visit a lodge on Blackwood Mountain.
Things quickly take a terrifying turn as it becomes clear they are being pursued by a mysterious (and murderous) figure.
In Until Dawn, your choices matter.
That means the story progresses based on your in-game decisions as you attempt to figure out what’s going on and survive through the night until dawn (get it?).
There are apparently hundreds of different endings and the game prevents you from undoing any decisions you make. That means if a character dies, they are dead.
Until Dawn is primarily made up of cutscenes and quick-time events, so it’s more of an interactive cinematic experience.
But that’s great if you and your friends just want to enjoy some spooky fun this Halloween without worrying too much about the gameplay.
It even features familiar actors who leant their likeness to the game, including Rami Malek and Hayden Panettiere.
Outlast
Available on: PS4, Xbox One, PC, OS X, Nintendo Switch, Linux
Outlast is set in a dilapidated insane asylum. It’s filled with homicidal inmates. That’s because an unethical corporation is rumoured to have been conducting experiments on patients.
You play as an investigative reporter armed with just a camcorder. Scared yet?
It might sound totally generic, but Outlast made waves when it was first released in 2013. If you haven’t seen or played it before, you’re in for a shockingly scary ride.
Outlast‘s found footage perspective makes exploring the abandoned asylum all the more nerve wracking. That’s because it’s often difficult to fully understand what’s going on around you.
Think you can fight off the asylum’s deranged inmates? Think again. Your only viable option is to run and hide.
To make matters worse, most of the game must be played using the camera’s night vision. And scrambling around in the dark trying to piece together the asylum’s chilling backstory is enough to make even the bravest of players’ skin crawl.
Resident Evil 2 Remake
Available on: PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PC, Nintendo Switch, Amazon Luna
After Resident Evil 7: Biohazard, it was unclear exactly where the series would go next. After all, it was a landmark title for Resident Evil as a whole. It returned the series to its former glory.
Fans didn’t want the series to go back to being horror-lite action-adventure titles like Resident Evil 5 and Resident Evil 6. So, what did Capcom do? They remade Resident Evil 2 to tremendous success.
It tells the story of rookie police officer Leon S. Kennedy and Claire Redfield as they fight for survival in a zombie-ridden Raccoon City.
Set primarily in the abandoned Raccoon City Police Department, this gorgeous nightmare delivers a terrifying blend of tight corridors, blood-curdling jump scares, horrifying enemies, and head-scratching puzzles.
Perhaps best of all, this game isn’t a grind and you should be able to get through it over the course of a few evenings. Perfect for enjoying during the Halloween season.
Dead Space
Available on: PS3, Xbox 360, Windows
Dead Space was highly praised when it was released back in 2008. And its reputation has only improved in the years since.
Set aboard the spaceship Ishimura, Dead Space puts players in the shoes of engineer Isaac Clarke. The ship inexplicably went dark and he’s there with a small crew to investigate what has happened.
Worst of all for Isaac, his girlfriend Nicole was working aboard the Ishimura as its senior medical officer. When Isaac and his team arrive, the ship appears abandoned. But he soon discovers it is infested with grotesque and highly aggressive creatures called Necromorphs.
It turns out they are the product of a mysterious alien virus. It causes insanity in infected individuals and ultimately transforms them into undead monstrosities.
Of course, it’s your job to find out exactly what’s caused the outbreak and fight through hordes of these vicious enemies. Dead Space makes for brutal, gory fun and is still regarded as one of the scariest video games ever made.
It’s currently being remade for modern consoles. The remake is due for release in January 2023, so this Halloween really is the perfect time to check out the original. Best of all, Dead Space (and its sequels) are included in a PC Game Pass subscription.
Resident Evil 7: Biohazard
Available on: PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PC, Nintendo Switch, Amazon Luna
It likely comes as no surprised to see Resident Evil 7: Biohazard on this list. I’ve already mentioned it, after all!
This title changed the game for the Resident Evil series. And it’s a tense and chilling horror experience fit for Halloween.
It follows everyman Ethan Winters who is searching for his missing wife Mia. Mia has been missing for three years when Ethan receives a mysterious message from her.
He heads for a run-down plantation in Louisiana to find her. There he encounters the iconic Baker family who… aren’t quite right. They have been driven insane and will stop at nothing to murder Ethan.
Resident Evil 7 is full of jump scares and gruesome scenes as you explore the Baker family home. Its dilapidated and dimly lit spaces are the perfect backdrop for this terrifying tale of survival and mystery.
There’s a reason RE: 7 is considered one of the best games in the series. To fully appreciate it, you really should experience it this Halloween. Just keep some fresh underwear spare…
P.T. – Best Horror Games To Play On Halloween (2022)
Available on: PS4 (to existing owners only)
P.T. is in equal parts scary, complex, and tense. It was legendary video game director Hideo Kojima’s first attempt at horror and his early vision of a Silent Hill reboot he intended to call Silent Hills.
It was released in August 2014 on PlayStation Store as a demo for an unannounced horror game. But when players completed the demo, its true nature was revealed. It was in fact a “playable teaser” (hence the name “P.T.”) for Silent Hills, directed by Hideo Kojima in collaboration with Guillermo del Toro and starring Norman Reedus.
In P.T., the player awakens in a small and empty room. When they pass through a door, they enter a dark and eerie corridor.
The corridor is stuck in an infinite loop and the player is stalked by a deformed ghostly figure named Lisa. As the player explores the corridor and a small bathroom, they begin to learn what may have happened in the home and unravel the gruesome story of a terrifying family tragedy.
Very little information is given to the player, who must solve subtle puzzles to escape the home and Lisa.
P.T. received critical acclaim when it was released and inspired countless horror video games, including Resident Evil 7. Sadly, Silent Hills was cancelled by Konami following Hideo Kojima’s acrimonious split from the company.
P.T. was subsequently removed from the PlayStation Store and is only available to play if you already have it downloaded on your PS4 system.
While this means you may not be able to play it for yourself, it’s well worth watching a full playthrough of P.T. on YouTube this Halloween.
Silent Hills remains the most anticipated horror game we’ll never play, and P.T. is the only way to get just a taste of what could have been.
Do you agree with our list of the best horror games to play on Halloween? Let us know in the comment section below and don’t forget to check out our other gaming articles…
