18 Best Horror Games for PC, Ranked

On most gaming platforms, a select few games shine as exceptional masterpieces. However, when it comes to PC, the landscape becomes a bit blurry due to an overwhelming abundance of content. This is particularly true in the horror genre, where numerous sub-categories flourish and many groundbreaking titles dating back to the 90s are easily accessible. The sheer number of choices for your next horror game can feel endless, yet there are timeless classics that continue to captivate us and innovative games whose unique qualities have yet to be replicated on consoles.

We’ve compiled a list featuring horror games that are exclusive to or originally released on Windows operating systems. We intentionally excluded popular games like Silent Hill, Resident Evil, Dead Space, Outlast, Murder House, and Alien: Isolation, which can be found on multiple platforms. Instead, let’s delve into some top-tier PC horror games that are still playable today.

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18) DEAD LETTER DEPT.

In everyday life, the monotony suddenly plunges into chaos when the software you use at your data entry job gets infected by something more sinister than malware. Instead of sorting through ordinary mail and deciphering barely legible addresses, DEAD LETTER DEPT. offers a chilling twist on typing games. As you feel ensnared, like a puppet being led along by an unseen force, your autonomy and liberty seem elusive in this unsettling environment that exudes a sense of impending doom. Despite its straightforward narrative, it manages to be effective through repetition, gradually revealing the mystery and growing increasingly eerie with each change.

17) Mad Father

Among the notable horror games created using RPG Maker, Mad Father stands out (with a nod to games like The Crooked Man, Ib, and The Witch’s House as well). Filled with mystery, puzzles, and exploration, you can’t help but feel drawn in as if unraveling your father’s hidden secrets were a favorite pastime for an 11-year-old girl. The characters are intriguing and complex, and the narrative cleverly intertwines events from both the past and present. Mad Father has a unique identity with its distinctive aesthetic, gameplay mechanics, labyrinthine trap designs, puzzles, and various endings. Although it may not be particularly terrifying, there are depths to explore as the game’s creepy and occasionally humorous exterior conceals a darker, more troubling reality.

16) The Midnight Scenes: The Nanny

Drawing influence from “The Twilight Zone”, “Midnight Scenes” is a series of episodes boasting stunning visual design and concise narratives that are simple to comprehend. “The Nanny” is a compact horror tale, showcasing exceptional writing, world-building, and a well-balanced pace. As a side-scrolling adventure with an emphasis on exploration, delve into the enigma of the vanished nanny, hoping nothing dreadful has befallen her. The ’80s style and dialogue add to its appeal, yet be cautious, as this installment gradually escalates to a chilling climax.

15) Home Safety Hotline

Which service will you contact when dealing with a rat invasion, toxic mold, or an instance of forgetfulness? The Home Safety Hotline, undeniably! Your role is to address callers’ concerns and accurately identify the issues at hand. Neglect could potentially endanger the caller, and you may also lose your position. As the calls initially seem straightforward, there will be a myriad of enigmatic cases that require your careful analysis and navigation through the secretive, bizarre, and dreamlike records related to less frequent home infestations. Essentially, you’re the team that prepares the ground before The Foundation retrieves the SCPs. If this job appeals to you, join the hotline right away and immerse yourself in the challenge, unravel its mysteries, and help each caller escape their predicament.

14) Yume Nikki

In a league of its own, Yume Nikki stands apart. It eschews conventional guidance and linear progression, instead inviting you to traverse an alternate dreamscape disconnected from our everyday existence. The visuals are surreal and abstract, with kaleidoscopes, symmetry, neon lights, and contorted body parts swimming in the timeless void. While not traditionally categorized as a horror game, it leaves plenty of room for individual interpretation. The enigmatic world of Yume Nikki is filled with puzzles that may never make sense, but its eerie allure captivates players nonetheless. This game lacks a plot, clear meaning, and defined purpose; instead, it serves as a piece of art.

13) The Cat Lady

In a hauntingly beautiful side-scrolling game called “The Cat Lady,” an emotionally intense tale unfolds. The stark contrast between the mostly black and white visuals underscores the vulnerability of each character, as well as the recurring grim themes it explores, which are presented in a raw and unflinching manner without any attempt to sugarcoat them. Despite its challenging nature, “The Cat Lady” is hard to walk away from once you’ve started playing, leaving an indelible impression on players through its graphic violence and unsettling content.

12) IT STEALS

In this scenario, you find yourself facing a terrifying maze, where each game has unique regulations. You’re equipped with a flashlight, a camera, and the determination to survive. However, there’s something relentlessly pursuing you. The objective in every mode is consistent: gather the glowing orbs and escape. This game is among the most nerve-wracking I’ve ever experienced; it’s a heart-pounding horror, as if it leapt straight from PAC-MAN‘s darkest nightmares. It’s win or lose, stand your ground or run for your life, adapt quickly or perish.

11) Fear & Hunger

As a dedicated gamer, let me tell you that Fear & Hunger is undeniably the most grueling horror game out there. Its chilling imagery, harrowing content, and mind-boggling difficulty make it truly terrifying. The otherworldly aesthetic of this game is reminiscent of a darker, turn-based version of Berserk. With no help or guidance provided, you’re immediately thrown into the heart of despair. This game forces you to endure the fear and hunger that haunt the past, present, and future, as you leap headlong into the abyss of this twisted video game. It’s a masterfully crafted experience, but be warned, it might consume your very soul while playing.

10) Lost in Vivo

Exploring the sewers in pursuit of your dog may initially seem routine, but as you delve deeper, you’re drawn into a world unlike any you’ve known before. This realm is filled with strange, menacing creatures that could have stepped straight out of a Lovecraft novel. The game, Lost in Vivo, immerses you in this claustrophobic survival horror, placing you right in the path of danger. Its narrow field of view compels you to confront the terror head-on, making for an uncomfortable and hard-to-enjoy experience. However, its exceptional level design and sound effects make it impossible to turn away.

9) Cry of Fear

In a chilling twist following a car crash, the game Cry of Fear plunges you into an eerie and disquieting version of our world that’s almost impossible to tear yourself away from. The spine-tingling sound effects and erratic behavior of the monstrous creatures stalking you make this game genuinely unnerving. Something inhuman, eerie, and unfamiliar relentlessly pursues you until it erases your existence from this realm. Despite its outdated mechanics, Cry of Fear‘s haunting atmosphere places it among the top survival horrors.

8) Sanitarium

In this game, you’ll be playing as a character with amnesia, whose face is hidden beneath bandages. Your task is to unravel the secrets of his enigmatic past while maneuvering through a dreamlike landscape that challenges the distinction between fantasy and reality. Is what you’re perceiving genuine or merely the dying echoes of your brain’s final thoughts? Brace yourself for an adventure that promises transformation, mirroring life, death, and everything in between. The chilling point-and-click experience offered by Sanitarium presents a visually peculiar and somewhat outdated world, filled with confusion and chaos. Over time, however, you’ll learn to discern your surroundings, eventually piecing together the puzzle.

7) I Have No Mouth, and I Must Scream

As the days go by, I Have No Mouth becomes increasingly unsettling, immersing us in an existential horror where five humans are tormented by a sadistic supercomputer. Originally published in 1995 as I Have No Mouth, and I Must Scream, this game still shows signs of aging with its tricky puzzles and technical glitches. However, don’t let that deter you, for it is a remarkable achievement in storytelling, faithfully adapting Harlan Ellison’s short novel. By assuming the identities of five distinct characters, each is compelled to grapple with their darkest fears as they are subjected to cruel trials and games now that the supercomputer has annihilated the rest of humanity.

6) Look Outside

In the confines of your apartment building, an otherworldly terror unfurls beyond, stirring your intrigue yet potentially marking your last human act. Endure 15 harrowing days as horrors engulf your sanctuary, a space that once echoed tranquility now resonates with inhumanity. This RPG, Look Outside, is expertly designed, from its captivating narrative and worldbuilding to its finely-tuned combat mechanics.

5) FAITH: The Unholy Trinity

In simpler terms, a great horror game isn’t solely dependent on highly detailed graphics. As demonstrated by the game “FAITH”, the impact comes from its exceptional sound and art design, the eerie atmosphere, and the sense of mystery it creates. It’s like stumbling upon a cursed game that seems to be tainted by the darkest evils one can imagine. The Unholy Trilogy is a difficult game that manages to be both unsettling and captivating. It’s filled with intricate details, depicted in colorful pixels against a dark backdrop, serving as your playground.

4) Imscared

In a manner reminiscent of malware on your computer, the PC game IMSCARED proves surprisingly effective. By befriending a sentient computer program yearning for compassion, you’re tasked with solving puzzles that stand in your way, all while dodging Imscared – a pixelated face with a sinister grin seeking a fatal embrace. The game’s minimalistic approach gives it an eerie sense of life, using its folders and private YouTube videos to share most of its backstory, mysteries, and drive the narrative forward.

3) SCP: Containment Breach

Inside the Facility, an alarm blares. Your tenure as a D-Class employee has come to an end. This compound was designed to safeguard horrors, imprison them, and shield humanity. Elevate your security clearance to traverse freely, utilize whatever resources at your disposal to outwit and outlive the monsters. The game boasts numerous adversaries and conclusions, offering not just intricate plots but also a thrilling gaming experience. Despite its unassuming appearance, Containment Breach continues to be one of the most suspenseful, enigmatic, and captivating games available for free. Don’t let its simple exterior deceive you – it’s far more than meets the eye.

2) Penumbra: Black Plague

In the tradition of walking in your father’s footsteps, you enter an old research center that’s been deserted, revealing former workers who have become mindless beings. It seems a mysterious force has taken over the place, spreading contamination to every living thing—and it’s coming for you next. Offering exceptional voice acting and compelling storytelling within the context of collecting clues, Penumbra: Black Plague is an immersive adventure game brimming with puzzles, fear, and memories that will linger in your mind forever.

1) Amnesia: The Bunker

The thrilling game of cat-and-mouse, “Amnesia: The Bunker,” offers a heart-pounding, claustrophobic adventure where you’re persistently hunted by a menacing presence lurking within the very walls you’re struggling to flee. Stranded in an abandoned bunker with the only exit obstructed by rubble, your survival depends on smart resource management and silent movements. Since a quiet step could spell doom, get ready to traverse in the dark using a hand-cranked flashlight and scarce fuel. Plug up the holes, outwit the beast, and stay alive.

2025-07-25 03:12