10 Best Horror Games Like POOLS

The landscape of horror games has been shifting away from your typical jump scares. Part of the movement to shift the horror game genre features atmospheric horror and liminal spaces. These games, rather than quickly and abruptly scaring the player, allow them to sink into the game's world slowly. Here, they will come face to face with horrors that are much more terrifying than your base horror. If you are interested in titles such as these, enjoy our picks for the 10 Best Horror Games Like POOLS. 

10. SOMA

For the first entry on our list of the best horror games like POOLS, here we have SOMA. For players looking for a dark, dank, atmospheric take on horror, this title certainly fits the bill. In SOMA, players will face not only their own perils in a struggle to survive, but they must also do so while fighting off an AI they simply can't defeat. This makes the game one that thrives in the more tense moments of the game. So, if this sounds like it would be up your alley, give SOMA  a try, as it is one of the best horror games like POOLS.

9. Danganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc

We are moving right along with our list with our next entry. Here, we have Danganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc. This game not only brings with it an interesting premise and concept but manages to do so with an incredibly stylish showing. The game follows the rather insane events of several students being trapped inside a death game. Here, they must learn who to trust, who not to trust, and what exactly is going on. If you are looking for one of the best horror games, definitely give this one a try.

8. SIGNALIS

We are taking quite a turn with our next entry. Here, we have SIGNALIS. This game features not only some of the most stylized visuals on our list but fantastic survival mechanics as well. In a hostile future, players must find their own answers. This will require them to solve riddles, explore, and more. This gives the core gameplay of SIGNALIS a tremendous amount of variety. So, if you are searching for a horror title that features a stellar aesthetic style, check out SIGNALIS.

7. Fran Bow

Our next entry is one that definitely ramps up the horror through its visuals. Hidden behind the story-book visual style of Fran Bow is an unsettling story of fantasy, madness, and more. Players are whisked away to a fantastical world, where they will slowly unravel their reality. Players are cast in the role of Fran Bow, a girl who simply wishes to find her parents. In doing so, you will come across many unsettling characters in a world where everything isn't what it seems.

6. Doki Doki Literature Club!

The next entry on our list is one that has become one of the most acclaimed titles on this list. Doki Doki Literature Club! It is one of the most psychologically thrilling titles on our list. Players are able to meet a variety of characters in a world where things aren't as bright and cheery as they appear on the surface. This gives the game layers that can be slowly peeled back as you continue along your journey. All around, Doki Doki Literature Club! is one of the best horror games like POOLS on the market.

5. Phasmophobia

We are taking a turn for the cooperative with our next title. Here, we have Phasmophobia. This game not only brings with it a few novel concepts but blends them together wonderfully. In Phasmophobia, players are able to team up with one another in order to locate and defeat several entities. Each of these entities feels distinct from one another, and players can communicate with them via the game's VOIP system. This gives the game an immersive and unsettling feel that only the best horror games, like POOLS, can match.

4. Lethal Company

Next up, we have Lethal Company. For players looking for a cooperative title that features more of a cartoonish art style, Lethal Company is a great choice. Players are made to work for “The Company”. In doing so, players will have to traverse hostile landscapes in order to loot items. In doing so, each of these runs becomes more dangerous the further the player presses on. This gives the game a great sense of progression that the player can feel. All in all, if you are looking for one of the best horror games, check out Lethal Company.

3. SILENT BREATH

We are moving swiftly along with our next entry. Here, we have SILENT BREATH. This entry not only uses its unique perspective and visual style to its advantage but also does so wonderfully. The game features a film-grain filter over many of its visuals. This, when coupled with the realistic nature of its landscapes and backgrounds, makes the game feel just a tad bit uncanny and can make the player feel quite uneasy. The game also utilizes the player's microphone to great effect, making for a bone-chilling experience.

2. The Exit 8

For our next entry, here we have The Exit 8. This title proves that you don't have to have an extreme amount of things going on in a game for it to be terrifying. The stripped-down minimalistic approach to horror this game presents is much in line with horror games like POOLS. The hallways of the game create a sense of liminality that can be felt throughout the entirety of the game's runtime. If you are looking for a different take on horror, make sure to give The Exit 8 a go.

1. Escape the Backrooms

We are rounding out our list today of the best horror games like POOLS with Escape the Backrooms. This is a title that was notably recognized for its influence on POOLS. In this cooperative horror game, players must learn how to escape spaces with seemingly no exit or ending. In doing so, they will have to work alongside one another in order to survive. Throughout the experience, players will be hunted down by various entities, each more frightening than the last. In conclusion, if you are looking for one of the best horror experiences like POOLS, check out Escape the Backrooms.

So, what's your take on our picks for the 10 Best Horror Games Like POOLS? Do you agree with our picks? Let us know over on our socials here or down in the comments below.