Horror games are always about scary surprises and creepy stories. This genre has consistently been a favourite, drawing players into the spine-chilling narratives that awaken our primal fears. They can give you a real scare, even if you're just sitting at home. And Steam has loads of these spooky titles. Some are quiet and creepy, while others might make you jump out of your chair. With so many choices available, how do you find the best ones? We've looked through the list and found the best horror games on Steam for you. If you love a good scare and want to know which games are the most chilling, just keep reading.
10. Dead Island 2
In Dead Island 2, you get dropped into a wild, zombie-infested version of California where quick thinking and creativity are your best buds. The game really shines by putting a big emphasis on melee combat, letting you turn everyday stuff into powerful weapons. The fighting feels super intense with a physics-driven system that makes every hit impactful. Plus, you can craft and modify your weapons to match exactly how you like to play. The game’s set in a lively, open-world Los Angeles and the zombies react differently based on how you attack them.
9. Lethal Company
Lethal Company puts you in the shoes of a worker hired to collect scrap from industrialized, abandoned moons to hit a profit quota. The game revolves around teamwork, with players exploring eerie, industrial areas filled with dangers. You’ve got to communicate well, using tools like radar and ship terminals to help your crew avoid traps and unlock doors. You get cash by selling scrap, which you can use to visit riskier moons or buy items for your ship. When dark falls, you and your team need to quickly take your precious items and escape, since everything becomes much creepier.
8. Subnautica
If you are intrigued by the aquatic world, Subnautica offers a standalone survival experience on an alien ocean planet. In this game, you're stranded in a vast, unexplored ocean. The main goal is to collect resources to create essential tools and equipment while also looking for food and water. These resources allow you to explore deeper in the ocean, where limited resources are available for advanced crafting. The game has a dynamic ecosystem with both friendly and aggressive creatures. The deeper you go, the harder it is, with rising pressure and aggressive creatures.
7. The Headliners
The Headliners is a cooperative horror game where you and three friends are journalists in an occupied city infested with deadly creatures. Armed with nothing but your camera, you must take pictures of everything that is occurring, from alien invasions to your friends in distress.Your main aim is to survive and get out alive with pics that are totally headline-worthy. Every expedition costs a press card, and the more you obtain is determined by the quality of the photographs. The game is half teamwork and half risk as players venture into empty streets and dark alleys while avoiding deadly traps. The idea is to capture the most sensational shots, where danger is real and danger ever-present.
6. DREDGE
DREDGE is a fishing survival game with a dark twist and blending of exploration with some mystery. You captain a fishing trawler, sailing between isolated islands to catch fish and discover hidden secrets. You sell your fish to the locals, upgrade your boat, and take quests that reveal the troubled past of each location. The standout feature is the day-night cycle, which changes the gameplay drastically. By day, you fish, explore, and gather resources. But at night, the ocean is treacherous with eerie fog and strange sea creatures lurking about. With more than 125 types of sea creatures to discover and special stories for every island, DREDGE provides you with a combination of peaceful fishing and creepy horror.
5. Granny: Escape Together
A bizarre encounter in a dark forest leads to a terrifying trap, and you get locked inside a horrific house run by a Granny. Navigating through dark corridors and searching for tools and keys is the only means of escape. There are numerous exit routes, but each requires you to complete different tasks. Sounds in the house alert Granny, so even a faint noise can be a great risk. Lying under beds or in closets keeps you out of her eyes, but getting caught can become a chase instantly. Furthermore, teamwork with others creates a new experience, as dividing tasks makes it quicker and gives more chances of remaining safe.
4. Murky Divers
You team up with up to 8 players to dive into the ocean and clean up abandoned underwater labs. In Murky Divers, your job is to remove corpses and wipe out evidence of failed experiments by Pharma Corps. You’ll use a submarine to get around, relying on sonar to see and dodge creepy stuff in the water. The sub can be adjusted for different group sizes, whether you’re playing solo or with a big crew of 8. Once you reach the labs, you grab a caddie to collect bodies and bring them back to the sub. Then, you shred them to earn credits. The ocean is full of dangers, so you’ve got to work together to stay alive. With the credits you earn, you can buy upgrades like better sonar, body detectors, or even a grappling hook.
3. Resident Evil 4 Remake
The Resident Evil series has always been a big deal in the horror game world, mixing scares with action in a way that sticks with you. Resident Evil 4 Remake takes that same magic and gives it a modern upgrade. Enemies feels more smarter now, with AI that makes them react in ways you wouldn’t expect. The game also pushes you to explore more, with hidden items and secrets tucked away in areas you might’ve missed. The visuals and sound design got a major upgrade, making everything seems darker and more intense. Overall, this remake keeps what made the original great but adds modern touches that make it a must-play horror game on Steam.
2. SOMA
SOMA stands out with its focus on psychological horror and deep storytelling. You’re thrown into an underwater facility packed with weird robotic creatures. The game revolves around exploring, solving puzzles, and piecing together the mystery of the place. Instead of fighting, you rely on stealth and quick decisions to stay safe. The story dives into heavy themes like identity and consciousness, giving it more depth than your typical horror game. The atmosphere is super tense, with creepy sounds and dark visuals that keep you on edge.
1. Amnesia: The Bunker
The final game on our list of best horror games is Amnesia: The Bunker, a first-person survival horror set in a World War I bunker. You step into the shoes of Henri Clément, a French soldier stuck in a creepy, isolated place with barely any supplies — just a revolver, a flashlight, and a few other items. The big deal here is the monster, which is controlled by smart AI that reacts to everything you do, from the sounds you make to the choices you take. You’ll need to find stuff, craft tools, and keep the lights on to stay alive. Also, the game gives you freedom to solve problems your own way in a semi-open world, so exploring and trying different things is key.