13 great horror games for horror wimps to play

Where to play: Nintendo Switch
What it is: Luigi’s Mansion 3 isn’t particularly different from the original game. But if the old Luigi’s Mansion games scared you as a kid, this one will probably only amount to a joyful jump scare now. As Luigi, you’ll run around a haunted hotel trying to rid each level of poltergeists as you go. The controls require a bit of a learning curve, but once you’re up and running, it’s a classic Nintendo experience — predictably challenging, very cute, and ultimately a fun game for all ages.
How scary is it, on a scale of 1-10? 1
What kind of scary is it? Luigi’s Mansion 3 is more scary-themed than scary — it’s a kids’ game, after all. But that doesn’t mean the ghosts, moving paintings, and spooky shadows won’t startle you every now and again, which is part of the charm. —Zoë Hannah

Where to play: Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Windows PC, Xbox Series X
What it is: Cult of the Lamb puts you in control of your very own cult made up of adorable animal followers. The game begins with the Lamb being saved by a mysterious deity, who then puts the Lamb in charge of crusading through new lands, collecting followers, and building up a base of operations. Before long, you’re indoctrinating nonbelievers, sacrificing the weak, and building temples for your righteous purpose. You know, just normal cult stuff.
How scary is it, on a scale of 1-10? 2
What kind of scary is it?: Cult of the Lamb is cute, and the Lamb’s combat prowess means you rarely feel powerless. The Lamb is arguably the scariest part of the game, and their gruesome (if cartoony) acts may inspire discomfort at the demands of operating the cult. —Cass Marshall

Where to play: Mac, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Windows PC, Xbox One
What it is: A captivating mystery game where you play an investigator for the East India Company hoping to find what happened to the missing crew of the Obra Dinn, a ship that has suddenly reappeared after five years missing at sea. Unlike most detective games, it is on the player to make the deductions, not just find the clues — play it with a notebook!
How scary is it, on a scale of 1-10? 3
What kind of scary is it? There are some unnerving moments, and you see a lot of people die, but the game relies heavily on vibes over scares, and there are no jump scares to speak of. —PV

Where to play: Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X
What it is: Hollow Knight is a beloved Metroidvania-style game where you explore a sprawling subterranean world populated with insectoid creatures. When I played, I appreciated the game’s tough-as-nails 2D combat and adored the overall ambiance of the setting. Team Cherry did an outstanding job creating a deep world that manages to be creepy, cute, and even awe-inspiring at different points in the game.
How scary is it, on a scale of 1-10? 3
What kind of scary is it? Hollow Knight is all about its bugs, so if you have any insect-related phobias, this might not be the game for you. On top of that, there are some sections of the game that take place in the dark, so those parts feel tense. But overall, the game isn’t all that scary, and I even found its insects to be endearing. —Ana Diaz

Where to play: iOS, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X
What it is: What Remains of Edith Finch tells the story of a doomed family and is played by exploring a labyrinthian, eccentric house. It’s one of gaming’s best narratives due to its complex, interwoven storylines.
How scary is it, on a scale of 1-10? 3
What kind of scary is it? This is more family trauma horror than scary horror. What Remains of Edith Finch deals with a lot of topics that may be disturbing to some, but nothing here is designed to make you jump. —Nicole Carpenter

Where to play: Android, Mac, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Windows PC, Xbox Series X
What it is: The aesthetic alone in indie storytelling game Strange Horticulture is enough to get you in the mood for fall — but the spooky plot, told through your shop customers’ purchases, makes it a great tale for fans of light horror. Rather than watch the horror happen, you’ll learn about your customers’ questionable morals as you help them find the right plants for the tasks they need to complete. You can choose to fulfill their (at times murderous and vengeful) requests and, if you so choose, aid and abet their crimes — or you can use your own trickery to keep harm from befalling others.
How scary is it, on a scale of 1-10? 3
What kind of scary is it? The customers tell some haunting tales that give off major Poe vibes, and you might find yourself thinking about them as you fall asleep at night. But you won’t see any blood and gore here. —ZH

Where to play: Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X
What it is: Dredge is a fishing game with an inventory management component — but instead of being on the regular ocean, which is already pretty scary, you’re trawling eldritch depths for disfigured, grotesque fish.
How scary is it, on a scale of 1-10? 4
What kind of scary is it? Dredge is what I’d call a dark cozy game. It’s not scary due to jump scares or bloody horrors, but for its psychological mind games and the fear of what lies underneath the dark surface of its mysterious ocean. —NC

Where to play: Android, iOS, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X
What it is: Don’t Starve combines a creepy Tim Burton-esque art style with a survival game. In it, you play as a scientist fighting to survive in a monster-filled parallel world called the Constant. Since its release in 2013, the series has garnered a dedicated fan-following and gotten several expansions and spinoffs, including a sequel that adds co-op.
How scary is it, on a scale of 1-10? 4
What kind of scary is it? Don’t Starve just feels very Halloween-y to me and isn’t all that scary. You can explore in the dark and you can die a gruesome death, but its whimsical art style and comedic elements stop it from being all that scary. —AD

Where to play: Android, iOS, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X
What it is: Kentucky Route Zero doesn’t fit neatly into any box, but that’s what makes it memorable. This game unfolds in a series of interactive scenes that combine the vibe of a stage play with the feeling of walking through a museum. Each section of the game explores related and interconnected stories all tied to a secret highway that runs through the caves of Kentucky.
How scary is it, on a scale of 1-10? 5
What kind of scary is it? Kentucky Route Zero is all about its creepy vibes. It has supernatural elements and multiple scenes feel tense. There are sections where you navigate a boat through a forest at night and another where you explore a cave with bizarre structures in it. Also, its stories touch on tough real-life topics like experiences with alcoholism and debt. —AD

Where to play: Mac OS, Windows PC (and starting Oct. 24, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X)
What it is: Slay the Princess is deceptively simple: You are on a path in the woods, instructed by a nameless narrator to kill a princess. If you don’t, he says, the world will end. Kill the princess, or don’t. Every little action you take will spill over to the next part of the game, where this strange liminal setting grows eerier and eerier.
How scary is it, on a scale of 1-10? 7
What kind of scary is it? There’s disturbing and gory imagery, as well as moments of unreality and cosmic horror. The art is all pretty stylized and in black and white, though, so your mileage may vary on how scary the bloody moments feel. The audio and text descriptions do go pretty hard on the scares, but it’s about the equivalent of a horror podcast. (And now’s a good time to mention that Jonathan Sims of The Magnus Archives voices the narrator and the player character). —Petrana Radulovic

Where to play: Mac, Windows PC
What it is: Scarlet Hollow is a choice-heavy visual novel where you play a character reuniting with an estranged cousin in the small, spooky town of Scarlet Hollow, North Carolina. Spooky things begin to happen, mysterious cryptids lurk in the woods, and tragedy strikes over and over. Oh, and also it’s a dating sim! (With a couple of monster-y options in there 👀). It’s in early access, with four episodes out now, and the fifth is on its way.
How scary is it, on a scale of 1-10? 7
What kind of scary is it? It’s very atmospheric, with a lot of the horror coming from the general eerie vibes. There are some tense situations, supernatural terror, and gory moments, but no jump scares. Just be prepared for the generational cycle of abuse and one very toxic family. —PR

Where to play: Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X
What it is: Control tells the story of Jesse Faden as she takes over as the director of a fictional U.S. government entity, the Federal Bureau of Control. The FBC investigates paranormal, reality-altering occurrences — and it feels natural that Faden’s first job takes place at the FBC headquarters itself.
How scary is it, on a scale of 1-10? 8
What kind of scary is it? Think more weird scary, like David Lynch’s works, than a slasher film. But, be warned: There are a few jump scares. —NC