There are a lot of games out there, but sometimes all you want is a good, heart pumping, game to give you that adrenaline rush! And while there are many games that can give you that feeling, we chose 10 games that we think are the scariest indie horror games you can play.
Read on to find out and learn about the 10 scariest, indie horror games you need to play!
10. Cry of Fear
Cry of Fear is a survival horror game developed in 2008 by a Swedish studio, Team Psykskallar. The game originally started as a mod for Half-Life but after some time it was released as its own project.
Although it looks aged now, navigating the tight corridors and never knowing when an enemy will jump out at you is enough to make anyone jump out of their seat! The ambient droning sound that plays throughout along with the groans and screams of enemies creates a truly creepy atmosphere.
9. Slender: The Arrival
Slender: The Arrival was originally published by Blue Isle Studios in August 2013, and is the predecessor to Slender: The Eight Pages.
Slender follows the story of two friends, Lauren and Kate, where you play the game as Lauren. Lauren gets a call from Kate to help her move; however, upon Lauren’s arrival, Kate is missing and the story begins.
Slender is a scary game to play because of the dark nature of the game and the feeling of constantly being followed. There is a feeling of uncertainty that is always on the players’ minds adding to the suspense and scary nature of the game.
8. Darkwood
Darkwood is a top-down, survival horror video game developed and published by Acid Wizard Studio. The full game was released on August 17, 2017, but was available as an early access Steam game back in 2014.
During daytime, the player can explore the world and scavenge for supplies and build up a safe hideout for the night. When night sets in, the player cannot leave the hideout and must defend against possible intruders until morning.
The haunting nature of the game paired with never knowing when or where the enemy will attack you through the night gives the sense of hopelessness with the desire to live.
7. Devotion
Devotion is a first-person psychological horror video game developed by Red Candle Games that was released on February 19, 2019. You explore an apartment complex where Feng-yu and his family have lived.
To progress the player interacts with different objects to solve puzzles and reads letters/diaries scattered around the home to understand the plot more.
Devotion is scary because it builds suspense and a sense of uneasiness with paranormal activity happening throughout. This produces a very creepy atmosphere, especially when paired with the many sound effects and the ambient drone of dread.
6. Observer: System Redux
Observer: System Redux is a psychological horror video game developed by Bloober Team and released in August 2017. The game follows Daniel Lazarski, a detective known as an Observer, who can hack people’s minds as a method of interrogation.
Observer looks stunning and is a game that quickly builds suspense to engage the player into a thrilling story. You’ll quickly notice yourself tensing up just anticipating what will happen next.
This is truly a unique game is a must play horror game sure to get your heart pumping.
5. Poppy Playtime
Poppy Playtime is a survival, puzzle horror video game developed by MOB Games. The player takes the role of a former employee of the toy-making company Playtime Co., who revisits its abandoned toy factory.
Poppy Playtime builds suspense so nicely that you almost start to feel safe in the game, until it is not, and you begin to wonder what horrors are in store for you. It’s a refreshing game with great graphics, fun puzzles, and don’t let the cute dolls and fuzzy creatures fool you, they’re terrifying!
4. Soma
Soma is a first-person horror game that puts you in the shoes of a journalist who has to investigate strange murders that take place in SOMA, the abandoned city where the game takes place. As you explore the building and start to piece together clues, you start to realize that you’re not alone.
There are other people trapped in the building with you and they desperately want to leave. However, there’s no way out. And then things start to go wrong. First, your phone dies. Then your flashlight runs out of batteries. And then your oxygen runs out… What’s left is darkness and madness. Your only chance of survival is to escape before everything goes black forever.
The game is scary because of its subject matter – SOMA is an abandoned city, which makes it even more creepy. Also, SOMA is full of secrets, which means that there are likely to be some surprises along the way and that’s what makes Soma so scary.
3. Five Nights at Freddy’s VR: Help Wanted
Five Nights at Freddy’s VR: Help Wanted is a scary game that puts you in the role of night watchman. You must protect yourself against Freddy Fazbear and his gang of murderous animatronics.
Five Nights at Freddy’s VR: Help Wanted is a virtual reality game that puts you in the shoes of an employee at Freddy Fazbear’s Pizza who must fend off dismembered spirits of murdered animatronics using nothing but your flashlight.
Through the night in one of these establishments, you will be confronted by strange occurrences, such as ventriloquist dummies who speak with creepy voices, and animatronic animals who wander the halls at night, looking for victims.
The game experience is created using Virtual Reality (VR). Using VR creates a much more immersive environment that immerses you completely in the game. With these headsets, you will feel like you are inside the fantastical world of Five Nights at Freddy’s.
If you’re brave enough to make it through all five nights, you’ll experience a game so realistic that it might give you nightmares!
2. Outlast
Outlast is a first-person survival horror game developed and published by Red Barrels. The game was released on April 25, 2017, for Microsoft Windows, OS X, and Linux.
The game follows a journalist named Miles Upshur who goes to investigate the Mount Massive Asylum in order to uncover the truth about a series of horrifying murders that took place there decades earlier. As he explores the asylum, Miles must fight for his own survival against terrifying enemies that include grotesque mutants and sadistic nurses.
Although Outlast is marketed as a horror game, it is actually very difficult to classify. Because of its oppressive atmosphere and constant sense of dread, Outlast has been categorized as a survival horror game, but this is not entirely accurate.
In addition to its relentless atmosphere and horrific creatures, Outlast incorporates elements of stealth gameplay into its formula. As you explore the asylum at night, you must rely on sound to avoid detection by patrolling guards or hiding in the shadows to avoid being seen by the lurking horrors lurking within the facility.
If you are discovered by one of these creatures in your hiding place, it will become aware of your presence and go after you relentlessly until it reaches you or you manage to escape from it. This makes Outlast more of an action-horror game than a pure survival horror title because you can hide from many of the monsters during the day when they can’t see you
1. Amnesia: The Dark Decent
Amnesia: The Dark Decent is a first-person survival horror game. Players take control of Henry as he explores the abandoned halls of an old mental asylum in search of his wife, who has been missing for years.
There are several reasons why this particular game is scary. For one thing, it is based on a true story. In 1980, Ronald Ducharme, a Canadian man, went missing after visiting the McGill Psychiatric Hospital in Montreal. It was later discovered that he had been taken against his will and held prisoner for over six months.
Ducharme’s family was never able to find him and believed that he was dead.
However, in 2011, it was reported that Ducharme had been found alive after all these years and that he had no memory of what had happened to him during his time in captivity. This is definitely a unique situation that can cause players to feel very uneasy while they are playing this game.
As the game progresses, you discover clues to your identity and must piece together the fragments of your memory in order to survive.
The game is designed to be as unsettling as possible by using sound, visual, and environmental cues that trigger strong emotions in the player. Amnesia’s popularity stems from its ability to evoke intense feelings of fear, helplessness, anxiety, and paranoia while leaving people guessing until the end. It’s not just scary; it’s an experience that truly gets under your skin.
Summary
The 10 scariest indie games!
- Amnesia: The Dark Decent
- Outlast
- Five Nights at Freddy’s VR: Help Wanted
- Soma
- Poppy Playtime
- Observer: System Redux
- Devotion
- Darkwood
- Slender: The Arrival
- Cry of Fear
I know there are many more indie horror games and many more that could have easily made the list. If you feel like we missed a game that deserved to be listed, let us know in the Discord!