Summary
Horror fans should mark their calendars: this Halloween will be stacked with horror game releases that go well beyondSilent Hill 2. The concept of horror games coming out around the month of October is nothing new in and of itself. Developers and publishers know that fans often go looking for something spooky to play as soon as they feel that first chill in the air.
But 2024 is a little different, witha wide variety of horror games spanning different genres, studios, and platforms coming out this fall. There’s something for every horror fan this year, whatever their preference.
30 Best Horror Games To Play Right Now
From demonic entities to sadistic killers, there’s so much to choose from for horror game fans. Here are 25 of the best horror titles available.
Established Horror Franchises With New Entries In Time For Halloween
Until Dawn, Frank Stone, Silent Hill 2 Remake, & Alan Wake 2 DLC
Firstly,three major horror franchises will see new releases in time for Halloween 2020:Until Dawn,Silent Hill 2, andAlan Wake 2.Until Dawnwas the first interactive drama game released by Supermassive, now known for the similarDark Pictures Anthology. It features the story of eight young adults stuck on the isolated Blackwood Mountain, where they must grapple with their dark pasts as they’re pursued by a mysterious killer.Until Dawnhas variable endings that respond to the player’s choices, creating a rich story simulator with lots of replay value. The remake will be released on October 4, a month after another Supermassive interactive drama,The Casting of Frank Stone, on September 3.
Speaking of remakes, the long-anticipatedSIlent Hill 2remake is finally due out on October 8. This game follows troubled protagonist James Sunderland as he descends into the fog-shrouded town of Silent Hill, looking for answers about a mysterious letter from his deceased wife. James faces grief, guilt, and grotesque monsters as he delves deeper into the town’s sordid history. Although theSilent Hill 2remake has already generated some controversyfor its changes from the original, it’s expected to bring a thought-provoking, atmospheric cornerstone of horror game history to a new generation of fans.
Finally,Alan Wake 2is expected to get its second round of DLC,Lake House, on October 8. Where its first DLC,Night Springs, consisted of three standalone, what-if stories featuring side characters from theAlan Wakeuniverse,Lake Houseis expected to have a single, focused plot diving into one of the shadier parts ofAlan Wakelore. It apparently centers on the research facility of the same name, which some players have speculated will be used to furthertie theAlan Wakeseries toControl, Remedy Entertainment’s other reality-shattering title.
New Horror Games & Unconfirmed Releases For Halloween
For horror fans seeking something new, games likeSlitterheadandZoochosisprovide the perfect departure.Slitterheadis the brainchild ofSilent HillcreatorKeiichiro Toyama. Details on its gameplay have thus far been scarce, but it’s known to feature twisted abominations of body horror. Players control a bodiless creature called Hyoki, who can jump between human hosts at will.Slitterheadcomes out a little after Halloween - November 8- but it’ll still be timely for fall.
In a similar vein,Zoochosisis also a body horror game featuring mutated creatures. Players take the role of a put-upon zookeeper, charged with surviving an infectious disease rapidly spreading throughout the zoo, turning docile animals into aberrant murderers. It’s played from an immersive, first-person perspective that simulates a bodycam, as players attempt to understand the source and nature of the infection and develop a vaccine.Zoochosisis scheduled for a September 23 release, in plenty of time for Halloween.
Ghost-hunting gamePhasmophobiais also expected to be released fully by the end of this year. It doesn’t have a concrete release date yet, but an October release would make perfect sense for this terrifying title. InPhasmophobia, players are paranormal investigators armed with a variety of different tools: Ouija boards, EMF detectors, voice recorders, and more. It’s currently available in early access, and its price will go up after its full release, so even absent a concrete date, there’s never been a better time to get into paranormal investigation.
TBA 2024
PC
Horror fans are spoiled for choice this fall, with a wide variety of games to choose from. Be it strange or familiar, body horror or psychological, every player can find something to be terrified by this Halloween.
