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It’s that time again! Last year, we came up with a list of six creepy games to play on Halloween,
and this year we’re back with more. So whether you’re looking for something a little on the spooky side, or want something to scare your socks off, we’ve got you covered.
Until Dawn (2015)
What’s better than watching a horror movie on Halloween? Playing one! That’s essentially what 2015’s Until Dawn let’s you do. Developed by Supermassive Games and released for the PlayStation 4, the story has players take control of various characters as they try to make it out alive during a murderous rampage at a mountain lodge. Playing out as an interactive slasher flick, the choices players make along the way will affect who lives or dies. It features familiar Hollywood faces such as Hayden Panettiere and Josh Washington along with top-notch writing thanks to a killer story (pun intended) by Larry Fessenden and Graham Reznick.
Zombies Ate My Neighbors (1993)
There’s really nothing else quite like Zombies Ate My Neighbors, initially released in 1993 for the Super NES and Sega Genesis/Mega Drive, it’s features top-down run-and-gun action through suburban settings during a zombie infestation. The uniquely fun title was developed by LucasArts and published by Konami, both companies with track records of quality releases. Fortunately for more modern players, the game received a 2021 re-release (along with its sequel, Ghoul Patrol) for Switch, PS4, Xbox One and Windows.
Resident Evil 4 (2005)
Last year’s list included Resident Evil 2, and we stand by that decision. But another must-play in the seminal survival-horror series is its 2005 entry Resident Evil 4. Originally released on the Nintendo GameCube followed by a PlayStation 2 port, the game laid the groundwork for the series moving forward by introducing the over-the-shoulder perspective with a heavy focus on gunplay. Players control Leon Kennedy as he sets out to rescue the president’s daughter from a religious cult from a town of infected villagers. Thanks to a 2020 remake, there are plenty of ways to enjoy this one today, including modern PlayStation consoles, Xbox consoles, and PCs.
Dead Space (2023 remake)
A survival-horror game set in space? Where do I sign up? Dead Space was originally released in 2008 for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and Windows. But just this year, we were treated to a beautiful remake that retains all the suspense, but with a new sheen and gameplay overhaul that makes this the definitive way to play. Set nearly 500 years in the future, players control a starship engineer as he tries to survive undead corpses and cope with his own deteriorating psyche. It’s a fantastic remake, but let’s be fair, the original is no slouch either. So if you have access to that version, you should definitely check it out!
Five Nights at Freddy’s (2014)
The Five Nights at Freddy’s franchise is booming right now thanks to a recently released film, but it might be fun this Halloween to check out where it all began. What started as a last-ditch effort by indie developer Scott Cawthon to make a successful game slowly grew into a massive phenomenon due in large part to a number of YouTube personalities who took an interest in the little known title. Players of the point-and-click survival-horror game must cover overnight security shifts at a children’s pizza arcade as the animatronic characters come to life and are looking to kill. With Night Trap inspired gameplay, this might be one worth a try that many gamers over thirty have slept on.
Eternal Darkness: Sanity’s Requiem (2002)
And I don’t think the list would be complete without a little Nintendo. But this title is far from the standard fare one would expect from the company typically known for its squeaky clean offerings. Eternal Darkness: Sanity’s Requiem, released in 2002 for the GameCube, is a twisted action-adventure game set in a mansion filled with dark secrets. What makes this one particularly interesting is its tendency to play tricks on the player, ones that may give you a genuine scare, but not at all in the way you’d expect. Copies of the game have unfortunately become increasingly difficult to find at a good price, but if you’ve got the means, give it a play!
