Highlights
- The article provides a list of horror games suitable for beginners that offer a mix of classic, indie, and legendary titles.
- The Resident Evil franchise is a great starting point for beginners, with Resident Evil 4 and Resident Evil 2 Remake being highly recommended.
- Games like Limbo and Phasmophobia offer a less scary experience for beginners, while Amnesia: The Dark Descent and SOMA provide thought-provoking narratives.
If you're new to the horror gaming scene, you might not be sure where to break into this somewhat intimidating genre. Suspenseful moments and prospective jumpscares might deter you from giving horror games a whirl. Not to worry; we've got you covered.
Here is a modest horror starterpack for newcomers, including a touch of the classic, the indie, and the legendary that ought to stand you in good stead as you enter the dark underbelly of gaming. There is no reason a beginner to horror games should dread immersing themselves in one of these titles. Horror offers players some of the most impactful and visceral experiences when it comes to playing video games. Read on if you want to know where to begin your horror journey.
Updated July 29, 2023 by Amanda Hurych: We've got some excellent horror games waiting for us on the horizon, but if you're unsure about diving into a genre known for terrifying people, we've got you covered. We've compiled a list of some of the best games you can start your horror journey with. From iconic classics that shouldn't be missed to not-so-scary scary experiences, there's a little bit of something for everyone.
16 Left 4 Dead 2
Horror is made more palatable when you have a troupe of friends with you. At least one other entry on this list showcases how a multiplayer offering can make a horror title easier for beginners. You're an ounce more immune to the scares when your buds are acting silly around you.
And when it comes to Left 4 Dead 2, friend hilarity is just the tip of the iceberg in making it a fantastic horror game for beginners. Though hearing a Witch cry in the distance is stress-inducing, Left 4 Dead 2 is more about fast-paced action as you and your friends race to achieve a variety of objectives before reaching the next safe room. Yeah, a horde of zombies can freak you out, but you're not getting P.T.-levels of scared, if you know what I mean.
It's been years since Left 4 Dead 2 came out at this point, but even though the game is old, it's aged like wine. The exhilaration of escaping a horde, the thrill of fear at encountering a special zombie, and that feeling of being overwhelmed are perfectly balanced with the cooperative nature of the game. If you haven't played Left 4 Dead 2 yet, you've got a solid starting point waiting for you just around the corner. Just like an errant Jockey.
15 Resident Evil 4 Remake
Any horror game fan who calls themselves a "horror game fan" knows about Resident Evil 4. It was the game that revolutionized the genre by introducing more action elements to the gameplay, maintaining a balance between grippingly suspenseful moments and arcade-like stylings, making quick-time events an integral part of the experience. However, as time wore on, the original 2005 title showed its age, with a few clunky controls and a remarkably frustrating "companion" system.
Enter the 2023 remake. Following close upon the heels of the Dead Space remake, RE4 does exactly what its compatriot did: keep the things that worked, polish what needs polishing, and sprinkle in a few new aspects that highlight the game's strengths instead of detracting from them.
Though you can up the difficulty to make it one heck of a challenge, the Resident Evil 4 remake is beginner-friendly in multiple ways. Firstly, despite being part of an established series, it tells a mostly standalone tale that's easy to get drawn into. Secondly, with its main focus on combat and how you upgrade Leon's weapons, RE4 is more concerned with crafting a thrilling action experience with survival elements. And lastly, it's an iconic game, and if you're new to horror, you can't go wrong with the classics.
14 Choo-Choo Charles
Choo-Choo Charles is an indie horror game that barks worse than it bites. Screenshots of the demonic train engine Charles hurtling toward you might make you think this game is all about terror, but there's a satisfying layer of humor to the whole experience that makes this a thrilling yet approachable game for a beginner.
Charles has been terrorizing a remote island with his presence, so your character is brought on to hunt him down. You meet various NPCs who give you the most straightforward side missions ever played in exchange for scrap that you can use to upgrade your own train ride, all to prepare for the final confrontation with Charles. These side characters are where most of the fun comes from as they're all hilariously voice acted, and their requests range from mildly to wildly absurd.
Seriously, there's an NPC called "The Pickle Lady" who tasks you with finding her secret jar of pickles in her pickle cave after she loses her pickle key. The outlandish nature of the story and quests, however, add to Choo-Choo Charles' charm. You won't regret giving this indie game a whirl as it provides a steam engine's worth of laughs alongside actually tense encounters in equal measure.
13 Carrion
What better way to play a horror game than as the monster that everyone is afraid of? Carrion is an indie title where you play as this pixelated, bloody tentacle monster intent on escaping an underground laboratory. Along the way, you slaughter the scientists and security forces that want to keep you caged up.
Carrion leans more toward puzzle than horror, but that makes it a great starting point for anyone who wants to just dip their toe into the genre rather than plunge themselves into pure fright. As the hideous creature terrorizing everyone else, you're doling out the horror rather than being on the receiving end of it.
There won't be any mad dashes for escape or frantic quick-time events you need to succeed on in order to survive. You can just calmly solve a few murderous puzzles, complete this relatively short title, and then happily proclaim you've played your first horror game.
12 BioShock
A raging debate could be had about whether or not BioShock counts as a horror game. Some might say that it's more of an action game or RPG since your main character is so well-equipped with upgraded weapons by the end of the game. However, given that a horror game is meant to scare players first and foremost, counting BioShock as one of the genre seems like a safe bet. Little Sisters are basically genetically modified children who stick needles into corpses in order to recycle ADAM in the sea slugs implanted in their bellies for crying out loud. That's horrifying.
That said, the more action-oriented nature of BioShock makes it a palatable horror experience for beginners. You're not entirely defenseless, and the environment of Rapture is one of the most engrossing settings in video game history.
You can expect to be thoroughly diverted by the narrative while also retaining a feeling of suspense as you traverse the leaking, shadowed halls. Not only is BioShock a great stepping stone to experiencing the horror genre, it's one of the classics. Get it on Amazon here!
11 Until Dawn
When you're playing Until Dawn, it can feel like you're playing an interactive movie. Gameplay consists of either choosing between one of two dialogue options, walking around and picking up objects, or trying to successfully complete some quick-time button presses. But what makes Until Dawn a fantastic horror game for beginners is not just the fact that it models campy horror movies of yore.
It also makes room for your mistakes with its story. Instead of dying and having to start from a checkpoint over and over again, Until Dawn incorporates your fails into the story. So if you trip up and get a character killed, it's just the way the plot rolls!
Sure, that might stress you out a bit more, but if you really think about it, it just means you're making your current playthrough canon.
10 Resident Evil Village
Though certain entries in the Resident Evil series are known for their high difficulty, Resident Evil Village steps away from that tradition by providing a relatively breezy horror experience (give or take a couple of tough sections). It is easier that its original forebears (the first two games in the series) and infinitely less scary than its direct predecessor (Resident Evil 7 Biohazard).
Instead, Village feels like a watered-down, spiritual successor to the ever-popular Resident Evil 4. Several facets from that classic see their return, including an emphasis on action rather than jump scares and a friendly merchant who keeps popping up everywhere to sell you things.
Though perhaps this would not make a great first experience for someone new to horror games, it would definitely be a great second horror game after your initial outing. You can tell that Capcom really tried to strike a balance between making a chilling horror game and creating an experience that anyone can enjoy. And they honestly did a pretty good job at that.
9 Limbo
Jump scares can be the main factor in what drives a person away from trying a horror game. And who can blame them? Near heart attacks are not enjoyable for everyone. However, that doesn't mean the horror genre is entirely closed off for them. Atmospheric horror can be just as effective without randomly startling a person.
Enter a game like Limbo. On its surface, it's a straightforward puzzle platformer. You play as a young boy navigating through a shadowy and threatening world. And while the world is indeed dangerous, you don't have to worry about sudden moments of sheer terror as Limbo focuses on being subtly disquieting rather than outright frightening.
Most horror experiences are rather short, and Limbo is no exception. You can finish this in one sitting. It's a fantastic game in its own right, and it also serves as the superlative "training wheels" experience for someone looking to test out horror.
8 Phasmophobia
Nothing makes a scary game more palatable than being able to play it with friends. Phasmophobia offers one of the best co-op horror experiences available to date, and if you want a nice stepping stone to horror games in general, you could do worse than trying your hand at this phenomenal indie title.
You and up to three other players are amateur/professional ghost hunters, and you enter various domiciles and buildings to identify the various ghostly apparitions haunting them. From checking the temperature in different rooms to examining the walls for spirit fingerprints, there are many bits of evidence that can assist you in narrowing down what type of ghost you're dealing with.
And while there will be times when you feel intense fear as the lights flicker, your heart thumps, and a deadly apparition starts chasing you, there is something lung-drainingly hilarious about hearing your friends panic all around you when these situations arise. Ghost hunting might sound like serious business, but Phasmophobia makes it scary, good fun.
7 Amnesia: The Dark Descent
Amnesia – it's the game that shook up the horror genre in a big way. A simple PC game with an engaging interface, Amnesia: The Dark Descent launched the career of many a YouTuber who played it for the masses. As the name suggests, you assume the role of an amnesiac who wakes up in a semi-abandoned castle. You must attempt to escape with little more than a haunted, fragmented mind and a flaky lantern to guide you out.
Its YouTube-fueled fame subsequently popularized the whole unarmed-and-helpless-in-some-really-unsavory-conditions trope – where hiding and avoiding direct eye contact with the creepies is the only way to survive. It'll forever go down as one of the most legendary and influential horror games of all time, so for the sake of its reputation alone, please do give it a try.
And if you don't care much for a game's star status, just know that it is a fantastically scary experience regardless. The mechanics are straightforward, and the game functions like a horror walking simulator more than anything else. The narrative is also intensely gripping, serving to ground beginners in a story that will keep them moving forward, looking for that next tinderbox.
6 Corpse Party
If you're new to the horror genre and not in the mood to dive straight into the deep end, here's something a bit different. Corpse Party is a Japanese indie survival horror adventure game with an RPG touch. It's lighter on the "sheer terror" factor, but still suitably disturbing in its imagery and plot.
There are a bunch of installments in the franchise, including an anime OVA, a film, and remakes. The most popular game outing in the series follows the horrific tale of a group of school kids who get whooshed off to a parallel dimension where they get stalked, tortured, and variously torn apart (some figuratively, some literally) by angry spirits. There really is some awful stuff that goes down, and it's great.
So while the story is thoroughly terrifying, the gameplay is superbly inviting to beginners. There are no obtuse combat mechanics or frightening chase sequences. Just a bunch of exploring the creepy old school and reading through copious amounts of dialogue.
5 Silent Hill 2
The other games in the Silent Hill series are also worth getting into in due time, but there's a reason why the second installment is hailed as one of the best horror games ever made. You play as the tortured and unlucky James Sunderland as he ventures into the particularly shady town of Silent Hill in search of his wife whom he thought was dead, but may not be after all. Unsurprisingly, lots goes wrong.
The fanbase for this game is immense and still as active as ever even decades later. Discussions regarding hidden meanings behind the face of the game's story are still ongoing.
A description of the game's excellence needs far more space than this post will allow, but rest assured that this is a seminal horror title that influenced later games in the genre. Based purely on its status as a pioneer in horror, beginners should take a walk through the foggy environs of Silent Hill.
4 Layers Of Fear
Layers of Fear is most definitely an easy starter game for a newcomer to horror. All you have to do is walk through the scary corridors of a house as creepy, painting-inspired distortions begin to deteriorate the walls.
You play as a painter who slowly descends into madness, reliving some of the harsher moments of his life as he explores room after room. Bombastic voice-acting and P.T.-esque hallway walking will keep your attention engaged, and aside from receiving a different ending, "dying" is of little consequence.
Layers of Fear is a short horror experience, which makes it the perfect length for someone wishing to dip their toes in a horror game.
3 Resident Evil 2 Remake
The Resident Evil series is as popular as it is enduring, and for good reason. Its games have developed over time, never hesitating to experiment with new perspectives or mechanics while still managing to retain the core elements that make the game a Resident Evil game.
Resident Evil 2 Remake is one of the best entries for beginners to try because it gives players a much-improved experience over the original. The infamous fall of Raccoon City is seen though the eyes of either Leon Kennedy or Claire Redfield, and you no longer have to worry about wonky tank controls. Resident Evil 2 Remake truly remade the original game by switching everything to a third-person perspective.
The scares are not the most horrifying you'll come across in the horror landscape, but the game has got you covered in terms of tension. Nothing stresses a person out more than hearing the thumping footsteps of Mr. X right behind you.
2 Dead Space
Dead Space is certainly a scary game, but the more you play it, the more in control you feel. You play as Isaac Clarke, the toughest space engineer alive, as he searches for his missing girlfriend aboard the derelict spaceship, the USG Ishimura. Little does he know the place is crawling with Necromorphs, i.e. the disfigured remains of humans after an alien gunk/neural signal messed with their organs and turned them inside out.
The atmosphere of Dead Space is by far the most excellent you can encounter in a horror game when it comes to ambient noise and audio cues. And the weapons at Isaac's disposal can make you feel prepared to tackle the Necromorph threat even as it terrifies you. Combat feels oh so satisfying. It's chef's kiss. It's the epitome of solid survival horror gameplay.
The 2023 remake of the original is now the definitive way to experience the thrills and chills of Dead Space. Everything that was great about the first game has been quadruply enhanced, and the aged sticking points have been smoothed over into perfection. This is a must-play game for everyone, not just horror enthusiasts.
1 SOMA
Frictional Games – the ones who made Amnesia – also gifted us with the excellence that is SOMA. Here, you fill the unfortunate shoes of Simon Jarrett who unwittingly gets tangled up in a terrifying sci-fi post-apocalyptic situation involving sentient robot mutants.
SOMA's strongest points are undoubtedly its eerie atmosphere and thought-provoking storyline. Like Amnesia: The Dark Descent, its narrative is one of SOMA's high points, and while the game's tone is understandably chilling, the terror of the game is largely cerebral.
It's less about running away from monsters (though there is some of that) and more about questioning what makes a person a person and how does consciousness relate to moral choices. SOMA will keep you up at night not solely for its scares, but because you will be pondering the decisions you made long after the game is over.
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