20 Horror Games on Steam That’ll Ruin Your Sleep This Halloween
What Are the Scariest Games to Play this Halloween?
I personally love playing horror games all year round, but Halloween is when everyone can try turning off the lights and regretting every life choice for funsies.
With Halloween creeping up right around the corner, Steam is packed with horror games begging to ruin your sleep schedule. From blood-soaked haunted houses to brain-bending existential nightmares, here are 20 of my favorite horror games that are guaranteed to have you begging for a night light.
20. Doll Imposter
Image: Doll Imposter | David Gallardo | HeadArrow
A psychological deduction game wrapped in porcelain smiles and dimly lit hallways, Doll Imposter throws you into a world where you’re never quite sure who (or what) is watching you. The eerie atmosphere is thick, and as you explore the maps you can feel a sinister bloodlust lurking in the shadows.
But act quickly, because the dolls aren’t just decoration – they’re part of an unnerving world that gets under your skin in all the wrong ways.
19. Bigfoot
Image: Bigfoot | Cyberlight Game Studio
Ever wonder what it’s like to be hunted by eight feet of hairy rage in the middle of the woods?
Who hasn’t, right? Well, Bigfoot lets you live that dream.
You’ll be setting traps, managing supplies, and questioning why you didn’t just stay home watching spooky movies instead. When that roar inevitably echoes through the trees, you know that the fun is just beginning.
18. Subnautica
Image: Subnautica | Unknown Worlds Entertainment
Sure, the ocean looks beautifully peaceful – until you realize that everything below the serene surface wants you dead.
Subnautica and it’s slightly-more-linear sequel, Subnautica: Below Zero, blend survival and looming solitary dread into one big watery panic attack. The deeper you dive, the darker things get, and before long, the silence becomes more terrifying than any monster…well, almost any monster.
17. Dead Space
Image: Dead Space | Electronic Arts
Few games balance sci-fi and horror as perfectly as Dead Space and its sequel, Dead Space 2.
The sound design, lighting, and uniquely-grotesque creature design turn every corridor into a potential death trap.
But what will really get in your bones is the next-level immersion.
It’s survival horror in its purest form: seamlessly combining a deep story with the joy of dismembering deformed enemies in the void of space.
Isaac Clarke’s journey remains one of the greatest horror experiences ever made, and both titles still hold up beautifully on PC.
16. Slay the Princess
Image: Slay the Princess | Black Tabby Games
Slay the Princess is what happens when your choices start arguing with your conscience.
This narrative-driven horror/love story is part fairy tale, part existential exploration. It’s beautifully voiced, hauntingly handwritten, and constantly asking whether you’re the hero or just another monster in disguise.
Arguably, the best part of Slay the Princess is the tons of replayability – hiding 7 main story endings (with a few variations of these sprinkled in the mix), you’ll find yourself jumping back into the story again and again to uncover all of the secrets that it holds.
15. Poppy Playtime
Image: Poppy Playtime | Mob Entertainment
The Poppy Playtime series continues to evolve, and Chapter 4 delivers the creepiest and most fun entry yet.
Poppy and friends have never been more unnerving, with better puzzles, refined gameplay, and a story that dives deeper into the twisted world of Playtime Co. Each chapter feels like you’re slowly peeling back a layer of a nightmare that never should have been made – and that’s exactly why it’s so fun.
You can’t really just plop right into Chapter 4 though, so I recommend just starting straight from the beginning (it’s actually free and pretty short so you’ll find yourself caught up in no time!).
14. Forewarned
Image: Forewarned | Dreambyte Games
Forewarned throws you into Egyptian tombs filled with cursed relics and angry spirits.
It’s a mix of investigation, survival, and pure panic as you try to identify the ancient evil lurking in the dark. When the torches start flickering, you know something’s gone terribly wrong.
There hasn’t been as much hype surrounding this game recently, but that doesn’t mean that it’s not every ounce of soul-crushing terror as the other ghost hunting games that you’ll find on this list.
13. Alien: Isolation
Image: Alien: Isolation | SEGA | Feral Interactive
There’s nothing quite like hiding in a locker, holding your breath, and hearing the heavy steps of a xenomorph somewhere behind you.
Alien: Isolation may be over 10 years old at this point, but it’s hard to find another AAA title that nails tension better than almost any horror game ever made.
It’s long, punishing, and dripping with atmosphere. This is how you turn anxiety into art.
12. Ghost Exile
Image: Alien: Ghost Exile | LostOneTeam
Ever wanted to mix ghost hunting with high-stakes terror?
Ghost Exile brings the paranormal investigation genre to new levels of fear with its exile mechanics and insane jump scares. If you’re looking for a ghost hunting game that focuses on fear, challenging gameplay, and has amazingly satisfying exorcisms, then this may be right up your alley.
You’re not just finding ghosts here – you’re surviving them.
11. Project Zomboid
Image: Project Zomboid | LostOneTeam
The zombies aren’t fast, but your panic will be.
Project Zomboid takes survival horror and cranks it into a grim simulator of “how long can you last before something inevitably eats you?”. Because make no mistake – you will most assuredly die.
It even has the charming intro into every game, simply stating “This is how you died”, signaling that in Project Zomboid, you don’t have to worry about pesky things like “hope”. Every mistake feels fatal, and every day feels like borrowed time.
Despite it’s brutality, it’s honestly one of the best long-term horror experiences on Steam.
10. Darkwater
Image: Darkwater | Targon Studios
Darkwater dives into Lovecraftian depths where reality bends and madness is mandatory.
It’s dark, twisted, and completely enthralling. The art direction and storytelling feel handcrafted for players who like their horror with a side of cosmic confusion and a gameplay loop that nostalgically feels like you’re playing underwater FTL.
Even though this is a fairly new game, I have absolutely loved it so far and have been really excited to see the developer pushing out updates like a madman.
9. SOMA
Image: SOMA | Frictional Games
I love me some psychological horror and straight from the creators of Amnesia – SOMA delivers horror that’ll bring you to the brink of insanity.
It’s about consciousness, identity, and what it means to be human when the lights start going out. It’s haunting in a slow, beautifully existential way that sticks with you long after the credits roll.
8. The Mortuary Assistant
Image: The Mortuary Assistant | Darkstone Digital | DreadXP
What’s scarier than working alone at night in a morgue? When the corpses start talking back and you get sucked into nightmare-fueled dream realities.
The Mortuary Assistant mixes realistic embalming gameplay with possession, surprisingly deep lore, and jump scares that hit you like a truck.
Featuring some festively Halloween events, it’s deeply uncomfortable in the best way possible.
7. Darkwood
Image: Darkwood | Acid Wizard Studio
No hand-holding, no map markers, just you and whatever’s hiding deep in the forest.
Darkwood blends top-down survival with psychological horror that somehow makes every sound feel like a threat and finishing every tension-filled night an overwhelming victory.
It’s eerie, oppressive, and unsettling from start to finish.
8. The Demonologist
Image: The Demonologist | Clock Wizard Games
The Demonologist is another ghost hunting horror experience that just keeps evolving.
Every map feels alive, every ghost has its own attitude, and every session offers new ways to die. The atmosphere is heavy, the lighting is perfect, and the jump scares are terrifying.
While, admittedly, you may get tired of some of the scripted jump scares after many many playthroughs, each map delivers its own tailored brand of fright and I absolutely guarantee you that this game is worth it and one of the best ghost hunting games out there.
5. Resident Evil 7: Biohazard
Image: Resident Evil 7: Biohazard | CAPCOM
After years of explosive action, Resident Evil 7 brought the franchise back to pure horror in the desolate bayous of Louisiana.
The first-person perspective pulls you straight into the madness of the…memorable Baker family, and the VR version (that I unwittingly subjected myself to) takes it to a whole new level of “why the hell do I do this to myself?”
This game reminded everyone why Resident Evil still reigns supreme in the genre and its sequel, Resident Evil Village, is an absolutely legendary continuation to the story.
4. Dead by Daylight
Image: Dead by Daylight | Behaviour Interactive
Equal parts horror theme park and blood-soaked playground, Dead by Daylight is where nightmares go to hang out together.
Whether you’re the killer or the survivor, it’s chaos every match. The constant stream of updates and crossovers makes it the ultimate party for horror fans.
While the balancing may have you throwing your mouse at the wall on occasion, it’s undeniably one of the most popular horror games on Steam and worth giving a shot if you’ve never played before.
3. R.E.P.O.
Image: R.E.P.O. | semiwork
R.E.P.O. is chaos with a grin.
This indie gem blends paranormal investigation, treasure hunting, and survival all at once. It’s fun, frantic, and just weird enough to make you want to keep coming back for more.
And with its nomination for a Golden Joystick Award for Best Early Access Game, you’d be doing the devs a favor by giving them your vote.
Just do it already!
2. Phasmophobia
Image: Phasmophobia | Kinetic Games
It’s just not Halloween without Phasmophobia.
This ghost-hunting classic keeps reinventing itself, and this year’s Crimson Eye event adds fresh terror for veterans and newbies alike. If you want to learn how to rack up points during the event, check out my full Crimson Eye guide here.
The scares, the teamwork, and the moments of pure chaos make Phasmophobia one of the best horror games ever made.
1. Five Nights at Freddy's 4
Image: Five Nights at Freddy’s 4 | Scott Cawthon
If you’re a fan of the Five Nights at Freddy’s series, you already know why this one sits on top.
Hidden lore, jump scares that ruin your soul, and mechanical monsters that refuse to die. Every game in the series offers something unique and I honestly love all of them (except 3, sorry), but even years later – FNAF 4 still hits the hardest for me.
And if you’ve got VR, Help Wanted is your ticket to experience almost every twisted corner of this franchise in one terrifying package.
Games I Need to Play Still
While I still hold that these games are absolutely solid, there are still games I’ve tragically yet to play that I will probably absolutely play soon. Some of the recommendations from some fellow horror game lovers on Reddit include:
- Lone Survivor
- Fears to Fathom
- MiSide
- Lost in Vivo
- Mad Father
- Song of Horror
- Horn of Fear
- Uncanny Valley
- Silence of the Sleep
- Night at the Gates of Hell
- Mouthwashing
I’m honestly probably going to start with Mouthwashing since that’s actually been on my “hey stop being a lazy ass and play this” list for a while, but if there’s other games you think I should try – let me know in the comments below!
I Hope You Found Some Good Games in This List
Whether you’re chasing ghosts, fighting monsters, or screaming at dolls – this lineup of my favorite horror games on Steam should have you covered for Halloween (and then some).
From cosmic nightmares to haunted classics, these games remind us why we love being scared out of our minds. Now dim the lights, grab your best set of headphones, and let the nightmarathon begin!
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Kara
October 13, 2025
First time here but nice list