Test the boundaries of your patience and endurance with the best psychological horror games ever made.
The psychological horror games utilise the best elements of the horror genre. Drawing inspiration from the finest works of cinema and literature, the best psychological horror games will immerse you in gripping narratives.
These games are definitely not afraid of exploring the deepest corners of the human psyche as well. Spanning across platforms and console generations, we listed the best psychological horror games of all time.
5. Condemned: Criminal Origins
There is no doubt that Condemned: Criminal Origins is one of the best psychological horror games. It’s also one of the most underrated Xbox 360 games. Even though it couldn’t gain widespread recognition, Condemned: Criminal Origins created a loyal player base that appreciated its claustrophobic and disturbing atmosphere.
Set in a fictional city troubled with murders and crimes, Condemned puts you in the shoes of Ethan Thomas, an FBI agent who finds himself in a spiral of violence and brutal psychological ordeals.
4. Doki Doki Literature Club!
As one of the best graphic novels, this free-to-play gem is one of the most amazing games out there. It breaks through the boundaries of the fourth wall and offers well-developed characters that will haunt you even after you complete the game.
Although it doesn’t come with high production values, Doki Doki Literature Club is one of the best psychological horror games. It explores concepts like obsession, manipulation, extreme sadness and more.
3. Amnesia: The Dark Descent
Amnesia: The Dark Descent is the magnum opus of Frictional Games that arrived back in 2010. It’s easily one of the best psychological horror games that leaves you in utter despair. Its influence in the genre and other horror games makes it one of the finest titles in the world of horror.
Back when Frictional Games released it, it also received critical acclaim for its departure from the hand-holding gameplay formula. That’s because Amnesia doesn’t give you any directions, weapons, or other helpful mechanics and wants you to trust your sanity only.
2. Observer: System Redux
Observer System Redux might not be utterly horrifying, but it does come with a wide variety of disturbing scenes and gameplay bits. As a detective voiced by the Blade Runner star Rutger Hauer, your task is to dive into a massive complex filled with strange residents and solve a mysterious murder.
Observer System Redux is one of the best psychological horror games, with its extremely claustrophobic gameplay set in a far cyberpunk future. In short, it’s also worth noting that the studio behind the game is now working on the Silent Hill 2 remake.
1. Silent Hill 2
Silent Hill 2 is one of the finest and the most brilliant horror games the gaming industry has ever seen. The excellent sequel to the original Silent Hill tells one of the most harrowing stories ever told in the genre as well.
As one of the best psychological horror games, Silent Hill 2 creates an immersive atmosphere that just keeps on giving. That’s why, more than two decades after its release, Silent Hill 2 is still a cult classic.
Its story revolves around James Sunderland and his search for his wife in the town of Silent Hill. You might have somehow missed this excellent game or just couldn’t get to it in your gaming backlog. If so, we strongly suggest playing the original Silent Hill 2 before its remake hits the shelves this year.
Final Thoughts
The best psychological horror games delve into the darkest denizens of the human mind. Some of them focus on game mechanics to unravel these concepts, whereas others invest in a more immersive atmosphere. Regardless, we can still enjoy these incredible games that influence the horror genre as a whole.
Although some of them didn’t age well, they are still enjoyable for true horror enthusiasts. Some of them may not be as scary as the best VR horror games, but they are still worth your time, for sure. They also don’t depend on cheap jumpscares and other basic horror tropes. That’s why these amazing games deserve to be at the top of your gaming backlog.
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- My journey into the world of video games began at four, when I was first introduced to arcade machines in 1996. Over the past decades, I've been fortunate enough to witness the incredible evolution of gaming, as it has grown from a niche hobby to a thriving art. Today, I'm dedicated to creating content that celebrates all genres of games. We will talk about them at Player.me.