Ever wondered what the best horror games on Itch.io are? There are so many to choose from, which is why this feature piece whittles it down to our top choices across a range of horror subgenres.
There are tons of amazing games on Itch.io, so make sure to browse what’s on offer. Did you know that Roblox is a staple in the genre nowadays? Check out our Best Roblox Horror Games feature to discover more.
Best Horror Games On Itch.io
As more games get added to this feature, new categories will appear, making it easier for you to navigate through and find the best games suited for what you’re looking for!
Weekly Highlights
This week’s horror highlights!
The Prototype
- For fans of:
- Assessment Examination
- Who’s Lila?
Robots… they’re creepy, right? Well, in this visual novel that takes inspiration from analog horror, you must interact with a robot as you assess the current model. Aside from the unsettling smile on its face, something else isn’t quite right about it.
Fearsome Tale
Fearsome Tale is a horror RPG with a charming pixel art style. You play as Diego, a child whose parents have suddenly disappeared, and is now trapped inside his own home. With notes strewn around the house that only add to his confusion, you must investigate what exactly is happening…
Huntsman
You may have seen clips of this game around on the internet already! It’s got an absolutely horrifying giant huntsman spider as the main antagonist, and as someone who is scared of spiders, it’s a nightmare for me. But still, I can’t deny that it’s effective horror! It might not be too frightening for those who are not scared, but for arachnophobes, it’s pure fear fuel.
You need to collect items within an office space, taking inspiration from Resident Evil. To beat the game, you must defeat the spider, but you also need to avoid it as much as you can.
Devil’s Liminal
- For fans of:
- Tiny Bunny
- Higurashi
- The House in Fata Morgana
Margo Silva is being haunted by a ghost who only appears when she is dreaming. She wishes for a summer of peace as she works at her job, with plans of heading to college once she has enough money. After meeting two girls who seem a little strange, she is thrown into a world of demons and the supernatural.
Devil’s Liminal is a horror visual novel with dialogue options, collectable art pieces, and sapphic romance.
Surreal Horror
The Moth Inside Me
Dreams can be scary, especially when they feel so vivid and realistic. The Moth Inside Me is only a short game, but it takes you on a hazy journey through various rooms, as the protagonist’s confusion grows evermore.
Based on repressed dreams and the feeling of those that reoccur, The Moth Inside Me makes you question everything around you… and what’s ahead. From the cloudy and fuzzy visuals, to the unsettling sound design, get ready for a psychologically thrilling game.
INTROVERT
- For fans of:
- Milk Inside a Bag of Milk Inside a Bag of Milk
This monochrome horror takes place inside a house, that feels somewhat safe. You feel most comfortable in your room, and you have no reason to go outside. But what happens if you do go outside?
Something in the shadows is watching you… always. This game tackles some psychological topics as well as perfecting the feeling of paranoia.
Anoxia Station
- For fans of:
- Dredge
- Alien’s Dark Descent
It’s 1988, but instead of it being as you’d expect, the world has been plunged into a dystopian nightmare. Anoxia Station is a little different to the other entries in this feature, as it’s a strategy game rather than a first-person experience, third-person survival horror, or visual novel.
Keep your crewmates alive and watch out for anyone acting suspiciously… you can’t trust everyone. With environmental dangers such as magma, dark caves, moon milk, and strange crystals, you must delve into and explore the now unrecognisable terrain.
Whilst the sounds of drilling, construction, and natural elements are unpleasant, nothing is quite like the otherworldly noises that seem to come from the depths.
Bloodbark
Taking inspiration from an art piece by Eduardo Valdes-Hevia, Bloodbark sees you cutting down trees that are sought after due to the red wood they provide. They bleed red, hence the name, but that’s not the only thing you should be wary of.
These Bloodbark trees seem to know of your existence, making them somewhat sentient. So, what if trees could think and feel? In this game, the trees want to fight back. Understandably, they don’t want to be cut down and used for their wood.
Survival Horror
A classic genre! Shoot and attack terrifying enemies whilst you try to survive.
House of Necrosis
Inspired by the classics of the Survival Horror genre, House of Necrosis features 32-bit graphics with fixed camera angles, and brings it to the modern world of gaming. Some may prefer the ultra-realistic graphics of newer games, but you can’t deny that there’s something super charming about this nostalgic style.
Wander through the abandoned mansion and strengthen your weapons as you delve deeper into the dark corridors. The mansion seems to never end, and that’s because the map changes each time! This feature keeps it feeling fresh even when you’re high-level.
Endless Blue
- For fans of:
- Metal Gear
- Resident Evil
- Doom
- Parasite Eve
Another Survival Horror title, but with slightly more modern graphics. This sci-fi horror game is reminiscent of past PS1 titles that altered how we see the genre. There are enemies to kill, puzzles to solve, and an overarching storyline that plays out over various cutscenes.
Flesh Made Fear
- For fans of:
- Resident Evil
- Silent Hill
- Left 4 Dead
Step into a world of cults and experiments gone wrong in this survival horror that takes inspiration from PSX. It’s perfect for fans of the classic Resident Evil games, as you set out on a trip with a cast of characters, defeating mutated creations galore.
You are a member of the Reaper Intervention Platoon and your task is to clear out the mutants roaming the once quiet town. You’re looking specifically for someone called ‘The Ripper’…
Nostalgic Horror
Horror games with nostalgic graphics or mechanics.
Clap Clap
- For fans of:
- Chilla’s Art games
- Amnesia
A brand-new home feature that allows you to turn your lights on and off with just two claps has been introduced! No more flicking the switch on the wall, as you can control your indoor lighting no matter where you’re standing.
This isn’t your house, but it is your responsibility to house-sit. After responding to an advertisement in the newspaper, you get the job. Whilst house-sitting, you can wander around the abode to your heart’s content, though I’m not sure whatever’s living in the walls is happy about it.
Take care of the house by watering plants and cleaning up. With this newfound technological power, surely nothing bad will come from it… right?
Beyond One’s Past
The snow is falling in Pennsylvania, and as an investigative officer, you’re patrolling the streets of a usually quiet town. Odd occurrences have been dimming the joy of residents, as a strange yet intriguing case unfolds. It’s a psychological horror that takes you down a dangerous path.
Benny Bash
Featuring a mixture of pixelated and retro graphics, Benny Bash is a game within a game. You’re in a cabin playing an arcade-style title. Progress through the arcade game to unlock additional puzzles that take place around you. Things get weirder as you go on.
Break away from the screen to interact with objects and furniture around you in the cabin. Be careful though, as Benny is watching your every move. If you do something he doesn’t approve of, he’ll be on his way.
The Lightkeeper is Gone
- For fans of:
- Dredge
- Fears to Fathom: Ironbark Lookout
Ever seen The Lighthouse by Robert Eggers? Well, you should know that going to a quiet lighthouse in the middle of a treacherous ocean never bodes well. In The Lightkeeper is Gone, you are the new keeper of the structure. The previous person left suddenly, leaving a gap in which you have filled.
As you look after the lighthouse by yourself, you have plenty of spare time on your hands to go moseying around. Slowly but surely, you discover clues left by the keeper before you. Don’t forget to turn the light on every evening though! If you’re a fan of slow burns, this horror title is perfect for you.
Days of Saturn
The Days of Saturn arrive in 16 days. As an acolyte, you may very well become the Servant of the Mistress. This game is only a short one, but with a mixture of visual novel-esque gameplay, combined with raising the stats of the main character, the eerie tone of this experience is sure to stay with you.
It reminds me of horror titles that I used to watch and play on the Nintendo DS… and even GameBoy – even the Itch.io page for it features a DS! Days of Saturn is a simple yet effective game, created and developed in four days. For those who missed that generation of games, or for those who miss it, Days of Saturn is available to play now.
Curse of the Mantle
- For fans of:
- Days of Saturn
- Play Novel: Silent Hill
- The Mist
As per real-life, “The Curse of the Mantle” was aired on Weird Circle in 1944. Weird Circle was an episodic show that aired between 1943 and 1945. This Gameboy-inspired indie title weaves this story into a retro-style, pixelated game!
In this story, Lady Eleanore obtains a mantle that is cursed, altering herself and those around her. George, her fiancé, warns her that it is all the mantle’s fault and strives to destroy the object. While the game features walking around as you uncover the tale, you must interact with the world around you to delve deeper.
Analog Horror
A horror genre that takes normal aspects of our daily lives and twists them into something much more sinister.
They Looked Like Us
- For fans of:
- The Mandela Catalogue
- Home Safety Hotline
- Assessment Examination
After watching an emergency broadcast that warns you to remain inside, you close your curtains and turn all of your lights off. All you need to focus on is staying out of sight of ‘them’. If ‘they’ find you, that’s it.
They Looked Like Us is a short but sweet example of what analogue horror is and how effective it can be. Inspired by the tales of skinwalkers, this game cranks up the paranoia to 100. Even if ‘they’ look normal, ‘they’ aren’t.
NetEscape
In NetEscape, you sit at a PC to play a game of the same name. It’s an MMO from the 90s that has been abandoned, with nobody online except for you… and a few other mysterious players. It used to be a busy hub filled to the brim with players. Now, it resembles liminal spaces, with empty locations and rooms.
You have until midnight to explore NetEscape, granting you a chance to take as many in-game screenshots as possible so that you have a record of what you find. It seems like it used to be a fun game until the horrors started to emerge. It’s up to you to uncover the secret story behind it all. Maybe this online world isn’t as charming as you initially thought…
Visual Novels
Visual novels, but scary ones!
Stillwater
Mixing the horror genre with a crime thriller, you play as Hugo Laurent, a private investigator. You receive a letter that has a not-so-nice message written in red – it’s just ink, right? Work with your assistants in this visual novel to crack the case. If you fail to do so, the curse makes itself known.
With a charming art style, point-and-click mechanics, and multiple endings, Studio Clump has made something very special here.
Saihate Station
- For fans of:
- Mad Father
- The Witch’s House
Firstly, I want to note that the art style for this game is absolutely lovely. It almost distracts you from the fact that it’s a horror visual novel. Everything starts fine, with Haru beginning a new job. It’s here that Haru meets Shion. Jealous of Shion’s energy, Haru does his best to distance himself, until one night they both meet at Saihate Station.
Secrets start to unravel, and Haru discovers that Saihate Station is more than just somewhere to catch a train. Something’s off about Shion…
Voices, Blaming, Blood, and She
- For fans of:
- Milk inside a bag of milk inside a bag of milk
Dreams… we all have them. But what if a teenager with schizophrenia dreams? You play as her inner voice, which turns the game into a psychological horror. This voice discusses phobias, fears, dreams, and wishes.
With 2 endings to reach, an unsettling yet relaxing soundtrack, and a short playtime, it’s a horror experience that burrows its way into your brain.
General Horror
Chakana
With a gritty and unique art direction, Chakana takes place in your ‘home’. You’re in the middle of an evening date, with the table set for dinner. As you chow down, things start to get a little… strange around the house.
The building is weirdly quiet and blood keeps appearing in places where it shouldn’t. Chakana plays with your mind, making you desperate to reveal the secrets that have led the main character to this point. Truly, what is going on?
SOMNIFUGE
Entering a dark mansion, you were invited here by receiving a strange note. The corridors may be shrouded in shadows, but there seem to be people living there. With an old-school graphic style, you must complete puzzles as you make your way through the rooms. All the while, you feel as if someone is watching you. It takes inspiration from Alone in the Dark, especially when it comes to the psychological aspect of the game.
Unheard Scream
Subways are creepy at the best of times, with the long walkways that all look the same, and the shadows that stretch out far beyond the platform. In Unheard Scream, you and your explorer friends decide to investigate a subway station. You become trapped, and you must find a way to escape.
There are puzzles to solve throughout, all the while avoiding the monster that shuffles around. Make sure to stay quiet, as sound is what alerts the monster to your location. It’s a horrific-looking thing, with tall gangly limbs, and an abyss for a mouth. Down in the subway, nobody can hear you scream.
The Boba Teashop
- For fans of:
- The Closing Shift
- The Convenience Store
I’m a sucker for boba, so why not play a horror game based around a teashop? You’re the owner of a boba store and you’ve got customers to serve! As Risa, you must take orders and prepare drinks by adding the correct ingredients. Most of the time, your customers are pleasant. However, some are not only rude… but kind of creepy.
As time goes on, strange things start to appear within the shop. You also start to hear odd sounds that are unexplainable. Combining the familiarity of a boba cafe, managing products and customers like a restaurant tycoon game, things start to turn unsettling fast.
DreadVault
- For fans of:
- Resident Evil 7
- Visage
- Layers of Fear
After inheriting his uncle’s estate, Daniel decides to take a look at the property. Instead of a quiet and old building, things seem to move, and unexplained sounds travel through the halls. His uncle is Adrian Lowe, a neurologist who has disappeared with no evidence left behind, apart from an abode filled to the brim with mystery.
Whilst investigating the property, Daniel finds a bunker… it’s more than safe, right? As he looks around, he discovers Project Strosh, a secret experiment that his uncle was involved in, which has clearly gone awry. The memories extracted throughout the project have morphed into something inhuman.
Welcome to Elderfield
- For fans of:
- Stardew Valley
- Harvest Island
- Graveyard Keeper
If you like cosy games and horror, then Welcome to Elderfield should strike your fancy! It’s as if Stardew Valley took place in an alternate universe, where everything looks like it came from the mind of Junji Ito.
Set in Elderfield, you have completed your studies, and it’s time to start properly knuckling down with work. The residents of Elderfield have always been strange, but you start to notice it much more now that you have no other distractions. It’s even worse at nighttime, with the town seeming to take on a life of its own.
Despite the oddities, you do your best to make friends with the townsfolk, as well as maintain the local farm. Like other cosy games, you can fish, cook, gather materials, and make a living. Whilst earning money, you also take it upon yourself to solve any mystery you come across.
ARSONATE
Inspired by Buckshot Roulette, you are trapped inside a fire tower in ARSONATE. As a forest fire erupts, spreading each time a card flips throughout the game, who gets out alive is between you and your opponent. There are 3 endings to reach, and the one you unlock depends on how the game plays out for you… and the choices you make.
The cards may look cryptic, but the symbols soon gain meaning. Your opponent dons a gas mask, pouring fuel on the cards occasionally, throwing a lit match onto the pile, or extinguishing the flames. You need to outsmart him in any way possible, even if that means wielding a crowbar. Can you protect your tower and survive the match?
KLETKA
- For fans of:
- Outlast
- Lethal Company
- Manhunt
An elevator is hungry… and it wants to eat you and whoever steps inside. To counter this, you must feed the elevator. With what? Well, that’s for you to find out. Traverse down into the depths of the building and explore each terrifying floor.
Criminals are sent to Kletka, the Gigastructure, including yourself. The building itself is massive in size, filled to the brim with traps and entities ready to attack, such as the Samosbor.
I Work as an Exorcist
- For fans of:
- Faith
- Five Nights at Freddy’s
As you can guess, you work as an exorcist in this game. Your name is Leslie, and you must go to the house of clients to exorcise the demons that hide in their walls. Stand in the darkness and shine your trusty flashlight to scare the demons away.
There are 4 levels in total to complete, each taking part in different locations. The demons differ, so don’t expect them to be the same every time! Immerse yourself in the story whilst you help your clients.
Mushrooming
Finally, a folk horror game! I love me some folk horror, so I’m delighted to introduce Mushrooming. Atticus has rented a cabin close to the forest as he plans to find a non-existent mushroom called the Grand Bolete.
Whilst in his cabin, he decides to head out in search of it. But once he gets out there, he comes across a strange astronaut. Why is there an astronaut in the middle of the forest? Who knows? What we do know is that they are your one and only obstacle… and they’ve got a gun.
Midnight Mansion
- For Fans of:
- The Witch’s House
- Mad Father
Reminiscent of old-school RPG maker horrors, Midnight Mansion takes you on a journey through a haunted building that you must escape at all costs. It’s like The Witch’s House a little bit, if you’ve ever played that!
The mansion’s owner disappeared a while back, with no explanation as to why. It’s your job to investigate the murders that have been taking place on the grounds. Read diary entries, and pick up items and weapons, all of which help you to escape this hellhole.
Gou
While Gou is only a short game, it takes inspiration from The Shadow Over Innsmouth, a story originally written by H.P Lovecraft. However, Gou takes place in rural Japan, and there’s an ancient curse lingering in the mist.
It’s a side-scrolling pixel game that was made in just 72 hours, but it sure packs a punch when it comes to atmospheric horror. Fend off the wandering creatures and venture through the swampy forest to find a way out.
Cucina Stellara (Starred Cuisine)
- For fans of:
- Cooking Companions
- Ravenous Devils
Set in 19th-century Romagna, you are a gourmet chef and a writer who takes inspiration from Pellegrino Artusi. You decide to cook up a midnight snack, but as you put together the ingredients, as the stars shine bright amidst the night sky, things seem to spiral towards chaos…
DON’T FEED IT
You are trapped inside a decrepit house, locked by a chain across the door. Noticing a gap in the flooring, with something calling out to you, you have no idea what it is. You do not know where you are, but the only thing you do know… is that you need to feed it.
In 10 days, you must complete the task at hand. Whatever it is that you need to feed, it must be done during the daytime. The nights are too dangerous to do so. Can you reach all 5 endings?
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