Best Video Games for horror tension

horror tension Decision Dashboard

Safest pick

Resident Evil Requiem

4.7 feature score

Balances feature score, supporting reviews, and overall product strength.

Most evidence

Reanimal

12 supporting reviews

Has the broadest review evidence for this feature.

See ranked products
#1 The Last of Us Part II Remastered
4.8

Horror tension was praised for causing anxiety, dread, and memorable scare sequences.

Pros: core gameplay loop, level design

Cons: family friendliness, puzzle design

#2 Resident Evil Requiem
4.7

Horror tension was broadly praised, especially Grace’s early sections, though some reviews found the scares frontloaded or less intense than past entries.

Pros: driving mechanics, protagonist appeal

Cons: platform-specific feature support, checkpoint system

#3 Saros
4.7

Horror tension was supported through praise for dread, anxiety, cosmic horror, and the unsettling eclipse-driven world.

Pros: value for money, fun factor

Cons: map and navigation design, side character depth

#4 Hollow Knight: Silksong
4.6

Horror tension receives limited positive support from the dream/nightmare tone described in one review.

Pros: core gameplay loop, world interactivity

Cons: loot system, accessibility options

#5 The Blood of Dawnwalker
4.5

Horror tension looked effective, with reviewers calling key scenes tense and vampires truly terrifying.

Pros: core gameplay loop, replay value

Cons: value for money, difficulty balance

#6 South of Midnight
4.4

Horror tension was praised as part of the dramatic strength that the game cultivates around dark folklore.

Pros: atmosphere, voice acting

Cons: world interactivity, camera behavior

#7 Arc Raiders
4.3

Several reviewers compared raids to survival horror because of the fear, sound cues, darkness, and pressure around extraction.

Pros: frame rate stability, platform-specific feature support

Cons: voice acting, writing quality

#8 Cabernet
4.2

Horror tension had limited positive support from the preview’s praise for the dark, mysterious gothic setup.

Pros: accessibility options, protagonist appeal

Cons: frame rate stability, polish

#9 Silent Hill f
4.2

Horror tension was strong for many reviewers, especially in symbolic scenes and chase-like moments, but some felt scares faded or never matched classic dread.

Pros: voice acting, emotional impact

Cons: family friendliness, menu usability

#10 Gears of War: E-Day
4.2

Horror tension is mostly praised, though one reviewer warns that easy enemies could undercut the intended pressure.

Pros: emotional impact, art direction

Cons: value for money, platform-specific feature support

#11 Atomfall
4.1

Horror tension was positively supported by unsettling facilities and an unnerving underground atmosphere.

Pros: art direction, frame rate stability

Cons: boss design, camera behavior

#12 Cronos: The New Dawn
4.1

Horror tension was strong but not universal; some reviewers found it deeply tense and paranoia-inducing, while others wished it were scarier.

Pros: core gameplay loop, emotional impact

Cons: checkpoint system, bug frequency

#13 Diablo IV
4.0

Horror tension was mixed-to-positive, with praise for evil tone but one caveat that some horror imagery became bland through repetition.

Pros: lore depth, art direction

Cons: mission variety, protagonist appeal

#14 Directive 8020
3.9

Horror tension was mixed but often strong, with several previews reporting big scares while others found the demo’s stealth and jump scares underwhelming.

Pros: user interface design, graphics quality

Cons: combat system, animation quality

#15 Reanimal
3.7

Horror tension is broadly effective but not uniform: many found dread and menace strong, while some said scares were reduced or straightforward.

Pros: onboarding experience, environmental detail

Cons: family friendliness, movement feel

#16 Lost Records: Bloom & Rage
3.3

Horror tension had limited evidence and mixed results, with one review praising suspense while another felt the mystery lacked momentum.

Pros: character roster, animation quality

Cons: core gameplay loop, polish

#17 Little Nightmares III
3.1

Horror tension was mixed: many praised chills and chase intensity, but several reviewers found it less scary than past games.

Pros: load times, haptic feedback integration

Cons: save system reliability, aiming precision

#18 Cthulhu: The Cosmic Abyss
3.1

Horror tension was divisive: some reviewers praised restraint and dread, while others felt the game lacked danger, scares, or true cosmic fear.

Pros: world-building, world interactivity

Cons: enemy variety, stealth mechanics

#19 Death Stranding 2: On the Beach
2.9

Horror tension is mixed to weak because BTs can still feel tense, but several reviewers say the sequel reduces their fear factor.

Pros: animation quality, facial animations

Cons: quest design, AI behavior

#20 Marvel's Wolverine
2.8

Horror tension and gore split reviewers, ranging from exhausted disappointment to surprise and discomfort at how gruesome it looked.

Pros: environmental detail, graphics quality

Cons: gameplay mechanics, emotional impact

#21 Kingdom Come: Deliverance II
2.7

A horror-leaning quest was criticized for being too short for its dread to fully develop.

Pros: soundtrack quality, fun factor

Cons: checkpoint system, family friendliness