The only thing scarier than zombies, killers on the loose, and nightmare-inducing frights is playing a “spooky” game only for it to turn out to be lackluster and have the price be the scariest part (I’m looking at you Resident Evil 6).
There are great horror games out there, like Little Nightmares, Resident Evil 8, and The Last of Us Part 2, but those games are very popular. There’s a whole world of horror to explore!
Let’s take a deep dive into some lesser-known games, with a few notable exceptions. In honor of spooky month being upon us, I’ve gathered some of the best and cheapest horror games you can play:
The Witch’s House by Fummy
This creepy RPG Maker horror game follows Viola as she wanders deeper into the witch’s house in search of her friend, Ellen. While this may seem innocent enough, the game is going to keep you on your toes so make sure you watch where you walk.
It’s a relatively easy playthrough and the story will entice you. It is the right amount of creepy without causing you to turn the game off while being unsettling enough to make you break out in goosebumps.
Just don’t forget to double-check your steps. The best part, it is free, but the downside is that it is only available on Windows (Sorry Apple users!).
Image from vgperson.com/games/witchhouse.htm
Image from www.supermassivegames.com
Until Dawn by Supermassive Games
I know that this game is old, BUT there’s no denying that it is a great contender for spooky month! The campy ‘80s-inspired horror game is full of moral choices and quick thinking as you explore the Blackwood mountains as a group of friends on a trip gone wrong, and it can be downright terrifying at times. While Until Dawn may have been expensive when it first came out, you can usually score this game for less than $20 at any GameStop and the Playstation Store. For an AAA game, that’s cheap. If you love jump scares, the supernatural, and replayability, then this is the game for you.
Undertale by Toby Fox
Undertale is an intriguing adventure game, where the main character travels through the monster realm to return to the human world. It is a popular game that some wouldn’t regard as a scary game, but don’t be afraid to replay it this month! There are some pretty creepy scenes in the game that sets the Halloween mood with all of the different monsters you encounter. It’s fun, heart-wrenching at times, has interesting mechanics, and is $9.99 on Steam!
Image from store.steampowered.com
Image from store.steampowered.com
Corpse Party by Grisgris
This RPG Maker game classic is a great introduction to indie horror games. After unknowingly performing an occult ritual in their school, a group of kids are transported to a supernatural version of their school where they have to fight to escape.
The game uses the old-school RPG fighting mechanics. If you want a throwback, this is the game for you! The story is creepy enough for October spookiness, but it’s not scary enough to have you screaming.
This is the second most expensive game on the list and is $14.99 on Steam!
Alien: Isolation by Creative Assembly
This is the only game on this list to make me turn it off in fear. This game is truly terrifying so if you don’t have a strong stomach, play at your own risk.
This game has a disturbing lack of music and an interesting use of lighting that is used against you throughout the game. Mixed with the alien AI that is very random, you’re guaranteed to have a fright. If you’re willing to make the space adventure, it is less than $20 on Steam!
Image from store.steampowered.com
Image from store.steampowered.com
Doki Doki Literature Club by Dan Salvato
This popular visual novel game is an adventure. What starts off as an innocent dating simulator turns into something horrifying as the game goes on.
The story will throw you for loops and you will finish the game in awe of what you just played. It is definitely worth the playthrough! It’s currently free to download on Steam!
Misao by Sen
This RPG Maker game explores some pretty dark topics so make sure to read the warnings beforehand. The game follows a girl and her friend after the disappearance of one of her classmates, Misao.
After Misao’s disappearance, rumors of the supernatural emerge and the player is tasked with exploring the school, but the deeper you go, the scarier the reality you are faced with. It will make you question the game’s reality through its different puzzles and is currently on Steam for $4.99.
Image from store.steampowered.com
Image from store.steampowered.com
Mad Father by Sen
This game is so much fun! The game follows Anya as she searches for her father in her mansion after a curse causes supernatural beings to infiltrate the house.
The game is full of puzzles, explorable areas, clues to deepen the story, and zombies. If you love a messed-up story with multiple endings, this is the game for you! It’s currently available for $9.99 on Steam!
