AsHalloweenbegins to creep around the corner, players are diving into theirfavourite horror games, either to relive their nightmares or to share them with others.
Some players use the season as an excuse to find lesser-known indie games, admiring the work of these independent creators and encountering fresh scares along the way.
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Some indie horror games, like the infamousFive Nights at Freddy’s, take off in the spotlight and become household names.
Others are practically hidden gems, with some stories flying under the radar and remaining unnoticed. That doesn’t mean they aren’t deserving of love, though, since some of these horror games are more terrifying thanAAA titles.
For fans of indie games, fans of horror, or for players that are simply in a scary mood, here are some underrated indie horror gems.
10Iron Lung
It’s Dark Down Here…
Iron Lungis a unique, terrifying experience that has been in the news thanks to the gaming YouTuberMarkiplier, who is adapting the game into a film.
The game follows the player, a prisoner manning aSubmarinein an ocean of blood, with the only objective being to take pictures at certain coordinates in order to earn their freedom. The premise is simple enough in that regard, but one massive question looms in the deep:are you truly alone?
The horror of this game is in the uncomfortable silence, where the only sounds are the rumble of being underwater, the switches and controls of the submarine, and on occasion, something that doesn’t sound quite right.
In trying to navigate the tense, underwater landscape that only seems to produce more questions with each picture, players uncover terror that has yet to be replicated. It’s a deeply unsettling experience that makes the anticipation forMarkiplier’s adaption all the more exciting.
9The Glass Staircase
A VHS Zombie Horror Epic
Puppet Combois known for creatingretro-style horror gamesinspired by horror films,creating an experience that is equal parts scary and nostalgic.
The Glass Staircase, a love letter to the classicResident Eviland Italian zombie movies, follows four different servant girls as they are picked off by a monster, one by one. The monster isn’t seen until the end, and players progressing the game have to ensure the girls' survival while they uncover the mystery of its origin.
It’s an underrated gem in thePuppet Combolibrary, pulling a lot of key staples from old PS1 horror games. The ambiance and music are well managed and maintained, making the game feel like a lost classic. It’s a wonderful game for fans of Halloween and of the horror genre.
Atmospheric Japanese Folklore and Superstition
Fans of Japanese folklore and mythical horror will be thrilled to know thatIkaiwill happily deliver on their desires.
The game follows the protagonistNaoko, a Shinto shrine maiden (called a “Miko” in Japanese) that has to protect the shrine grounds from yokai and other ghosts. Taking place inFeudal Japan, the game is teeming with superstitions.
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Japanese horror as a genre tends to prominently featurespirits and ghost stories, and Ikai is no exception. It’s a very moody and atmospheric experience that best displays how it feels to be haunted.
It’s tense, it’s anxiety-inducing, and unsettling. Unfortunately, the jump scares can be pretty cheap, but the atmosphere is scary enough to more than make up for it.
Genuine Survival Horror
One of the most common and horrifying fears for human beings is the fear of the woods, andDarkwoodtakes that concept to a horrifying new angle.By focusing on hunting/gathering and boarding up a shelter for survival,this indie game cemented itselfas a fan-favorite.
The monsters in this game are horrifying and unsettling; it’s definitely not ideal for players to be caught by them. The story is strange, and the delivery is very well done.
The focal point for the horror in this game comes from the tension and atmosphere. The monsters are horrific, sure, but the gameplay centres around avoiding them at all costs, which adds to the anxiety of looming darkness.
There’s something distinctly terrifying about being alone in the woods and struggling to survive, knowing a deadly monster could appear any minute.
6Detention
Taiwanese School After Hours
An uncomfortable and uncanny feeling comes with being in a school after hours. It becomes a liminal space in that regard, unsettling anyone who lingers around in the area.
Detention, developed byRed Candle Games, utilizes that space. Taking place in 1960s Taiwan during theWhite Terror,this 2D horror gameis just terrifying. It implements elements from this historical period alongside Taiwanese (and by extension, Chinese) religion and mythology, constructing a unique horror experience.
Combined with wonderfully dark storytelling, Detention is a must-play for horror fans.
5FAITH: The Unholy Trilogy
An 8-Bit Nightmare Experience
Faith: The Unholy Trinity
For some, horror that centers around religion might not be as effective as something more grounded in reality.FAITH: The Unholy Trinity, however, doesn’t struggle with this notion.
The stories follow the disgraced priestJohn Wardafter his failed attempt at an exorcism. The overall story spans three total games, all as excellent as the last.
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The game takes on a unique, 8-bit style in all elements, including sounds, rotoscoped animation, and synthetic voice-acting. There are plenty of references to theSatanic Panicof the 80s, a clear inspiration for the story’s tone.
Apart from having an effective, unsettling horror and creepy monster design, the story ofFAITHis fantastic. It highlights all the human elements of religious horror, and it’s something that other demonic possession stories should take a page from.
4The Convenience Store
Liminal and Paranormal Japanese Horror
Chilla’s Artis a Japanese indie developer known for making retro, PS1-style horror games, including the well-known gamesParasocialandThe Closing Shift.
The Convenience Store, however, stands out as one of the more terrifying and underrated entries. The game follows a college girl working nights at her local convenience store, the strange interactions she has with customers, and the even stranger things happening in her store.
Fans ofJu-On(The Grudge) will be thrilled with this game, as there’s a similar ghost story in the store itself. The scares are littered with supernatural terror and Japanese superstition, making for a one-of-a-kind indie experience.
3Lost in Vivo
A Claustrophobic Panic Attack
Lost in Vivo
Lost in Vivois a terrifyingpsychological horror gamethat deserves more love for effectively managing claustrophobia.
When the player’s service dog is forced down a sewer drain during a storm, the game takes a stark shift, represented by the other characters and monsters that can be encountered along the way.
Heavily inspired by the classicSilent Hillgames,Lost in Vivofeels like a slow suffocation. The tone is like a snake, slowly constricting around the player’s throat — it’s a horrifying story with equally horrifying visuals. The pacing and atmosphere is genuinely scary, pulling staples thatSilent Hillalways did so well.
For players who want a game that feels like a genuine panic attack,Lost in Vivois an excellent experience for terror.
2The Mortuary Assistant
The Mortuary Assistant
Fear is subjective, which is why the horror genre is so hard to tackle effectively, especially in a video game that gives players complete control over the outcome. It’s difficult to create something that would scare basically everyone who plays it — butThe Mortuary Assistantis terrifying.
Humans are already uncomfortable around death and corpses, andthis psychological horror gametakes that biological fear and expands upon it.
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The protagonist is an aspiring mortician namedRebecca, and the story follows her terrible first night on the job. Despite the premise, the game is surprisingly challenging, with multiple things to keep track of and manage, andmultiple endingsbased on the player’s actions.
A lot of the scares in this game are in the player’s peripheral vision, which is a terrifying detail on its own. The horror throughout the game is incredibly effective, making it an excellent choice for the season.
A Layered Family Tragedy
This underrated gem is nothing short of a masterpiece, unfortunately and unfairly caught in a storm of censorship and criticism. Because of this, the game had been taken down fromSteam and other websites for some time.
Devotion, developed byRed Candle Games, is an incredible story following theDuFamilyin 1980s Taiwan. It’s a tragedy of regret, grief, desperation and despair, layered and interwoven with itself to tell the family’s deeply depressing story.
Players have to solve puzzles to unwind the mystery hidden in plain sight, with tons of symbolism and tension along the way. It’s a game that isn’t talked about outside its brief controversy, but it deserves to be played and adored.
It’s an incredible story with horrifying visuals that would be an amazing experience for anyone with the privilege of playing it.
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