Looking to set your heart racing during the spooky season? Whether it’s a grizzly survival shooter primed to make you wince or something that skews a little more family friendly, you needn’t look far for some truly great horror video games to play during Halloween. PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch have so many Halloween video games to choose from, though, we thought it worthwhile to help Gaming Deals readers out with a definitive list of the best. We've got classics from years gone by as well as some of the latest and greatest the horror genre has to offer.
From ground-up remakes of beloved PS One horror classics to all-new creature features ready to grace your modern console, take your pick from any of these great spooky games perfect to play throughout Halloween:
10. Resident Evil 2
- Release Date: 25th January 2019
- Publisher: Capcom
- Developer: Capcom
- Available Platforms: PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series S | X, PC
Released back in 2019 for PS4, Xbox One and PC, the remake of Resident Evil 2 blew away all expectations by reinstalling some classic scares into a familiar environment using an entirely new graphics engine. You still play as Leon S. Kennedy or Claire Redfield exploring the zombie-infested RPD headquarters, only now you do so from an RE 4 style over-the-shoulder perspective and against undead enemies that look incredibly realistic. You’ll attempt to find a way to escape with the dreaded Mr. X always hot on your heel, making Resident Evil 2 a perfect way to set in scares.
9. Until Dawn
- Release Date: 25th August 2015
- Publisher: Supermassive Games
- Developer: Sony Computer Entertainment
- Available Platforms: PS4
Choose your own adventure may be a genre with a storied past, but Until Dawn is an underrated PS4 gem that merges the concept with the schlocky premise of a teenage slasher movie to create something totally fresh. You take on the role of numerous characters staying in a cabin in the woods, making decisions and uncovering pathways in the attempt to survive the supernatural dangers outside. Think of Until Dawn as more like an interactive movie than a traditional game. This is what makes it such a great Halloween game to play alongside others, letting you make choices together. Also for the PS5 players Until Dawn has received an update that boosts the frame rate to 60.
8. Luigi’s Mansion 3
- Release Date: 31st October 2019
- Publisher: Nintendo
- Developer: Next Level Games
- Available Platforms: Nintendo Switch
While Luigi’s Mansion 3 may not scare the bravest among us, it will most certainly be a great way to get the kids and family into the spooky Halloween spirit. Arriving exclusively on Nintendo Switch, Luigi’s Mansion 3 successfully ups the ante on the previous games by setting the titular sibling off in a sprawling hotel, with each floor being full of ghosts and ghouls just waiting to be hoovered up. This will be the first Luigi’s Mansion to be rendered fully in HD, showcasing the power of Nintendo Switch to offer up a Halloween-themed adventure like no other.
7. Little Nightmares 2
- Release Date: 10th February 2021
- Publisher: Bandai Namco Entertainment
- Developer: Tarsier Studios
- Available Platforms: PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series S | X, PC and Nintendo Switch
2D side-scrollers, as a general rule of thumb, tend to be quite colourful and charming. However, the arrival of Limbo in 2010 suddenly changed all this, providing that the side-on perspective can equally give players chills given an appropriately spooky setting. Little Nightmares 2 is one of the best examples of this tact, it was released last year following the success of the first game back in 2017. Casting players as the yellow-coated Six and new character Mono attempting to escape an oversized world filled with haunting dangers. Give it a go if you prefer your Halloween video games to be bitesize.
6. The Evil Within 2
- Release Date: 13th October 2017
- Publisher: Bethesda Softworks
- Developer: Tango Gameworks
- Available Platforms: PS4, Xbox One and PC
The second game produced by the original creator of Resident Evil, Evil Within 2 is a more confident and focused third-person survival horror game than the first, upping the scale by setting you off within a series of spooky hubs. The entire game takes place in your mind, meaning that nothing is off the table in terms of possible nightmares. The combat is always challenging but fair, and Evil Within 2 is unafraid to bend the mind a little in the story it weaves. A nice gem to play throughout Halloween.
5. The Quarry
- Release Date: 10th June 2022
- Publisher: 2K
- Developer: Supermassive Games
- Available Platforms: PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series S | X, PC
The Quarry which hit shelves back on June 10th of 2022 and was brought to you by the same developers as Until Dawn, this interactive horror game takes a group of teenage counsellors who must survive against all odds as both evil creatures and disturbing locals don't want them to see the end of their Summer. As the player, you will make choices which can lead to catastrophic consequences and different developments; meaning this game has some good replayability. This title definitely takes a lot of influence from teen slasher movies so if that's you're cup of tea this is an easy recommendation for this Halloween.
4. Resident Evil Village
- Release Date: 2nd May 2021
- Publisher: Capcom
- Developer: Capcom
- Available Platforms: PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series S | X, PC
The Resident Evil series is obviously a behemoth in the survival horror genre with a couple of the games in the series holding spots in this list, and is there any way we could leave out the latest non-remake in the franchise? Of course not, Resident Evil Village was released back in May of last year on PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X and PC and once again had a great critical reception. In the 8th installment of Resident Evil, protagonist Ethan Winters finds himself trapped in a remote village with residents who are more than strange. Following on the story of Resident Evil 7 and inspired by its gameplay this is another first-person experience where you must solve puzzles, defeat bosses and explore as you attempt to reunite with your daughter. An easy recommendation to fans of the survival horror genre this Halloween, with a pleasant mixture of exhilarating scares, gorgeous visuals and a haunting atmosphere. Furthermore, on October 28th 2022 Resident Evil Village the Shadows of Rose expansion was releaed where Rose Winters returns to the village to explore her own past. You can pick this DLC up separately or as a part of the Resident Evil Village: Gold Edition which also comes with the original game.
3. Alien Isolation
- Release Date: 6th October 2014
- Publisher: Sega
- Developer: Creative Assembly
- Available Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC and Nintendo Switch
Our number one spot is an oldie but a truly terrifying horror experience. While the much-maligned Aliens: Colonial Marines left us with a very poor taste in the mouth, Alien Isolation showed us what can happen when a game pays true homage to a classic horror film correctly. Alien: Isolation is the slow-paced sequel to Ridley Scott’s Alien we never got, placing you in the shoes of Ellen’s daughter Amanda who is stuck on Sevastopol station trying to avoid the titular creature. You can never kill the Xenomorph stalking you, only delay it. What follows is the perfect sci-fi game of cat and mouse and a truly tense scary game for Halloween.
2. Dead Space
- Release Date: 27th January 2023
- Publisher: Electronic Arts
- Developer: Motive Studio
- Available Platforms: PS5, Xbox Series S | X, PC
There's been some fantastic horror remakes this year with two of them topping the list as the best Halloween games to dive into with the reality being that these were already incredible games that have only got better with their reimaginings. The Dead Space Remake was released at the start of the year and critically did very well, the game is absolutely gorgeous on the latest generation hardware and this new coat of paint for the 2008 classic has only elevated the exceptional atmosphere throughout which makes this one of the grittiest and scariest games around. Frustrating mechanics have been removed and new mechanics added to heighten the gameplay and make this the definitive way to play Dead Space.
If you're more a fan of Sci-Fi in your horror Dead Space 2023 is an absolute must-play game this Halloween. Believe me, this one will get your heart pumping and asking Dead Space 2 Remake when?
1. Resident Evil 4 Remake
- Release Date: 24th March 2023
- Publisher: Capcom
- Developer: Capcom
- Available Platforms: PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series S | X, PC
Sorry not sorry, yes there's more Resident Evil on this list. This time it's the remake of Resident Evil 4 which was released in March of 2023 and held glowing reviews across the board. Resident Evil 4 has its place as many fans' favourite in the long-running series from Capcom and this remake brings it back to the forefront masterfully, preserving all the original game achieved. Whilst the original was maybe not considered the scariest game in the series as it was a more action-heavy game the remake has really pumped up the scare factor thanks to new cutscenes and jump scares throughout to keep you on the edge of your seat.
You will once again play as Leon Kennedy and you've been tasked to rescue the President's daughter Ashley from a rural Spanish village that is ruled by a deranged cult that worships an ancient parasite. If you've never played Resident Evil 4 this is the best way to experience this horror reimagining which is dripping with atmosphere and is more terrifying than ever before. The perfect game to pick up and enjoy for Halloween 2023.
Guide Updated: 19th October 2023
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