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.
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!
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 friend with the townsfolk, as well as maintaining 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.
Surreal Horror
The Moth Inside Me
- For fans of:
- Yume Nikki
- Silent Hill
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.
Survival Horror
A classic genre! Shoot and attack terrifying enemies whilst you try to survive.
House of Necrosis
- For fans of:
- Resident Evil
- Silent Hill
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
- For fans of:
- Cry of Fear
- Baisu
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
- For fans of:
- Stay Out of the House
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.
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.
Visual Novels
Visual novels, but scary ones!
Stillwater
- For fans of:
- Danganronpa
- Dead Plate
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…
General Horror
Chakana
- For fans of:
- Devotion
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
- For fans of:
- Alone in the Dark
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
- For fans of:
- The Exit 8
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, and
Adele Wilson
Editor
With experience working for GameRant and in SEO copywriting, Adele loves to combine her adoration for gaming with her writing craft. She'll talk your ear off about anything fantasy, and if she's not typing away at her desk, she's probably playing an RPG somewhere, watching anime, or reading a book.
