There’s nothing quite like being scared by a good video game. When you’re playing a game, you’re not passively watching characters make bad choices. You’re the one in control, and that makes the horrors you’re facing all the more terrifying.

If you’re in the mood to scream, these are 10 of the scariest games on the PS4. Whether you feel like jump scares, psychological horror, or just something spooky, at least one of these games should leave you feeling afraid.

SOMA

Set in an underwater research facility, SOMA is a first-person horror game that will worm its way inside your brain. Although SOMA has monsters — and a few jump scares — its deepest scares arise from existential horror. If you’re a fan of sci-fi and enjoy pondering the nature of human existence, SOMA is a game you’ll want to pick up.

Soma is also available for Xbox One and PC.

White Day: A Labyrinth Named School

Originally released in 2001, White Day: A Labyrinth Named School is a Korean horror classic. This remake, which was released on PS4 in 2017, includes all the scares of the original titles, but with new and improved graphics. The title puts you in the shoes of a student who, along with a few of his classmates, is trapped inside a terrifying school. With eight endings in total, this is a horror game you’ll want to play more than once.

White Day is also available on PC.

Alien: Isolation

I’m a huge fan of the Alien franchise — especially Aliens — but I’ve never found Xenomorphs to be all that scary. Alien: Isolation, a survival horror game focused on stealth, changed all that. You’ll spend a good chunk of your time in this game crouching behind objects or crawling through vents, knowing that even one small mistake could lead to a terrible death. Isolation is a great game to play if you want to be scared and challenged at the same time.

Alien: Isolation is also available on PC, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch.

Darkwood

Darkwood is a survival horror game with an emphasis on survival. While there are plenty of lurking threats — especially after night falls — there’s also crafting, bartering, and many other the other mechanics you’d find in a regular survival game. Of course, that doesn’t mean that Darkwood is short on scares. This creepy top-down game has an incredible atmosphere. The dissonant score is enough to give you chills, and the lore and story will leave you haunted long after you stop playing.

Darkwood is also available on PC, Mac, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch.

Until Dawn

If you’ve ever felt frustrated by the stupid choices characters make in horror movies, Until Dawn is a must-play. This choice-driven game is essentially a playable horror movie. Based on your decisions, every one of the eight main protagonists has the possibility to live or die. It’s endlessly replayable, it offers a wide range of scares, and it often feels like a forgotten horror classic.

A Plague Tale: Innocence

As a kid, one of my biggest fears was being bitten by a rat. A Plague Tale: Innocence takes that to the next level, with huge swarms of rats that will devour anything in their path. Of course, rats are just one of the many dangers you’ll face over the course of the game. Some of the biggest threats aren’t ravenous rats or terrible monsters; they’re ordinary, frightened humans. This is a disturbing game with a dark, yet heartfelt storyline.

A Plague Tale is also available on PC and Xbox One.

Pathologic 2

If you want a horror game that will make you feel despair, you won’t find a better option than Pathologic 2. In this grim open-world horror RPG, you’re a physician in a rural, plague-infested town. The biggest scares aren’t the threats you’re facing, but the consequences of your own actions. Every decision has an impact, and no matter what you do, you can’t save everyone.

The first Pathologic is only available on PC. However, this is a reimagining of the original game, which means you can start the series here. Pathologic 2 is also available on PC and Xbox One.

Detention

Detention is a side-scrolling horror game that’s unlike anything else I’ve ever played. Set in Tawain’s White Terror period, when the country was under martial law, this game uses real history and Taiwanese culture and mythology to create unique and unsettling scares. The game was adapted into a horror film and an upcoming Netflix series.

Detention is also available on PC and Nintendo Switch.

Amnesia: Collection

Since there are multiple games in this collection, including it here might be a bit of a cheat. Still, it’s the best way to experience the Amnesia games on the PS4. While Amnesia: The Dark Descent is my personal favorite, Amnesia: A Machine for Pigs is also a solid horror title. This collection also includes the expansion Amnesia: Justine. This is the perfect thing to before diving into Amnesia: Rebirth.

The Amnesia Collection is also available on PC, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch.

Resident Evil 7: Biohazard

Resident Evil is one of the most beloved horror franchises in gaming, and Resident Evil 7 is one of the best ways to get some scares on your PS4. It’s got a little bit of everything — zombies, murderous cannibals, and jump scares galore. While you have guns and other weapons to defend yourself, ammo and healing items are scarce, which makes the threats you’re facing that much scarier. Whether you’re a die-hard Resident Evil fan or someone that’s barely touched the series, this title will keep you on the edge of your seat.

If you’re brave enough, Resident Evil 7 can be played with the PlayStation VR headset. It is also available on PC, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch.

Honorable Mention: P.T.

P.T. isn’t a game, and it’s no longer available on PS4. Still, I’d be remiss not to mention the most terrifying gaming experience I’ve ever had. P.T. is a horror classic that’s far more than a playable trailer. While plenty of titles have tried to replicate its claustrophobic hallways, there’s nothing else that quite measures up to P.T.

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kay
kay
3 years ago

The Last of us and the last of us 2?

Mr Triggers
Mr Triggers
3 years ago
Reply to  kay

Though they are great games and emotionally draining (especially the second one) I would consider them more drama/action than horror/suspense..

Josh Wirtanen
Admin
3 years ago
Reply to  Mr Triggers

I agree with this. While TLOU is great, it doesn’t get under your skin the way Amnesia and PT do.

Bradley
Bradley
3 years ago
Reply to  kay

More of a survival than a horror game no?

Bradley
Bradley
3 years ago

Surprised that Outlast didn’t make the cut, I still can’t play that one Alone in the Dark (wink wink)

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