A horror game where you never see a monster

Horror games are some of the most unique and beloved titles in gaming. Horror games keep you in suspense and deliver timely scares that make you jump out of your chair and continue the adventure. Most games rely heavily on enemies chasing you, but some games take a psychological or passive approach, which can be much more terrifying.

Seeing monsters can be very unsettling. We understand it, but we can never see what is causing so much stress and suffering. Slowly checking each corner, running away from every strange sound and accepting your fate as the music soars can take you to your breaking point even when there is nothing there and that is the beauty of the genre!

village of light

A very confusing narrative adventure

Kicking off the list is The Town of Light, a psychological nightmare based on a true story that leads to some disturbing and heartbreaking moments. Unraveling Renee's story will hit you hard until the end and will captivate you from the moment it begins.

It's more of an adventure than pure horror, but it'll keep you on the edge of your seat as you prepare for what happens next, with each new scene feeling more intense and ominous than the last. If psychological horror is your style, this is definitely in your wheelhouse!

martha dies

Why did you say that name?!

If slower, brutally shocking horror is more your thing, Martha is Dead is for you. Because this game tells a very painful and adult story that will stay with you forever. The title still has some optimization issues, but it's a must-play if you're into psychological horror and uncovering bigger mysteries.

Martha is Dead also has excellent visuals and voice acting that help sell all the mess you see, do, and discover, which goes a long way toward confusing you as you progress through the game. Again, it's not perfectly executed, but if it's on sale and you like the genre, it's worth picking up!

As I become more and more anxious

Speaking of unsettling games, The Complex: Found Footage is up next, a doozy of a title that makes you creepier than ever before as you traverse liminal space through the lens of an old-school VHS camera, providing unsettling filters that heighten the drama and atmosphere.

As you slowly explore each area, you'll get the feeling that someone or something is watching you, and more and more bizarre and nerve-wracking things will start to happen that will keep you from pushing on or playing all night. If you like these types of games, pick up The Complex: Found Footage!

Charon's Stairs

Puzzle horror is always welcome

Similar to Martha is Dead, I wouldn't necessarily recommend Charon's Staircase at full price, but most of the time it's at a huge discount, so even with its glaring flaws, I can't recommend this puzzle horror game enough. The game has a very engaging and deep story, and includes some great puzzles that will not only keep you busy but also set the mood and setting perfectly. So what is the problem?

Charon's Staircase doesn't really have that much of a setting. This means that if it's visually too dark, you'll simply have to deal with it, and if the display is set to be much dimmer than it should be, it can be problematic. Beyond that, some puzzles and hints can be more confusing and complex than the actual puzzles themselves, which is frustrating in these games. It's on sale though, and if you like puzzle horror games, it'll be right at home!

Windows is gone

Nostalgia + horror = a must-play game

The Windows Are Gone is a free-to-play psychological and atmospheric horror game with a retro PlayStation 1/2 aesthetic that delivers a surprisingly solid experience from start to finish, with a disturbing story that explores traumatic events and the grief that comes with them.

It may not be for everyone, but being free means anyone can try it risk-free, and if you like a good, story-driven psychological horror game, I highly recommend giving it a try. There are also multiple endings, so you can replay it multiple times if you want to learn more about the story and see how it all plays out!

observer

Detective fear will always strike

Observer: System Redux

4.5/5

released

November 10, 2020

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Following the divisive release of Layers of Fear, Bloober Team has released Observer, another psychological horror title that follows the detectives of the Observer Police Unit. As you navigate the dense terrain and try to determine what's real and what's not, you'll be transfixed as you begin to get to the bottom of the truth.

Observer is great, with a unique premise and plot that will hook you the moment you press play and won't let you go until the credits roll. It's one of the best existential and psychological horror games to date, and I can't recommend it enough. It deserves all the praise it gets and more praise after it!

grass

spooky and unsettling

Oh, and you're just exploring a liminal space with pools, swimming pools, water slides and rubber ducks, and it's a simple yet incredibly unnerving experience. Yes, you read that correctly. Rubber ducks are the only thing you'll encounter in this game, and they're enough to somehow surprise you, as you never know what's waiting for you around each corner.

You'll feel like you're constantly being watched, and each new area will leave you disoriented and lost. A sense of helplessness sets in as you turn a corner, realize that you're somehow going backwards, and moments later, when you try to traverse the maze-like area, you're right back in the same spot. Everything about this game is creepy and we absolutely love it!

cat lady

An unrivaled narrative in horror

Cat Lady takes the next spot, presenting one of the most vivid and painful stories of all time, with a heavy atmosphere that will bring you to your knees as it progresses through the tragic and troubling story of Susan Ashworth. This game isn't for the faint-hearted as it deals with incredibly sensitive and heavy topics, but it's worth playing if you like psychological stories.

Everything from the music, art, characters, and plot knocks it out of the park and makes The Cat Lady an underrated and underrated gem. It's not horror in the traditional sense, but it will leave you feeling uneasy and confused, which is really all you can ask for from a psychological horror game!

Tsugunohi

Disgusting and downright creepy

Are you a fan of Japanese horror? Then Tsugunohi might be what you are looking for. Although they're very short and largely unrelated experiences, each short story is impactful and delivers exactly what you'd expect, even if it occasionally throws in some cheap scares.

Tsugunohi's nine stories are simple yet effective, and worth jumping in if you spot the game on sale. Again, it's not too long or complicated, so it might not be worth buying at full price even if the atmosphere, theme, and overall creepy feel are really great!

layer of fear

Verified Fan Favorite

Lastly, there is Layers of Fear, which we covered earlier. Bloober Team has made titles before this, but this is the title that really put them on the map, and for good reason. Because this is one of the best psychological horror titles that will keep you hooked from start to finish. But there is one problem. Technically, you'll see the 'monster' at the end.

Look, we know we said this game doesn't reveal any monsters, but we'll leave that out because the game essentially doesn't show up until the very end, which is just as good. If you haven't played Layers of Fear yet, love solving puzzles, and suffer from psychological trauma, you should correct that mistake every chance you get!