Here is some of the best spooky games of 2020!
The year 2020 was a rough year all around, but at least we were able to play a few good indie horror games to get us through. Below I have compiled a list of the top 15 indie horror games of 2020.
15. Samsara Room (Android, iOS, PC)
Samasara Room trailer.
Samsara Room is all the fun of being in an escape room without physically going to one, which is great if you’re a germaphobe like me. This is a point-and-click game that can be completed in about an hour, it's also free. Who doesn’t like free games? In Samsara Room, your goal is to find a way out by solving a series of puzzles. Some of these puzzles require the player character to transform into a fish, a worm, a bird, and of course a human.
At first glance, this doesn’t look like a horror game, it actually looks more cute than scary but, trust me when I say it’s unsettling. The music is what really makes the player feel alone and it creates an eerie atmosphere. Not to mention a few of the puzzles, like crawling into the mouth of a dead man, can definitely leave some people feeling uncomfortable.
14. Someday You’ll Return (PC, PS4, Xbox One)
Someday You'll Return trailer.
Someday You’ll Return is a first-person horror game where you take the role of Daniel, a man who is searching for his missing daughter, Stela. Now, this isn’t the first time Stela has run away, but instead of consulting a family therapist and getting to the root of all this family drama, Daniel chooses to ignore any issues and simply go find his daughter every time she runs off.
Someday You’ll Return contains no combat but just because it doesn’t have any fighting mechanics doesn’t mean it can’t be scary in its own way. Walking alone in the woods as well as navigating through dark tunnels and mazes can really induce feelings of claustrophobia in some people.
13. Pylons (PC)
Pylons gameplay.
Pylons is a cute, pixelated horror game released on October 22, 2020, by T.W. Burgess. It’s a short and fun game with the single goal of not getting killed by a pylon. Throughout this game, you’ll have to make choices that may or may not result in your character dying. Do your best to survive and make it to the end.
12. No One Lives Under the Lighthouse (PC)
No One Lives Under the Lighthouse trailer.
In No One Lives Under the Lighthouse you are called to be a replacement lighthouse keeper. What happened to the keeper that you’re replacing? Well. He disappeared and no one knows where he went off to. This mystery doesn’t seem to bother the player character at all, and they are intent on maintaining this lighthouse. I always love it when horror games start off pretending to be a simulator before they break off and the real scares begin.
No One Lives Under the Lighthouse may be a slow burn type of horror story, but once that flame ignites, it really does shine. You’ll have to uncover the mysteries of the island and the lighthouse, as well as its past inhabitants. This game contains 3 endings, each of which is lovely in their own way.
11. The Convenience Store (PC)
The Convenience Store trailer.
The Convenience Store is a psychological J-horror game by Chilla’s Art. Even though this game is short and can be completed in less than an hour the experience is one you won’t soon forget.
You play as a young woman who works the night shift at a convenience store. Now, being a woman and working at night in a small convenience store is anxiety-inducing enough, but this game adds to that panic. At first, this game plays out like a convenience store simulator because you’ll have to complete regular tasks, such as restocking items and clearing out expired foods. I love that these little assignments have been given to the player, it really adds to the immersive nature of the game.
However, such simplicity doesn’t last long. As each in-game day passes and you meet more customers and people, you’ll begin to uncover the haunting past of the convenience store. This game has two endings, so be sure to uncover both of them to learn the full story.
10. The Horror of Salazar House/The Enigma of Salazar House (PC, Linex)
The Horror of Salazar House gameplay.
The Horror of Salazar House also called The Enigma of Salazar House is a point and click Italian inspired horror game that uses 1-bit style graphics and includes 8 endings. You are also given the option of choosing what color you’d like the graphics to be, gray, green, red, blue, are just a few of the choices. I find this little detail to be a great addition, especially for your eyes. Get tired of one color? Well, all you have to do is change it.
In this game, you take the role of a young reporter by the name of Elisa who has been sent to investigate the Salazar home. Jaime Salazar was an author who went missing, along with his family. As you explore the home you’ll find yourself being stalked and possibly killed if you aren’t fast enough to getaway. The feeling of constantly being on the lookout for the stalker can really increase your anxiety and it induces feelings of paranoia. The Horror of Salazar House shows that a game doesn’t need to have hyper-realistic graphics to be terrifying.
9. Fatum Betula (PC, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One)
Fatum Betula release trailer.
Fatum Betula is a surreal horror game that uses PS1 graphics, this game is a mixture of a fever dream and a bad nitrous oxide trip.
This is a really short game, so I can’t say too much about it without spilling some spoilers. In this game, you are in a location that does not have a past, but by watering a birch tree you can change the future of this place. Fatum Betula is Latin for fate birch because it is the birch tree and the player character that will decide what unfolds in the future. Depending on what substance you use to feed the tree will determine which of the 10 endings you may receive.
8. Carrion (PC, PS4, Linux, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch)
Carrion offical gameplay trailer.
Have you ever wanted to take the role of the monster in a horror game? Who doesn’t enjoy the sounds of human bones crunching and muscles squishing? In my opinion, we don’t have enough games out there where you get to connect with your inner monster and become the nightmare of those around you.
Carrion is a reverse horror game where you take on the role of a squishy scarlet red tentacle monster on a rampage. It’s your job to kill humans and destroy everything around you so that you may escape the facility and spread your terror further. If you’re looking for a fun and engaging game, you need to give this one a try.
7. Murder House (PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch)
Murder House full trailer.
Murder House is a survival horror game that uses PS1-style graphics. There is just something so wonderful and enduring about these kinds of graphics in horror games, don’t you think?
This game is divided into two parts. In the prologue, you play a young boy named Justin with the signature stylish mullet of the 80s. The 80s may have been a flashy time for fashion, but not for technology, and since Justin doesn’t have a cell phone he isn’t able to call his parents or the police and tell them he fell asleep in the mall and is trapped. You’ll have to guide Justin on a frightful journey throughout the empty mall -- oh wait, did I say empty? Well, it’s not empty, this poor boy is being chased by a killer in an Easter Bunny suit.
In the second part of the game, you take the role of Emma, a young intern for a local news company. The news crew is working on a story about a child killer called the Easter Ripper, and they decide to record from his “abandoned” home. Rumor is, the Easter Ripper is haunting his old home. The crew soon learns that those rumors might actually be true. You’ll have to take Emma on a gruesome Egg Hunt that will end horribly if she doesn’t complete it. Interns really do have it the worst sometimes, don’t they?
6. World of Horror (PC, Nintendo Switch, PS4)
World of Horror early access release trailer.
If you’re a fan of Junji Ito and Lovecraft, then this is a game for you. World of Horror uses 1-bit graphics created entirely on MS Paint, this is another game that proves you don’t need all the high resolution and hyper-realistic monsters to incite a good scare.
In this game, you’ll have to investigate the strange and paranormal events happening in the town of Shiokawa, Japan which are believed to be caused by the Old Gods. As you try and solve each case, you’ll have to battle enemies in a turn-based style of combat to survive.
There are a total of 11 playable characters that you can pick from, however, you only begin the game with a choice of 5. The other 6 characters can become unlocked after achieving certain tasks as the other characters. Everything in this game is randomized, which makes it perfect for multiple playthroughs without getting bored with the experience.
5. Phasmophobia (PC)
Phasmophobia offical annoucement trailer.
If you’re a fan of paranormal investigations but don’t have the means to go on one, this game is perfect for you.
In Phasmophobia, you and three of your friends can take the roles of paranormal investigators and explore haunted locations. You’re given the choice of working in the van to monitor the cameras and screens or physically investigating each location. Not only is this game spooky, but it’s fun as well.
4. Paranormal HK (PC, PS4)
Paranormal HK trailer.
Paranormal HK is a mix of Murder House, because you work as a member of a news agency and Phasmophobia because you are investigating the paranormal. This game is full of creepy creatures and perfectly timed jumpscares that will keep you on edge the entire time.
In this game, you are a member of an online supernatural investigation crew by the name of, “Beyond the Invisible.” They are on assignment and everything seems to be going well, that is until a crew member by the name of Kathy becomes possessed. However, even after you give her an exorcism she continues to act strangely. You’ll have to work through puzzles and other obstacles to try and save Kathy and figure out the reason behind her strange behavior.
3. Golden Light (PC)
Golden Light demo gameplay trailer.
Golden Light is a grotesque comedy-horror game where your main objective is to rescue your lovely lady. On your way to saving her, you’ll encounter hideous, flesh-like monsters each with unique and enduring designs.
In this game, you explore a randomized world known as The Gut, which is alive by the way. Now, despite The Gut being both the setting and the antagonist, you might think it would be a good idea to shoot and attack everything, right? Wrong. The more of a pest you are to The Gut, the more difficult the environment will become for you. Yes, sometimes you are going to need to attack enemies, just be mindful of your consequences.
2. Amnesia: Rebirth (PC, PS4, Linux)
Amnesia: Rebirth release date reveal trailer.
Amnesia: Rebirth is a survival horror game and is the sequel to Amnesia: The Dark Descent. In this game, the player character is a female French archaeologist called Tasi, who was involved in a plane crash on her way to an expedition, and to make things worse, her memories are gone as well. She ventures out into the Algerian desert to find her missing husband and companions. This game includes a fear meter that increases if Tasi stands in the dark for too long, is caught by monsters, or witnesses horrific events. Make sure to keep that fear level to a minimum, if it’s too high you can be sniffed out by ghouls, which won't end well if you’re caught.
1. Visage (PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S)
Visage release gameplay trailer.
Visage is a first-person, psychological horror game that doesn’t have a combat system and it doesn’t need one to be frightening. In this game, you take the role of a man named Dwayne Anderson who killed his wife and children before killing himself. As you guide Dwayne throughout his home, you’ll begin to uncover mysteries about its previous inhabitants and what their connection to each other and Dwayne is.
Be sure to keep an eye on Dwayne’s sanity level, if it drops too low you’ll begin to experience more paranormal activity, such as doors closing and lights flickering. The sanity mechanic is an excellent feature of this game because it gives the player an understanding of Dwayne’s mental state and how it affects the world around him. This game is truly horrifying, with wonderful graphics, gameplay, and story.
