With our calendars officially flipping to October, we can start to get excited for the spookiest season. To prepare for flickering jack o’lanterns and prowling black cats, fellow gamers can turn to paranormal games that are terrifying yet addictive. From ghastly ghosts scaring the daylights out of you to suspenseful missions that’ll have you on the edge of your seat, paranormal games are the best way to jumpstart your Halloween experience.
There are so many paranormal games to choose from, so how do you know which one rises above the rest? Here are twenty-five of the best paranormal games to satisfy your ghoulish cravings.
25. The Rewinder - 2020 (PC, Nintendo Switch, XBO)
Help dead souls find rebirth and return to the living world!
Misty Mountain Studio has developed an adventure puzzle game based on Chinese mythology and folklore. Like Oxenfree, this is a two-dimensional (2D) game that has you playing as the last known Rewinder, someone who has the ability to communicate with spirits and explore their memories to alter their past.
The graphics are incredible in this point-and-click game; there’s stunning artwork that sticks to its cultural roots with light, deliberate brushstrokes and, when combined with the gentle, momentous background music, creates an atmosphere saturated in culture. The deliberate shadow work intensifies the eerie undertones of the scene and works to build suspense.
It’s incredibly important to note that this game is more than just basic puzzles and involves a lot of movement and searching. There’s even a crafting mechanism that requires you to gather materials at one point in the game, so head into this game with high expectations to be entertained!
24. Last Days of Lazarus - 2022 (PC, XBO/X/S, Nintendo Switch, PS5)
This game will make your family issues seem like a walk in the park.
For unknown reasons, Lazarus’ mother has committed suicide, and he cannot attend the funeral. Lazarus finally returns home after her death, and a series of unexpected events occur, leading him to wonder what the circumstances were surrounding his mother’s death. Supernatural hallucinations jostle Lazarus’ reality and make him question the truth.
This game was co-developed by GrimTalin and Darkania Works. It is set in Romania and every aspect is layered in mystery. Suspicions even rouse at the mention of Lazarus’ background. What work did he have to tend to that was so important he couldn’t attend his mother’s funeral? You’ll wonder about your character’s identity and slowly uncover Lazarus’ true self.
Some “almost” jumpscares are just as scary as real ones, like the strange, gory being appearing and vanishing into thin air. It helps to build suspense but makes you wonder about the story’s direction. Religious imagery with beautiful details submerges you in this virtual world. There is so much stuff everywhere that it can be a little overwhelming. Take a look around the house and the story will begin to build itself!
23. The Horror of Salazar House - 2020 (PC)
Enter this retro gameplay to investigate the sinister happenings at Salazar House!
Developed by Ignacio Maldonado and published by Torture Star Video, The Horror of Salazar House permits you to play as Elisa, a reporter examining the disappearances of renowned author Jaime Salazar and his family, and explore a haunted mansion in search of clues to reveal the Salazar family’s fate.
This point and click game has multiple endings, and the graphics give this game a new, uncontested look. Your health, map, and item inventory are listed right on the screen with a really simple, pixelated look; it really reminds me of sitting on those uncomfortable stools in an old-school arcade. Nostalgia is a big factor here!
This game does a great job of building suspense. There are definitely a few creepy depictions, and they start well before you even enter the mansion. These gory scenes help build apprehension about opening the gate to the mansion. Upon entry, there are plenty of hiding spots available, and this gives the reader anxiety; what will you be hiding from?
22. Nightmare Frames - 2022 (PC)
Are you a horror film fanatic? This might be the game for you.
In this investigative thriller, you’ll play as Alan Goldberg, a struggling horror movie screenwriter. Set in Hollywood in 1985, Goldberg is lacking creative inspiration and is losing all hope of a successful career. Then, billionaire Helen Westmore vows to grant him his every desire if he can locate accredited director Edward Keller’s dying work, left unpublished to the public. It’s said to be his scariest yet.
In search of the missing film, play your way through film production companies, VFX workshops, unsettling religious cults, and a haunted town with frightening roots tied to Keller’s final sighting. This point and click game pays homage to 80’s slasher films and culture, and relies on puzzles for gameplay progression.
What’s interesting is how much detail is packed into the gameplay. There are more than eighty explorable locations and fifty characters to meet, so the fun can last you all throughout the holiday season. Even better, the story gets darker the deeper you get, so the suspense can build as Halloween gets closer.
21. Casuality - 2021 (PC)
Did you love tag as a child? Well, this game takes it to a different level.
Developer WAFFLE GAMES has taken a beloved childhood game and given it a horrifying makeover. In this game, you have to rescue three students stuck in a haunted school. In the process, you’ll uncover horrifying secrets about the school’s origins that’ll make your stomach twist with apprehension.
You’ll spend this third-person game plagued by a Poltergeist that interferes with your internal thoughts and scrambles the blueprints of the school. Endure the changes it inflicts upon you to find your way to the three students and escape the school. Additionally, traps and puzzles are around each corner, so this won’t be an easy task.
This game really personifies the school in a diverse way. It’s almost as if the school itself is a villainous entity, fueling the demonic beings that prowl the hallways. Each enemy you encounter will have different killing strategies and behavior patterns to learn, so the evil in this school really does come alive at every chance it gets.
20. Haunt Chaser - 2021 (PC)
Fun with friends has never been so scary.
This is a 4-player co-op horror game developed by Clock Wizard Games (also eligible for solo play). There is also a 4v1 party mode that allows someone to take control of a paranormal entity and terrorize the others. You’ll start with Season One: Orphanage, and the developer will continue to release more themed seasons for free with new content.
In Season One: Orphanage, you need to use ghost hunting equipment to free the spirits of tormented children and banish the evil spirit haunting the rest of the village. You must evade scary ghosts that pop out at any given sound you make while successfully completing quests.
This RPG has an interesting take on life cycles; you’re allowed a certain number of revives that vary by difficulty. If you die, you go to purgatory and can watch your friends as they play and try to revive you. However, once you run out of revives, you’ll be stuck in purgatory, so tread lightly!
19. Devil Inside Us: Roots of Evil - 2021 (PC, XBO, PS4/5, Nintendo Switch)
Do you dare take this demon on as a seventy-four year-old priest?
In this game, you’ll be a priest helping a family rid their house of the haunting demonic spirits. With your medium abilities, you’ll rely on your visions to take you on strange adventures and guide you through the game, so explore them to exorcize the demons plaguing the family. When you find cursed objects or stumble upon demons, pull out your crucifix to expel the evil being from your presence.
Look for notes scattered around the house to gain more information about the family’s background and the house itself. While an understanding can easily be earned through simple gameplay, story cohesion is better if you search for the notes. Loud sounds compliment the eerie silence of the home and pair well with unforeseen jumpscares.
This game has a catch. You will be seventy-four years old and have limited mobility. Beware of how slowly you move; you can only run for a few seconds before you start panting and your vision quality decreases, signaling poor health. This really adds to the dread of the game since you have to slowly move around the house and you feel particularly vulnerable.
18. Horror Story: Hallowseed - 2021 (PC)
Face the horror that lurks beyond the trees during this hellish camping trip.
Camping should be a fun experience, but it’s anything but that for Michael and his two friends. Playing as Michael, you’ll notice things go awry in the middle of the night while telling scary stories around the campfire. You wake up alone in an unknown area, so go back to the campsite and find out what happened to your friends.
As you progress through the game, you’ll notice heavy religious imagery as you stroll through the woods. There are altars with stacks of bones and wooden crosses erected in the soil, leading you to believe there are some rituals taking place. These religious undertones are really scary because there’s a notion that you’re interfering with something more powerful and divine.
This game really reminds me of Outlast 2 and Amnesia. From the wooden buildings shrouded in overgrown brush to the unsettling religious imagery, this game is as dark and dreary as its counterparts. Similarly to the other games, everything looks super dry and like nothing has been alive in quite some time. It seems that death pervades this area, so explore cautiously!
17. DreadOut - 2014 (PC, MacOS)
Talk about an eventual school trip.
A group of high school students jet off on an average school field trip and stumble upon a dilapidated, abandoned town that hasn’t seen life in many years. They decide to take a casual stroll through the area, but it turns sinister quickly when the structures expose their dark secrets to the unassuming visitors.
You’ll be playing as Linda, one of the students on the field trip. You’ll have a smartphone and an SLR camera, and you’re expected to combat the evil beings in the town while solving puzzles that will affect your future. In the midst of it all, you’ll witness Linda deal with her mounting dread and experience unpredicted powers stirring within her that may save her life.
This game can be switched from first person to third person; it’s a quirk that not many games have, so it’s worth noting. You can alternate based on your preference and, at times, it may even be beneficial to reach an objective using one perspective versus another.
16. Hide Alone - 2022 (PC)
Hide and seek, anyone?
Hide Alone is a first-person survival horror game that requires you to play a dangerous game of hide and seek with a creepy doll. This game was created by independent developer Sangwoon Jin andbegins in a desolate home with a doll clothed in a blood-red suit. Follow the hide and seek guide and prep the house for the game. You’re being timed, so be quick before death greets you!
The game throws you right into the scene without any warning. It makes you really fearful from the start because you get to observe the strange pentagram drawn onto the floor in red and the strategically placed candles around the doll in the center. Sometimes, knowing how scary something will be before it happens builds suspense.
This is intended to be a quick game, but will satisfy your craving to be scared this Halloween season. You may have to repeat it a few times because time is of the essence and there’s no way to keep track of how much time has passed. It’s harder than you think, so prepare yourself for the dread that comes with the unexpected.
15. Witch Hunt - 2018 (PC)
Dive into the open world of horrors and live your worst nightmare.
Independent video game developer, Andrii Vintsevych, created this survival, open world RPG set in the 18th century, Witch Hunt. As a horror-themed hunting game with a heavy focus on non-linearity and unearthly atmosphere, you’ll play as a witch hunter with free roam over a virtual world.
Your task is to eliminate the evil demons in the woods, and these epic fights can be classified as boss battles. Each boss battle is different and requires a unique approach, so this game offers a lot of fun versatility. You’ll have to track down these demons, and most of your time will be spent investigating where they were last seen.
This game requires patience, just like real hunting. You have to rely on the financial and skill systems to progress in the game and unlock certain features (ex: Fast Travel), and an accumulation of needed materials and skills takes time. You may find the game frustrating if you’re looking for something fast-paced.
14. HellSign - 2021 (PC)
Defend the human world from the unearthly creatures threatening to enter this realm.
Play as a Hunter, a defender of humanity and slayer of otherworldly beings. Navigate your virtual surroundings to learn about what you’re hunting and how to kill it. You’re equipped with lethal weapons to eliminate enemies andtasked with strategically executing a slew of monsters, including ghouls, ghosts, and other creepers.
When you begin the game, you will be a beginner hunter. You’ll have a rusty gun and a wavering torch, and you must complete quests to gain experience. Think of this as a training period that will require some patience; you’ll need to collect weaponry and become an elite hunter through a job system that takes time to sift through.
This game is story-driven but also offers a free-roaming aspect. How you choose to hunt the monsters is up to you; be stealthy and learn their weaknesses to use against them, or simply barge into the scene and start firing. There is no right or wrong way to play; just have fun!
13. Murdered: Soul Suspect - 2014 (PC, PS3/4, XBO/360)
Could you solve your own murder? Try doing it by playing this game.
Murdered: Soul Suspect is a supernatural thriller that follows troubled detective Ronan O’Connor. With a restless past to boot, he gets caught in a violent burglary and is brutally murdered. He wakes in the afterlife and is tasked with discovering his killer’s identity to escape the limbo realm he’s trapped in. Fight against the demonic spirits after you and survive to see the next life.
Ronan’s killer must be brought to justice with the aid of his newfound supernatural abilities and his natural instincts as a human detective. You’ll explore the New England town, Salem, and all its rustic charms, like narrow streets adorned with gothic churches and colonial-style homes.
As mentioned above, you develop special skills to help you achieve your goal. These skills include: reading minds, influencing thoughts, teleporting through walls, etc. You’ll have the ability to unleash new information by interrogating the dead and by completing side quests for the citizens of Salem. Since Salem is the birthplace of the infamous Witch Trials, this game is perfect to prepare for Halloween!
12. Mists of Aiden - 2020 (PC)
Be a thief this Halloween and steal a prized jewel from a haunted mansion.
Mists of Aiden (formerly House on the Hill) is a first-person horror game, and you’ll be playing as a struggling thief stealing a rare jewel from a mansion. But things prove to be much more difficult than that when the house won’t let you leave and drags you into nightmares after each attempt to leave. As a non-linear walkthrough, this game has five different nightmares and allows free exploration of the home to feel submerged in the gameplay.
You’ll talk to your partner, Conrad, in the beginning, but you’ll be totally alone in the house. The graphics are super dark and your vision is impaired in many areas, which makes you feel uneasy. Your flashlight will flicker randomly and lead to an anticipatory feeling that a jumpscare will happen soon. You’ll hear phantom voices without seeing anyone; they’ll rant about senseless things to ramp up your anxiety.
This game is really cool because it gives you the ability to choose to go back in. You can be brave and take on all five nightmares in one go, or split them up over the holiday season. Either way, it’ll keep you coming back for more of the interesting puzzles and thrilling jumpscares.
11. The Hotel - 2022 (PC)
Experience total isolation as you meander about this horrifying hotel.
In this first-person psychological thriller, you’ll play as an unknown protagonist waking up in a desolate, creepy hotel. You know nothing other than that, so navigate around the hotel to determine what evil keeps you there and avoid death. Your mental health really matters in this game. Becareful to avoid insanity and increased stress levels; they can lead to permanent death.
Your phone contains information about the game, and the messages are spoken in first person; someone is giving you commands, but you don’t know who, and this is really unnerving. Listen in on unsettling phone calls with cryptic messages, but trying to make a phone call will result in failure. You’re completely cut off from the entire world.
This game has a unique set of rules. Every time you fail, the evil being in the hotel will grow stronger and death will be more likely. The hotel is always changing, so any time you move or perform an action, you may return to the screen and see a new path that wasn't there before, or the door you walked through on the other side of the room.
10. Phantom Project - 2021 (PC)
Are the floorboards creaking from the wind, or is someone following you?
In this game, you’ll be playing as an unknown female child who is seemingly snatched from a random hallway and placed somewhere unfamiliar. You must navigate through her surroundings and unravel the mysteries around you. Other than that, you have no other information about what could possibly be lingering in the long, dark hallways or behind every closed door.
Shadow work is this game’s best friend. The first scene is cloaked in darkness and relies on the moon for lighting; it shines into big picture windows and casts a creepy glow on opening doors, a long hallway with old-fashioned tile, & our unknown narrator laying alone at the end of it. Coupled with an ominous soundtrack, the game starts off really strong and captures your attention with its light manipulation and strange plot beginning.
The best part about this game is that you are literally dropped into it with no knowledge of where you are, who you are, or what your situation is. Your lack of knowledge makes the game scarier, and the sound manipulation is so top-notch in unison with this. The sounds have you on edge; from her tiny gasps of fear to her panting as she runs, this game makes excellent use of sound. Play this game with a headset on, and you won’t regret it!
9. Fear Therapy - 2021 (PC, PS5, XBO)
Get your holy water ready. Satan isn’t messing around in this game!
Black Flag 1312’s Fear Therapy is a multi-mode horror survival game that uses holy water as a weapon against evil demons. Complete quests with your friends or by yourself to collect ritualistic items to banish the demons and escape the haunted house. With up to four other players allowed, this horrifying game uses sound manipulation to keep you on the edge of your seat and fearfully looking over your shoulder.
The intense musical crescendo to build suspense and the loud, echoing footsteps emphasize the silence in the house, and the creaking doors and floorboards make it seem like you’re not alone. If you’re wearing headphones, be prepared for booming thunder that is incredibly effective in getting your fight or flight response ready.
This game offers three different modes: single, cooperative/multiplayer, and Satan. Choose to play solo, explore with your friends as a team, or allow one player to play as Satan and use eight special skills on your opponents. Regardless, the game will begin with an ominous message that you cannot turn back once you’ve entered the house. Do you dare take the risk?
8. Phasmophobia - 2020 (PC)
Forget trick or treating. Play this game with your friends instead!
Developed by Kinetic Games, Phasmophobia is a multiplayer ghost hunting game that wastes no time throwing you right into the fun. Without any introduction, the game will begin in your ghost hunting van; pay close attention to the objectives written on the board! That information will guide you and your friends through the haunted house.
And this game really is realistic. As you freely roam around the house, each player’s audio will sound different based on where they are. If your friend is across the house, you’ll hear his or her distant, muffled voice, which will become clearer as you get closer. The flashlight doesn’t illuminate an entire room, either; you have to be close to things to really see them.
This game is essentially like an interactive episode of Ghost Adventures, with all the thrill and exhilaration that comes with it. There’s no strategic way to play the game, but be prepared for crazy plot twists and unexpected jump scares. Stick together as a team and brave the danger that awaits you, or go off on your own and gamble with your life.
7. The Mortuary Assistant - 2022 (PC)
Ever wonder what it’s like to work at a morgue? Wonder no more.
The Mortuary Assistant is an indie RPG created by DarkStone Digital, a solo game developer. As a first-person game, you’ll play as Rebecca, a novice mortuary assistant working the night shift, and uncover the morgue’s forbidden secrets. With simple objectives to banish the demons lurking behind every corner, you have to rely on your boss’s cassette tapes to guide you through this scary game.
The best part about this game is how realistic it is. One would expect the jumpscares to consist of frightening apparitions popping out of the blue, but some are simple like invisible shoves. The apprehension that something you cannot see wants to harm you mimics our real fear of the paranormal.
You should play this game if you love suspense. This game does a great job at building intensity, and you’ll be able to hear rain pounding on the windows, booming thunder from overhead, and the floorboards eerily creaking with each step. Other than Rebecca’s self-dialogue and the smarling demons after her, you are totally isolated in the morgue, and knowing that ramps up the intensity.
6. At Dead of Night - 2020 (PC)
If you’re not creeped out by hotels, you will be after this game.
Baggy Cat Limited has done something extraordinary with this point and click game. It’s a horror film and haunting gameplay seamlessly blended into one terrifying experience. Control the movie you’re watching and play as Maya, a student being hunted down by psychotic hotel owner Jimmy Hall. Trapped in the hotel’s confines, this game is a modernized blast from the past!
This game incorporates some ghost hunting; upon seeing how dangerous Jimmy is firsthand, Maya overhears a ghost and spirit receiver telling her to find out what he has done. However, are all of these ghosts harboring good intentions? When playing this game, you’ll have the stress of finding ghosts and evading Jimmy.
The film aspect of this game allows you to see what the protagonist cannot see, like Jimmy’s psycho meltdown upon Maya’s arrival. This makes this experience all the more chilling because you know you’re in trouble, but can do nothing to stop it. The point and click aspect also restricts your line of sight for the best jump scares. You never know what lies beyond a click!
5. Alan Wake (Remastered) - 2021 (PC, PS4/5, XBO, Nintendo Switch)
A classic has been remastered, but is it as good as the original?
Remedy Entertainment released Alan Wake in 2010, and it was a huge success; it became a horror fan favorite for many avid gamers. It has recently been remastered to attract new fans and allow old fans to revisit their favorite game with new and improved graphics and story expansion.
This third-person psychological thriller follows an infamous writer, Alan Wake, and his journey to discover the truth about his wife's disappearance. As his search begins and a supernatural being threatens his life, he realizes he is being haunted by his latest novel that he can’t remember writing. Peel back the layers of mystery concealing his wife’s disappearance while warding off creations of Alan’s own mind.
This game really reminds me of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein. Like Frankenstein, Wake is the creator of his own demise at the hands of his creation, Hemust deal with figments of his imagination torturing him throughout the game. With enemies cloaked in peculiar darkness, he has no choice but to destroy what he has worked hard to construct.
4. Oxenfree - 2016 (PC, PS4/5, XBO, Nintendo Switch)
Scared by unexplained leaps in time and sourceless, terrifying noises? Look no further.
Alex and Jonas are new step-siblings looking for an adventure to bring them closer together as a family. They decide to go to an overnight party on a former military island with their friends and expect the night to be filled with laughter and fun. However, they accidentally unveil a ghostly rift and must figure out a way to undo their mistake.
As daredevil Alex, you have the ability to choose your dialogue using very simple controls. When someone likes what you say, an icon of Alex’s face will appear in thought bubbles above the character’s head, and you can work on building relationships with other characters while evading scary ghosts. This is a really enjoyable and immersive aspect of the game.
This indie, graphic adventure game was developed by Night School Studio and is two-dimensional (2D). It has a different look than any other game on this list, but the winding paths and complicated routes to destinations make it very engaging. It has a traditional layout of many older games, like Terraria, released in 2011, with trivia and puzzle games.
3. The Vanishing of Ethan Carter - 2014 (PC, PS4, XBO, Nintendo Switch)
The Vanishing of Ethan Carter is just that: the mysterious disappearance of a small boy.
With its priority being exploration and discovery, this first-person game is entirely story-driven. Playing as detective Paul Prospero, you’ll investigate the concerning contents of a letter from Ethan Carter, a boy in grave danger. Upon arrival at Ethan’s home, you’ll find a grisly murder scene, one of many in the town. Who’s behind the bloody slayings, and where is Ethan?
With the evolution of storytelling in mind, this game aims to build suspense through mysterious atmosphere and spooky sounds. This game is not puzzle-driven, but you will have to use Paul's supernatural ability to communicate with the dead to solve the murder mystery and the missing case of Ethan Carter.
This game has a few scary jumpscares but doesn’t rely on them to produce a nervous feeling in your stomach. The game is less about sudden terror and more about the pure uneasiness associated with uncertainty. You can explore the town and investigate the murder cases at your own pace, but your curiosity will only grow and you won’t be able to resist playing.
2. The Bridge Curse: Road to Salvation - 2022 (PC)
Learn about ancient Tawainese culture in this revolutionary first-person RPG.
Play as HsinChiao Chao, a young female undergoing Kimodameshi, a test of courage. You must explore TungHu University to prove your bravery to your friends, but the ghost of a heartbroken student haunts the bridge on campus. Confront the rumored ghost at its origin and do everything you can to survive.
The Tawainese developer, SOFTSTAR, has adapted this game from a horror film available on Netflix, and the game’s graphics look as great as the real depictions. From the writing on bathroom stall doors to winding campus pathways, this game is highly detailed and sends you diving into a new virtual reality.
This game is different from any other on this list because it has really interesting cultural information with a detailed overview of the Kimodameshi tradition. The game provides just the right amount of information for the average player to understand the game on a deeper, cultural level.
1. Detention - 2017 (PC, MacOS, Android, Nintendo Switch, PS4)
High school drama has never been so deadly.
Located in a remote location surrounded by mountains, Greenwood High School students are imprisoned by dark presences lurking on their campus and looking to cause them harm. Without any information under their belts, they must wander the campus and confront the creatures. With puzzles and interactive objects that unlock objectives, discover a path to safety from this haunted high school.
This game is set in 1960s Taiwan under martial law and works hard to incorporate various Asian elements, like Chinese mythology and Buddhism. There are so many cultural references throughout the gameplay, so there’s ample opportunity to learn something new every time you play. It’s a remarkable addition to an already great plot.
This game is really outstanding because it’s entirely two-dimensional. It’s a classic point and click style and is classified as a horror side-scroller. However, the graphics are so incredibly realistic that this works in favor of the gameplay; you’ll feel like you’re fully immersed in the game and that the campus is at your fingertips.
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