Horror titles are no longer the niche genre they used to be, with terrors and frights now a remarkably popular medium for both films and games. Luckily for fans of fear andXbox Game Passowners, there is a downright treasure trove of horror games available on the Xbox Game Pass library.
From gritty survival experiences to jump-scare-filled co-op adventures, this collection presents a more than decent offering to players. Steeled nerves and a willingness to be terrified are the only things needed (aside from a Game Pass subscription) to dive right in.
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You don’t need to have played the firstLittle Nightmaresgame to enjoy the creepy atmosphere and suspense-riddled platforming of the second. Instead of stepping into the iconic yellow raincoat of Six, you’re now controlling the equally small, constantly in peril, and bag-wearing Mono. You have to guide him on his journey of crawling and hopping away from some of the most monstrous creatures Tarsier Studios has dreamed up.
Unlike most horror games, there aren’t many traditional jumpscares. Rather, the frail nature of our protagonist means even creaky floorboards and errant shadows at the corner of the screen will fill you with dread. And don’t get me started on that hospital mannequin “Weeping Angels” segment. My pants still don’t smell right after having soiled myself in fright.
For those of you unsure of experiencing the terror of a full-on horror game, it can be difficult to dip your toes into this pool of a genre. You might enjoy the vibes of a horror game, but you don’t want to cardiac-arrest yourself with a barrage of jumpscares and non-stop tension. If this sounds like a quandary you’ve found yourself in, thenDredgeis the low-key horror game you’ve been waiting for. In fact, many would even categorizeDredgeas a cozy game since you spend the majority of the time hauling in fish, upgrading your boat, and visiting various folk.
However, the “uneasiness” ofDredgecomes from a fantastic atmosphere of dread while traversing the seas, especially at night. Monsters from the deep can appear, unsettling events can occur, and that’s when the horror side of things comes into play. This is a phenomenal take on a horror game, especially one that delves into the Lovecrarftian, and it’s the perfect way to test the waters of your horror-game stamina. (Seriously, just don’t go fishing at night.)
Innovative indie games can work magic into otherwise stale genres and styles, and that’s exactly whatCarriondoes for the horror genre. Instead of playing as a frightened victim, players take on the role of the monster. A hulking, bloody behemoth of a creature must escape the laboratory in which it was created, consuming the hapless scientists and guards that get in its way. WhileCarriondoes not terrify gamers the way a typical horror title might, it does ensure a few cringe-worthy moments as players confront the atrocities they have to commit to win.
While not emblematic of the typical scares we see in the psychological horror titles on this list,Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobylpossesses the classic tension of survival horror. As you wander through and around the Zone, an irradiated and supernatural version of the area around Chornobyl, fear stems not from jump scares or musical cues. Instead, it’s in the struggle to survive and make it from point A to B with your health (more or less) intact.
Enemy factions and vicious animals populate the Zone, and there are also horrific mutants that soak up your bullets faster than a sponge absorbs water. This balance of completing objectives against the reality of your situation createsStalker 2’satmosphere of suspense perfectly. Plus, the odd bug or two really helps to heighten the tension.
We like to include a variety of genres when it comes to our list of the best horror games on Xbox Game Pass. We have walking simulator horror, narrative choice-driven horror, classic third-person horror; you name it, we’ve got it. Even so, this entry may surprise those unfamiliar with it.
Inscryptionis billed as a “roguelike deck-builder.” Those words don’t scream horror to the average reader/gamer. However, one look at any screenshot of the game, and it’s easy to see why we included it. The game’s atmosphere just oozes the creeps. While you’ll be playing a very engaging deck-builder, there won’t be typical jump scares. Rather, the foreboding art style, terrifying lore, and ultimate conclusion to the game will be what sends you into fear-ville. And you’ll have a great time getting there.
A major draw in a horror game is a unique and engrossing atmosphere.Dead Spacewould be less than half as scary as it is without the Ishimura, andOutlast’sfear factor would be minuscule without the halls of Mount Massive Asylum to wander around in. As with these iconic horror titles,Still Wakes the Deepfeatures monstrous enemies you need to escape from, but what makes this such a phenomenal horror experience is its environment: an oil rig out in the middle of the inhospitable North Sea.
You play as an electrician stuck on the rig after drilling goes horribly wrong one day. And this location will play an important role in the feelings of despair and claustrophobia you undergo as you try to find a way off. From climbing (and nearly drowning) in the flooded lower compartments to the near complete lack of communication with the outside world, experiencing everything this title has to offer is heightened by this isolated setting.
An oil rig on its own is a daunting place.Throw in Lovecraftian terrors, and you’ve got one heck of a recipe for horror.
As its predecessor did,Hellblade IIrattles your mind with quiet discomfort rather than inundating you with jump scares. You take control once again of Senua, a warrior who grapples with both external and internal threats. And it’s the internal threats that prove more terrifying than any foe you can swing a sword at. Senua still suffers from an intense psychosis that causes voices to whisper doubts in your mind (and in your headphones).
Nothing is more unnerving than crawling through a dark and damp tunnel, with water dripping and rocks ominously cracking, and then hearing a panicked whisper mutter about how something is moving in the shadows. And whether thereissomething lurking in the dark or if Senua’s voices’ suspicions prove inaccurate, the constant feeling of not knowing for sure is what makesHellblade IIa potent title in the horror genre.
Plus, the game’s visuals look absolutely stellar. Even if the nightmarish creatures they render do not.
Honestly, if almost anyResident Evilgame gets added to Xbox Game Pass, you can bet we’re going to add it to this list of the best horror games to play there. This time around, one of the bestREexperiences to date has made it onto the Game Pass library.Resident Evil 2’s2019 remake is a jaw-droppingly good example of how remakes should be done. You can feel the love and care that went into preserving the iconicism of the original, but the updates to the control scheme and the graphics make everything monumentally better.
Might be wild take, but I actually prefer the Dead Space remake to the Resident Evil 4 remake when it comes to which horror game I enjoyed most in 2023.
The lighting is creepily poignant, and don’t get me started on the sound design; I can’t even begin to describe how perfectly horrifying it all is. No longer is the USG Ishimura cut up into sections by loading screens and new chapters. Plus, you’re able to traverse nearly the entirety of the ship without a single interruption, barring a few locked doors, of course. TheDead Spaceremake is now the definitive way to play the game and experience the harrowing journey of one Isaac Clarke.
To be clear,Ghostwire: Tokyois not as terrifying an experience as you might have assumed after seeing its trailers. Despite covering a wide array of monsters and myths from Japanese folklore, the game itself does not reach the heights of horror that some other titles on this list do. That said, the action and creepy atmosphere packed within this game are enough to satisfy most horror fans. It’s a beautiful game in terms of visuals, and environments more than anything will be what ups the tension and draws you into those moments of perfect unease.
You play as a hapless young man who has to partner up with a spirit to uncover the mystery (and combat it) as to why Tokyo’s denizens have gone missing, leaving nothing but abandoned buildings and pieces of clothing floating in the fog. If that premise alone isn’t enough to draw you in, the satisfying combat courtesy of Tango Gameworks (the developers behindThe Evil WithinandHi-Fi Rush) should at least pique your interest.
