After a brief drought of horror games, we are slowly starting to see a wave of new innovative horror games to get the adrenaline pumping again.
So, I’ve compiled a list of some of the best horror games I enjoyed playing since the beginning of 2024. While some of the games mentioned in this list also have console versions, this list is mainly dedicated to PC gamers.
Little Nightmares
Little Nightmares is one of the most unique horror games you’re going to play.
You play as Six, a young girl, who has to go through a world filled with scary, giant creatures. The game has a lot of puzzle elements and often ends up feeling like a hide-and-seek game. Most of the horror comes from the anticipation of what’s going to happen if you end up being caught.
The game has a very similar feel to games by Playdead like Limbo and Inside. The character and environment design feels grotesque in appearance and taps into the player’s childhood fears.
The game also has a sequel titled Little Nightmares II with Little Nightmares III on the horizon, so this game series is sure to keep you entertained.
The Outlast Trials
After Outlast II left most fans underwhelmed, The Outlast Trials puts a new twist on the tried-and-true formula of Outlast. In this game, you will find yourself traversing through a series of gauntlets filled with lethal obstacles to avoid and puzzles to solve.
You can play the game solo or with a group of up to 4 players. I had a lot of fun playing with some of my Spanish friends and it was hilarious hearing them scream and yell “¡Ayudadme!”, followed by a stream of unintelligible words.
I had some connectivity issues with my previous ISP, but one of my friends suggested switching to Cox en Español, which significantly improved my multiplayer experience.
Although multiplayer horror games often end up feeling less scary, The Outlast Trials ramps up the tension by splitting you from your group often.
Phasmophobia
Speaking of multiplayer horror games, this list would feel rather empty without the mention of Phasmophobia.
In this ghost-hunting indie game, your group of paranormal investigators go into various locations to seek out the ghosts lurking there. If you’re feeling brave, you can also play the game solo, which is something I don’t recommend, especially if you’re playing the VR version.
Although the game is still in early access, this game is extremely fun to play, especially if you have a group of friends willing to get scared with you. If you play it, I recommend using the in-game proximity chat to talk, as it is one of the best voice chat systems I’ve used yet.
Right now, the game doesn’t have a great leveling system but we expect to see this change as Phasmophobia receives regular updates.
Sons of the Forest
Sons of the Forest is a sequel to the 2014 cult classic The Forest.
After a helicopter crash, you find yourself on an island with little to no resources. While you look for ways to keep yourself alive, you’re going to find that there is a little problem with the island you’re on: it’s infested with mutated cannibals trying to hunt you down.
The survival horror simulator keeps you on your toes which makes it one of the best horror games to play in 2024. I recommend playing The Forest first, since the game is already feature-complete, and the story of Sons of the Forest makes a lot of sense if you’ve played the first game.
The game also has co-op support so you can try to survive the horrors of the island with a few other friends as well.
The Mortuary Assistant
This game has a premise that terrifies me before I can even think of playing the game. You play as a (surprise) mortuary assistant, who is tasked with doing various tasks at the morgue.
The Mortuary Assistant features sequences where you’re embalming bodies, which is NOT something you should play if you’re squeamish. Not only that, you will often see an entity staring at you at the corner of your eye, which is more than enough to make you paranoid at every corner.
The game doesn’t have a lot of jump scares but it makes you paranoid to the point where you’re jumping at every small noise. If you play this game alone with the lights off, you’re guaranteed to have one of the scariest gaming experiences of your life.
The game doesn’t overstay its welcome either. It’s a bite-sized game that you can finish in less than six hours. The Mortuary Assistant also has extra modes with additional endings which drastically increase its replay value.
Wrapping Up
In 2024, I found myself playing a lot of co-op horror games than I like to admit. There is a huge list of horror games you can find if you head over to Steam. So, do you have any other games you would like to suggest?
Feel free to leave them in the comments below.
