Summary
Horror gamesusually prove to be scary and graphic based on their titles, trailers, and the screenshots of their gameplay. On rare occasions though, there arehorror gamesdressed in sheep’s clothing. Their titles are unassuming, their trailers are suspiciously short, and their screenshots tend to look actually a little cute.
These sneaky games do their part to show that scary content often is about being unexpected. Thesehorror games are also typically indie, as being indie gives them more freedom to commit to looking one way but turning sinister the deeper the players get into the game.
Updated July 21, 2025 by Alexandra O’Leary:Horror gamesare among some of the most celebrated titles in the gaming world. Alongside frightening mechanics and graphics, horror games can provoke deep emotion with their story and sincerity, particularly when they offer something unexpected.
Certain games,often in the indie market, are purposefully not marketed as horror, to trick and surprise players. Others sport aesthetics that gamers would not associate with the horror genre. These games are phenomenal in their own right and are well worth the attention they garnered.
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12Little Inferno
Little Infernois a short puzzle-like game in which players receive a ‘Little Inferno Entertainment Fireplace,’ which is literally a fireplace where players can burn things. It appears to be a harmless game in which players burn items to gain more money to buy more items to burn. It is very achievement heavy, and allows players to burn items in combination.
However, there is a story at play inLittle Inferno.Soon, players will start receiving mysterious letters from a strange person. That, in combination with the increasingly worrying letters from the next-door neighbor, makesLittle Infernoa surprisingly intense experience that will leave players with a deep sense of foreboding.
11Eversion
Released on Steam in 2010,Eversionhides its horror very well. It presents itself as a retro side-scroller where the player must go on a mission to find the missing princess of the Flower Kingdom. The first couple of levels play along with the colorful and innocent-seeming game, but the levels and story slowly become deranged with eyeballs, monsters, and dark settings.
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The game was partly inspired by quotesfrom H.P. Lovecraftsuch as, “Sounds - possibly musical - heard in the night from other worlds or realms of being.”
10Five Nights At Freddy’s
Five Night’s At Freddy’sis an incredibly popular, successful franchise featuring eight main titles. Although most gamers will instantly recognize this series as horror, it was not immediately apparent to first-time players just how terrifying the first game would be.
Furthermore, first-time players of its most recent installmentFive Nights At Freddy’s: Security Breachmay have been caught off-guard by its horror elements, since the game begins in the bright, happy Megaplex. However, gamers familiar with the franchise would have expected no less. This series provides a dark twist on children’s animatronics, and will make players think twice next time they see someone in a bear costume.
9Dreaming Mary
RPG Maker gamesare in the top tier of creative horror, andDreaming Maryis a prime example. The RPG game came out in 2014 and is adorable-looking in every sense. Players take the role of Mary in her dream of a pink palace, cute animal friends, and fun games.
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However, the visuals, sound, and themes of the game change as more of the dream is explored. The dream basically turns into a nightmare and Mary has to figure out a way to escape.
8Inside
Insideis one of those games that is at its best when players know nothing about it. Like many on this list, going into this game blind allows players to fully experience the story, particularly because there is no dialogue and limited communication.Insideis a puzzle platformer that follows a boy who is clearly running from something.
Insidewas not marketed as a horror game, but as many players will know, it is an incredibly intense and thrilling experience. The ending has been a subject of immense speculation, and it is worth a play to experience it first-hand.
7Can Your Pet?
Can Your Pet?is not exactly a well-loved game. It is short and its twist from a cute little game about having fun with a chick to a violent mess is very sudden. On the surface, the game is quite simple. The player can dress up, play, and interact with an adorable little chick.
However, if they click on the bicycle then the twist is revealed. The bicycle turns upside down into saws and turns the chicken into processed food that goes into a can.
6Doki Doki Literature Club
Of games that look innocent but are actually horrific,Doki Doki Literature Clubis easily one of the most famous. The game is disguised as a dating simulation and plays into a lot of familiar tropes with the genre. Players take the role of a boy who joins the school literature club - and coincidentally is the only guy among four cute girls. The gameplay is mostly like a visual novel in which the player makes dialogue-based choices, but there is also poetry crafting that can win the affection of different girls.
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However, the girls are not as cheerful and pleasant deep down. The true art of this game is in the players' total unawareness of what is going to happen, so it’s best to play the game before reading about it.The game is free on Steambut one review from a player called gimp pointed out, “The game is free, but the therapy is not.”
5Wadanohara And The Great Blue Sea
Wadanohara and the Great Blue Seais similar to Dreaming Mary in that it is anRPG Maker horror title. It is a fantasy game that dives into some mature and horrific themes. The player plays as Wadanohara, a sea witch that lives in a kingdom under the sea along with her familiars and shark boyfriend.
When a good-seeming character turns out to actually be a bad guy, the sea turns red with horrific imagery and dark themes. A reebot of the game was released on 2020, updating the gameplay and adding extra content.
4Spooky’s Jump Scare Mansion
Released in 2015,Spooky’s Jump Scare Mansionis unique becomes it disguises itself as a horror game that is innocent. It is easy for players to walk into it expecting some cute campy fun. However, the deeper in the game the player gets, the less cute and far more serious the scares are.
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The goal is to explore a ton of rooms, about seven hundred of them. With each room, the scares get less cute and more bloody and insane.
3Omori
Omoriis a 2020 RPG that follows a young boy named Sunny who is trying to navigate life in the real world, as well as life in a dreamworld in which he is somebody named Omori. The game features charming artwork and a unique combat system that incorporates emotions. It was critically acclaimed upon release, and hailed as a brilliant RPG that belongs among classics likeEarthboundandUndertale.
InOmori,there’s a lot more going on that players may initially think. The storyline is dark and complex, a direct contradiction to the beautiful, happy dreamworld. Gamers who enjoy a good RPG should get their hands onOmori.
