Looking to scare yourself silly on Xbox? The good news is that there are plenty of fantastic horror games on the platform, including a bunch that reside in the Xbox Game Pass library.
Horror is quite a hard gaming genre to pinpoint, because there are so many different styles you can go for. From third-person survival horror titles to creepy 2D platformers and first-person adventures - horror certainly has you covered when it comes the gameplay department.
In this list, we're going to focus on the creepiest horror games we can think of on Xbox, while trying to include plenty of different gameplay styles. This list will focus exclusively on games that are playable on Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S - either natively or through backwards compatibility.
And if you're interested in more guides like this, don't forget that we've listed the best Xbox exclusives, best Xbox RPGs and much more elsewhere on Pure Xbox, along with absolutely everything coming to Xbox Game Pass in 2024.
So, here are some of the very best horror games on Xbox:
Alien: Isolation (Xbox One)
The Alien franchise hasn't always had the smoothest of rides when it comes to video games, but Alien: Isolation was a huge high-point for the IP on Xbox. After the widely-condemned Aliens: Colonial Marines, SEGA went back to the drawing board and drafted in Creative Assembly for a horror-focused series entry back in 2014.
And boy did the team nail the brief. Alien: Isolation is a proper horror game befitting of this famous franchise, and being stalked around the station by the game's imposing foe is still one of the most tense video game experiences we can remember. Alien fan or not, Isolation is well worth a play - even 10 years after launch!
- Xbox Game Pass: No
Amnesia: Collection (Xbox One)
Okay, so, Amnesia: Collection is technically multiple games rolled into one - but it's the only way to play Amnesia: The Dark Descent on Xbox and we just cannot leave that game off a top-horror list.
A viral sensation around release, The Dark Descent is a first-person horror game that nails just about everything you want to see in a horror game. From the game's atmospheric castle setting to its infamous 'sanity' mechanic and downright terrifying antagonist, this is one game that horror fans shouldn't skip on. Oh, and the included 'Justine' DLC and full sequel Amnesia: A Machine for Pigs are great additions to this collection as well.
Amnesia: Collection shouldn't be missed by horror fans on Xbox!
- Xbox Game Pass: Yes
Alan Wake 2 (Xbox Series X|S)
13 years after the original game's release, Alan Wake 2 brings the series back into the limelight long after many fans thought they'd never see a sequel to the cult action game. Well, we can safely say that Remedy gathered all of its learnings over the last decade-plus to deliver one of the best horror experiences of the current generation.
We didn't jive with absolutely every decision the team made here, but Alan Wake 2 is a bold, ambitious, balls-to-the-wall return for everyone's favourite New York writer - and the team deserves massive credit for how Alan Wake 2 turned out in the AAA world. If you like your horror downright weird, then this one should shoot right to the top of your list.
- Xbox Game Pass: No
Blair Witch (Xbox One)
Horror aficionados Bloober Team have dropped a bevy of solid horror games in recent years, but we reckon Blair Witch might be their best yet. The team's take on the seminal horror franchise nails the atmosphere of the original Blair Witch film, while introducing some interesting puzzle mechanics using the game's night vision camera.
Those Layers of Fear games are worth a shoutout too, but Blair Witch just feels more tense, spooky, and focusing on delivering a pure horror experience. It's fairly short as well, so you can easily wrap up a playthrough of this one in a night or two - if you can stomach it!
- Xbox Game Pass: No
Condemned: Criminal Origins (Xbox 360)
Heading back to the Xbox 360 era for a hot minute - Condemned: Criminal Origins is a bloody good horror game and somewhat surprisingly, it still holds up to this day. Featuring satisfying as all-hell melee combat and some super gory scenes, Criminal Origins is perhaps more action-oriented than what's entered this list so far.
Despite that, its now low-fi visuals add something to the horror aspect here, and we still recommend playing through this one if you fancy dipping back into the 360 library. Best of all, Condemned: Criminal Origins is fully playable on Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S through backwards compatibility. Score!
- Xbox Game Pass: No
Comments 9
@Kezelpaso You forgot Project Zero/Fatal Frame remasters: Maiden of Black Water and Mask of the Lunar Eclipse; master class in psychological horror. Nothing except the old Resident Evil and Silent Hill games come close.
The Quarry was great. Condemned was another one back in the day that scared the crap out of me. That one needs a remaster or remake.
Haha. It's probably not on here because it's an old indie game and I'm sure most people won't think it's very good.
But one of the first Xbox games I bought was White Night, and that game scared me so much I wasn't able to finish it. lol.
But yeah, I second @Banjo- the Fatal Frame games are terrifying. They deserve a mention.
Nice list of games. There’s a few that are missing, but the list is pretty good.
As an ALIEN enthusiast, I feel ashamed each time Isolation is mentioned and I haven't played yet.
Very happy to not see hellblade in here as I am kind of thinking of playing it even though I cannot handle horror games (well I played Limbo and it was fine regarding scary stuff)
@Balta666 If you're going to play Hellblade, just make sure you use headphones
@FraserG thanks for the note!
Witch and slender seriously?
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