Best horror games to play this Halloween: 7 frights for 2026

Halloween is the one time of year when everyone – even the friend who “doesn’t do scary” – wants to be frightened. Whether you want a slow psychological creep on your own with the lights off or a screaming co-op session with friends, there’s a horror game for it. Dates below are worldwide unless noted.

Brand new this autumn

Silent Hill: Townfall

Out since 24 September 2026 on PS5 and PC (Steam and Epic). A first-person psychological horror and the latest step in Konami’s Silent Hill revival. If you want the big-name scare of the season, this is it.

Clive Barker’s Hellraiser: Revival

Released on 8 October 2026 on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Switch 2 and PC. A single-player, first-person action-horror game with Doug Bradley voicing Pinhead and the puzzle box as your weapon. Saber says a playthrough takes around 8–12 hours – a perfect Halloween weekend. Strictly for adults: it’s full of gore and mature content.

The recent heavyweights

Resident Evil Requiem

Capcom’s latest launched on 27 February 2026 on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC and Switch 2. If you skipped it at launch, Halloween is the right time to catch up.

Silent Hill f

The 2025 entry, set in 1960s Japan, is on PS5, Xbox Series X|S and PC. Beautiful, unsettling and very different from the foggy American towns of the older games.

Scary with a friend

Little Nightmares III

Out since October 2025 on PlayStation, Xbox, PC, Switch and Switch 2. It’s the first in the series with two-player co-op – online only – and the Friend’s Pass means only one of you needs to own it. Creepy rather than gory, so it suits a wider audience.

Phasmophobia

Up to four ghost hunters investigate haunted locations with EMF readers and spirit boxes, with cross-play between PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X|S. It’s still in Early Access, but it’s the definitive “everyone screaming on voice chat” game.

Lethal Company

Scavenge scrap from abandoned moons for “the Company” with up to three friends on PC. Chaotic and funnier than it has any right to be – until something finds you in the dark.

Try before you buy

Steam’s Steam Scream V horror event runs from 26 October to 2 November 2026 – a good moment to browse horror games and demos on PC. Prices and discounts vary by region.

Set the mood

Horror games live or die by their sound. A headset that blocks out the room makes every creak count – What2Buy (a UK buying-guide site, prices in pounds) has a round-up of PS5 headsets under £50. And for TV and anime to go with your games, see our spooky season binge list.