GamesHorrorFrom Silent Hill 2 to Crow Country, the best horror games of 2024 brought the chillsWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
GamesHorrorFrom Silent Hill 2 to Crow Country, the best horror games of 2024 brought the chillsWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
(Image credit: Critical Reflext)
Horror games aren’t just for Halloween, as the best horror games of 2024 prove. If you’ve got some time over the holidays in between devouring Christmas leftovers and watching reruns of Miss Marple, then why not lose yourself in a world of pure terror? These scary releases aren’t all just guts and gore, the games on this list contain some absolutely stellar storytelling too. Horror continues to be a vehicle in which developers can explore a wide range of themes and topics, from personal character portraits to cosmic existentialism.
This year had some excellent horror releases from big studios but it’s also fantastic to see that many of this year’s best releases came from small indie teams. Alongside big hitters such as theSilent Hill 2remake, horror indies stood their ground and many of them ended up being this year’s breakout hits. Some, deservedly, are pride of place in ourbest games of 2024list as well.
So before we march into next year with thebest upcoming horror games of 2025, catch up on the scariest games of this year: hair-raising remakes, grotesque body horror, abandoned theme parks, monsters from the deep, and even, well, mouthwash. Here are the best horror games of 2024.
5. Slitterhead
(Image credit: Bokeh Game Studio)
Developer:Bokeh Game StudioPlatform(s):PC, PS5, PS4 Xbox Series X
While even its evocative title gives us chills, the biggest reason we loved Slitterhead is because of how bold it is. Not everything it sets out to do totally lands (some parts can feel narratively fragmented and there’s an annoying unlock system) but the creative ambition is admirable. From the host-hopping fast-paced combat to the surreal way the twisting story unfolds, Slitterhead feels like a refreshing approach to horror. We adore Slitterhead’s grisly gore – its fleshy beings will be giving us nightmares for years – but underneath the game’s meaty tissue, there’s a poignant message about humanity in the face of enduring monstrosity. It comes as no surprise when horror game veterans like Silent Hill creator Keiichiro Toyama are behind the wheel. A radical debut from Bokeh Game Studio.
Learn more in ourSlitterhead review, where we called it “a daring horror vision executed with finesse”
4. Mouthwashing
(Image credit: CRITICAL REFLEX)
Developer:Wrong OrganPlatform(s):PC
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Learn more in ourMouthwashing spotlight, where we said that its “surreal philosophical processing of mortality hits hard”
3. Crow Country
(Image credit: SFB Games)
Developer:SFB GamesPlatform(s):PC, PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X, Xbox One, Switch
With its isometric third-person angle, stand-your-ground enemy blasting, and tank character controls – Crow Country is an authentic homage to some of thebest survival horror games, with plenty of puzzles to riddle through besides. It all feels familiar, but not in a way that’s just regurgitating survival horror tropes. Crow Country is totally self-aware, right down to its tongue-in-cheek notes and striking low-poly art style, and it uses its nostalgic inspirations to subvert player assumptions to both comedic andcreepyeffect. Set in the 90s, special Agent Mara Forest’s mission to investigate strange reports from an abandoned theme park is filled with twists and turns as she navigates half-ruined rides, explores back-room offices, and deals with an infestation of strange humanoid monsters. Crow Country isn’t just a homage, it’s crafting horror that goes beyond.
Learn more in ourCrow Country review, where we called it “a lovingly built greatest hits mix of retro horror ideas”
2. Still Wakes the Deep
(Image credit: Secret Mode)
Developer:The Chinese RoomPlatform(s):PC, PS5, Xbox Series X
It’s a horror trope that goes back decades, and for good reason: Man vs Monster is a tried and true classic. In Still Wakes The Deep, humans have once again gone and poked something monstrous beneath the waves and now, as always, we have to suffer the consequences. Following Scottish ex-boxer turned industrial worker Caz McLeary as he attempts to survive a monstrous attack on an oil rig, Still Wakes The Deep does away with combat. Instead, Caz must sneak through and explore the metallic guts of the rig, the oppressive atmosphere doing most of the horror heavy lifting. The environment of the collapsing rig is disgustingly beautiful, everything so slick with oil, rust, and grime you’d get tetanus just looking at it. Without giving too much away, the monster is immense and gruesome, its howls reverberating off the claustrophobic walls making it feel like it could be waiting around every corner.
Learn more in ourStill Wakes the Deep review, where we called it “a moody, ambient piece of short-form horror fiction”
1. Silent Hill 2
(Image credit: Konami)
Developer:Bloober TeamPlatform(s):PS5, PC
Remaking one of thebest PS2 games of all time? An unenviable task. But,wow, were our lofty expectations met. This Silent Hill 2 remake sticks closely to the source material, maintaining what made it such a classic, while changing just enough to make this a compelling companion piece rather than outright replacement. Just as horrific as it was 23 years ago, there’s a constant sense of dread whether you’re stumbling through foggy streets or dilapidated hospital hallways. Its action is brutal as you constantly struggle just to survive. Its story, centering on James Sunderland’s quest to find his deceased wife, is surreal, disjointed, and dreamlike. Its monsters – dismembered legs, contorted lumps of limbs, hacked-up torsos – are nightmarish, a parade of James’ traumas made flesh. It hits just as hard as it did in 2001, and is a reminder why Silent Hill 2 is often considered one of thebest horror gamesever made.
Learn more in ourSilent Hill 2 remake review, where we said it was “up there with the Resident Evil remakes for reinventing a classic”
Want more? PerhapsSilent Hill 4 deserves a remake, after all they’re a great way to give games a second life when they truly need it.
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PRODUCTSSilent Hill 2Still Wakes the DeepCrow CountrySlitterhead
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More about horrorSilent Hill 2 Remake’s reinvention of its most underrated character means so much more in 2024"This is incredibly rare”: How Mouthwashing quietly became 2024’s breakout horror hit
More about horror
Silent Hill 2 Remake’s reinvention of its most underrated character means so much more in 2024"This is incredibly rare": How Mouthwashing quietly became 2024’s breakout horror hit
Silent Hill 2 Remake’s reinvention of its most underrated character means so much more in 2024
Silent Hill 2 Remake’s reinvention of its most underrated character means so much more in 2024
“This is incredibly rare”: How Mouthwashing quietly became 2024’s breakout horror hit
“This is incredibly rare”: How Mouthwashing quietly became 2024’s breakout horror hit
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1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”
1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”
1
Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”
2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package”
2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package”
2
Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package”
3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure”
3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure”
3
Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure”
4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years”
4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years”
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Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years”
5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths”
5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths”
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Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths”
1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show”
1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show”
1
Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show”
2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie”
2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie”
2
Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie”
3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action”
3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action”
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Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action”
4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien”
4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien”
4
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5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite”
5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite”
5
Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite”
1Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat”
1Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat”
1
Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat”
2Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses”
2Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses”
2
Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses”
3Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist”
3Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist”
3
Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist”
4Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”
4Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”
4
Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”
5Cobra Kai season 6, part 2 review: “Returns to the sort of hard-hitting form that made it such a fan favorite in the first place”
5Cobra Kai season 6, part 2 review: “Returns to the sort of hard-hitting form that made it such a fan favorite in the first place”
5
Cobra Kai season 6, part 2 review: “Returns to the sort of hard-hitting form that made it such a fan favorite in the first place”