Just like cinema, horror has been a thriving genre in gaming for decades, with some of the medium’s biggest franchises revolving around things that go bump in the night. 2026 keeps that trend going, from multiplayer horror titles to single-player experiences to endure those digital frights alone. Whether it’s lovingly lo-fi indie titles or big studio blockbusters marking the next step in major franchises, the horror genre was alive and well this year. Before October hits and the genre gets especially crowded with new releases, we’re looking back at the greatest horror games released so far this year.
Some of the most anticipated games of 2026 were horror games and many of those eagerly awaited titles exceeded expectations. Other hits included on this list are titles that caught us completely by surprise and were all the better for it. While the level of scares between each of these games may vary, they all excel at delivering chilling entertainment. But more than just major studio projects, Here are the five best horror games of 2026 so far, each offering a terrifying good time.
Crisol: Theater of Idols
After providing plenty of silver screen frights, Blumhouse became interested in bringing scares to video games, launching its own gaming publishing division, Blumhouse Games. Among the first gaming projects published by Blumhouse is the first-person survival horror title “Crisol: Theater of Idols.” Developed by Vermila Studios, the game is set in a nightmarish world based on Spain, where the developers are based out of, overrun by monstrous automatons. Players control assassin Gabriel Escudero who uses a variety of holy weapons, several of which fueled directly by his own blood.
With its Gothic setting and imaginatively rendered enemies and weapons, the art design of “Crisol: Theater of Idols” is the real standout element. The idea that so many weapons in the game are fueled by blood also lends itself to the overall gameplay strategy as players find themselves facing overwhelming numbers of enemies. Players have to decide if they want to risk spending some of their own health for ammo or see if they can progress without making that trade-off. These mechanics along with its sumptuous environment make “Crisol: Theater of Idols” the best-looking indie horror game of the year so far.
Resident Evil Requiem
Not counting remakes and remasters, there hadn’t been a new mainline “Resident Evil” game since 2021’s “Resident Evil Village.” The strange and scary “Resident Evil” story continued with “Resident Evil Requiem,” featuring the eagerly anticipated return of fan-favorite character Leon S. Kennedy. While battling with the lingering effects of the T-Virus, Leon teams up with rookie FBI agent Grace Ashcroft to investigate the sinister Umbrella Corporation’s legacy around Raccoon City. The game’s story is divided between more scary sequences led by Grace as she struggles to evade and survive and more action-oriented scenes as Leon blasts through monsters.
Even more than just its return to Raccoon City premise, “Resident Evil Requiem” feels like a celebration of the franchise’s history. The more high-octane titles in the series are reflected by Leon serving as a one-man zombie-busting machine while Grace’s sequences reflect its claustrophobic terror-fueled roots. Both tonally divergent gameplay segments mesh together well, providing players with a comprehensive experience that’s solidly paced. A stunning transformation of what “Resident Evil” can be as Capcom’s series forges its future, “Resident Evil Requiem” caters to the franchise’s strengths.
Shift at Midnight
So many of the most memorable horror games over the past several years have been indie projects, like “Five Nights at Freddy’s” or games like “Fears to Fathom.” Joining this wave of moody lo-fi horror titles is “Shift at Midnight,” a convenience store simulator with a demonic twist. Developed by Bun Muen and published by Kwalee, the game has players control a gas station attendant working the midnight shift. While running the gas station and its attached convenience store, the player has to deduce which of the late night customers are monsters in disguise and react accordingly.
Filled with jump scares and deductive reasoning, the perfect gaming combo, “Shift at Midnight” keeps players on their toes. With procedurally generated shifts, no two playthroughs are exactly alike, adding to the overall replay value. In addition to its single-player experience, the game also offers an online co-op mode ready to keep friends double-checking sinister-looking customers together. Another indie horror game done right, “Shift at Midnight” keeps its scares effective with its lo-fi presentation.
The Sinking City 2
One of the most disastrous video game launches in recent memory, was the bizarre fiasco surrounding “The Sinking City” and its haphazard release in 2019. Ukrainian developer Frogwares is back for the game’s standalone sequel, “The Sinking City 2,” this time publishing the project themselves. Set in Arkham, Massachusetts during the 1920s, the game has protagonist Calvin Rafferty investigate the town as it endures a supernatural flood. This uncovers a conspiracy to revive ancient evil linked to the community’s dark history in the finest Lovecraftian tradition.
“The Sinking City 2” is an all-around improvement over its predecessor, capturing the third-person survival horror that made franchises like “Resident Evil” and “Silent Hill” so popular. The game also makes excellent use of its literary inspirations, crafting one of the best gaming takes on the works of H.P. Lovecraft in recent memory. This is elevated by an undeniably creepy atmosphere as players delve deeper into the mystery of Arkham and Calvin’s connection to it. Perfectly accessible for those who never played the first game, “The Sinking City 2” is this year’s sleeper favorite.
Halloween: The Game
Asymmetrical horror games are definitely in vogue, led by titles like “Dead by Daylight” and “The Texas Chain Saw Massacre.” IllFonic, the developers behind “Friday the 13th: The Game,” are back with a new asymmetrical horror title based on a different horror franchise with “Halloween: The Game.” Players can choose between playing as the masked slasher Michael Myers or the people of Haddonfield on Halloween night during Michael’s latest rampage. As Michael stalks and murders his way across town, players must convince their neighbors to escape and flee themselves or subdue the killer.
This recommendation comes with a caveat, because there have been a large number of bugs and technical performance issues reported since its launch. When the game is functioning as largely intended, particularly in regard to its online multiplayer, it’s a lot of fun. The game is loaded with Easter eggs straight from the movies while recreating the 1978 movie’s vibes immaculately. With extensive patches reportedly on the way, hopefully “Halloween: The Game” will become more consistently enjoyable in time for its titular holiday.
