Indie horror games have proven time and time again that you don’t need a massive budget to create a truly terrifying experience. Many indie developers have pushed the boundaries of fear, delivering unique, unsettling, and unforgettable nightmares. Here’s a list of some of the scariest indie horror games of all time.

1. Amnesia: The Dark Descent (2010)

Frictional Games set the bar high for indie horror with Amnesia: The Dark Descent. This first-person survival horror game introduced players to Daniel, a man suffering from amnesia, as he explores a dark and disturbing castle filled with grotesque creatures and psychological horror. The game’s sanity system and lack of combat make hiding and running your only options, amplifying the terror.

2. Outlast (2013)

While it later received sequels and expansions, Outlast started as a chilling indie horror masterpiece. Players take on the role of investigative journalist Miles Upshur, who sneaks into Mount Massive Asylum only to find unspeakable horrors within. Armed with only a night-vision camcorder, the game’s found-footage aesthetic and relentless chases make it one of the most intense horror experiences.

3. Phasmophobia (2020)

This multiplayer ghost-hunting simulator by Kinetic Games took the horror community by storm. Players take on the role of paranormal investigators trying to identify different types of ghosts using various tools. The game’s proximity chat, voice recognition, and unpredictable ghost behavior make it one of the most immersive horror experiences in recent years.

4. Darkwood (2017)

Unlike many horror games, Darkwood takes a top-down perspective and still manages to be utterly terrifying. This survival horror game places you in a surreal, ever-changing forest filled with unspeakable horrors. The scarcity of resources, permadeath mechanics, and haunting atmosphere create a constant sense of dread.

5. Soma (2015)

From the creators of Amnesia, Soma delivers a deep psychological horror experience set in an underwater research facility. While it features terrifying monsters, the game’s true horror lies in its thought-provoking narrative, which explores themes of consciousness, identity, and what it means to be human.

6. Doki Doki Literature Club! (2017)

What starts as an innocent visual novel quickly spirals into a fourth-wall-breaking psychological horror nightmare. Doki Doki Literature Club! lulls players into a false sense of security before shattering expectations with disturbing imagery and unsettling meta-horror elements.

7. The Mortuary Assistant (2022)

Developed by DarkStone Digital, The Mortuary Assistant places players in a funeral home, where they must embalm corpses—while dealing with supernatural forces. The game’s unpredictable hauntings and eerie atmosphere create an ever-present sense of paranoia.

8. Five Nights at Freddy’s (2014)

A game that needs no introduction, Five Nights at Freddy’s put players in the role of a night security guard at a haunted pizzeria. The game’s use of security cameras, limited resources, and iconic animatronic horror cemented its place as a horror gaming legend.

9. MADiSON (2022)

A first-person psychological horror game that plays on themes of possession, MADiSON traps players in a haunted house with a demonic entity. The game’s eerie atmosphere, disturbing visuals, and clever use of a camera mechanic make it one of the most unsettling horror experiences in recent years.

10. Inscryption (2021)

While primarily a deck-building roguelike, Inscryption weaves a deeply disturbing horror narrative filled with unsettling imagery and psychological twists. The game’s eerie atmosphere and meta-narrative make it a unique blend of horror and strategy.

Honorable Mentions

• Slender: The Eight Pages (2012) – The game that popularized the Slender Man mythos.
• Visage (2020) – A spiritual successor to P.T., featuring an oppressive atmosphere and mind-bending scares.
• Lethal Company (2023) – A co-op horror experience that combines dark humor with terrifying encounters.

Conclusion

Indie horror games have continued to redefine fear, proving that creative storytelling, atmosphere, and innovative mechanics can be just as terrifying—if not more—than big-budget horror games. Whether you enjoy psychological dread, supernatural hauntings, or relentless chases, there’s an indie horror game waiting to keep you up at night.

Which indie horror game scared you the most? Let us know in the comments!