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Best horror games

The 250 best horror games, ranked from 35,609 critic and player ratings.

The best horror game right now is Super Castlevania IV, with a critic score of 100/100. Updated October 2026.

How this ranking is built
  • Games are ranked on the aggregated critic score out of 100 imported from IGDB and Metacritic, never on Tier's own grades.
  • A game only enters the ranking with at least 80 external ratings, so a single enthusiastic review never outranks a proven classic.
  • Community grades from F to S are shown next to every game, and only stated as a fact above 5 Tier ratings.
  • Release window covered: 1970 to 2026.
  • 50 games are listed on this page, carrying 35,609 ratings between them.
  • Rankings are recomputed hourly; this one was last rebuilt on 23 October 2026.

Top 50

01 Super Castlevania IV Super Castlevania IV 1991 · 194 ratings A century of Transylvanian tranquility is about to come to a shocking end. Once again the mortifying screams of helpless villagers shake the ground as they huddle against new nightmarish horrors unleashed by the Duke of Darkness, Count Dracula. And this time he has a tombstone with your name on it, Simon Belmont. You must descend into Castle of the Undead and its gruesome ground, accompanied by the most chilling sound effects to ever tingle your spine. Inside, a freshly dug 11 levels maze features the treacherous Terrace of Terror, the dangerous Rotating Dungeon, the Sunken Ruins of Lost Spirits, torture chambers and creature filled caves. Use your whip like a grappling hook and swing past hundreds of traps and a host of ghost freaks, living corpses and hidden goblins. All while dodging or destroying the unpredictable spitting lizards, carnivorous coffins, and more. Find the concealed weapons needed to defeat everything from eerie phantoms to haunted furniture. Then prepare to find yourself face-to-thing with hideous torments like the Tongue Lasher, the Darkest Knight, the Bone-Afide Horseman and the Granite Crusher. When your nerves get shot, use your password and take a breather. But forge on, Simon Belmont, because if you though Dracula was down for the count, he's only just begun to fright! 100 /100
02 The Last Of Us Remastered S The Last Of Us Remastered 2014 · 1,698 ratings · 2 Tier votes The Last of Us Remastered is an updated release of the PS3 game The Last of Us. It is identical to the PS3 version but runs at a 1080p resolution and incorporates character models with a higher resolution. There are also improved shadows and lighting, upgraded textures, 60 frames per second and other types of improvements. In addition to the base game, two map packs and the expansion The Last of Us: Left Behind are included. 97 /100
03 Gears of War 3 Gears of War 3 2011 · 353 ratings Gears of War 3 is the spectacular conclusion to one of the most memorable and celebrated sagas in videogames. Gears of War 3 plunges players into a harrowing tale of hope, survival and brotherhood. In Gears of War 3, players fight on as Marcus Fenix, the grizzled war hero and leader of Delta Squad. Eighteen months after the fall of the last human city, the war against the Locust rages on. Meanwhile, deep beneath the surface, a fearsome new threat is infecting the planet from within. With survivors scattered and civilization in ruins, time is running out for Marcus and his comrades as they fight to save the human race. 97 /100
04 Undertale B Undertale 2015 · 1,894 ratings · 2 Tier votes A small child falls into the Underground, where monsters have long been banished by humans and are hunting every human that they find. The player controls the child as they try to make it back to the Surface through hostile environments, all the while engaging with a turn-based combat system with puzzle-solving and bullet hell elements, as well as other unconventional game mechanics. 96 /100
05 The Last of Us Part II S The Last of Us Part II 2020 · 1,814 ratings · 1 Tier vote The Last of Us Part II is an action-adventure game set five years after the events of The Last of Us. The player traverses post-apocalyptic environments such as buildings and forests to advance the story. They can use firearms, improvised weapons, and stealth to defend against hostile humans and cannibalistic creatures infected by a mutated strain of the Cordyceps fungus. The game intermittently switches control between Ellie and Abby, and also briefly Joel in the opening sequence. The nimble nature of the player character introduces platforming elements, allowing the player to jump and climb to traverse environments and gain advantages during combat. 95 /100
06 The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth S The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth 2014 · 557 ratings · 1 Tier vote The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth is a top down, procedurally-generated roguelike game, remade based on the original game The Binding of Isaac. You play as Isaac, a little boy who is chased to the basement by his mother who intends to kill Isaac for her savior. You explore different levels, collect items and try to defeat your mother.. and whatever other evil awaits you. If you die, you restart with none of your items you collected, and you must explore the basement and beyond again. 95 /100
07 TimeSplitters 2 TimeSplitters 2 2002 · 139 ratings TimeSplitters 2 is a first-person shooter that requires players to kill enemies and complete objectives using a variety of weapons and tactics in different predefined scenarios. Armour and health bars on the sides of the screen lower when the player is shot, which can be increased by walking over body armor and medical kits. 95 /100
08 Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver 2 Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver 2 2001 · 107 ratings Soul Reaver 2 picks up where Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver left off, with Raziel having just plunged through the Chronoplast time portal in his relentless pursuit of Kain. Over the course of his quest for revenge, Raziel must unearth the mysteries of Nosgoth’s ancient races, expose the machinations behind the corruption of the Pillars, and the vampire genocide. Throughout the game, Raziel acquires numerous new abilities, weapon enhancements, and spells, all of which are critical to the completion of his epic adventure. Soul Reaver is a third-person combat adventure filled with devious puzzles and kick-ass combat. Fly, swim, jump, and even travel from the material world to the spectral realm to overcome obstacles and conquer your enemies. With over 40 abilities to choose from, no two fights will ever be the same. 95 /100
09 Return of the Obra Dinn Return of the Obra Dinn 2018 · 506 ratings In this 1-bit first-person mystery game, a merchant ship called the Obra Dinn has appeared at a London harbor, years after being declared lost at sea. As an insurance adjuster, the player must examine the ship for clues. 95 /100
10 Doki Doki Literature Club! Doki Doki Literature Club! 2017 · 541 ratings The Literature Club is full of cute girls! Will you write the way into their heart? This game is not suitable for children or those who are easily disturbed. 94 /100
11 BioShock Infinite S BioShock Infinite 2013 · 2,695 ratings · 2 Tier votes 93 /100
12 Finding Paradise Finding Paradise 2017 · 96 ratings 93 /100
13 Dwarf Fortress Dwarf Fortress 2006 · 94 ratings 93 /100
14 Resident Evil 2 A Resident Evil 2 2019 · 1,437 ratings · 7 Tier votes 93 /100
15 Half-Life: Alyx Half-Life: Alyx 2020 · 256 ratings 93 /100
16 BioShock S BioShock 2007 · 3,230 ratings · 3 Tier votes 93 /100
17 Alan Wake 2 S Alan Wake 2 2023 · 335 ratings · 1 Tier vote 93 /100
18 The Exit 8 The Exit 8 2023 · 80 ratings 92 /100
19 Inside Inside 2016 · 1,643 ratings 92 /100
20 Castlevania: Symphony of the Night Castlevania: Symphony of the Night 1997 · 848 ratings 92 /100
21 Demon's Souls (2020) Demon's Souls (2020) 2020 · 215 ratings 92 /100
22 Death Stranding 2: On The Beach Death Stranding 2: On The Beach 2025 · 117 ratings 92 /100
23 Pony Island Pony Island 2016 · 150 ratings 92 /100
24 Sanitarium Sanitarium 1998 · 95 ratings 92 /100
25 Batman: Arkham Knight B Batman: Arkham Knight 2015 · 1,528 ratings · 3 Tier votes 92 /100
26 The Last of Us B The Last of Us 2013 · 3,609 ratings · 3 Tier votes 92 /100
27 S.T.A.L.K.E.R. G.A.M.M.A. S.T.A.L.K.E.R. G.A.M.M.A. 2018 · 278 ratings 91 /100
28 Celeste S Celeste 2018 · 1,476 ratings · 2 Tier votes 91 /100
29 Batman: Arkham City A Batman: Arkham City 2011 · 2,706 ratings · 2 Tier votes 91 /100
30 Bloodborne S Bloodborne 2015 · 1,880 ratings · 3 Tier votes 91 /100
31 System Shock (1994) System Shock (1994) 1994 · 89 ratings 91 /100
32 Dead Space (2008) B Dead Space (2008) 2023 · 236 ratings · 1 Tier vote 91 /100
33 Resident Evil Requiem A Resident Evil Requiem 2026 · 345 ratings · 1 Tier vote 90 /100
34 Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow 2005 · 115 ratings 90 /100
35 Lisa: The Painful Lisa: The Painful 2014 · 144 ratings 90 /100
36 Dead Space 2 A Dead Space 2 2011 · 1,090 ratings · 1 Tier vote 90 /100
37 The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask S The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask 2000 · 877 ratings · 1 Tier vote 90 /100
38 Nine Hours, Nine Persons, Nine Doors Nine Hours, Nine Persons, Nine Doors 2009 · 199 ratings 90 /100
39 Red Dead Redemption: Undead Nightmare Red Dead Redemption: Undead Nightmare 2010 · 184 ratings 90 /100
40 Dino Crisis 2 Dino Crisis 2 2000 · 167 ratings 90 /100
41 Thief II: The Metal Age Thief II: The Metal Age 2000 · 159 ratings 90 /100
42 Maniac Mansion Maniac Mansion 1987 · 137 ratings 90 /100
43 Devil May Cry 3: Dante's Awakening Special Edition Devil May Cry 3: Dante's Awakening Special Edition 2006 · 133 ratings 90 /100
44 Castlevania: Circle of the Moon Castlevania: Circle of the Moon 2001 · 125 ratings 90 /100
45 Ultimate Doom Ultimate Doom 1995 · 99 ratings 90 /100
46 Eternal Darkness: Sanity's Requiem Eternal Darkness: Sanity's Requiem 2002 · 95 ratings 90 /100
47 Returnal Returnal 2021 · 192 ratings 90 /100
48 The Cat Lady The Cat Lady 2012 · 164 ratings 90 /100
49 Diablo IV Diablo IV 2023 · 380 ratings 90 /100
50 Dusk Dusk 2018 · 108 ratings 90 /100
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Other tags

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Frequently asked questions

What is the best horror game?

Super Castlevania IV currently tops the ranking with a score of 100/100 across 194 ratings. Ranking updated October 2026.

How is this ranking built?

Games are ranked on their aggregated critic score out of 100, with a minimum vote threshold so a single glowing review never outranks a proven classic; the Tier community's own F-to-S grades are shown alongside each game.