We might be biased but, for our money, there’s nothing scarier than a truly terrifying game - they trump books and movies because of how immersive and self-driven a good game can feel.
So, if you’ve got an Xbox Series X or Series S at home and you want to be frightened while having a good time, then look no further. We’ve gathered some of the very best horror games for both consoles, right here.
If you’re on the lookout for other genres of game, do check out our other lists in the table below.
For
- Incredible action Simply gorgeous Amazing level design
Against
- Familiar for fans
An amazing remake that upgrades every single facet of the Dead Space experience, with gorgeous new graphics and non-existant loading times. The sound design is simply amazing if you use a headset, and it’s super-scary.
This is action-horror at the top of its game, terrifying and stressful but with enough moments of explosive carnage that you’re not dying of nerves at every single turn.
Action-packed Some terrifying sequences Pulpy story
Hard to take seriously
Resident Evil Village is a cacophonous bit of fun, a horror game that is able to both terrify in slow and tense sections but also go crazy with huge tension-busting action moments, and it has a really fun approach to the genre.
You’ll still be juggling scarce resources and hiding from scary villains, but the zaniness of it all is infectious and we think it demonstrates that Resident Evil is a modern franchise even despite its retro roots.
Looks jaw-dropping Much expanded scope Fun stealth
Occasionally too punishing
We really liked the first Plague Tale game, but Requiem builds on it in every way to craft a seriously sublime sequel that ups the ante with a more characterful story and bigger set pieces. It’s also one of the very best-looking games you can play on your Xbox hardware.
The sight of medieval towns and cities, plus the ravaging hordes of rats that inevitably descend them, is regularly breathtaking, and the fact that the story is so well told makes Requiem a must-play. It’s also on Game Pass for easy access.
View on the Xbox Store
Incredibly dark A heck of a ride Keeps you guessing
Fundamentally not that interactive
This visual novel is extremely deceptive - we don’t want to spoil the surprise too much, and recommend going in completely blind, but suffice to say that things go off the rails in this story in some truly horrendous ways.
It’ll have you cringing and praying that its twists are some sort of evil joke, all in vain. This is a singular horror experience that everyone who loves the genre should try once, and it only takes a few hours to play through.
Retro visuals Interesting story Real survival vibes
Sometimes janky controls
Delightful isn’t a word you associate with horror games much, but Signalis is such an impressive package that it really does apply. It’s a retro title that brings visuals that will throw you back to days of yore.
The controls are a lot better than older games, though, and the story is just as disturbing as anything the genre has to offer, with some characters that you’ll be sad to see suffer. Best of all, it’s on Game Pass at the time of writing.
Looks great Classic pulpy story Really thrilling
Some control quirks Occasionally obtuse puzzles
Another great title in the Resident Evil series, this excellent remake of the old second game is a textbook example of how to update old material reverentially. It’s had a patch to unlock its performance on Xbox Series X and S, too, so looks better than ever.
You’ll play as Leon Kennedy and Claire Redfield as they try to survive a zombie outbreak in Raccoon City, fleeing from a terrifying unkillable monster along the way. It’s tense and gorgeous, and available really affordably.
Really fun cast Well-acted scares Great choices under pressure
A bit tropey Not too surprising
This incredibly fun game is more like an interactive movie at times - both because of the production value, which is high, and the star talent attached to it. It’s a classic horror story of teens trapped with a mysterious killer.
You get to control a wide cast of characters, make loads of decisions with major impacts on the story, and see how many of them you can steer to survival. The first time you try it, we’re pretty confident the answer will be somewhere between “none” and “not enough”.
