Get ready to shiver and scream this Halloween with five spine-tingling short horror games that deliver big scares in bite-sized bursts. Whether you crave eerie atmospheres, chilling stories, or pulse-pounding thrills, these quick plays are perfect for a night of fright without the marathon commitment-dive in and discover your next favorite nightmare.
We’ve got you covered if you’re looking for the best horror movies or horror TV to watch on Netflix (or the best horror movies generally). But what about video games? 2023 has been a terrific year for horror games so far, from modern remakes of classics like Resident Evil 4 and Dead Space to new titles like The Outlast Trials, Dredge, Amnesia: The Bunker, and more.
We’ve pulled together a list of some of the best short horror games to play with only a few days left before Halloween. Whether you’re looking for a chilling psychological horror experience or frantic splatter-core nightmare, these are some of the best games to play this season.
Helltown
Helltown is a PS1-style first-person survival horror game where you play as a postman delivering packages in the eerie new town of Little Vale. As night falls, the town’s unsettling residents and dark secrets come to light, forcing you to hide and run from terrifying monsters while uncovering the truth behind a sinister ritual. With atmospheric environments inspired by classics like Silent Hill, multiple endings to discover, and a haunting soundtrack, Helltown offers around two hours of chilling gameplay perfect for a spooky Halloween experience. However, its stealth mechanics can feel repetitive, making the tension more about evasion than combat or strategy.
Developer: WildArts Studio
Average time to play: 1h 30m
Where to purchase:Steam, itch.io
If you like folk horror movies like The Wicker Man and Enys Men, you’ll love Helltown. Developed by Nicolas Lamarche and Gabriel Bolduc Dufour, Helltown follows the story of a postman assigned to deliver packages to a secluded rural neighborhood called Little Vale. After their first day on the job, things quicky take a sinister turn as disturbing visions manifest into an insidious plot rife with demonic cultists and unspeakable horrors. An open-world horror exploration game, Helltown offers multiple endings and collectibles and is the perfect game for those who enjoy sinking into the unknown.
No one lives under the lighthouse
No One Lives Under the Lighthouse is a chilling horror-adventure game that immerses players in the eerie solitude of a lighthouse keeper on a remote island. With its distinctive PS1-style graphics and minimalistic sound design, the game masterfully evokes a Lovecraftian atmosphere where the line between reality and nightmare blurs. Players engage in routine lighthouse maintenance and light puzzle-solving, all while unsettling supernatural events gradually unfold. The narrative explores themes of loneliness, madness, and inner demons, culminating in multiple endings that invite personal interpretation. Its slow-building tension and haunting ambiance make it a standout choice for horror fans seeking a unique and atmospheric experience this Halloween season.
Developer: Marevo Collective
Average time to play: 2h
Where to purchase:Steam
Fans of slow-burn psychological horror with oppressive atmospheres and an emphasis on strong sound design should definitely check out No one lives under the lighthouse. Much like Robert Eggers’ The Lighthouse, starring Willem Dafoe and Robert Pattinson, this game puts players in the role of a lighthouse keeper who assumes stewardship of a small island off the coast of the United States after the former keeper deserts their post. Unlike that aforementioned movie, you’re all alone; with no one else to keep you company as you tend the light of the tower and conduct chores around the island. Or are you?
That Which Gave Chase
That Which Gave Chase is a haunting analog horror game set in the Arctic, where you play as a dog musher escorting a mysterious explorer deeper into a frozen wasteland. Developed by Norwegian indie creator Aslak Karlsen Hauglid, the game blends eerie storytelling with atmospheric exploration, testing your senses and perception of time as an unknowable horror lurks just beyond the edge of sight. Its chilling narrative and immersive setting make it a memorable experience despite its brief runtime, perfect for players seeking a unique and unsettling horror adventure this Halloween season.
Developer: Aslak Karlsen Hauglid
Average time to play: 1h
Where to purchase:Steam, itch.io
In this experimental first-person horror game, players assume the role of a sled dog musher hired by a mysterious scientist to safely escort him across the frozen plains of the arctic to a remote research facility. Along the way, the pair encounter increasingly strange and disturbing phenomenon that calls into question the scientist’s motivations, if not the entire expedition as a whole. Can the scientist be trusted, and what’s up with all these strange visions?
Mothered – A Role-Playing Horror Game
Mothered – A Role-Playing Horror Game is a first-person narrative horror adventure where you play as Liana, a young girl returning home after major surgery only to be met by a strange mannequin claiming to be her mother. Set over seven days, the game uses an unsettling 32-bit art style and eerie atmosphere to build tension without relying on jump scares. Its story unfolds through exploration and interaction in a familiar yet unnervingly distorted home environment, challenging players to uncover hidden truths and break the cycle of the haunting narrative. With point-and-click mechanics and multiple endings, Mothered offers a short but immersive experience perfect for those seeking a psychological horror tale this Halloween season.
Developer: Enigma Studio
Average time to play: 2h
Where to purchase:Steam, itch.io
In this role-playing horror game (see the title?), you are Liana, a young girl recovering from a life-saving operation. Upon returning home, she awakes one morning expecting to meet her mother, only to instead be greeted by what appears to be a mannequin-like figure resembling her mother. What’s going on here? As the week wears on, Liana will have to unravel the mystery behind her peculiar situation before time runs out.
The second game from Jamie Gavin, a Galway-based game developer who works under the pseudonym “Enigma Studio ’ alongside composer Karl Barnes, Mothered is the middle entry in a loose trilogy of games set to conclude this year with November’s Echostasis. If you enjoyed this one, you should definitely check out Mothered: Home – the “DLC sequel” is even available to play for free via the Haunted PS1 “Spectral Mall” Demo Disc.
Stay Out of the House
For those who dare to venture into unsettling realms this Halloween, “Stay Out of the House” is a chilling short horror game that masterfully blends suspense and psychological terror. Players find themselves trapped in a sinister home filled with lurking dangers and eerie secrets, where every creak and shadow heightens the tension. Its compact yet intense gameplay ensures a gripping experience that will keep you on edge, making it a perfect pick for a quick but memorable scare this spooky season.
Developer: Puppet Combo
Average time to play: 4h 30m
Where to purchase:Steam
Benedetto “Ben” Cocuzza is a game developer known for unique low-poly survival horror games inspired by ’80s VHS aesthetics and classic slasher horror movies. Taking cues from The Texas ChainSaw Massacre and The Hills Have Eyes, Stay Out of the House is a stealth game where players assume the role of a young woman kidnapped while on a road trip with her boyfriend across the border of Oklahoma. In order to escape, players will have to sneak their way through the maze-like interior of a masked madman’s dilapidated house without alerting either him or his deranged family members.
Which short horror game will give me the most chilling Halloween experience
For the most chilling short horror game to play this Halloween, Iron Lung stands out as a top recommendation. It is about 1 to 2 hours long and is praised for its intense claustrophobic atmosphere and sustained tension, making it deeply unsettling even when nothing overtly scary is happening. Players recommend going in blind to maximize the terrifying experience. This game offers a uniquely oppressive and eerie setting that can deliver a truly spine-tingling Halloween experience in a short playtime.
Which game offers the most claustrophobic and tense experience
The short horror game that offers the most claustrophobic and tense experience is Iron Lung. It places you inside an incredibly tiny submarine exploring an ocean of blood on a distant planet, with no escape from the cramped confines except through the submarine itself. The game’s design practically embodies claustrophobic horror, constantly reminding you of your limited space and vulnerability.
Other notable mentions for intense claustrophobic horror include Alien: Isolation, where you hide and evade a relentless Xenomorph aboard a tight, confined space station, and Amnesia: The Bunker, set in a dark, low-ceilinged WWI bunker with an unkillable monster hunting you. However, Iron Lung’s minimalist setting and suffocating atmosphere make it especially effective for a chilling, tense experience.
