10 Best Upcoming Horror Games in 2026

There was a time in my life when I couldn't handle horror at all. I was an easily scared young man, and even found the prospect of cartoon dancing skeletons unnerving. But then, thanks to the guidance of a good friend, I learned that not only can horror be worthwhile, but it can be an utterly captivating genre.

In the last decade or so, I've embarked on a horror renaissance, discovering classic horror series like Evil Dead and reveling in the ways that terror can teach us. But what really makes horror come alive is experiencing it firsthand in a video game, and there are several coming in 2026 that already deserve your attention, which is impressive after a lot of incredible horror last year.

The games featured below are an eclectic mix of iconic series, disturbing sequels, psychological horror, sci-fi, and much more besides. Since none of these games are out just yet, I've ranked them according to my own horror preferences. So grab a blanket, turn out the lights, and let's get scared together.

10 The Sinking City 2

Sink Into Lovecraft

At first, I didn't see the appeal of H.P. Lovecraft's works. His writing was dated and hard to read, and seemed the ravings of a fevered mind. But then I realized that while the source material was questionable, the way modern writers translate it was inspired. And after reading one example by Alan Moore and another by N.K. Jemisin, I suddenly have a lot more respect for Cthulhu and Lovecraft.

The Sinking City 2 is a horror sequel that immerses players in a twisted and unnerving 1920s United States. You're in Arkham, a name familiar to fans of the mythology, which is flooded with eldritch monstrosities. When you're not running and gunning, you'll solve brain-twisting puzzles and manage your precious inventory.

Even though I don't always appreciate realistic graphics, The Sinking City 2's use of Unreal Engine 5 looks to heighten and amplify the terror present in the game. Who knows? Maybe you'll even find a way to survive and keep your insanity intact.

9 Grave Seasons

Reap What You Sow

Ashenridge seems like an idyllic town, full of colorful people just waiting for you to meet them. It's also a town where you can grow wonderful crops and enjoy the majesty of nature. There's just one teensy, tiny problem. There's also a supernatural serial killer loose, and they want to paint the town red.

That's the premise of Grave Seasons, a mix of farm sim and murder mystery that has its hooks deeply embedded in my brain. And that's even though I usually completely ignore farm sims. The game is all about managing your life while investigating murders and trying to get ahead of the killer. Though there's also a decent chance you'll end up romancing them.

It's a completely twisted and creative take on the genre that I find super compelling. And even though Grave Seasons isn't full of non-stop action, horror sometimes matures more when it has time to grow.

8 Halloween

Become the Boogeyman

If there's one movie series you can't help but associate with horror, it's Halloween. Just saying the word Michael Myers will make some people flinch, which is totally fair. Unkillable serial killers are pretty terrifying. But in the upcoming Halloween game, you have a choice: fight against the Boogeyman, or become him.

For those who want to play the Hero of Haddonfield, you can arm others and help them fight back against the nightmarish killer. But if you're the Boogeyman, you get to revel in the thrill of the hunt, using dangerous abilities to stay ahead of detection and carve a path through unsuspecting victims.

Even though I'm not usually much for sandbox-style games, Halloween sounds really fascinating. If it can effectively channel the energy of the movies, it should prove a wonderful horror experience later this year.

7 Clive Barker's Hellraiser: Revival

Pinhead's Bargain

I'll admit that I'm not a huge fan of Hellraiser, but I can also see the appeal. The visuals of the twisted series are hypnotic, equal parts fascinating and nauseating. And now, we get to experience a brand-new chapter in the upcoming Clive Barker's Hellraiser: Revival. It tells the story of Aidan, who has to use the power of the puzzle box to help his girlfriend, Sunny, escape damnation.

The game itself plays out in first-person format and has you unwittingly start Pinhead's ritual. You'll race through insane hellscapes and fight monstrous forces with earthly weapons. Cultists, deviants, and even infernal priests stand between you and success.

As for why Clive Barker's Hellraiser: Revival was ranked higher than Halloween, it's not only a matter of my preference. Hellraiser looks far more horrifying, and thus gives it a slight edge. But fret not, because we have a lot more horror to share!

6 ONTOS

Reality Unravels

Kepler Interactive has published some utterly bizarre and horrifying games, but ONTOS looks to set a new standard. It's a sci-fi adventure set on the moon base Samsara. It's a place where science, faith, art, and horror all blend together. It's at once opulent and monstrous, and the game will present several hurdles in your path.

Your choices determine how the game reacts to you, and even what seem to be safe moral choices might result in disaster. You'll also carefully find solutions to complex puzzles using analog controls, with no perfect answers.

Ultimately, Samsara is a place where reality is held together by a thread. Can you find the truth, and do you even want to? That's the primary question presented in ONTOS.

5 Kumitantei: Old-School Slaughter

Absolute Insanity

At first glance, Kumitantei: Old-School Slaughter might not scream horror. That is, until you realize it's inspired by one of the most twisty, disturbing, and wonderful game series I've played, Danganronpa. Like that series, this upcoming adventure is full of murder, mystery, and anime style.

The game takes place in an alternate reality Japan, where Absolute students are awarded with prestige and resources. The game has you wake up in a strange building run by a two-faced cat monster, and placed in a deadly experiment with a whole classroom full of Absolutes. And you won't know which you can trust until you uncover the truth in card-based battles.

The other way that Kumitantei: Old-School Slaughter differentiates itself is that it's an episodic format, which I don't always love. But if it's executed well, it has the potential to be a mind-bending, horrifying, and amazing horror experience.

4 Neverway

From Dead End to Dead God

Much like Grave Seasons, Neverway is an unusual mix of genres. There's horror, life sim, and even ARPG, all in a creepy little package. While you're working your soul away as the herald of a dead god, you'll look for the fabled, titular realm, a nightmare reality that's slowly but surely leaking into your own.

The real factor that makes Neverway so compelling is the ethereal and unsettling visual style by the same talent behind Celeste, another game that could get surprisingly frightening when it wanted to. The entire experience sits inside an absurd and compelling world you'll never want to leave.

Assuming that the game is able to deftly balance all the seemingly disparate components, it could be an amazing horror experience. Here's hoping Coldblood Inc. and Outersloth are able to stick the landing!

3 Directive 8020

Hope is a Lie

Earth is dying, and humanity is running out of time. So, of course, rather than fix what's broken, we head to the stars hoping for salvation. And in Directive 8020, we seem to find that on Tau Ceti f. The colony ship Cassiopeia lands there, only to realize that the promised hope might be nothing more than a cruel mirage.

The crew quickly learns that a dangerous, alien mimic is in their midst, able to perfectly pass as human. Your job is to somehow outwit this dangerous predator while finding a way to trust your crew. It's sort of like The Thing in space, and that honestly sounds pretty amazing to this fan of horror.

What could really make Directive 8020 shine is the talented voice acting of Lashana Lynch, combined with a complex Turning Points story tree that offers multiple paths forward. And if you want to play with a friend, the game even lets you play with a group of up to five players, just to see if that really heightens the terror.

2 Scarlet Hollow

Blood Runs Thick

Just for clarity, even though Scarlet Hollow was originally unveiled a few years back, this episodic horror adventure isn't completely out yet. And since there's a good chance that will happen this year, I felt justified in including it here. Because, as someone who had the privilege to check out the first few chapters, I'm confident this will be another amazing horror experience from Black Tabby Games.

Put simply, Scarlet Hollow is about small-town secrets, dangerous revelations, and the horrors of the past. It's a game where your choices dramatically impact how the story twists and turns, which makes it even more exciting. Like Slay the Spire, it's also incredibly well written, full of dark humor, gravitas, and slow-burning dread.

Combine all that with a moody visual style and music that's sure to grab your attention, and you'll find yourself completely captivated by this twisted horror story. But we saved one that's even more promising for last!

1 Silent Hill: Townfall

St. Amelia Beckons

One horror game series that instantly subjects fans to terror is Silent Hill. And lucky us, Konami is teaming up with Annapurna Interactive to bring a new entry this year called Silent Hill: Townfall. It's about a man named Simon Ordell returning to St. Amelia to 'put things right', not knowing what horrible truths will arise in that seemingly simple quest.

Like all Silent Hills, there's a miasma of fog and horrors lurking beneath it in Townfall, including what appears to be a decrepit, ailing, and evil old man. Also, like other entries, you're not an action hero, so poor Simon will have to use his wits, stealth, and a pocket television to find his way through tense encounters.

When you're not fighting for your life, you'll be solving twisted puzzles and learning more and more about what's really at stake.