10 Horror Games with Near-Perfect Scores

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Horror Games with Near Perfect Scores Resident Evil 4 Leon The Last of Us Ellie

Published Jun 21, 2026, 2:30 PM EDT

Elena is a Contributing Writer at DualShockers specializing in horror games, survival horror, open-world RPGs, fantasy, and historical fiction. She began covering games professionally in 2024, with her early gaming focus tied to Baldur’s Gate 3 before her interest in horror coverage grew through games like Silent Hill 2 Remake and Silent Hill f.

Before joining DualShockers, Elena worked as an award-winning journalist for local news stations and newspapers in central Indiana, including FOX59/CBS4Indy, and has also contributed to CBR. She holds a B.A. in Journalism and Telecommunications, has a Career Specialist Permit to teach Journalism, and won the Society of Professional Journalists’ Best Column Award in 2019. Outside of games writing, Elena is also a high school teacher, where she teaches job readiness, financial literacy, and college preparation.

Not all games are created equal — horror games especially, given how much the genre is defined by subjective fears, it's tough to get a whole audience to agree on their feelings about the game. This is only emphasised as time goes on, since horror tends to be reflective of society during a particular point in time.

However, there are some games that come really, really close.

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While there isn't a single horror game that has a perfect, 100/100 score, neither on OpenCritic or MetaCritic. However, there are some that are scored in the upper 90s, hitting near-perfection in a notoriously difficult (and picky) fanbase.

And honestly, these near-perfect horror games surprise no one.

There are several games that share a score, and those that have the same score will be ranked on popularity.

10 System Shock 2

MetaCritic Score: 92

When it comes to sci-fi horror, especially one that operates as a genre hybrid, it's easy to see that System Shock 2 remains the most iconic, with a score of 92 — the original, specifically, as the 25th Anniversary Remaster scored an 84. Not even the first System Shock hit anywhere close to its popularity (it scored 78).

The game released in 1999, making it be considered as a retro title (and as someone born in 1999 ... ouch), but the writing of this game rivals even the top releases of today. While it was a commercial flop when it came out, so badly that it actually caused the development studio to shut down, the beloved scores should speak for themselves.

This immersive sim remains one of the greatest in the subgenre, so it's well worth a playthrough for fans of genuine interactivity — especially as this interactivity works to terrify you.

With the remaster, players are able to easily dive into the game that players clung to like a lifeline, and finally get to meet the malevolent AI, SHODAN, for themselves. As of current, it's the only way the game can be accessible — and considering how it's not a full remake, it's a great way to soak in one of horror gaming's icons.

9 Eternal Darkness: Sanity's Requiem

MetaCritic Score: 92

You're not hallucinating (pun intended), Eternal Darkness: Sanity's Requiem remains one of the most iconic cult classics in the genre, with a score of 92. For a GameCube exclusive (especially one that doesn't have a remake/remaster, nor will it be getting one anytime soon), that's genuinely impressive.

Eternal Darkness is known for its sanity system, which will cause legitimate gameplay changes and hallucinations for your character — and for something that came out in 2002, it was just revolutionary. This isn't even talking about just how much is packed into this world and with each character (since you'll occasionally get to play as a couple others).

There hasn't really been a game like it since. To this day, there isn't a single horror game that came close to matching this game and its magic. It's the literal definition of lightning in a bottle.

It's genuinely a shame that it's so difficult to access, because it's genuinely a treat for horror fans.

8 Bloodborne

MetaCritic Score: 92

Despite how notoriously difficult they are, people really, really love Souls games; so, it's no surprise that Bloodborne ended up with a score of 92. So beloved, in fact, that Jacksepticeye himself is making an animated movie adaptation of it (which, makes me excited, since I could never progress in the game itself — I had to learn the complex lore through watching my fiancé play).

Most of the lore is buried within the world, so it makes exploration all the more essential (and entertaining), but it also makes me mighty curious on what lore bits are going to be featured in the film.

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At this point, it's a game that needs no introduction — a Lovecraftian horror Souls game, notoriously tough to platinum, yet vibrant with life at the same time (as much of an oxymoron as that sounds). Yharnam has a life to it unlike anything else you'd see in a horror game, and that alone is worth the love. And for those who love the Souls gameplay, that's just a bonus.

So with that, respectfully, get lost (in the world) — just try not to get curb-stomped while you're looking around.

7 INSIDE

MetaCritic Score: 93

I love a good story that's told without even having to use dialogue — and INSIDE is that exact kind of treat. INSIDE is a puzzle platformer that's very skin to Little Nightmares in that regard, where you have to use your surroundings to your advantage ... and, most importantly, to keep yourself alive.

It's done well, and received just as well, scoring a 93 — so well, in fact, that it surpassed even Undertale, which had scored a 92.

Probably because everything in this game is organic, naturally unfolding in front of you without giving you any time to breathe, and it's fantastic. It's dark, moody, and everything that horror fans adore while following along a great story. Truly, it's a little gem that deserves more love.

Well, it's clearly loved, as it's on this list — but my point still stands.

6 The Last of Us: Part II

MetaCritic Score: 93

The Last of Us Part 2 - Ellie and Dina farmhouse

The Last of Us Part II, despite its immense divide and controversy, was still met with thunderous applause, scoring 93 and winning Game of the Year for 2020. And in all honesty, I think it's well deserved — my (mostly positive) opinions on the story aside, the performances delivered by everyone was simply spectacular on all accounts.

The Last of Us Part II Remastered scored a 90 in comparison (and that's probably because we did not need a remaster of a game ... two years after it came out).

Regardless, without even looking at the story, the game plays swift and deadly, and with the A.I. being smarter than what players had experienced with the first one. It did, mechanically and performance-wise, improve on every single aspect of the original game. It just made some choices that divided fans and newcomers alike, which is why it didn't officially surpass its predecessor.

Ultimately, though, it's an incredible game. Don't believe the review bombs.

5 Resident Evil Code: Veronica

MetaCritic Score: 94

Resident Evil CODE: Veronica X

The Resident Evil games are perhaps the most popular in the horror gaming industry, there isn't really a single horror fan who hasn't at least heard of these games, much less played them. Resident Evil Code: Veronica in particular is special in the timeline of stories, being one of the few side games that's actually canon and scoring a 94 for it.

And this canon in particular is a bit quirky. There's really no other way to put it — even still, it's fun (and at times outright hilarious), creepy, and everything RE fans love.

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This makes me all the more excited about the recently confirmed remake, Resident Evil Veronica, and it makes me just as curious to see how they're going to handle Alfred Ashford. The game is a bit dated in how some things were approached, to put it bluntly, and it'll take a little more delicacy to recreate this without being offensive.

Personally, so long as they kept his stupid dolphin laugh, I'll be happy.

4 The Last of Us

MetaCritic Score: 95

cropped-Best Selling PlayStation Exclusives Of All Time The Last of Us

As soon as players got through the intense, gripping opening of The Last of Us for the first time, they knew they were in for something different, something unique and gut-wrenching unlike anything they had experienced before — and they would be right. It's no wonder the game was met with unwavering praise literally everywhere, scoring a solid 95.

This game was truly revolutionary when it comes to not just horror gaming, but how gaming overall is approached. Have you noticed how since 2013, more games have pushed for a more cinematic, emotionally-driven experience? You can thank The Last of Us for that.

It's a drama set in the bleakest of worlds, where humanity is redefined into simply survival, regardless of what's right or wrong anymore. Civilization has fallen and attempted to rebuild, and what we see are the remnants of those 20 years of trying literally everything. Then, you're met with a flicker of hope.

The Last of Us is just truly phenomenal all around, and well worth its accolades. I still, to this day, firmly believe that they were robbed of Game of the Year in 2013.

3 BioShock

MetaCritic Score: 96

After the development team for System Shock went under, the studio they had been partnering with, Irrational Games, wanted to continue its legacy. However, 2K was skeptical after seeing how the last game had flopped, opting for something different instead — thus, BioShock was born, and thank the stars it was. It ended up becoming System Shock's successor in every possible way, blowing scores out of the water with a 96.

The gameplay is fun and engaging, yes, but the highlight of the game is actually its story, as well as how that story is told. In fact, depending on how you play the game, the story will end in a completely different way than what you would initially hope for, and your jaw will simply drop at the revelation.

Ironically, the first game remains the best in the BioShock franchise — normally it continues to improve as it goes on (or at least, that's how it's supposed to go), but everyone keeps coming back to the first title. Yet, considering just how good it was, I can't really blame anyone for loving this one the most.

2 Half-Life and Half-Life 2

MetaCritic Score: 96

Both Half-Life and Half-Life 2 were met with critical acclaim, both of them scoring the exact same: 96. Normally, that kind of reception from fans is unheard of, but Half-Life is one of those few exceptions where its very existence causes it to keep thriving. Just saying, there's a reason people are still begging for a third game, knowing full well it isn't coming.

Oh, and the Source engine, which had led to countless other games and experiences unlike any other. My personal favourite mod-turned-game, in this case, is Cry of Fear.

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These retro FPS games hold up well even today, with players continuing to dive back in and go through their favourite hostile world. It's what happens when you've opened an interdimensional portal for killer aliens (yes, that's a Stephen King story too).

Either way, both Half-Life games are a delight, and well-worth a playthrough for anyone who likes the disturbing and freaky.

1 Resident Evil 4 (2005)

MetaCritic Score: 96

Yeah, let's all pretend to be shocked.

Resident Evil 4 is widely considered as The Survival Horror game, especially when you consider the absolutely massive impact that it had on modern gaming as a whole. It was just as immensely popular when it came out, too, winning Game of the Year for 2005 at the Spike Video Game Awards and scoring a 96.

On the flipside, the Resident Evil 4 Remake scored a 93, and I think that's because it didn't completely reinvent gaming the same way the original had. Just saying, if you've played any game that had an over-the-shoulder perspective for your character (which is essentially any game that came out after 2005), you have RE4 to thank for that, and that's just one feature.

For many people, myself included, this game was their very introduction to the survival horror genre, and I can't love it enough for that. Even though the remake is technically better in almost all accounts, there is something truly special about the classic Resident Evil 4 that players continue to resonate with and adore to this day.