Games fall into obscurity for any number of reasons, and they’re usually indie games that slip under the radar. It doesn’t mean they’re bad games, but it does make it difficult to find these titles on any horror game lists. So, here are 10 obscure horror games you probably never heard of.
10 Obscure Horror Games You Might Have Missed
10. White Day: A Labyrinth Named School
White Day: A Labyrinth Named School is an older game from 2001 that was remade in 2015. It’s available on PC and Android. All you wanted to do was return your beloved’s diary to him by sneaking into school during the middle of the night. That leads to you needing to evade the school’s killer janitor in a journey full of puzzles. The puzzles in this game are so subtle at times that it’s easy to get stuck because you didn’t complete a minor action. White Day: A Labyrinth Named School might not be as obscure as other games, but it definitely doesn’t get the attention it deserves.
9. Echo Night
FromSoftware is now known for its Soulsborne games, but in 1998, it released Echo Night for the PlayStation. I find it fascinating to look back at a well-known studio’s older or less-known games — and Echo Night is far from what you expect from FromSoftware. It blends sci-fi and supernatural elements to guide Richard through a mystery that starts with a phone call about his missing father.
8. Faith: The Unholy Trinity
In Faith: The Unholy Trinity, you play as a priest who’s determined to finish an exorcism with or without the Vatican’s permission. The game has an 8-bit style and a story inspired by the Satanic Panic of the 1980s. Despite its more simplistic style, Faith packs a lot of scares that end up being incredibly effective since you don’t expect them. It’s worth checking out for any horror fan.
7. I Have No Mouth and I Must Scream
Based on a short story of the same name by Harlan Ellison, I Have No Mouth and I Must Scream is an older point- and-click psychological horror game that’s heavy on the reading to the point that it’d likely be a visual novel if made today. If you don’t mind the heavy reading, the narrative journey this game takes you on is haunting. And the voicing by Harlan Ellison is perfect for AM, the computer that you try to outsmart, bringing his own creation to life in a new form.
6. Home Sweet Home
Home Sweet Home is a stealth-heavy horror game based on Thai myths and legends. I find that adds an element of mystery as someone who wasn’t familiar with those myths and legends, which encouraged me to learn about them. The emphasis on stealth adds a lot of tension, but there’s also a storytelling element. If you aren’t a huge puzzle fan but like horror, this is a good choice since it’s light on puzzles.
5. Scratches
Scratches is another point-and-click horror game that’s heavy on story and atmosphere. And it’s free to pick up on Steam. You play as a writer who starts exploring a place that is supposed to calm your mind. Naturally, this leads to nightmares, ghosts, and a story about murder. While it might seem tedious, Scratches intrigues you enough to press through until you reach its more unnerving content.
4. Witch Hunt
Witch Hunt puts you in the position of a man whose birthright is protecting people from occult practitioners. With a huge environment to explore and an eerie atmosphere, you’re forced to be patient and persistent when hunting witches. So, it can be frustrating to play, but there’s also a lot of replay value if you enjoy this style. Plus, the creator made more games of a similar nature if you have fun with it!
3. Statues
Do you like the “Don’t Blink” episode of Doctor Who with the Weeping Angels? Statues takes that concept and puts it into a video game. As such, you feel tense through the game because you never know when you might miss an enemy and have them sneak up on you since you weren’t keeping your eyes on them. It’s not the best game on the list, but it’s among the more obscure and worth trying if you like Weeping Angels.
2. Suite 776
Suite 776 uses a similar idea to Silent Hill 4: The Room where you explore an unusual location that was the site of at least one death. This might be the fastest game to go through on the list, taking about an hour to reach one of the multiple endings. While playing, you stay unsettled due to the atmosphere. Then, you face jump scares and plenty of mysteries that make Suite 776 a little delight of horror and intrigue.
1. Who’s Lila?
In Who’s Lila, the ability to manipulate your face replaces dialogue options in a unique gameplay mechanic with a reverse-detective story. This psychological horror makes you think about topics that are generally uncomfortable to consider, such as death and identity. However, it’s a fascinating game that any psychological horror fan needs to play at least once. Are you ready to help solve a woman’s disappearance, or will you choose to stay silent as one of the last people who saw her?
And those are 10 obscure horror games you probably never heard of. It’s a shame that some games escape notice, but that makes it fun to discover hidden gems and experience them without spoilers. From here, check out more creepy content, like some of the best liminal space horror games or puzzle-based horror games.
