Survival horror games have always been an interesting niche for video games. The medium offers far more interactivity and immersion than alternative sources, and we’ve had a few consistent bangers.
The Silent Hill and FEAR franchises come to mind, with both taking very different approaches to the genre. Silent Hill is more psychological, while FEAR has always had a bit more emphasis on the action (and is still a pretty amazing game, largely thanks to the use of its ‘intelligent’ AI enemies).
Regardless, 2026 is shaping up to be a great year for horror game fans, with multiple blockbuster releases on the way, including the much-anticipated Resident Evil 9 Requiem.
Key Takeaways
- 2026 boasts a wide variety of upcoming horror games, ranging from survival horror to action horror.
- Resident Evil 9 Requiem is a particular highlight for most, as it is the latest and greatest entry within the RE franchise.
- Fatal Frame II: Crimson Butterfly REMAKE is one of the more appealing choices for those wishing for a more experimental title.
- Silent Hill: Downfall, SCP: Fragmented Minds, and others also come to mind.Â
Top Scary Games to Watch for in 2026
2026 is shaping up to be a huge year for horror gaming, bringing terrifying new experiences packed with suspense, dark storytelling, and intense gameplay. From psychological fear to survival horror thrills, these upcoming titles are set to keep players on edge. Let’s start this listicle and explore the scariest games to watch for in 2026
SCP: Fragmented Minds
Based on the SCP mythos of unidentified (and more often than not, hostile) individuals who may or may not be human, SCP: Fragmented Minds is shaping up to be an excellent release for fans of the series.
SCP: Fragmented Minds is set on Mars Site-113 and uses elements of stealth, parkour, and combat together to create a rather unique SCP game.Â
The game is currently under Early Access, having launched on January 27, 2025. 2026 has been a significant year for Fragmented Minds, with the devs having added in newer chapters and The Hunt (a 4v2 PvP mode).
FATAL FRAME II: Crimson Butterfly REMAKE
The 2003 cult classic, Fatal Frame II: Crimson Butterfly, was a rather unique horror game, throwing players into a battle for survival in a cursed, cult-like village. The game features the Camera Obscura once more and has you click pictures of vengeful spirits to defeat them.
The Fatal Frame series has always been a tense survival horror, and the Camera Obscura is one of the more unique ways to exorcise a ghost.
The 2026 game is a remake and is updated with modern visuals to make it more appealing to a newer audience. The game officially releases on March 12, 2026, and will be available for the PC, Xbox Series X/S, and PlayStation 5.
ILL
The first trailer for ILL, developed by Team Clout, managed to awe everyone with its realistic visuals, grotesque body horror, and great in-game physics, and has had quite a few wishlists on Steam.
While the game is yet to be released (or have a proper release date for that matter), it is expected to be released sometime later this year. Perhaps we will have some information during Summer Games Fest.
Directive 8020
Releasing on May 12, 2026, Directive 8020 looks straight out of a Thing video game, except for being set in space instead of the icy, desolate, and isolated polar caps. This transition to sci-fi is quite the change in tone for The Dark Pictures Anthology.
Players will have to make quite a few difficult choices as they work to remove the alien threat that has managed to infiltrate the spaceship, mimicking crew members.
Silent Hill: Townfall
First visualized during the 2022 Silent Hill Transmission from Konami, Silent Hill: Townfall is technically the last, unreleased project from Konami. We’ve seen heavy hitters such as Silent Hill f, and the excellent Silent Hill 2 Remake earlier, so expectations remain high.
The game releases later this year, although we don’t have a proper date just yet. Silent Hill: Townfall is a more experimental take on the series, being developed by No Code (of Stories Untold fame, mostly known for point-and-click horror titles).
Still Wakes the Deep
Still Wakes the Deep was initially released back in June 2024 and still remains an excellent survival horror game. The title features a heavy emphasis on psychological horror and a haunting narrative to go along with it.
If you haven’t tried it out already, now would be a good time to pick it up. Still Wakes the Deep is still a fantastic title that runs great on most devices and is something that you should definitely try out if you’re a fan of the genre.
Welcome To Doll Town
Welcome to Doll Town is a rather curious psychological survival horror game, and it has you survive your way through a cursed village. The village is infested with life-like dolls, difficult puzzles, and a ton of secrets to uncover.
The game releases on February 13, 2026, on Steam and is developed/published by Bad Wish Games.
SLEEP AWAKE
Sleep Awake is currently out on Steam, having initially released on December 2, 2025. Interestingly enough, this title has been published by Blumhouse Games and is quite an intriguing title.
Sleep Awake is a psychedelic first-person survival horror game where you will be forced to stay awake to avoid The Hush, a mysterious entity that lifts people away in their sleep, presumably to their demise.
Routine
Released on December 4, 2025, Routine spent a decade in development and is a first-person survival experience that is set on a lunar base. The game features a 80s ‘retro future’ aesthetic, and has you fend off against hostile robots using a minimal set of tools.
Your resources are very limited, and the game takes a lot of cues from Alien Isolation, featuring the same retro filter, along with a feeling of powerlessness against threats.
DreadOut 3
Dreadout 3 is an upcoming horror game in 2026, but lacks a proper release date for the time being. The series protagonist Linda returns in yet another third-person horror adventure. The game is inspired by an Indonesian urban legend and is shaping up to be an exciting release.
Resident Evil 9
Resident Evil 9, Requiem is the newest entry in Capcom’s long-running survival horror game franchise, Resident Evil. The game features the return of the one and only Leon S. Kennedy, along with newcomer Grace Ashcroft.
Requiem is unique in having you switch between perspectives and characters over the course of the game, and returns to where it all started in Raccoon City. Visuals look pristine, and so far from what we’ve seen from the demo, it’s shaping up to be an excellent release.
The game releases on February 27, 2026, for the PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and Nintendo Switch 2.
Which Game Fits Which Horror Style?
| Game Name | Type of Experience |
| SCP: Fragmented Minds | Action |
| Fatal Frame II: Crimson Butterfly Remake | Pure survival horror |
| ILL | Cosmic and body horror |
| Directive 8020 | Action parkour |
| Silent Hill: Townfall | Survival horror; likely experimental with minimal interaction |
| Still Wakes The Deep | Survival, with a focus on storytelling and exploration |
| Welcome To Doll Town | Survival, indie horror |
| SLEEP AWAKE | Action |
| Routine | Pure survival horror that plays out like Alien Isolation |
| DreadOut 3 | Indie horror |
| Resident Evil 9 | Action, survival |
For hardcore action lovers, the answer is likely to be Resident Evil 9, Requiem. Requiem is easily the biggest entry within this list, and features brutal gore, dismemberment, and fantastic combat that might just be Capcom’s best work yet.
For true survival horror veterans, the Crimson Butterfly remake is likely the best choice, owing to its clever use of shock horror and the Camera Obscura, a mechanic that hasn’t been copied elsewhere (at least to the same effect).
FAQs
What is the #1 scariest horror game?
The answer is subjective, but anything that blends a suspenseful atmosphere with tense combat usually works. Horror video games are best enjoyed when there is tension, and not on cheap, frequent jump scares.
What is the hardest horror game?
Look out for true survival horror games, and not survival action ones. These titles usually have you manage resources and feature next to zero combat. The atmosphere is tense, and every wrong move can result in a game over.
Are any of these horror games VR-supported?
Unfortunately, most of these scary video games aren’t VR supported, but you could probably use a mod or something similar to gain some functionality.
Are these scary games suitable for beginners or only hardcore players?
Most of these games feature a difficult slider, so you should be fine even as a beginner. That being said, the key to winning a difficult game is patience, so keep at it until you win.
