Horror games are fun to play, or even watch others playing. If you agree on that, check out this list of top 25 best free horror games. Be careful though, it’s 2023, the games are keep getting scarier.
Below you will find all kinds of free horror games with puzzles, jump scares, multiplayer options, etc. So, bookmark the ones you like, download for free, and enjoy the intense gameplays. Also don’t hesitate to ask any questions or share your favorite horror games in the comment section at the bottom of this page.
Let’s get this started. Here is my list of best free horror games to play in 2023:
1. Lurk in the Dark
First, I would like to say that this game is one of the highest rated free horror games on steam. It’s about a residence at the Babel’s Hill Top that is haunted by ghosts and monsters, inspired by Silent Hill franchise. Plus, it’s completely free to play.
This journey might be challenging, lots of backtracking needed. Also, there are many puzzles and mysteries to be solved. However, it’s totally worth it because the game is really fun.
2. We Went Back
We Went Back is a time-looping horror game. Meaning you’ll experience a span of time which is repeated. Until you break the cycle by solving the mystery.
It’s set in an abandoned space station where you’ll be utterly alone. Unfortunately, exit door is locked and you must a way to solve this mystery all while escaping the horrors lurking around.
It takes 30 – 50 minutes to beat the game. Therefore, it’s a short experience but rich, nonetheless.
3. Impasto
Impasto is a first-person horror adventure game inspired by the works of Francisco Goya, who is a famous painter of 18-19th centuries. Even if you’re not interested in art, you probably have seen his Saturn Devouring His Son painting. Because it’s very popular in the modern culture.
The game itself set in a world that is altered by insanity. You must survive this adventure by being sneaky and using your wits.
4. Reminiscence
Our list continues with another time travel horror game which is free to play on steam.
Reminiscence is an indie psychological horror game made on Unity engine. You’ll try to find out what happened to your family. In order to solve the mystery, you must travel in time my using the watch on your wrist. Altering state of objects in the house will manipulate the environment in the future.
5. Don’t Be Afraid
Don’t Be Afraid – The First Toy introduces the dramatic story of a kidnapped boy.
You’ll play as a young boy kidnapped by a psychopath. Explore the giant house of your abductor and try to escape, all while facing nightmarish horrors.
This is an intense game which puts the player in a position of always on edge state. Because he is coming!
6. Dark Fracture
Let’s continue with another psychological horror game. Dark Fracture set in the late 90s in a forested area of the Northeastern USA. Forest hides a body farm, also as known as decomposition research facility.
You’ll take the role of a facility worker. As expected, during one of your shifts, chain of disturbing events will draw.
7. Fears to Fathom
Almost every child experienced fear of staying home alone at some point. Well, it’s time to re-experience this fear via a video game.
You’ll play as Miles, a 14 years old kid who is home alone. Your main object is to survive. Because Fears of Fathom is a home invasion story.
8. Dagon: H. P. Lovecraft
H. P. Lovecraft’s cult classic work Dagon is now a 3D narrative experience. Now with VR support too!
Step into the shoes of a former ship officer and dive into the Stygian Abyss of a drug-addled mind. Uncover the unspeakable long-drowned horrors.
It’s a short game with Cthulhu mythos and you should definitely try it.
9. SCP: Secret Laboratory
Secure Contain Protect / SCP / Special Containment Procedures
Find yourself deep within the SCP foundation, during a containment breach… Many of the anomalies have escaped their cell and are all hostile. As a site personnel, or the anomaly itself, take control of the facility.
SCP: Secret Laboratory is a multiplayer PVP shooter horror game where you can play as agents or the monsters.
10. The Complex: Found Footage
The most popular horror genre of 2022 was the backrooms. As a result, many backrooms related video games appear. The Complex: Found Footage is one of the good ones. What’s more, it’s completely free.
Experience the eerie world of the backrooms through a VHS camera. Solve the mystery of dream like liminal spaces.
11. No More Room in Hell
Oh, isn’t that my favorite free to play zombie game on Steam? Yes, it is! No More Room in Hell is one of the best zombie games. It’s even free.
You can play No More Room in Hell co-operative with up to eight players. Which is amazing with friends. Strangers are cool too.
Best thing about this game is its realism. Ammo and weapons are extremely scarce. Therefore, you must plan, strategize, and use teamwork to complete your missions.
12. Dead Frontier 2
Second and the last zombie game of 2023 best free horror games list is Dead Frontier 2. It’s a game of survival horror with multiplayer support.
As one of the few survivors of the outbreak, you must survive and scratch a living. In order to do that, you must scavenge for supplies, improve your skills, and trade with other players. All while surviving the infected.
13. Tiny Bunny
Tiny Bunny is a visual novel game, which will make you feel like reading a story book and actively participating. This genre is not everyone’s cup of tea. So, you can skip this one if it didn’t grab your attention.
This game offers great atmosphere, rich dialogue, decisions, amazing art style, and scares! Definitely worth your time. Its reviews are overwhelmingly positive on steam after all.
14. Dark Deception
Dark Deception is a story driven horror maze game, played in the first-person view. This maze is full of horrors, there is nowhere to hide. You either run or die. Can you find the escape?
It’s a fast-paced horror game and that’s why it appeals to huge player base.
15. Slender Threads
Slender Threads is a very unique psychological horror game. You don’t get to play many point & click horror games so often after all.
Encounter and interact with various eccentric characters. Solve puzzles and mysteries. Bring light to the origins of the mysterious region.
16. Afterhours
Feel the horrors of a large, abandoned hospital. It’s basically the perfect setting for a horror game in my opinion.
You must hide, explore, and survive the mysterious creatures haunting the abandoned facility.
17. Shattered Lights
Let’s continue with the best free VR horror game. Since it’s a VR only game, you can skip to the next game on this list if you don’t have the VR equipment.
About the game: Shattered Lights is a horror game that takes you on a journey to an abandoned underground medical facility. You must survive and escape all while maintaining your sanity.
18. Hide and Shriek
Scare or be scared. Hide and Shriek is a multiplayer only horror game where you challenge other players.
There are many ways to scare your opponents. Such as laying traps, casting spells, sneaking up on them, blinding, and even unleashing demons!
19. Last Bus Home
Rest of the games on this list are released on a website called itch io, including this one. Itch io is a platform where indie developers share their games. So, it’s safe platform becoming more and more popular each day.
Last Bus Home is a very short, small horror game with multiple endings. It’s up to you to decide our heroes ending.
Story: You find yourself waiting for a bus late at night, in the middle of nowhere. Then, some weirdo appears out of nowhere near you, also waiting for the bus. Is he simply a good samaritan waiting for a bus or is he someone more sinister?
20. The Shadow Over Route 80
The Shadow Over Route 80 is basically just another short 10–15-minute horror game with multiple endings.
You take the role of a night shift worker of a gas station. Things were going smooth. However, tonight is not just the typical night shift you’re used to. Because some weirdo is lurking in the shadows outside and possibly stalking you! Can you go home safely? Obviously, it’s not going to be easy.
21. Wrong Floor
Wrong Floor is a short 15 min horror game with outlast vibes.
What happens when you end up in a wrong floor? In sum, you get into an elevator, and it falls into the basement. Then the real nightmare begins.
22. Late Night Mop
You are requested to do a quick clean up. You don’t usually accept cleaning jobs that late at night. However, customer says it’s urgent and pays a lot!
Obviously, you shouldn’t have accepted the job. Because strange paranormal stuff started happening the moment you enter the house.
Basically, it’s a haunted house cleaning simulator.
23. The Mortuary Assistant
Can you stay alone with the dead? Being a mortuary assistant is not an easy job. You will embalm corpses, banish demons, and save souls!
Of course, some corpses will awake at your night shifts. But don’t worry, you will perform some occult rituals to deal with demonic entities.
10 hours of content awaits you!
24. The Baby in Yellow
As a babysitter you have to deal with some unruly children. But this one is special and might be your last… Can you stay in control?
The baby in Yellow is one-of-a-kind horror game. It’s basically a demon-baby and poor babysitter simulator.
25. Strange Toilet
Final game of 2023 best free horror games list is called Strange Toilet. Believe me, you’ve never played or even heard a game like this before.
A toilet killer captured on cameras in the city. There’s a killer on the loose.
Suddenly, you got the urge to go to toilet. Series of unfortunate events unfold shortly afterwards.
