Warning: Spoilers ahead for games developed by Techland, Red Barrels, Visceral Games, Telltale Games, Konami, and Scott CawthonHorror games are a realm where happy endings are as rare as they are in the real world of horror, filled with blood and gore. The best horror games captivate players in a chilling narrative, immersing them in a world they love to play but fear to inhabit. In these selected horror titles, one thing is certain: terror and death.

Players must brace themselves as the main character meets their demise in the games listed below. While it may sadden some, the harsh reality of these stories, particularly in the horror genre, leaves no room for survivors. In horror, hope for a happy ending is futile.

6 Outlast

Miles Upshur Meets a Gruesome End as Walrider's Host

Miles Upshur, an investigative journalist, delves into Mount Massive Asylum to uncover dark secrets for a sinister story that must be exposed. Throughout this harrowing journey, players must navigate through the horrors or face a fatal fate.

As the game concludes, players, on the brink of freedom, are abruptly shot by Dr. Wernicke's men, leaving no witnesses behind. Miles Upshur's tragic death leads to his possession as the new host for the Walrider, a embodiment of madness and power.

5 Dying Light

Kyle Crane's Transformation into a Night Hunter

Plunged into the infected Harran quarantine zone, Kyle Crane witnesses the rampant chaos and horror engulfing the city. Captured and infected by biters, he joins the desperate quest for a cure, sustained only by antizin injections.

Kyle's journey through Harran, striving to contain the virus within himself and the city through parkour, ultimately leads to a grim fate. In The Following DLC, Kyle's transformation into a Night Hunter marks the loss of his identity, reduced to a rotting being consumed by the hunt for humans.

4 The Walking Dead: Season One

Lee's Heartbreaking Demise from Walker's Infection

The Walking Dead: Season One infuses horror elements into its narrative, resonating with players through Telltale Games' impactful storytelling. Players follow Lee's journey, granted a chance to craft a better world for himself and others, where choices dictate fates.

In his selfless quest to secure a future for orphaned Clementine, Lee succumbs to a fatal bite, his infection transforming him into a monster. Among the most poignant video game deaths, Lee's demise remains etched in the annals of horror gaming.

3 Five Nights At Freddy’s 4

The Tragic End of the Crying Child by Fredbear's Bite

Five Nights at Freddy’s 4 delves into darker territories, portraying the demise of a child protagonist. Players navigate through nightmarish scenarios, unraveling a chilling tale of survival amidst lurking terrors.

The unnamed crying child in FNAF 4 faces a tragic end when Fredbear inflicts a fatal bite, leading to his demise in a hospital from severe injuries, marking a haunting conclusion to the game.

2 Silent Hill 2

James' Fateful Decision Plunges Him Into the Depths of Despair

Summoned to Silent Hill by a mysterious letter from his deceased wife, James Sunderland embarks on a quest for truth, only to be ensnared in a nightmarish reality of fog and malevolent entities. As he grapples with his sanity, James faces a series of chilling encounters.

Amidst the enigmatic themes of Silent Hill 2, James' fate remains a subject of fervent speculation. Depending on the ending, James may meet his end by his own hand, diving into the watery abyss in a haunting conclusion to his journey.

1 Dead Space 3

Isaac's Sacrifice in a Final Bid to Halt the Necromorph Threat

Isaac Clarke's life spirals into chaos following his encounter with the Marker, plunging him into a nightmarish existence haunted by visions and torment. Tasked with eradicating the Markers in Dead Space 3, Isaac embarks on a perilous journey to safeguard humanity.

In a climactic act of self-sacrifice, Isaac propels a Moon-sized organism towards Tau Volantis, aiming to obliterate the source of the Necromorph scourge. While the game hints at his survival, subsequent events suggest Isaac's fate might indeed be sealed in death as the narrative takes an uncertain turn.