Back in August of 2014, the enigmatic P.T. or Silent Hills quietly appeared on the PlayStation Store as a free download. By the following April, it would be taken down, never to return. In its short eight months of existence, though, P.T. would gain such infamy that it would become for many the standard for what horror games should be. Although it was only a playable teaser and the full game, called Silent Hills, would never come to fruition, P.T. was an incredible experience.
While most gamers may never get to play P.T., and will probably never get to enjoy Silent Hills, that doesn't mean they have to give up on the experience entirely. First-person horror experiences and photo-realistic ones are some of the most frightening of all, and there are more than enough titles that fans can check out in this department if they want to enjoy some truly horrifying video games that will leave players with some jarring nightmares for quite some time indeed.
Updated January 4, 2024 by Mark Sammut: Konami has a few Silent Hill projects in the works, so the franchise's future is brighter than it has been in a long time. Still, these upcoming releases are not related to Silent Hills or P.T., so it remains to be seen whether they manage to scratch a similar itch. In the meantime, fans can check out a plethora of photo-realistic horror games.
15Amnesia: The Bunker
Metascore: 78
Amnesia: The Bunker is the latest title in this long-running horror series that is pretty iconic in its own right. Unlike the tightly structured and linear approach of the past games in the series, The Bunker integrates a roguelike approach to its gameplay by switching things up in every playthrough to keep things fresh and interesting, even if these changes may seem minor to many players.
The horror-focused gameplay is as strong as ever, and fans will love Amnesia: The Bunker for its oppressive atmosphere and unique story. The graphics certainly don't hurt too, making the gameplay look as realistic as ever in first-person as players try to escape the clutches of nightmarish monsters while trying to keep the bunker lit up so that the monster doesn't have free reign to torment the protagonist whenever they wish.
14Soma
Metascore: 84
Frictional Games is the master of immersive first-person horror experiences that take players down a dark and memorable journey, and Soma is no exception to this rule. Many people consider this title to be their best one, with its narrative throwing players for a loop as they uncover a chilling mystery that fans will remember long after they're finished with this experience.
The encounters with the monsters in this game are pretty chilling, even if there isn't a great variety of enemies in the game and the lack of any mode of self-defense makes the hide-and-seek gameplay feel rather rote and boring after a point. However, the graphics are incredible, and Soma's incredible narrative carries this experience to the very end.
13Dead Space (2023)
Metascore: 89
The announcement of a Dead Space remake garnered a mixed reception, with many fans feeling that the first game looked good enough to not warrant a visual upgrade in any way. However, people were still excited to see that EA hadn't given up on the Dead Space series, and fans were especially amazed by this title upon launch as they saw just how technically excellent the title was.
Not only were the visuals upgraded to a whole new level, but the main character finally had a voice of his own, and some levels from the original game were expanded in a way that made sense while adding to the brilliance of the gameplay as well. The Dead Space remake is a great example of what such projects should aim to achieve, and fans can only hope that its sequels get the same treatment, especially Dead Space 3.
12Resident Evil 3 Remake
Metascore: 79
Resident Evil 3 Remake is a game that was so faithful that many people considered that to be a drawback of sorts. The original game was considered to be a pretty short experience for many fans, and the remake decided to keep the core of the game intact instead of substantially expanding on everything present in the base experience.
That being said, there's no denying that Resident Evil 3 Remake is still a blast to play through despite its limited runtime. The game looks beautiful, and Capcom pulled out all the stops to make the remake look breathtaking in certain moments.
11The Evil Within 2
Metascore: 82
The Evil Within 2 is pretty much the perfect sequel, proving that Shinji Mikami still had many tools in his arsenal that he has yet to reveal. While the first Evil Within title was certainly great in its own right, there's no denying that the game had many problems that needed to be ironed out.
So, it was nice to see a developer that listened to the fans and strove to improve the sequel across the board. The result is The Evil Within 2 — a brilliant survival horror experience that looks beautiful as well. While the setting's open nature sets it apart from P.T.'s self-contained structure, The Evil Within 2's handling of Anima, an enemy that periodically appears throughout the campaign, delivers a similar sense of anxiety.
10Outlast
Metascore: 80
The first Outlast game seemed like nothing more than another run-of-the-mill horror game that cashed in on the jumpscare fest that had become quite prevalent at the time. However, it's when players experienced the game for themselves that they realized just how tightly woven and eerie the entire game was.
It helped that the game's graphics looked so amazing that most players were bound to be scared by the many horrors present within. Outlast might have a disappointing ending, but the journey more than makes up for what gamers perceived to be an unnecessary downer of an ending.
9Resident Evil Village
Metascore: 84
The latest numbered entry in the Resident Evil series is a wild ride that is full to the brim with action-packed set pieces reminiscent of Resident Evil 4. Ethan Winters' story takes on a whole new direction that most Resident Evil fans consider to be quite promising.
Resident Evil Village might not be as good as its predecessor, but the game still has its strengths in the horror department. This, coupled with its excellent graphics, makes for a brilliant game that is a joy to play through. Also, the VR version of Village is terrifying.
8Blair Witch
Metascore: 69
The Blair Witch Project was one of the most innovative horror films ever made, sparking the rise of a franchise that is still going strong to this day. The latest release in this series is the survival horror game Blair Witch, which is a treat for fans of scary games.
The atmosphere of this game is truly excellent, even though the gameplay itself can be rather underwhelming at times. However, players who manage to look past the game's faults will find themselves enjoying an immensely scary and immersive experience.
7Alien: Isolation
Metascore: 83
The Alien franchise didn't have the best representation in the gaming industry for the longest time. Thankfully, the release of Alien: Isolation changed this fact by delivering a brilliant experience full to the brim with clever scares.
The fact that the Alien hunting down Amanda Ripley actually learns about the player's hiding patterns and amends its surveillance accordingly is easily one of the scariest parts of the overall experience. Players need to amend their behavior and think on the fly to avoid the deadly embrace of the alien.
6Visage
Metascore: 81
Visage can be considered the spiritual successor to the unrequited legacy that was P.T. After its cancelation, many copycats came out of the woodwork but none were as promising (or as well-realized) as Visage. The setting, gameplay, and storyline bear tremendous similarities to P.T.
This game quite literally came together in an attempt to 'fill the void left by this canceled game that everyone had wanted to play so bad,' according to SadSquare Studios' Jonathan Vallières. The psychological survival horror game is available on PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One.
5Hellseed
Metascore: N/A
Based in 1980s Italy, a doctor has gone missing, and the player takes the role of the detective tasked with finding him. Hellseed takes place in the doctor's home, where all manner of evil follows — and finds — the detective. From the moment the front door opens and the familiarly oppressive atmosphere sets in, the lingering feeling of being watched will excite and terrify P.T. fans, in anticipation of what may be lurking in every dark corner.
Between the objects rotating themselves upside down, the blood running down the walls, and the jump scares rivaling those of The Last of Us Part 2, this will certainly be a game for every horror fan to keep on their radar until the official release. Hellseed is currently in early access on Steam.
4The Beast Inside
Metascore: 74
Released in 2019 on PC, this Kickstarter-funded original game boasts stunning photo-realistic visuals. This semi-open world journey allows gamers to follow two protagonists, from separate eras, who solve the mysteries left within the forgotten Blackstone fortress. The psychological trickery of the game leaves players with a flurry of questions and a demand for more, just like genre classics such as the original Silent Hill and Resident Evil.
Players will fight against some of the most terrifying forms of evil while the past is violently pulled into the present. Who can be trusted? How will anyone survive? The only way to find out is to press on.
3Home Sweet Home
Metascore: 66
Initially designed as a mobile game, Home Sweet Home was released in 2017. It offers approximately 3 hours of gameplay, in which the player tries to escape an apartment building while being constantly pursued by a phantasmal female following the disappearance of his wife.
While the gameplay will be short, it may provide the possibility of playing out a story similar to the one that was taken from gamers when P.T. was removed from the PlayStation Store. The good news for those craving more playtime is that Home Sweet Home Episode 2 was released in 2019, with both games receiving a rather positive reception.
2Infliction
Metascore: 72 (Extended Cut)
For many gamers, Infliction is the title that everyone hoped P.T. would be. Released first in 2018, it tells the tale of a malevolent presence stalking the player around a dark suburban home while mysteries unravel in front of them.
This unsettling game captivates players with its eerie sounds, unpredictable experiences, and realistic visuals. The storyline is very similar to that of P.T. and the antagonist will give fans of the latter flashbacks of the worst kind.
1Alan Wake 2
Metascore: 93
The long-awaited sequel to 2010's Alan Wake, the 2023 release garnered near-universal praise for its gripping narrative, improved gameplay compared to its predecessor, dual-protagonist system, and graphics. Remedy has always been at the forefront in terms of visual flare, and Alan Wake 2 represents the developer at its peak powers. Players follow two characters, an FBI agent named Saga Anderson and the eponymous writer, as they go through connected but still fairly different experiences. While the former finds herself in Bright Falls investigating the death of an agent, Alan is stuck in the Dark Place, a hellish world that twists reality to create something far more sinister.
Both settings are incredibly immersive, thanks to not only the stunning photo-realistic visuals but also the clever storytelling. Alan Wake 2 could very well go down as one of the best horror games of the 2020s, setting a high bar that very few projects are likely to reach.