The adventure-horror genre has always been fertile ground for creativity and innovation within gaming. Taking inspiration from films and literature alike, these games usually aim to build suspense and mystery as players follow through oftentimes linear storylines - though usually ones with unpredictable twists and turns. With an extensive history of beloved titles, the genre has featured since the earliest of consoles was developed, and remains important today even if it is not always primarily in the spotlight with AAA developers.
From ancient folkloric tales to cosmic science-fiction, the element of fear resonates throughout and continues to be a source of intrigue for many. The following games balance performance and gameplay with good storytelling and a healthy dose of terror. These are some of the best adventure-horror games.
8 Until Dawn
Until Dawn is a Playstation 4 exclusive developed by Supermassive Games, the same studio who later created The Dark Pictures Anthology, but Until Dawn is widely regarded as their best adventure-horror game. Playing on many classic tropes of teen horror flicks combined with Native American folklore, the game results in a terrifying and engrossing story where any of the characters can die permanently at almost any time.
The fearsome Wendigos are perhaps some of the most visually striking and intimidating creatures ever created in gaming, and the stellar voice acting and character models of the game's heroes really makes players care about who survives and who doesn't.
7 Call Of Cthulhu
As any avid readers will know, there are few more influential authors in the horror genre than the legendary H.P Lovecraft. Cyanide and Focus Home Interactive's Call Of Cthulhu is a well rendered take on the classic short story of the same name, and is sure to be a favorite for any fans of the author. Despite being five years old, the game still holds up relatively well graphically, and features moments of horror that are sure to frighten even the most seasoned gamers.
While some have criticized the game for its linearity, calling it a "glorified walking simulator", there is still plenty of interactivity and the game is carried by an excellent story and cast of characters. From haunted mansions and whaling towns to a mental asylum and a cultic gathering - this is perhaps the most Lovecraftian gaming experience available even still today.
6 Bramble: The Mountain King
Newly released in 2023, Dimfrost Studio's Bramble: The Mountain King is a tale inspired by Norse mythology - featuring a world of fearsome giants, trolls and spirits that are sure to linger in the minds of all who encounter them. The game is a visual masterpiece and has some of the best environmental storytelling yet seen in an indie game.
The story is also extremely captivating, as players follow Olle on his quest to save his sister. The game perfectly captures the imagination of a young child and how they might view the world having been told scary fairytales by their parents. The only criticism some players have had is its length - with the game possible to complete in roughly three hours, many felt it could have had more content.
5 Alien: Isolation
Creative Assembley's Alien: Isolation was lauded upon its release for its intense and terrifying take on a beloved cult-classic. Using the classic H.R Geiger alien character, the developers pitched players against it in a cat-and-mouse stealth/survival adventure, all the while isolated within the confines of a space station. The gameplay was notoriously frightening for its time but still remains palpitating by today's standards.
Prioritizing evasion over outright confrontation, Alien: Isolation remains unique as a stealth game, and its story is in-line with much of the lore of the franchise at large. Nintendo Switch players will soon be able to access a special version of this game, and many fans are still holding out in hope of a sequel.
4 Dead Space (Series)
Dating back to its first release in 2008, EA and Visceral Games' Dead Space series combines sci-fi and horror - with player stranded aboard a dysfunctional mining ship overrun with hideous monsters. While main trilogy follows a continuing story, the consensus among players is that the original Dead Space was the best. Following the 2023 remake of the original, players can now experience the intensity and brutality of the early series, rendered with cutting-edge graphics.
The only downside to the remastered version were some performance issues and at time, over-simplified combat mechanics. However, the series as a whole has certainly left its mark as one of, if not the best, adventure-horror game series set in space.
3 Little Nightmares
Much like Bramble: The Mountain King, Tarsier Studios' Little Nightmares and its sequel seek to play upon people's childhood fears and evoke both uncertainty and discomfort with its unique and creepy art-style. Players will have to sneak and solve puzzles to navigate this dark and twisted world, which is truly the visual representation of a children's nightmare.
While parallels have been drawn between Little Nightmares and games such as Limbo or Inside, the former is arguably the most morbid of the three, and its original visual aesthetic is brilliantly rendered in 3D with careful attention paid to the modeling of even the smallest and most subtle items in the game.
2 Fatal Frame (Series)
Koei Tecmo's Fatal Frame series is perhaps one of the best adventure-horror franchises ever to come out of Japan. Originally released on Playstation 2 back in 2001, the series is still going strong with releases and remasters being added as recently as 2023. Most games in the series follow a range of characters in an interlinking narrative, and together each game adds more lore to the previous titles, though it is not necessarily a requirement to play them in chronological order.
Such is the love for this series that original copies of the Playstation 2 edition have sold for prices in excess of $200 - leading many players to beg the developers for a remaster of the original trilogy. Maiden Of Blackwater and Mask Of The Lunar Eclipse are the more recent titles, which hold up graphically and can still serve as a great introduction to the series.
1 Resident Evil (Series)
Perhaps the most famous gaming series in the adventure-horror genre is CapCom's Resident Evil franchise. Dating all the way back to 1996 and still going strong today, the Resident Evil series has innovated and adapted itself to the genre seamlessly over the years - providing fans with many beloved protagonists and notorious villains along the way.
The series features a huge variety of locations and narratives, ensuring that there is most definitely something for everyone in the Resident Evil franchise. From swarms of zombies in Africa to dilapidated plantations in the Southern USA, the developers really have left no stone unturned when it comes to scaring players and utilizing the most horrifying tropes imaginable - while simultaneously conjuring ideas that only a dark and deeply disturbed mind could dream up.