Be it Halloween or simply the mood for horror games, there are countless spooky experiences being created every day. While some players must wait until the full release to enjoy a scary title, some developers have opted to develop their games alongside their players through early access.

This has been done with various genres though it's rarely seen with horror due to wanting to keep the frights fresh with their players. However, there are some incredible horror experiences for players to enjoy early with these amazing titles that can be enjoyed on PC. Be it a genuine horror experience to one that can be enjoyed with friends, these are by far the best of the bunch.

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10 Mortal Sin

Monsters walking towards the player in Mortal Sin
Mortal Sin

Released
March 15, 2023
Developer
Nikola Todorovic
Genre(s)
Action , Roguelike , Horror
Steam User Rating
97% (October 27, 2023)

Mortal Sin is a rogue-like hack and slash, action-horror where the player must fight their face through the nightmare, they find themselves in if they hope to survive. While the game may not be as scary as some on the list, this is still an impressive title that already contains so much potential and enjoyment for players even in the early access.

With the current version of Mortal Sin already having over fifteen playable classes and over forty-five levels, Mortal Sin already contains the replayability needed for a rogue-like horror game.

9 Project: Playtime

A player who is a monster chasing another player in Project: Playtime
Project: Playtime

Released
December 12, 2022
Developer
Mob Entertainment
Genre(s)
Survival Horror , Puzzle
Steam User Rating
80% (October 27, 2023)

Some horror experiences are made more frightening due to a player being the one who is controlling the monster, which has been tested in Project: Playtime. In this horror multiplayer experience, six players work together to put together a ginormous toy while a seventh player attempts to put a stop to them, all while playing as a large toy themselves.

Putting together this toy can be stressful especially as aside from this monster attempting to kill the other players, they also have a chance to sabotage the process the other players have made on their creation.

8 Escape The Backrooms

People in Hazmat suits running down a hallway in Escape the Backrooms
Escape The Backrooms

Released
August 11, 2022
Developer
Fancy Games
Genre(s)
Horror
Steam User Rating
90%

The backrooms have become quite popular in recent gaming media with many horror games creating terrifying experiences from them. One such great example of this is Escape the Backrooms where a player –either alone or with friends– must explore the backroom levels in search of an escape.

Due to the game being in early access, Fancy Games is gradually adding more content to Escape The Backrooms such as new levels and different game modes that can make these ominous hallways more exciting to explore with other players. Players should remember that they aren't alone as dangerous entities also lurk in those rooms.

7 Inside The Backrooms

Two people in hazmat suits walking through a bricked hallway being stalked by a large wolf in Inside the Backrooms
Inside The Backrooms

Released
June 20, 2022
Developer
MrFatcat
Genre(s)
Horror , Puzzle
Steam User Rating
85% (October 27, 2023)

Alternatively, MrFatCat made their own backroom co-op horror for players to explore. Like Escape the Backrooms, this game takes place in the liminal space that people can supposedly fall into that is a step out of reality.

When playing Inside the Backrooms, players will find themselves exploring these liminal spaces where each level has its own unique puzzle for the player to solve. While the title currently only has five levels available, due to being in early access players can expect many more. The game also be enjoyed in VR for a more immersive experience, although implementation of this feature is still rough.

6 Lethal Company

A player on a moon's surface in Lethal Company, they're holding a torch
Lethal Company

Released
October 23, 2023
Developer
Genre(s)
Horror
Steam User Rating
97%

The objective is simple in Lethal Company, go as a team to various abandoned moons and collect scrap for the company. However, it's never that easy as all sorts of dangers appear during the night. Players must work as a team to locate the valuable scarp, and it back to their vehicle before they encounter any dangers.

Even when it isn't the dead of night, there are still dangers to be encountered while exploring the moon's surface, this makes having a crew even more important as this added protection allows players to successfully complete their mission.

5 SCP: 5K

A body hanging from green vines in SCP: 5K
SCP: 5K

Released
February 22, 2022
Developer(s)
Affray Interactive
Genre(s)
Tactical , Shooter , Horror
Steam User Rating
83% (October 27, 2023)

The SCP Foundation is a collective of horror stories that have been perfectly transformed into multiple different horror games. One recent creation that many players are looking forward to seeing complete is SCP: 5K. This co-op FPS horror game is heavily based on SCP-5000 by Tahony, as players uncover the truth of an entity that has been controlling humanity for years.

Players will encounter various other SCPs during their exploration of the facility, though there also appears to be plenty more in store as the developing company Affray Interactive fleshes out the story further to create an engrossing experience.

4 The Outlast Trials

A player getting attacked in The Outlast Trials
The Outlast Trials

Released
March 5, 2024
Developer(s)
Red Barrels
Genre(s)
Survival Horror
Steam User Rating
93%

Alternatively, players have the choice of taking on The Outlast Trials alone or with friends as they must complete various levels while avoiding the foe that hopes to make their test a misery. Based on the wildly successful Outlast horror series, players now have the chance to take on the tests for themselves instead of witnessing the aftermath of them.

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With the game being in early access Red Barrels can make all the necessary improvements to the title before releasing it to other platforms. This essentially gives PC players a head start to experience the true horrors of the Outlast Trials.

3 Scarlet Hollow

A distorted world in Scarlet Hollow
Scarlet Hollow

Released
June 11, 2021
Developer(s)
Black Tabby Games
Genre(s)
Horror , RPG
Steam User Rating
98% (October 27, 2023)

Scarlet Hollow is an episodic horror game that Black Tabby Games believes has worked incredibly well by releasing the episodes through early access. This has allowed the developers to polish the game while keeping the interest of their players.

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A typical tale of someone attempting to get away on a vacation becomes a holiday of horrors as all sorts of weird things begin to happen around the quiet mountain town. Each choice has a substantial impact on the story as players encounter new scares as well as an interesting unraveling story.

2 Sons Of The Forest

Cannibals jumping a fence and being aimed at with a bow in Sons of the Forest
Sons of the Forest

Released
February 22, 2024
Developer(s)
Endnight Games
Genre(s)
Survival
Steam User Rating
85%

Sons of the Forest is the most recent survival horror experience created by Endnight Games Ltd. Like the original The Forest, players are left to survive on an island that is inhabited by cannibals as well as freakish abominations.

Like the original title, players can either survive on this island alone or call upon some friends to make their time on the island livelier. However, now even in single-player, a gamer isn't truly alone as they are capable of recruiting two AI helpers such as Kelvin the only other human that survived the plane crash, or Virginia, a gentle mutant.

1 Phasmophobia

A player looking at a green dot light by a tent in Phasmophobia
Phasmophobia

Released
September 18, 2020
Developer(s)
Kinetic Games
Genre(s)
Survival Horror
Steam User Rating
96%

Besides the horrific nightmares of some early access horror games, others have a more simplistic yet horrifying style. Phasmophobia challenges a player by themselves or with friends to go hunting through various locations to track down a ghost and figure out what type of ghost it is.

There are already countless ghost types to be uncovered with plenty of tools to use to find the evidence needed to figure out which one it is. Staying in the dark with these haunting entities will cause the player to encounter all sorts of paranormal events; not to mention the possibility of being killed by such a ghost.

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