It's no mystery now that 2023 has been one of the best years ever for video games, and the great number of titles that were released to exceptional reviews and fanfare is further proof of this. Popular franchises received new entries, some existing games got amazing expansions or spin-offs, entirely new IPs started to thrive thanks to their communities and developers, and even sequels years in the making finally hit store shelves. While horror games have had incredible representation this year in the form of Alan Wake 2, with it being still fresh in the memory of many fans, there have been many more titles this year deserving of praise.

For starters, 2023 proved that remakes of classic horror games can be as effective as new titles, appealing to old fans and new with a set of quality-of-life features, improvements to audio and gameplay mechanics, and a fresh coat of paint in terms of graphics and overall performance. Indies also got some deserved love in 2023, with the fan-favorite title Sea of Stars winning the Best Indie Awards at TGA. This doesn't mean that horror indies were snubbed, though, and instead, there were a handful that ended up dominating the gaming discourse in their respective niches. These are the best horror games of 2023, listed in alphabetical order.

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The 15 Best Indie Games of 2023

Not to be outdone by their AAA counterparts, indie games of 2023 quickly proved their releases to be wholly unique and memorable.

Alan Wake 2

Right off the bat is one of the best games of 2023, let alone within the horror genre, and that is Alan Wake 2. Winning multiple big awards and enjoying its time in the sun (ironically), Alan Wake 2 immediately became a massive success thanks to its unique storytelling, its dual protagonist approach, the way it perfectly nails the same vibes of the first game while also building on what it offered, and much more. Saga Anderson was one of the best female characters of 2023 and a great protagonist, with Alan Wake 2's ending possibly paving the way for her to return in a sequel. Gameplay mechanics also elevate the title, such as the Mind Place and the overall survival horror approach, with the story and characters being the icing on the cake.

Blood West

The full release of Blood West dropped this year, and it became a massive hit on Steam. Upon exiting early access, Blood West cast Dishonored 2 actor Stephen Russell as its main character, which helped boost the game's reach further. Still, one of the most interesting aspects of Blood West is its unique style, as it is a retro Wild West FPS where players are tasked with shooting their way through hordes of demons and other eldritch horrors. The game's low-poly graphics make it a nostalgia-inducing release that is sure to make indie fans happy, especially if they are into hard difficulty and the option for stealth gameplay.

Dead Island 2

Read Game ZXC's Dead Island 2 Review

To the surprise of many, Dead Island 2 was one of the best horror games this year. It proved that, even after a long and rocky development process, it can still be a fantastic franchise for zombie slasher lovers. Dead Island 2 isn't the scariest horror game on this list, but it strikes all the vibes on the right note. The game received its first expansion in the form of Haus, focusing on a death cult-inspired new faction, and 2024 will see the release of Dead Island 2's Sola Festival DLC. Even in its base game, though, Dead Island 2 was well worth the 10-year-plus wait.

Dead Space Remake

Read Game ZXC's Dead Space Review

As much as Alan Wake 2 and other titles helped make the end of 2023 a huge one, the Dead Space remake was a trailblazer with its January release date. Acting both as a faithful remake of the original and a massive improvement over many aspects that made it so iconic, the Dead Space remake became one of the highest-rated games of 2023, displaying incredible graphics, a deeply well-finished soundtrack, and new secrets and puzzles for players to solve. The 2023 remake of Dead Space is more of a reinvention of the franchise than anything else, and it could become the first step in a complete reboot if EA so wishes, potentially taking the series to a whole new level.

Dredge

At first, Dredge may seem like a nice fishing game, but its horror themes surface quite fast, making the experience much more interesting and worth trying. Even though The Best Debut Indie Award went to Cocoon at TGA this year instead of Dredge, it was a close call, considering how popular the game became over time. Not a full-blown fishing sim, Dredge's horror permeates the gameplay loop in various ways from eerie atmospheres and creepy townsfolk to eldritch creatures chasing the player's boat, and it's what makes it such a great title to play.

Lethal Company

Yet another indie making a big name for itself, Lethal Company has been one of the most unexpected hits of the year. Back in November 2023, Lethal Company surpassed 100,000 players on Steam, marking an incredible milestone for an indie game and further cementing its standing among the best games of 2023. What makes the game an exceptional one is that it's a co-op multiplayer survival horror title that excels in this regard, something that is quite difficult to accomplish, allowing players to scavenge haunted moons and obtain several upgrades to improve their exploration and survival capabilities. But monsters are around the corner, and inventory is quite limited.

Resident Evil 4 Remake

Read Game ZXC's Resident Evil 4 Review

Another stellar horror game came in the form of Resident Evil 4 Remake, which behaves similarly to Dead Space in how it improves the gameplay and general feel of the original, while also changing some bits for the better. The incredible success of Resident Evil 4 Remake prompted Capcom to confirm more Resident Evil remakes are on the way, which is great news for fans of the series. The game encapsulates the feeling of the Resident Evil saga like no other, taking the original's Las Plagas to the next level, and making the whole ordeal a big, thrilling experience. With modernized controls, satisfying weapons, and plenty of quality-of-life improvements, the remake is a 2023 game through and through, not showing the original's age for a single moment.

Sons of the Forest

After Hogwarts Legacy's release, Sons of the Forest became the most wish-listed game on Steam for a hot minute, and it delivered a gruesome and enjoyable sequel to The Forest. The title's success is in no small part due to its characters and setting, with the forest actually changing with seasons in a dynamic weather landscape where survival is not always set in stone, and instead, players have to earn it. The game's map is around four times the original, too, making the flora and fauna as much of a protagonist as the player character. With creepy monsters, a compelling non-human companion, great use of AI-governed NPCs, and various collectibles, Sons of the Forest is easily one of the most interesting games of the year.

The Texas Chain Saw Massacre

Read Game ZXC's Texas Chain Saw Massacre Review

It could be easy to write off The Texas Chain Saw Massacre as a video game knock-off of the original movie franchise, but that would be doing it a disservice. The title delivers a fun yet macabre asymmetrical multiplayer experience that makes it stand out as one of the best horror titles of the year. Oftentimes, The Texas Chain Saw Massacre is compared to Dead By Daylight in terms of how it approaches killers, survivors, and everything in between. DBD may use its collabs very effectively, but The Texas Chain Saw Massacre has everything great about a singular IP. With a strong online component that makes it tons of fun with friends, the title left its mark on the industry in 2023 and may continue to do so.

World of Horror

For those who like horror games being unsettling and simultaneously nostalgia-inducing, World of Horror captures the 1980s vibes perfectly and matches them with minimalist graphics and intense adventures in a world that has roguelike elements. A mix of Japanese horror a la Junji Ito and Lovecraftian horror, the game is one of the most atmospheric releases of the year, and it can easily keep players hooked for a few hours. World of Horror is also a completionist's dream, as unlocking achievements grants a series of in-game benefits for players to delve into, further expanding the extent of the gameplay loop and the title's replayability. With great a soundtrack and audio design, mysteries to unravel, unforgiving combat, and the ability to make safe elements feel uncanny, World of Horror is one of the best cosmic horror games to play.