Britain has been at the forefront of gaming since the industry's early days. While it may not produce games on the scale of Japan or the US, Britain's contribution is significant. Household names such as Grand Theft Auto and Tomb Raider began their legacies in the UK, cementing the country in video game history.

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While Britain is certainly known for its long tradition of horror movies, dating back to the classic Hammer Horror days, it is not as well known for its horror video games. However, these rare titles show the quality and ingenuity that British video game developers possess. Some of these games have pushed both the technology and the narrative form of video games, becoming genre classics. British developers have continually produced groundbreaking, engaging, and sometimes terrifying video games that millions enjoy worldwide, changing the gaming landscape in the process.

7 Maid Of Sker

Uncover Dark Secrets Within A Mysterious Community

• Platforms: Playstation 4, Playstation 5, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X and Series S, Microsoft Windows
• Released: 2020
• Developers: Wales Interactive
• Genre: Survival Horror
• Metascore: 64

Maid of Sker is a survival horror game set in 1898 on the fictional island of Sker. The game follows Thomas Evans, who is invited to the island by his lover to help her uncover the strange secrets of her family. Welsh folklore was a primary inspiration for the story, which revolves around a secret cult known as The Quiet Ones.

Like many classic survival horror games, Maid of Sker uses the Resident Evil typewriter-style of game saving. Players will need to search the hotel to find scattered gramophones to save the game. Stealth is a big part of the game as well. With no combat to be found, players need to sneak or distract enemies to progress, while uncovering secrets that reveal more of the family's dark history. The game received mixed reviews on release, but is a solid horror title that fans of the genre will enjoy.

6 Manhunt

An Extreme And Gritty Stealth Horror Game

• Metascore: 76

One of the most controversial games of the early 2000s, Manhunt was developed by Rockstar, the same team behind the Grand Theft Auto series. The game follows a death row inmate who is forced to create a series of snuff films to earn his freedom. The game was notable for pushing gaming standards with its gritty, ultra-violent gameplay. Manhunt incorporates several genres, including survival horror, stealth, and action into its mechanics.

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Due to its extreme content, the game was banned in several countries. It was even implicated in a real-life murder, a case which was ultimately rejected by the authorities. While not a commercial success, Manhunt gained a significant cult following worldwide and spawned a sequel in 2007.

5 Monstrum

A Memorable And Challenging Horror Experience

• Steam Rating: Very Positive

Monstrum is a challenging indie survival horror game that takes the genre to new immersive levels. Players are placed in procedurally-generated levels and hunted by different monsters. Each monster has unique behaviors that players will need to learn and overcome. In addition, death is permanent in Monstrum, meaning players must start again with a new level and new monster type every time they die.

While Monstrum offers a simple premise, the game is an effective horror experience that has a lot of replay value. The enemies are AI-driven and will actively hunt the player, making Monstrum an immersive and tense game that fans of survival horror will love.

4 The Quarry

Each Decision Can Have Deadly Consequences

• Metascore: 79

One of the leading developers of British horror games is Supermassive Games. Known for their interactive story-driven titles, they have created a unique style of gameplay that blends player choice and cinematic narrative. The Quarry puts players in control of a group of teen counselors waiting to go home after summer camp has finished. As their final night at camp unfolds, they discover a deadly secret stalking the surrounding woods.

Highly influenced by teen slasher movies, The Quarry tells an engaging story that uses common cinematic horror tropes to immerse players in a gruesome narrative. Player choice matters in the game, with each decision leading to a possible character death. No two playthroughs are the same, and multiple endings are possible. The Quarry is a fun horror experience that can be played solo or with friends.

3 Until Dawn

Keep Everyone Alive Through The Night

• Metascore: 79

While Supermassive Games is maybe most known for The Dark Pictures Anthology series, their breakout hit was Until Dawn. In this interactive horror game, players take control of a group of young adults who are hunted and killed throughout the night while staying in a remote cabin.

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Until Dawn was the first major narrative-focused game that Supermassive released, and it set the standard for their subsequent titles. The game uses a butterfly effect system, where players' choices change the outcome of who lives and who dies. Hollywood actors, such as Rami Malek and Hayden Panettiere, feature prominently in the game, heightening its cinematic feel. The game was a success on release and has now become a horror classic, with a full remake announced in early 2024.

2 Alien: Isolation

Experience The Feeling Of Being Hunted

• Metascore: 79

Alien: Isolation is a landmark survival horror game that continues to find new fans each year. The game revolves around Ellen Ripley’s daughter, Amanda, as she searches for her missing mother on the space station Sevastopol. She soon discovers the station has turned to chaos, as a dangerous monster hunts the dark corridors, killing all it finds.

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In Alien: Isolation, the Xenomorph cannot be killed, and is actively hunting the player. Make too much noise, or stand in plain sight, and the Alien will come running. This simple mechanic creates constant tension within the game, forcing the player to use stealth and evasion tactics to survive. While the story is a little overlong, the game is a masterclass in horror. The developers of Alien: Isolation faithfully recreated the design and sound of the classic 1979 movie. This gives the game a level of immediate familiarity for fans of the series. Alien: Isolation is widely considered one of the best survival horror games on the market, and continues to be popular among its many fans.

1 Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice

Follow A Warrior's Journey Through Hell

• Metascore: 81

This psychological action horror game puts players into a dark ancient history of gods and monsters, inspired by Norse and Celtic culture. Players control Senua, a Pict warrior on a mission to save her murdered lover’s soul from hell. The game uses its narrative as a metaphor for the central character’s psychosis, as she faces off against monsters, the voices in her head (which she considers a curse), and an entity known as the Darkness.

The game was critically praised on release for its depiction of mental health. The developers worked closely with specialists, and those suffering from the condition, to accurately depict psychosis, and achieved some incredibly effective results. The game would go on to win several awards and spawn a sequel in 2024.

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