The horror genre is one of the largest in gaming, since the video game industry has become more accessible there are a lot of indie developers with their own takes on the genre. This has helped drive the industry forward as more developers try different takes on the genre.

Related

20 Best Survival Horror Games Of All Time, Ranked

Sometimes in a game, just surviving to the end is the goal. These are the best survival horror games of all time.

This has led to more games delving into psychological terrors, as narrative becomes more important in many genres of gaming. AAA games have been recently adapted into some of the most fascinating parts of the pop culture world, like The Last of Us, and many psychedelic horror games have similarly fascinating narratives that deserve adaption. Keep in mind that while some of the games below are psychological horror games, the terrifying sights that players will encounter will certainly seem like psychedelic hallucinations.

9 We Happy Few

Metascore: 67

One of the best examples of a world that seems initially harmless, We Happy Few takes place in the city of Wellington Wells in an alternate version of the 1960s, where all the inhabitants of the city take a drug called Joy to escape the reality of their horror-struck world, turning into one of the few roguelike games for mature audiences.

When the player, who can take on one of a number of different characters, stops taking the drug and realizes that many of the other inhabitants of Wellington Wells have become flesh-eating psychopaths. Featuring plenty of stealth and survival mechanics in this insane, psychedelic setting, We Happy Few is a trip of an action ride.

8 Infliction

Metascore: 72 (Extended Cut)

A genre of games that frequently becomes trippy is the walking simulator. Many games that fit this category have unique stories and ever-changing environments, and Infliction is one of the very best of the lot, absolutely filled to the brim with psychological horror that is described by the developers as an interactive nightmare.

Walking through a psychedelic house where players have to piece together the horrible truths of what happened there, Infliction puts players in the shoes of a potential killer who doesn’t know what happened to his wife. This makes for a terrifying trip that has creeped many players out from beginning to end.

7 Yuppie Psycho

Metascore: 81

Not all psychedelic horror games are purely out to scare the player, and Yuppie Psycho is a prime example of that. While this is a horror game and a trippy one at that, Yuppie Psycho is also a hilarious comedy where Brian, the protagonist, finds himself in a new job as a witch hunter.

Related

10 Horror Games Inspired By Silent Hill

Konami's famed franchise inspired many horror games over the years. Here are the best titles.

With beautiful retro pixel art, a wonderfully tongue-in-cheek narrative, and a ridiculously psychedelic style that makes it one of the weirdest and best survival horror games in years, Yuppie Psycho is perfect for players who want a laugh along with their scares in a horror game.

6 The Hotel

Metascore: N/A

For a trippy game that involves permadeath, players can check out The Hotel. In this game, players have to decide for themselves what constitutes evil, as they enter a lonely hotel and attempt to survive against an evil entity. The brutal psychological nature of The Hotel is a difficult one to explain.

Constantly changing environments and many things happening around the player make The Hotel extremely difficult. Players will have to use their wits to avoid dying, as that is permanent. For many players wanting a psychedelic experience in the horror genre, this game will provide exactly what they were imagining and hoping for.

5 P.T.

Metascore: N/A

One of the best cases of a psychedelic horror game. If players can find somewhere to play P.T. nowadays then they absolutely should. This game was actually just a short demo for Silent Hills, a game that was being developed by infamous game designer Hideo Kojima before a fallout with Konami caused the cancelation.

While the game was removed from storefronts, the experience of attempting to walk through the same hallway over and over as it slowly changed has burned this game into the minds of many players, causing absolute terror and a lot of pain as gamers still hope for the game to be returned to at some point down the line, because many other photo-realistic games have been released since this was canceled.

4 Outlast 2

Metascore: 79

While Outlast 2 initially appears to just have a confusing story, the lore behind the game which can be uncovered in secret spots throughout the player’s journey around a small, rural town in the Arizona desert tells of something different going on. Experiments being performed by the Murkoff Corporation involving radio signals have driven everyone mad and made the player see many things.

Related

Games That Are Intense From Start To Finish

Some games are made to give players a stress-free experience, while others create the most stressful situations from start to finish

This is the reason for so many of the unusual events in the game, such as the hallucinations Blake has of his younger self, and how his wife Lynn becomes so heavily pregnant so quickly. This is even responsible for the supposed “apocalypse” at the end of the game, helping make a lot of sense out of one of the most wonderfully trippy horror games in recent memory.

3 Layers Of Fear

Metascore: 78

One of the more unusually-themed games to be released in recent years, Layers of Fear puts players in the position of a painter who sets out to make a grand piece of art in tribute to his recently deceased wife. The terror of uncovering around his house the truth about the secrets of the past makes for a surprisingly amazing and confusing narrative.

As the game deepens, players are left to wonder what the truth is while crafting their masterpiece. Layers of Fear is another mysterious, psychologically terrifying ride that utilizes the concept of a psychedelic horror game perfectly.

2 The Evil Within

Metascore: 79

A game that begins with a familiar premise, The Evil Within throws the main character and his companions into a surreal world that twists and turns endlessly. Sebastian is a police detective investigating a mass murder at a mental hospital, but after hearing a high-pitched noise he is chased by unimaginable horrors in a world that no longer makes any sense.

The psychedelic style, the winding narrative, and the fantastic voice-acting are all elements that make The Evil Within’s world one of the best psychedelic ones in existence. Taking inspiration from a variety of other horror games that came before it, The Evil Within creates one of the best trippy horror experiences on the market and brings some of the most terrifying characters ever to life.

1 Silent Hill 2

Metascore: 89

One of the very best horror games of all time, the Silent Hill franchise, has been trying for a long time to replicate the ingenious style, the terror, and the properly understandable psychedelic experience of James Sunderland’s adventure through the town of Silent Hill, which is finally getting a remake.

This entry in the franchise includes monsters and visuals that one would expect to see in a nightmare or while having horrific hallucinations, a character suffering a complete mental break following the death of his wife, and all the normal tropes of this franchise. This is enhanced further by how isolated the game makes players feel as they explore the terrifying streets of Silent Hill. It is safe to say that Silent Hill 2 has been hugely influential on psychedelic and psychological horror games today while being a source of inspiration as well.

More:Scariest Japanese Horror Games, Ranked