Our Scariest Halloween Gaming Picks

Halloween is here, and that means it’s officially horror game season!  

There’s something about the dark nights and the chill in the air that makes diving into a terrifying game feel just right. We asked our MetStudios community to tell us about the scariest games they’ve played recently, and, well… let’s just say we’re a bit jumpier than usual after hearing their responses! From eerie atmospheres to heart-stopping jump scares, these games will have you double-checking the locks and maybe leaving a light on. So, grab a blanket (and some courage) and check out the horror games that are giving us nightmares this Halloween! 

Eternal Darkness (2002) Silicon Knights

Recommended by: Rosemary Chalmers, MetStudios Brighton, Head of School 

The ‘sanity meter’ which depletes when you are seen by an enemy really messes with you if it becomes too low! Initially it produces in-game effects – wonderful Alice-in-wonderland-moments like your character being stuck on the ceiling or being suddenly very tiny – but then it starts to enter the real world by even simulating technical issues with your TV and console! The panic of thinking your save has crashed mid-game is very real! 

Until Dawn (2015) Supermassive Games

Recommended by: Rosemary Chalmers, MetStudios Brighton, Head of School 

This game is exceptional in making terror a whole-body experience. If you reach the end of the game (trying not to spoil too much here), there is a moment when you have to hide to avoid being discovered by an enemy, but you actually have to keep the controller perfectly still in real life to avoid being seen or heard… I swear my fear-driven heart rate was making this impossible – you feel inextricably linked with the character and you really feel the relief if you survive! Phew, just breathe… 

Silent Hill 2 (2001) Konami

Recommended by: William Boyd

I’d have to go with Silent Hill 2. The atmosphere, psychological horror, and disturbing story elements make it a truly terrifying experience. It’s not just about jump scares; it’s the lingering sense of dread that gets under your skin. 

SOMA (2015) Frictional Games

Recommended by: Alec Chalmers, Course Leader, Games Art and Technology 

I think Soma is a truly unique horror game because it goes beyond the typical scares and dives deep into existential dread. Set in a mysterious underwater research facility, the game blends psychological horror with thought-provoking themes about identity, consciousness, and what it means to be human. The fact that it does this in an approachable way, I think, is what makes it exceptional.  

You end up puzzling over all these aspects of the game, which are renditions of deeply philosophical issues, but the game engages you with these ideas in an experiential way using the game design itself to communicate the ideas. You are running for your life in some sections but there is nothing like the dread you feel when you realise the implications of your actions throughout the game. It’s horror that stays with you long after you’ve put down the controller. 

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (1998) Nintendo

Recommended by: William Ulrich

Whilst The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time may not be a horror game, it contains genuinely chilling moments that a younger version of myself was often unsettled by. The twisted dungeon atmospheres, comprising of bone-chilling music, complicated puzzles, and encounters with terrifying ghouls like the ReDead enemies, which emit blood-curdling screams, freezing Link in his tracks, was an addictive concoction to keep me playing deep into the night after my parents had gone to bed. 

When the main character, Link, travels seven years into the future, a kingdom of darkness and decay is revealed. The once-lively market, now empty and decayed, and familiar places like Kakariko Village is shrouded in shadows and anxiety, as villagers speak of dark omens and an evil presence lingering nearby. This glimpse into a broken, changed world weighed heavily on me, sparking a determination to set things right despite the darkness. 

Ocarina of Time expertly blends adventure with horror elements, creating an experience that feels both nostalgic and deeply haunting. It’s a game that defined my childhood, and its details are etched vividly into my memory, a timeless reminder of a world both magical and unsettling. 

Doom (1993) id Software

Recommended by: Michele Baker

The original Doom game, released for PC in 1993, was terrifying. With its dark, confined rooms and creepy industrial spaces smeared with red pixels implying the aftermath of some unknown act of violence, the eerie atmosphere was palpable. The pseudo-3D graphics are certainly primitive by today’s standards but, at the time, Doom offered a level of immersion that players hadn’t seen before; it was one of the first games played from a first-person perspective.  

As for the sound, the guttural monster noises combined with heart-pounding music was enough to keep you on the edge of your seat. If you were already on the edge of your seat from the audio, the unpredictable and horrifying monsters appearing from anywhere without warning were enough to make you lose it altogether, especially when resources are so scarce. The game was designed to keep you low on health, armour and ammo pretty much constantly, which definitely added to the intense anxiety! Oh, and there was no pause feature. You just had to keep going… 

Dead Space 2 (2011) Visceral Games

Recommended by: Rebecca Brandler

Honestly, one of the scariest games I’ve ever played. Just thinking about it gives me chills! You’re trapped on this massive, desolate space station that’s crawling with terrifying alien creatures, and the atmosphere is so tense, it feels like every shadow is hiding something ready to jump out at you. It’s not just the monsters that get you; it’s the isolation, the eerie sounds, and that constant feeling that something is right behind you. If you’re looking for a game that’ll keep your heart pounding and make you question every dark corner, Dead Space 2 is it! 

There’s nothing quite like a good horror game—the kind that makes you jump, scream, or laugh at yourself for being so scared. We hope this list inspires you to dive into something spine-chilling (or downright terrifying) this spooky season!  

Happy Halloween and happy haunting from all of us at MetStudios!