Top 10 Best Free Horror Games on Steam (Ranked)
Read Time:7 Minute, 8 Second
Article Summary
- Discover the top 10 free horror games on Steam that deliver spine-chilling thrills without costing a dime.
- Highlights range from psychological nightmares like Doki Doki Literature Club and Cry of Fear to cult classics such as No More Room in Hell and SCP Secret Laboratory.
- Explore how horror movies and games inspire one another, from Lovecraftian dread to animatronic jump scares, creating unforgettable scares across both screens and controllers.
Horror is one of those genres that easily moves across media—whether you’re glued to a terrifying movie or lost in a spooky video game. Classic horror movies have given rise to countless spine-chilling games, like George Romero’s iconic Night of the Living Dead, which laid the groundwork for survival horror classics such as Resident Evil. Psychological horror films like Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining have similarly inspired immersive games like Layers of Fear, drawing players into deeply unsettling experiences.
At the same time, horror games themselves have significantly impacted movies, TV shows, and even online culture. Popular titles like Slender Man and Five Nights at Freddy’s have captured gamers’ imaginations, sparked movie adaptations, and drawn massive audiences on platforms like YouTube and Twitch.
With this fascinating exchange between movies and games in mind, we’ve rounded up the top ten best free horror games available on Steam. We chose these based on player ratings and reviews (at the time of writing this article)—each delivering thrills and chills without breaking the bank:
10 – No More Room in Hell (74,847 very positive reviews): You’re one of the last unbitten survivors fighting off waves of relentless zombies. This multiplayer shooter echoes the intense zombie survival atmosphere found in movies like Night of the Living Dead.
In this multiplayer shooter game, you will team up with other players to protect your base from the hordes of zombies looking for their next meal. With a choice of weapons to pick from, No More Room in Hell offers players a more realistic shooter game. The horror in this game comes from the survival aspect; this is truly a fight for your life.
9 – Psychopomp (6,826 overwhelmingly positive reviews): Equipped with a strange helmet called Psychopomp, you uncover a hidden world teeming with unsettling creatures. The paranoia and descent into madness in this game are reminiscent of psychological thrillers like Jacob’s Ladder.
In this first-person game, you play as a character with an unknown past, exploring and “hammering” your way through this world of creatures as you collect items and try to uncover the mystery of the strange catacombs that are under the different government buildings. The horror elements in this game come from the unsettling creatures and the real-world environments overlaid with the elements of this grotesque new world.
8 – Dagon: H.P. Lovecraft (11,837 overwhelmingly positive reviews): Step into Lovecraft’s eerie universe, experiencing cosmic dread similar to films like The Call of Cthulhu. Stranded after a World War 1 naval battle, you must navigate a nightmarish bog filled with otherworldly entities.
You play as a soldier in World War 1 who is the only survivor after a battle with the German forces at sea. After escaping on a lifeboat, you awaken to find yourself surrounded by strange creatures in a dark and seemingly endless bog. This is a story-driven game that has you explore the depths of the sea brought to the surface world. Like with most of Lovecraft’s works, the horror comes from the fear of the unknown and man’s insignificance in the face of vast, incomprehensible entities.
7 – Children of the Clay (2,507 overwhelmingly positive reviews, released Jan 2025): Investigate a mysterious artifact sent by an old friend. This supernatural thriller captures the suspense and dread of films like The Ring, where ordinary items conceal horrifying secrets.
In this first-person game, you use the items on your desk to help you investigate the ancient artifact. Your research book will help you unlock the mysteries as you type in words for it to look for in your research book. Here is a hint: do not use the spacebar when searching. The horror in this game comes from creating an environment of suspense, paranoia, and the fear of the supernatural.
6 – Indigo Park Chapter 1 (21,572 overwhelmingly positive reviews): Explore a sinister, abandoned amusement park, echoing films like Hell Fest and Final Destination 3. Guided by a glitchy A.I., you unravel the eerie mystery behind the park’s closure.
In this first-person game, you explore the park with the help of Rembley, your “friendly” A.I. tour guide, as you try to discover the mystery of what happened and why the park closed so suddenly. As you travel through the park, you will pick up figures and items that will aid you in moving forward. The horror in this game is based on that feeling of being alone, and yet knowing that there is something out there just out of sight waiting, as well as the A.I. system glitching out.
5 – Ultimate Custom Night (FNAF) (59,177 overwhelmingly positive reviews): Inspired by the wildly popular Five Nights at Freddy’s series, this game plunges players into animatronic nightmares and even sparked its own movie adaptation.
Ultimate Custom Night takes what players loved about the franchise and brings it up to an eleven as you take on fifty-plus characters from the past seven games. Customization plays a big part in how this game is played as different characters interact with the game in different ways. As with most FNAF games, its main scare tactic is focused on jump scares, strange noises, and the unpredictability mechanics of the game.
4 – Poppy Playtime (101,658 very positive reviews): Return to an abandoned toy factory that evokes the creepy vibes of movies like Child’s Play and Annabelle. Solve puzzles while avoiding encounters with terrifying toys.
As you explore, you will use your handy grabpack to help you solve puzzles and challenges that will help you move forward and try to figure out the mystery of what happened here all those years ago while trying not to be discovered. The horror in this game comes from the abandoned facility and knowing that at any second, you may come face to face with one of the toys.
3 – SCP Secret Laboratory (219,933 very positive reviews): Experience paranormal chaos inspired by the SCP Foundation, reminiscent of mysterious government experiments in Netflix’s Stranger Things. Survive alongside other players amid monstrous anomalies.
You play as different characters, each with a unique objective, as you try to escape or capture these anomalies. The horror in this game comes from some truly terrifying creatures and the unpredictability of playing with others.
2 – Cry of Fear (77,351 very positive reviews): Navigate a desolate town filled with nightmarish creatures and terrifying delusions. This psychological horror mirrors the deep, unsettling dread of films like Silent Hill.
Cry of Fear is a shooter-style game in which you explore what seems to be your hometown, which is full of monstrous creatures. The horror in this game comes from the unsettling monsters, and the darkness of the world gives a real sense of despair.
1 – Doki Doki Literature Club (213,397 overwhelmingly positive reviews): Don’t let its anime-style fool you; this game twists a seemingly innocent dating simulator into an intense psychological horror reminiscent of films like Perfect Blue and Black Swan.
The game focuses on you writing poems to the different members of the club and building relationships with them. It takes some pretty dark turns that might be triggering to some players and may not be suitable for all ages. The horror in this game is psychological and leaves you unsettled as you feel the game take over and you lose control.
Each of these titles showcases a unique aspect of horror, reflecting the captivating interplay between movies and games. Whether you’re looking to test your courage against zombies, unravel supernatural mysteries, or dive deep into psychological terror, there’s something here for every horror fan.
Did we miss any horror games that deserve a spot? Comment below and let us know! And don’t forget to tell us about your favorite horror movie-games.
For more on anime, gaming, and comic book TV and movie adaptations, sign up for our free weekly newsletter, PopPulse Digest here.
This article contains links to external sellers and affiliate marketing. As associates, we may earn from qualifying sales.
Charles Youngman
I'm a South Florida native who's been a fan of all things nerdy since an early age. From Disney and Pokémon to fantasy and sci-fi, I love it all. In my free time, I'm an active runner, participating in 5Ks, 10Ks, and half marathons. I also enjoy LARPing and visiting theme parks. My partner and I are the proud parents of four fur babies.
