Virtual Reality (VR) has revolutionized the way we experience video games, and the horror genre has greatly benefited from this new immersive technology. VR horror games provide an unparalleled level of immersion that traditional games simply can’t match. The feeling of actually being in the haunted house, surrounded by terrifying creatures, and experiencing danger up close is both thrilling and spine-chilling. Below is a list of some of the best VR horror games that are guaranteed to give you a scare.
1. Resident Evil 7: Biohazard VR
When it comes to VR horror, Resident Evil 7: Biohazard stands as one of the most terrifying titles. The game places you in the shoes of Ethan Winters, searching for his wife in a dark, deranged plantation house. The atmosphere is incredibly tense, and the first-person perspective immerses you fully in the horror. From creepy noises to grotesque enemies, Resident Evil 7 delivers a truly horrifying experience that will keep your heart racing.
Learn more about Resident Evil 7 on Wikipedia.
2. Phasmophobia VR
Phasmophobia is a multiplayer ghost-hunting game that has taken the VR horror community by storm. You and your team enter haunted locations, trying to identify the type of ghost that’s haunting the place. The VR version ups the stakes, making every creak and eerie sound feel like it’s happening right beside you. The tension between the players, the paranormal activity, and the threat of being caught by a ghost all contribute to a terrifying experience.
3. The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners
If you’re a fan of The Walking Dead, you’ll appreciate Saints & Sinners for its thrilling zombie-filled world. Set in New Orleans during the zombie apocalypse, the game challenges you to survive by scavenging, crafting, and battling walkers. The VR experience makes the zombies feel much more real, with intense combat mechanics and a sense of vulnerability that keeps you on edge. The desperate need to survive in such a brutal world will have you constantly on alert.
4. Until Dawn: Rush of Blood
Until Dawn: Rush of Blood is a thrilling roller coaster ride through a terrifying world. As you ride through different horrifying scenes, you’ll encounter twisted creatures and monstrous foes. It’s a fast-paced, on-rails shooter, but the creepy environments and sudden scares make it an exhilarating and terrifying experience. The VR aspect enhances the scares, making every jump-scare feel that much more intense. Read more about how player choice affects the perception of horror in games in this article.
5. Dark Days: Z
Dark Days: Z is a free, terrifying VR survival horror game set in a world filled with undead zombies. It features a large open world where players must scavenge for supplies, fight off zombies, and survive as long as possible. The tension in the game is heightened in VR, with the constant fear of zombies lurking just around every corner. It’s one of the most immersive zombie experiences you can have in VR.
6. A Chair in a Room: Greenwater
For fans of psychological horror, A Chair in a Room: Greenwater offers an incredibly creepy experience. You wake up in an insane asylum with no memory of how you got there. The game focuses on exploration and solving mysteries, but its atmosphere is its true horror. The unsettling visuals, strange sounds, and eerie events will have you second-guessing everything, all while creating an atmosphere of dread and anxiety.
7. Scary Tales VR
Scary Tales VR offers a series of short horror experiences inspired by classic fairy tales, but with dark and twisted twists. Each story is unique, taking you through dark forests, haunted castles, and other chilling environments. The graphics and design help create an atmospheric world, while the gameplay keeps you engaged with puzzles and enemies. It’s a perfect mix of horror and adventure, making it an ideal pick for those looking for short, terrifying tales.
8. The Exorcist: Legion VR
If you’ve ever wanted to experience a possession firsthand, The Exorcist: Legion VR offers that experience. Inspired by the classic horror film, the game puts you in the role of a detective investigating supernatural occurrences. The game’s intense atmosphere and chilling sound design make it incredibly frightening, and the psychological horror elements will keep you uneasy long after you’ve taken off the headset.
9. The Persistence
The Persistence is a roguelike survival horror game set aboard a space station. As a member of a crew that’s been mutated into horrific creatures, you must survive by navigating through a station filled with enemies and other hazards. The immersive VR gameplay heightens the tension, as you experience both claustrophobia and the constant fear of being attacked by enemies at every turn.
10. Five Nights at Freddy’s VR: Help Wanted
The Five Nights at Freddy’s franchise is known for its creepy animatronics and jump scares, and the VR version amplifies the terror. In Help Wanted, you take on various roles, all of which involve you surviving the night with these terrifying animatronic characters. Whether you’re repairing machines or simply trying to survive in a dark room, the game will keep you on edge, making you afraid to look around the corner.
These VR horror games offer a mix of psychological, supernatural, and survival horror, all of which are enhanced by the immersive power of virtual reality. Whether you’re facing down zombies in The Walking Dead or solving the mysteries of a haunted house in Phasmophobia, each game brings its unique kind of terror that will leave you with nightmares. The experiences provided by these VR horror games are not just fun but terrifying, making them some of the scariest games you can play.
