Press start to scream: The scariest video games to play on Halloween

Hello boys and ghouls! Fancy some good ol' stay-home heebie-jeebies this Halloween (Oct 31) instead of heading out?

These hantu games are just what you'll need for some spine-tingling entertainment. Switch off your lights, grip your controller, and prepare yourself for a frightfully "good" time with our selection of the best bone-chilling video games to scare yourself silly on that haunted night.

Doki Doki Literature Club - PC, PlayStation 4|5, Xbox One, S|X, Nintendo Switch

[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kB1663FTpzU[/embed]

Hold on a minute. You might be thinking, "Isn't this one of those anime dating sim games?" Developed by the indie game studio Team Salvato, Doki Doki Literature Club is a deceptive masterpiece that starts as a charming visual novel about going to school and making friends, but gradually descends into psychological horror. No spoilers here; just keep playing, and you'll be in for a mind-bending experience.

Five Nights at Freddy's - PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Android, iOS

[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RP4UTOek0-Y[/embed]

With a new movie in cinemas now, there's no better time to revisit this 2014 classic. In Five Nights at Freddy's, you assume the role of a night-shift worker at an amusement restaurant, where animatronic animals come to life and have a taste for, well, you. Even after all these years, the jump scares in this game will have you leaping out of your seat.

Fatal Frame - PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, Xbox

[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BTEEsY8lMx0[/embed]

Prepare for sleepless nights with the original Fatal Frame. The "frame" in the title refers to the Camera Obscura, a paranormal camera used to fend off spirits.

But it's only effective when you get up close and personal with these apparitions. Be ready for ghosts suddenly appearing right in front of your screen as you aim your camera in this first-person horror title.

Silent Hill - PlayStation 1; available on the PlayStation Store

[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fwan7k3nOzg[/embed]

While Silent Hill 2 is often hailed as one of the best horror games ever made for its emotional story, it's the original Silent Hill that will truly send shivers down your spine.

Follow Harry Mason on a quest to find his missing daughter in a town soaked in eerie atmosphere, haunting music, and a protagonist who's just an ordinary guy, making him even more vulnerable to the horrors that lurk in the fog.

Ib - PC, PlayStation 4|5, Nintendo Switch

[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TTRPYLjRGjA[/embed]

This indie game cult classic takes you on a 2D journey with the titular character, Ib, exploring a nightmarish version of an art gallery.

Packed with symbolism, perplexing and disturbing puzzles, terrifying enemies, and multiple endings based on your choices, Ib is an unforgettable experience. You can even try the original 2012 version for free online.

Resident Evil 7 - PC, PlayStation 4,, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch

[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u3zIzY6M3fQ[/embed]

Resident Evil 7 brought pure horror back to the franchise. You don't need to know the lore before plunging into the "kidnapped-by-cannibals" story, and just like Silent Hill, this game makes you feel helpless.

The desolate Louisiana setting, combined with countless heart-pounding chases, will keep you at the edge of your seat. Daring enough to try it in VR?

Clock Tower - PC, PlayStation 4|5, Xbox One, S|X, Nintendo Switch

[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q1_l6N4tl_o[/embed]

In this point-and-click adventure, you play as Jennifer Simpson, navigating an ominous mansion to solve the mystery of why you were brought there, while trying to escape a manic person wielding menacing hedge clippers. Yes, you can run, but you will get tired… and easier to kill. A word of advice: don't linger too long in the hay loft.

Dead Space (2023 Remake) - PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series S|X

[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cTDJNZ9cK1w[/embed]

You'll never forget the first time you fell for an enemy faking its death in Dead Space. Nowhere feels safe in the first-person horror shooting game set in the far future.

Especially in a quiet hallway. Alien monsters could be lurking behind you or emerging from vents above. The deep feeling of dread, combined with its art and sound design, will leave you feeling like you're constantly going to die.

[[nid:706338]]

This article was first published in Wonderwall.sg.