10 Must-Play Indie Horror Games

Horror games have won over a huge part of the industry over the years, from classics like Resident Evil and Silent Hill to more obscure titles such as Rule of Rose and Kuon.

Over time, many of these games have undergone changes to adapt to new generations. Some have adopted a more action-oriented approach, while others have followed a repetitive path, focused only on hiding from monsters and making the genre predictable. However, while the traditional industry usually remains stagnant, independent developers have shown enormous potential, reinventing horror in creative and innovative ways.

With this in mind, I’ve prepared a list of 10 indie horror games that break away from traditional formulas, proving that fear can come in any form when well explored.

Crow Country

Set in the 90s, Crow Country follows a young woman searching for answers on the mysterious disappearance of Edward Crow and the reasons behind the theme park that bears his name closing down.

This survival horror not only adopts the aesthetics of PlayStation 1 games, but also captures their essence in the gameplay. With scenarios reminiscent of Silent Hill and Resident Evil and low-poly chibi characters in Final Fantasy VII style, the game combines nostalgia and originality. The story unfolds inside the amusement park, where the player must solve puzzles, face supernatural creatures and unravel the dark secrets surrounding Crow's disappearance.

Although it draws strong inspiration from genre classics, both in its aesthetics and in the atmosphere, similar to Silent Hill 3, Crow Country doesn’t rely solely on nostalgia. Having its own charm and an engaging narrative, the game promises to capture the player's attention from beginning to end.

Faith

Proof that horror can be effective even in 8-bits and having all the limitations of a game from the 80s era.

The story of Faith follows a priest who travels to an isolated house where an exorcism went wrong. It’s up to the player to investigate the place, face evil forces and discover the secrets behind the events. Throughout the journey, it’ll be necessary to explore forests, abandoned churches and haunted houses, exorcising places, collecting clues and facing possessed cultists.

Despite the simple visuals, the game manages to create an atmosphere of constant tension. The horror here doesn’t just depend on aesthetics, but also on an unsettling atmosphere and excellent sound design. Even while using chiptune style sounds, Faith manages to scare players in ways that many modern games don't even come close to, proving that a good horror game doesn't need advanced graphics, just creativity and impeccable execution.

MiSide

Not everything is what it seems, and MiSide is proof of this, tricking unsuspecting players by starting out as a simple dating simulator, only to later reveal a psychological horror full of fourth-wall breaking and metalanguage.

The story follows a protagonist who downloads a virtual girlfriend game, but over time starts to distance himself from the screen due to real-life responsibilities. What seemed like an innocent romance soon turns into something much darker when Mita, the game's character, builds a machine capable of pulling the protagonist into that reality. What initially sounds like a romantic comedy soon turns into a horror full of unexpected twists.

MiSide mixes several genres throughout the experience, including stealth, runner and even minigames, without ever losing the terrifying essence that haunts the player. This is the kind of game that the less you know before playing, the better – a surprising experience that’s worth checking out.

Asleep

Developed and set in Brazil, Asleep is proof that the Brazilian indie gaming scene has enormous potential.

Stepping into the shoes of Ana Lúcia, a confused and lonely young woman, players explore a city in the Brazilian Northeast full of terrifying scenarios, while trying to escape the creatures that lurk around in the darkness. In addition to surviving, the protagonist must keep her sanity in the face of the horrors around her.

With point-and-click gameplay, reminiscent of classics such as Clock Tower, and heavily inspired by the dark atmosphere of Silent Hill, Asleep stands out with its detailed pixel art and an engaging narrative from start to finish.

Stay Out of the House

Puppet Combo has become a reference in horror games with retro aesthetics that reminds us of the PlayStation 1 era, and Stay Out of the House is one of the titles that consolidated this style in the genre.

With gameplay focused on stealth and constant tension, the player must escape from the house of a cannibal serial killer before time runs out, having only three days to find a way out.

In addition to the evident love for the low poly visuals of classic PlayStation 1 games, the game draws directly from 80s slasher flicks, combining their aesthetics with a VHS filter that makes the experience look like an authentic B horror movie being played on an old VCR.

The Cat Lady

For those looking for an intense and impactful psychological horror experience, The Cat Lady is the perfect choice.

The plot follows Susan, a lonely 40-year-old woman who has lost all hope in life. With no family, friends or any reason to keep going, she’s on the verge of suicide. However, her story takes an unexpected turn when five strangers appear and change everything.

With point-and-click gameplay and visuals that reinforce perfectly the game's dark atmosphere, The Cat Lady delivers a deep narrative and remarkable characters, especially the protagonist. It’s the kind of story that not only scares you, but also poses reflections that stay with the player for a long time.

Darkwood

For survival horror fans looking for a different experience, Darkwood offers a new perspective on the genre.

In a devastated and cursed world, your mission is to explore abandoned houses and forests, searching for resources during the day. However, it’s once night falls that the real horror begins. You'll need to find shelter, reinforce barricades and prepare to survive the creatures that lurk in the darkness.

With a top-down view and no hand-holding tutorials, Darkwood challenges you to learn every detail on your own. Your choices shape the world and the story permanently, making each playthrough unique. A true survival test, where every day counts and fear is always lurking around the nearest corner.

The Mortuary Assistant

In recent years, plenty of job simulators have emerged, with the proposal of being relaxing and satisfying experiences. The Mortuary Assistant, however, goes in the opposite direction. On top of performing daily tasks in a morgue, you’ll also have to deal with terrifying paranormal events.

During the night, your job is to prepare bodies for the wake, carrying out the embalming process. But as you do your tasks, supernatural phenomenons begin to occur. You’ll need to put clues together, perform occult rituals and identify which evil spirit is haunting the place to banish it before it’s too late.

Each session brings new revelations about the protagonist's story, going deeper into her past and the reasons that led her to take this job. With a constantly tense and unpredictable atmosphere, The Mortuary Assistant ensures that the player never feels completely safe.

The Horror of Salazar House

Bringing back the atmosphere of MS-DOS-era games, The Horror of Salazar House shows us how it’s possible to create an immersive and frightening experience, worthy of a true horror movie.

With visuals inspired by Virtual Boy and the classic point-and-click games of the time, the player takes on the role of a journalist looking for answers on the disappearance of renowned author Jaime Salazar. Her investigation takes her to a supposedly abandoned mansion, but she soon finds out that she’s not alone there.

The gameplay revolves around exploring the mansion, solving puzzles and uncovering dark secrets, while the player tries to avoid being captured by Isabel, a terrifying presence that, despite the retro look, will ensure plenty of scares and moments heavy with tension with every step taken through the dark corridors of the mansion.

World of Horror

Amidst the chaos of an apparent end of the world, with strange rumors going around at school, people disappearing and reports of unusual events, all that remains is to face the horror that reigns in this apocalypse.

With a monochromatic art style and strong inspiration from the cosmic horror of H.P. Lovecraft and the visual horror of Junji Ito, the game puts us in the shoes of a Shiokawa resident in the middle of the collapse of the world. It’s up to the player to fight against the fear that dominates the city, exploring a chaotic Japan and fighting creatures in the best Japanese horror style. The experience mixes elements of turn-based RPG, roguelite and text adventure, creating a unique and engaging gameplay.

With each play, the game generates a random mystery that works as a level, each one telling a unique story, just like small horror tales, all having a strong influence from the authors who inspired the developers. For fans of Lovecraft and Ito, or even for those who’re curious to explore this narrative style, the game is a full course meal.

Horror games are one of the most engaging experiences for those looking for a good story, challenging puzzles and, of course, the adrenaline of escaping from a relentless threat, as if we really were in a horror movie.

And how about you, have you played any of these games? Do you have any recommendations that we missed? Share them in the comments!

Thanks for reading, and see you next time!