For the true horror fanatic, every night is Halloween night. They are always looking for the chance to explore the dark recesses of their minds, where spooks and other shadowy terrors lurk.

Can entertainment even really be called entertainment if it does not deliver its share of blood-curdling fright? In the eyes of horror fans, the answer to that question is ‘no.’

The good news is that this is a golden age of horror. Not only is it back on the movie menu in a big way, but there are lots of ghoulish games too. 

Most observers consider the very first horror game to be the Atari 2600 title Haunted House, back in the early 1980s. Since then it has become a popular gaming genre, although modern titles tend to draw on a mix of traditional horror and action.

In recognition of the growing horror gaming trend, we have compiled a list of frightfully good games for you to try.

Alan Wake 2

Alan Wake 2 can be played on a Windows PC or on either the Xbox Series X or PlayStation 5 console. It will scare the pants off you whichever one you pick though.

It ups the amount of genuine terror considerably compared to its predecessor, which was more unsettling than truly frightening. It is a combination of surrealist dreadscape and survival game, with players switching between two different protagonists.

The first is Alan Wake, an author who is trapped in a nightmarish dimension, and the other is Saga Anderson, an agent for the FBI investigating grisly murders. It is all brought to life with detailed visuals and the play ranges from dark fantasy to all-out battles to stay alive.

Dracula’s Bloody Reels

Dracula is the ultimate horror icon and he is the theme for this spine-tingling casino slot game. The game graphics feature Transylvanian landscapes shrouded in fog and darkness, complete with a cemetery of lost souls and Dracula’s castle.

Amid all of that gothic atmosphere, there are also prizes for the brave to claim. They include coffin reel symbols that unlock potential cash rewards.

Dracula’s Bloody Reels is available to play at many casinos on the internet. You can spin it without spending any of your own money if you search for one using BonusFinder for Michigan online casino no deposit bonus offers though.

Little Nightmares

This is another game that can be played on a PC or Xbox, PlayStation or Nintendo console. It puts you into the shoes of a youngster named Six as she tries to navigate a world full of terrifying creatures many times her size.

Being a small child has its advantages in such a world though, helping you to slip past them unseen if you are skilled and careful. Little Nightmares is a game that focuses on the tense, survival aspects of the horror genre and will have you on the edge of your seat.

You will have to cope with complex platform sections at the same time as you are being chased by these huge creatures. It captures some of the vulnerability of childhood, while also giving you survival possibilities, making for a terrific horror game.

The Exorcist: Legion

Virtual Reality (VR) technology could have been made for horror games. The prospect of total sensory immersion makes the terrors of the horror genre seem that bit more real – and therefore more frightening.

A good example of how VR is leading to brilliant horror titles is The Exorcist: Legion. This is a spin-off from the legendary movie franchise and it gives you the chance to explore that world in a much more interactive way.

You will take on the role of a detective assigned to find the person responsible for killing a priest in a grisly human sacrifice. The world the VR headset plunges you into is one of gory death and sudden shocks, making for an unpredictable ride.

The Mortuary Assistant

Mortuaries are inherently pretty creepy so a game set in one is off to a good start. If the plot sees you terrorised by a mysterious woman dressed in white and bodies suddenly going missing, even better.

The storyline of The Mortuary Assistant is that a demon is attempting to take possession of your soul and you have to find a method of exorcism before it is too late. It comes with brilliantly eerie graphics and a soundtrack of unnerving whispering voices, all of which adds to the palpable sense of dread that it conjures up. 

This is another superb choice that can be played on the Nintendo Switch console or a PC.

You are guaranteed a terrifying treat if you enter the nightmarish worlds of these games. You might want to let your friends know where you will be first though.