Best Horror Games for Spooky Dorm Room Entertainment

Horror games give you a unique experience you can’t find in any other type of game. The adrenaline rush, the heart-pounding suspense, the jump scares, and the sheer fear of the unknown are all part of what makes these games so captivating. Whether you’re a horror fan or just looking for a thrilling way to celebrate Halloween, here are some of the best horror games you can play in your dorm room – some perfect for a chilling solo adventure and others for a night of spine-tingling fun with friends or roommates.

We just want to give you a heads-up that the games we’re recommending here can be seriously intense, so they are not for the faint of heart.

Alien: Isolation

Released: 2014
Developer: Creative Assembly, Feral Interactive
Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC

“Alien: Isolation” successfully resurrects the atmosphere and tension of Ridley Scott’s original “Alien” film. The game’s story is set 15 years after the events of the movie, while you step into the shoes of Amanda Ripley, daughter of the iconic Ellen Ripley, investigating her mother’s disappearance. On your mission, you’ll have to survive and outsmart the relentless and terrifying Xenomorph in the dark and claustrophobic halls of the Sevastopol space station. The alien is not just a mindless monster but a cunning and intelligent predator that adapts to your strategies. You’ll spend most of your time hiding from this creature and its unpredictability keeps you on edge throughout the game.

Amnesia: The Dark Descent

Released: 2010
Developer: Fictional Games
Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC

Although it was released over a decade ago, “Amnesia: The Dark Descent” still stands strong as one of the scariest games in the world of horror gaming. You play as Daniel, who wakes up in a dark, foreboding castle with no memory of how he got there. As you explore the castle and uncover its dark secrets, you’ll experience hallucinations, flashbacks, and disorienting moments that blur the lines between reality and Daniel’s fractured mind. The lack of combat abilities and the feeling of being completely alone and defenseless add an extra layer of vulnerability, making each encounter with the unknown all the more terrifying.

Until Dawn

Released: 2015
Developer: Supermassive Games
Platforms: PS4

“Until Dawn” is an interactive drama horror game. The story is set in a remote mountain lodge and revolves around eight friends who must survive a night of terror. As the story unfolds, the characters find themselves trapped in this desolate location, which becomes a perfect setting for the horrors that follow. The game is heavily centered on player choices. Every decision you make, from simple conversations to life-or-death situations, significantly impacts the storyline, shapes the characters’ relationships, and determines the fate of each character – meaning who lives or dies depends on your choices. Although you can play it alone, the experience is much better when played with friends in the same room.

The Quarry

Released: 2022
Developer: Supermassive Games
Platforms: PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, PC

If you don’t have a PS4 but want to play a horror game similar to “Until Dawn” on some of the other platforms, then “The Quarry” is a great option. The story in this interactive drama horror follows nine teenage counselors whose last night in a summer camp turns into a fight for survival. It is also a decision-based game, so the choices you make throughout the game will determine how the characters and the plot will develop – and how the story will end. The fate of all nine characters is in your hands, and all of them can survive or die, depending on your choices. Much like “Until Dawn,” it’s a fun game to play with friends in a couch co-op mode.

Phasmophobia

Released: 2020
Developer: Kinetic Games
Platforms: PC (coming to PS5 and Xbox Series X/S in late October 2023)

If you’re looking for a multiplayer horror experience to enjoy with your friends, “Phasmophobia” is the game to play. It puts you and your friends in the roles of paranormal investigators. Armed with various ghost-hunting tools, you’ll explore haunted locations, gather evidence, and try to identify the type of ghost in the area. The game’s atmosphere is masterfully designed to create a sense of dread and unease. Creaking floors, flickering lights, and eerie noises – all contribute to an unsettling atmosphere, making you feel as if you’ve stepped into a truly haunted place. Plus, the teamwork required to solve the mysteries and survive keeps the adrenaline pumping and the fun going.

Dead by Daylight

Released: 2016
Developer: Behaviour Interactive
Platforms: PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, PC

“Dead by Daylight” is another co-op horror game you can play with your friends. It’s one of the best asymmetrical multiplayer games where one player takes on the role of a killer while four other players become survivors. This dynamic creates intense and unpredictable encounters as the survivors work together to escape while the killer pursues them. The game features a diverse roster of characters as killers and survivors, drawn from various horror franchises. Its tense gameplay and jump scares offer endless hours of fun and fear as you and your friends try to outsmart each other in the ultimate game of cat and mouse.

Resident Evil 7: Biohazard

Released: 2017
Developer: Capcom
Platforms: PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, PC

“Resident Evil 7: Biohazard” takes the well-known series back to its survival horror roots and is the first main game in the franchise to use a first-person perspective, intensifying the fear and amplifying the sense of immersion. You assume the role of Ethan Winters as he searches for his missing wife, Mia, in a remote plantation mansion deep in the heart of rural Louisiana. The quest to rescue Mia soon becomes a harrowing fight for survival as you navigate the mansion’s horrors and unravel the dark secrets of the Baker family.