There are a lot of feelings that playing horror games can evoke in us. When it comes to feeling anxious, I believe that playing Alien: Isolation (2014) really got me anxious from the start till the end. Which other horror games can make one feel really anxious?
Feelings of anxiety are one of the key facets of survival horror and psychological horror too. If you don't feel anxious playing something with the atmosphere of Silent Hill or the threat of Alien Isolation, you're probably a few synapses short of a full picnic.
Hmm. Like Al says, anxiety is a core feature of most horror games, at least those which aren't DOOM-like bullet-hell blasters.
So if you’re after a gnawing sense of dread and creeping tension, with horror games you’re in for a treat. Many horror games have a knack for building anxiety in ways that few other genres can match. Here are some options that will really get under your skin and linger there, leaving you feeling uneasy long after you've put down the controller.
Silent Hill 2 – This one’s a masterpiece of psychological survival horror. You’re James Sunderland, trudging through fog-choked streets and decaying buildings. But it’s not just about jump scares. The horror here is existential; it’s about grief, guilt, and the horror of confronting yourself. The ambient noise is unsettling, the visuals are grotesque, and each encounter with Pyramid Head feels like a brush with death. The anxiety ramps up because there’s no way to feel safe. Even the “safe” areas have this uncanny atmosphere that doesn’t let you relax.
Outlast – Here’s one that doesn’t hold back. Set in an abandoned psychiatric hospital, you’re armed with nothing but a camcorder and some limited battery life. You can’t fight back. You can only run and hide, with the night-vision on your camcorder your only way of seeing in the dark. It’s claustrophobic, it’s chaotic, and you’re constantly aware of your vulnerability. Every time you hear footsteps or see a shadow move, the anxiety ratchets up another level. If Alien: Isolation made you feel hunted, Outlast makes you feel outright powerless.
Amnesia: The Dark Descent – If there’s a game that nails that sinking feeling of dread, it’s Amnesia. You’re in this pitch-black castle with no memory of how you got there and little to defend yourself. The game leans heavily on psychological horror, with your character’s sanity deteriorating the longer you stay in the dark or look at terrifying things. The monsters here are horrifyingly unpredictable, and the sound design has you questioning every noise. Each corner you turn could be your last, and the game’s commitment to letting your imagination do most of the work keeps you tense from start to finish.
Resident Evil 7: Biohazard – RE7 brought the series back to true horror with a shift to first-person perspective, trapping you in a backwoods Louisiana estate filled with twisted, grotesque family members. The cramped hallways, pitch-dark rooms, and sudden attacks keep your nerves on edge. The Baker family is relentless, and just when you think you’ve shaken them, they come back more terrifying than before. It’s a game where you’re constantly looking over your virtual shoulder, with anxiety fuelled by the brutal, unhinged foes and the intense realism the first-person view provides.
SOMA – While it’s not as terrifying on the surface as others, SOMA is deeply unsettling in a different way. It’s set in an underwater research facility with a disturbing story that questions what it means to be human. You’re not alone, and the AI-driven creatures roaming the corridors react to sound and movement, making stealth essential. The anxiety comes less from outright horror and more from the existential dread the game pulls you into, the slow realisation of your circumstances, and the bleak isolation of being trapped in an underwater labyrinth with limited resources and sanity.
These games are designed to trap you in fear. They make you hyper-aware, keep you on edge, and leave you mentally exhausted by the end. If Alien: Isolation had you on high alert, each of these will push you to new levels of tension, testing your nerves in entirely different, but equally unforgettable, ways.
Normally, most of the horror games makes me feel so anxious. But the ones that could be very unbearable and keeps my heart racing are Alien: Isolation and Amnesia.
They all do, any game that I happen to take an internet in and play always make me feel anxious. I wonder what will happen next? What dreadful thing is awaiting me? It gives anxiety and thrills at the same time.
Alien: Isolation was definitely a masterclass in anxiety-inducing horror. Another one that gets under your skin is Outlast – it’s relentless from start to finish!
Normally, most of the horror games makes me feel so anxious. But the ones that could be very unbearable and keeps my heart racing are Alien: Isolation and Amnesia.
Two great horror games that would require a higher level of bravery to play. This is one of the aspects that I look out for when I am playing those games.
One of the video games that I remember made me feel super anxious was a game I played many years ago now and that was Saw The Video Game. I knew what to expect from the game but it never changed how anxious it made me feel playing that game for the first time. I still managed to complete it and complete all achievements though so I am proud of that!
I have played a couple of horror games that made me feel so anxious. They are
- Amnesia
- Outlast
- Five Nights at Freddy's
- Resident Evil 7
- Silent Hill 2
What do you guys thing about PT? If I have to make a list of horror games that make be feel anxious., PT will be one of them. Layers of Fear is another game that gives me psychological tension.
I have played a couple of horror games that made me feel so anxious. They are
- Amnesia
- Outlast
- Five Nights at Freddy's
- Resident Evil 7
- Silent Hill 2
Silent Hill 2 really caused me some mental disturbances for days after I completed it. When it comes to horror games, I place it as one of the best out there.
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