27 Most Terrifying PlayStation 4 Horror Games That Will Scare You Witless - Gameranx (2024)

A genre that continues to thrive year after year within the video game market is horror. These video games can leave players tense, unsure of where to go, how to complete an objective, or simply what awaits them around the corner.

From survival horror titles that limit the number of resources a gamer has at their disposal to action based horror games where players will need to unload their weapons into a monstrous beast, there is a wide assortment of great titles available today on the PlayStation 4. Listed below are some of our personal favorite horror video game titles that we recommend checking out.

Make sure to check back often as we’ll continue to update this list with new titles as they are announced and released. Furthermore, we want to know what your favorite horror title is on the PlayStation 4. Let us know by leaving a comment down below.

Without further ado, here are our picks for the best horror titles available on the PlayStation 4.

#27 Dredge

Platform: PC PS4 Xbox One PS5 XSX|S Switch
Release Date: March 30, 2023

Steam|Playstation|Xbox|Nintendo

For ages, sailors would tell tales of the high seas and the dangers that lurked beneath the waves. But many of these tales were far-fetched, exaggerated, or simply not true. However, that doesn’t mean that there aren’t monsters of the deep, and inDredge,you will get up close and personal with many of them.

Your journey will start as a simple fisherman trying to make their way and learn the truth about the islands they fish within. But once you dare to brave the darkened waters at night, you’ll see just how many “bigger fish” there are out there and how small your boat feels in comparison.

So you best start believing in monster fish stories. You’re in one.

#26 Martha Is Dead

• Developer: LKA
• Publisher: Wired Productions

A truly disturbing first-person psychological thriller, the events of Martha Is Dead take place amidst the backdrop of World War 2-era Italy. Players will step into the shoes of Giulia, whose twin sister Martha is found mysteriously drowned and a survival horror experience unravels from her discovery. Grief, loss, murder and trauma are all explored in this creepy but compelling narrative adventure that should be a hit with those who enjoy emotive horror stories that hit close to home. This is a game that deals with some tough subject matter and is one of those terrifying titles that lingers with you long after the end credits. Martha Is Dead received widespread critical and commercial acclaim and is definitely one to play if you want to give yourself that feeling of being emotionally and spiritually haunted.

#25 The Dark Pictures Anthology: Man of Medan

• Developer: Supermassive Games
• Publisher: Bandai Namco Entertainment

Supermassive Games has already a nice track record when it comes to horror titles as the development studio brought out an iconic hit for the PlayStation 4 in the form of Until Dawn. The video game series has received a couple of spinoff titles of its own though now the developers are looking at a new trilogy of titles set to also be horror titles.

The developers are calling it The Dark Anthology with the first title being Man of Medan. Much like the Until Dawn IP, players will be controlling a cast of characters that may or may not make it through the story depending on your actions. This time around players will be diving into the sea with a group of friends in search of sunken treasure but it turns out that there’s something else lurking in the depths below.

#24 Outlast 2

• Developer: Red Barrels
• Publisher: Red Barrels

Outlast 2, by development team Red Barrels, follows similar game mechanics of the first installment of the survival-horror franchise. Players this time around will take on the role of Blake Langermann, an investigative journalist alongside his wife as they uncover clues to a murder of a pregnant woman.

In their journey, Blake and his wife become separated after their helicopter crashes. Much like the last installment, gamers are not suited with the ability to combat the enemies that lurk about. Instead, our protagonist will mostly have to hide and run away from any nearby danger.

However, since Blake is already a cameraman, he is equipped with a more advanced camera that will offer clearer footage, zoom, an audio detection system, and of course night vision. Gamers will still have to hunt down new batteries for the camera when it drains from night vision use just as they did before making it tough to know just when you should put down your camera and when to pick it back up again.

#23 Dying Light

• Developer: Techland
• Publisher: Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment

Dying Light was created under Techland, who was also the developers behind Dead Island and as such there are some clear similarities between the two. However, between the two video game titles, Dying Light certainly carries a more mature tone and bleak world.

The video game follows an agent named Kyle Crane who is tasked with infiltrating a quarantine zone city of Harran which has become infested with a virus turning civilians into ruthless zombies. Interestingly enough, there’s a twist on the day and night cycle in Dying Light. During the day, the zombies are more lethargic and easier to deal with, though once the sun set’s they become more aggressive and harder to escape from.

Developers have also tossed in some parkour elements within the game allowing players to easily traverse the city and its obstacles when fleeing the undead hordes. Combat as well has been changed from the melee focus from what we seen within Dead Island to gunplay, giving players an action-adventure experience.

#22 Get Even

• Developer: The Farm 51
• Publisher: Bandai Namco Entertainment

Get Even, developed by The Farm 51 and launched in June of 2017, is a survival horror FPS. The video game follows a man named Cole Black who wakes up in an old asylum with no memory other than a fading image of himself attempting to save a young girl from a bomb strapped to her chest.

Through the use of a mysterious device attached to our protagonist’s head, Cole is able to think back and jump into his memory. Players must go through the various memories to solve puzzles and fight his way through hostile enemies as he attempts to uncover just how he ended up in his current situation.

#21 Layers of Fear

• Developer: Bloober Team
• Publisher: Aspyr

Layers of Fear is a psychological horror video game by developers Bloober Team. The video game follows a painter who is attempting to finish his masterpiece though as you roam the mansion, disturbing secret information begins to bleed out.

This is more of an exploration and puzzle-solving video game with a variety of jump scares littered throughout.

Likewise a DLC campaign was released shortly after called Layers of Fear: Inheritance where gamers take on the role of the painter’s daughter who returns to the old house.

#20 The Evil Within

• Developer: Tango Gameworks
• Publisher: Bethesda Softworks

The Evil Within was directed by Resident Evil series creator, Shinji Mikami as the game focuses on Sebastian Castellanos a detective that gets pulled into a distorted world during an investigation. Staying true to the survival horror genre, The Evil Within will have players struggling against a fight with nightmarish creatures while avoiding traps, sneaking around the world and solving complex puzzles.

#19 The Evil Within 2

• Developer: Tango Gameworks
• Publisher: Bethesda Softworks

It did not come as a shock when it was announced that a new installment in The Evil Within franchise would be coming to market. The title takes place three years after the events of the first video game, where Sebastian once again, takes on a new investigation filled with horrifying creatures to face against. However, this investigation touches close to home for Sebastian as he will get the chance to tie up loose ends to his past.

#18 Observer

• Developer: Bloober Team
• Publisher: Aspyr

Released in 2017, developers Bloober Team crafted a psychological horror title based around a detective. Within the game, players take on the role of Daniel Lazarski who is a detective with an unique tool. During interrogations, Daniel is able to hack into peoples minds and investigate surroundings memorized by the person.

This is one of those games that is best to go in with as little knowledge as possible due to the length of the game. Players who take the day off to enjoy a game can easily beat this in one sitting in just over five hours, especially if they are going for just the main narrative story.

#17 Dying Light 2: Stay Human

• Developer: Techland
• Publisher: Techland

Dying Light 2: Stay Humanwill place you in The City, where zombies run wild, and you are trying to figure out your memory problems as you make it by them.

You’ll take missions for various people all over The City to get the answers you seek. Be warned, how you handle them and who you do them for will affect The City in many ways.

As if that wasn’t enough, you’ll need to ward off the zombie infection that is slowly growing within you.

Dying Light 2: Stay Humandoesn’t require you to fight all the time, use your parkour skills to bound around the city as you please so you can get to where you want to go.

#16 Outlast

• Developer: Red Barrels
• Publisher: Red Barrels

Outlast is a first-person survival psychological horror title by development team Red Barrels. The game follows a freelance investigative journalist named Miles Upshur who is searching out a remote psychiatric hospital.

However, what Miles finds is not only disturbing but dangerous leaving him to fight for his life. Being more of a survival horror title, players are encouraged to use stealth to their advantage while maneuvering over various obstacles. Likewise, a big portion of the game is based on the use of a night vision camera to see what is around the area. However, limited batteries are required to run the camera forcing players to seek out replacements as they progress through the narrative campaign.

#15 Little Nightmares

• Developer: Tarsier Studios
• Publisher: Bandai Namco Entertainment

In Little Nightmares, players will be taking on the role of a young girl named Six who had been kidnapped from her home and forced to work at a place known as The Maw, an underwater resort.

The resort caters to the powerful elite, forcing Six to serve their needs. One day, Six is presented with a way back to freedom, though during her journey out of the unpredictable world of The Maw, Six catches the glimpse of the corruption of modern happiness though the journey to freedom is long and treacherous.

#14 The Quarry

• Developer: Supermassive Games
• Publisher: 2K Games

If you desire to feel like you’re in a horror movie, one where your choices will determine your fate, then you must check out The Quarry.

In the game, you’ll play as a group of camp counselors who stay longer than they should have and face the consequences of their actions. Every choice you make, no matter how big or small, will affect one character or another. There are so many ways for the game to end that you’ll want to go back and redo everything to try to get everyone to live.

Look for cards so that you can rewind time and undo some of your paths, and do what it takes to make it through the day.

#13 Until Dawn

• Developer: Supermassive Games
• Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment

Until Dawn is a PlayStation 4 exclusive and a horror adventure title. Developed by Supermassive Games, Until Dawn follows a group of eight characters who decide to hold a holiday retreat at a cabin within a fictional mountain resort in western Canada.

However, their holiday retreat quickly turns sour as they learn a psycho killer is on the loose forcing our group of eight to survive until sunrise. If you enjoy choice-based video games then this title will be a must play.

Gamers will be able to control the characters at various points in the narrative while making critical choices along the way. Depending on the choices made will alter the narrative and even result in potential characters not making it through the night.

#12 The Last of Us Part 2

• Developer: Naughty Dog
• Publisher: Sony Interactive Entertainment

The Last of Us was such a massively popular video game that it really came to no surprise a sequel would be released into the market. This sequel follows Ellie years after her voyage with Joel and life was seemingly a bit more normal behind protected walls. Everyone had their jobs and roles to keep society going although an event occurs that shakes Ellie to her core. Years after risking her precious life in hopes of doing some good in the world, she is back into action against all odds. We won’t spoil anything here but we will say that this is a different kind of scary game. While there are plenty of creatures, the focus is mainly around hostile factions.

You never know just what is behind each corner and the development team at Naughty Dog did an incredible job at making people feel more human. The fear of having to end someone’s life can weigh on you at times. Hearing their screams, panic, and friends cry out over their sudden loss could really make the game a terrifying adventure of losing grip with humanity. It seems that with each game Naughty Dog really tries to set the bar even higher.

#11 Alien: Isolation

• Developer: Creative Assembly
• Publisher: Sega

For fans of the horror film franchise Aliens, owning a copy of Alien: Isolation is automatically a must-have. However, if you’re unfamiliar with the film, you can still find some enjoyment from this video game title. Launched back in 2014, developers Creative Assembly has released this survival horror title for a variety of platforms over the years.

In terms of the film franchise, Alien: Isolation is set fifteen years after the events of Alien, where players will take on the role of Amanda Ripley, the daughter of Ellen Ripley who is on an investigation of tracking down the mysterious disappearance of her mother.

Much like the old school survival horror titles, Alien: Isolation has an emphasis on players avoiding the hostile alien enemy. Instead, gamers must rely on some stealth mechanics to maneuver around the game.

Alien: Isolation is a singleplayer journey and while there is a following, it’s unsure if we’ll see a sequel launch. Publishers to the video game, Sega, has stated that they are still considering putting out another title, but it’s unconfirmed if one is actually in the process.

#10 Soma

• Developer: Frictional Games
• Publisher: Frictional Games

Frictional Games are fantastic developers who know how to create terrifying video games as they previously released Penumbra and Amnesia. Their latest release falls right in line with the past two IP launches. Soma is a survival horror title that puts players into an underwater remote research facility.

Within the game, players take on the role of Simon Jarrett who must uncover the truth behind the facility that’s gone rogue with machines taking on more human characteristics.

If you’re familiar Amnesia, Soma takes on the similar gameplay style in that players will be keen to take a stealthy approach when dealing with the enemy. It’s best to avoid danger when possible while searching for clues and solving puzzles.

#9 Prey

• Developer: Arkane Studios
• Publisher: Bethesda Softworks

The 2017 release of Prey from developers Arkane Studios is stated to be an FPS with survival horror elements. This is a futuristic title where players are set on a space station that has been tainted by a hostile alien species. During this exploration journey, gamers will be stepping into the shoes of Morgan Yu who must find a means to get rid of the alien species and escape the station.

You may recall the Prey franchise from when it first launched back in 2006 and it’s worth mentioning that this is not a reboot or remaster. Instead, the developers identify Prey as a reimagining of the IP with a new narrative.

Much of the gameplay will involve exploring the station and solving a few puzzles as you progress.

#8 Lone Survivor

• Developer: Superflat Games
• Publisher: Superflat Games

Indie survival horror title Lone Survivor by developers Superflat games first launched on PC in 2012 though it has since launched on PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita, and the Wii U. This is a very odd and unusual horror title as players control a nameless man stuck within a building after the post-apocalypse has turned most of the world into mindless mutants.

Players embark on the adventure within the 2D world attempting to gather supplies and complete puzzles. However, it becomes clear in the game that the protagonist is having a mental breakdown where the real and hallucinate worlds become a blur. Lone Survivor has a total of five different endings with the Director’s Cut giving players an incentive to go back to replay the game.

#7 Resident Evil Remaster

• Developer: Capcom
• Publisher: Capcom

Resident Evil is an iconic video game title and one that helped pave the road for future survival horror titles. Currently, the original title of the franchise does not hold up well today though luckily, the development team over at Capcom has released remastered editions over the years.

The latest release was in 2015 where the game received a 1080p resolution along with 5.1 surround sound. Likewise, if you’re not familiar with the days of the original Resident Evil then chances are you won’t like the control scheme. Often considered as “tank controls” Capcom has changed the controls to make movement a bit more fluid with the analog stick.

If you have yet to play Resident Evil then you’re missing out on not only a classic title but one that spawned an entire franchise.

#6 The Walking Dead

• Developer: Telltale Games
• Publisher: Telltale Games

Okay while this may not be looked upon as the standout title when it comes to the horror genre, the narrative journey Telltale Games takes players in The Walking Dead is rather grim. The video game is part of a series of titles that are somewhat linked together. Of course the game is connected to The Walking Dead television and comic book series, though prior knowledge about The Walking Dead content is not required before jumping into the dark journey.

Overall, players step into the role of Lee Everett who ends up becoming a fatherly figure to a small girl named Clementine when the world ending zombie apocalypse suddenly breaks out. There is a series of episodes to play through in this point-and-click style adventure filled with morale ambiguity choices and puzzles.

#5 Resident Evil 7

• Developer: Capcom
• Publisher: Capcom

Resident Evil 7 takes place four years after the events of Resident Evil 6, in a fictional city of Dulvey, Louisiana. Players will be taking on the role of Ethan, a man who is searching for his missing wife where his investigation leads him to a derelict plantation mansion that houses the oddity Baker family.

It seems that Ethan will have to escape from the cannibalistic Baker family while also searching for clues as to why his journey took him to the Baker family. The overall game does see some changes from the norm in the franchise such as putting players in a first-person perspective. Furthermore, the game takes a step back to the early years of Resident Evil with a focus on survival horror elements rather than action based horror. After players complete the main campaign of Resident Evil 7 they can move on and enjoy the narrative DLC which does help flesh out the story along with tying up some of the loose ends from the narrative ending.

#4 The Last of Us Remastered

• Developer: Naughty Dog
• Publisher: Naughty Dog

The Last of Us saw countless awards once the studio unleashed this video game into the market.

This is an action-adventure survival horror type video game set in a world where a disease that turns people into mindless creatures similar to zombies has started to spread globally. Players take on the role of Joe who must deliver a young girl named Ellie to a group safely across the United States.

With bandits, thieves, military, and lastly infected between Joel and his objective, players will have to carefully maneuver around the levels strategically. However, the narrative journey will tug on your heartstrings leaving you begging for more.

#3 Resident Evil 3

• Developer: Capcom
• Publisher: Capcom

Resident Evil has been an iconic video game franchise for years and while the series has had its share of adjustments in terms of gameplay mechanics, Capcom offered gamers an old school survival horror experience with the remake of Resident Evil 3. Overall, the game follows Jill Valentine who is being hunted down by a BOW all while trying to escape an under overrun Raccoon City. Now the game is not necessarily long especially in comparison to Resident Evil 2 and it’s rather linear as well. However, what may make this game a bit uncomfortable for some players is the fact that at any moment, a massive undead enemy creature known as the Nemesis can pop out, leaving you on the run. It’s the uneasy feeling that may leave you on the edge of your seat, uncertain on whether the next area you head into is filled with some type of undead creature or the seemingly unstoppable Nemesis. If we can offer a tip, we suggest making sure you save often.

#2 Resident Evil Village

• Developer: Capcom
• Publisher: Capcom

Resident Evil has been on a bit of a renaissance as of late. It started with the seventh main title in Biohazard, and then, it continued with Resident Evil Village. This game brought back Ethan Winters and had him go on a mission to a strange village where his daughter was being held captive.

The game was beloved by fans and critics for its looks, monsters, and Lady Dimitrescu.

If you get the game soon, you’ll have access to the DLC content. This includes an extra story starring Rose Winters, Ethan’s daughter. She’ll return to the village to learn more about who she is, and it’ll close the book on the Winters story.

#1 Resident Evil 2

• Developer: Capcom
• Publisher: Capcom

Capcom has been an iconic video game development studio over the years and its brought out some incredible IPs. One of which was Resident Evil, a title we definitely feature heavily here on this list and as iconic as this series is, there was no surprise when the development team decided to handle remakes. Unfortunately for gamers, most of the remakes were spent on the original title and while that’s not a bad thing, for fans of the series, there have been plenty of vocal pleas for developers to bring out a remake of its sequel, Resident Evil 2. Well, it took a few years but Capcom did just that and delivered gamers a remake of Resident Evil 2 for current generation platforms. This remake does exactly what Capcom did with the original installment.

Resident Evil 2 the remake brought in an overhaul to the visuals which made the game look fresh and defined. However, there were some changes to the game overall such as the game mechanics such as removing the tank controls that were standard years ago to a more acceptable third-person mechanics found in today’s latest releases. Likewise, there was a change to the camera system as players won’t be dealing with a fixed camera perspective. Instead, the development team decided to bring in the camera and feature it over-the-shoulder, bringing the player closer into the action. Luckily, the game wasn’t altered in terms of the story. Players will still take control of both Leon Kennedy and Claire Redfield as they attempt to escape the undead filled Raccoon City.

Bonus

The Inpatient

• Developer: Supermassive Games
• Publisher: Sony Interactive Entertainment Europe

The Inpatient is a psychological horror video game developed by Supermassive Games, the developers behind the hit horror title Until Dawn. This is a PlayStation VR title which means you’ll be required to use the virtual reality headset in order to progress through the game.

We won’t spoil you with too many details regarding the narrative, but The Inpatient takes place sixty years prior to the events of Until Dawn. Players step into the shoes of an amnesiac who trying to recall lost events while at a sanatorium institute.

There won’t be too many jumps scares to go through in The Inpatient as developers rely on setting a more horrific and terrifying atmosphere.

Friday the 13th: The Game

• Developer: IllFonic
• Publisher: Gun Media

Normally video game adaptations of movies are a bit sub-par, but there’s an exception for Friday the 13th: The Game. This is a video game title that heavily focuses on multiplayer gameplay.

Friday the 13th: The Game can support up to eight players, seven of which are camp counselors while the remaining one will take on the role of Jason Voorhees. There are two end goals of the game, the players will work together in order to defeat Jason while the main enemy player will search and slaughter the hidden camp counselors.

Remothered: Broken Porcelain

• Developer: Stormind Games
• Publisher: Modus Games

Remothered: Tormented Fathers has another installment for fans this year. The video game is known as Remothered: Broken Porcelain and for those of you who were hoping for a sequel to top the first installment, you may be a bit letdown. Still, this game offers the same style of gameplay as the first title. However, there is more combat put in place. Within the game, players take the role of a young girl who gets kicked out of a boarding school and is forced into working as a maid at Ashmann Inn.

It doesn’t take our protagonist very long to discover that there are some dark secrets within the Inn and it’s up to you to uncover what’s really going on. However, the more you dig the dangerous the place becomes. As mentioned, while the gameplay is similar to the first installment where there is plenty of exploration and the focus of fleeing from enemies, players will also get the chance to attack if they carefully sneak behind the enemy. It’s a bit clunky especially at release, but we’re hopeful the development team is able to clean up the game a bit through patches.

Maid of Sker

• Developer: Wales Interactive
• Publisher: Wales Interactive

Maid of Sker is an adventure horror title that comes from Wales Interactive. Based on Welsh folklore, players step into the year 1898 where you assume the role of Thomas. Early into the game, you learn that Thomas is on his way to rescue his lover after she writes a letter alerting him of being imprisoned at her family hotel. Of course, upon arrival, you learn that there are more sinister actions going on in the derelict building. This game is all based around exploration and solving puzzles as you wander the gloomy area. One of the big plays in this game is based around sound as masked villains that wander the area can really only notice your presence if you get too close or happen to be too loud with your interactions. With jump scares, a chilling audio mix, and an atmospheric level design, players are likely to always be tensed through the five-hour campaign.

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