gaming
Sega / Frictional Games / Capcom / ONE37pm
By: Elton Jones
Published May 17, 2023
Zombies. Aliens. And unexplainable horrors that crawl on all fours make up the basis of baddies that are out to destroy you in horror games. Thanks to the dawn of 3D gaming, there's been a concerted effort from game developers to indulge in terrifying capers from a third- and first-person perspective. Franchises like Resident Evil, Fatal Frame, Little Nightmares, and more are present on the PS4, which is a godsend for fans of games that put the fear of God into them at every turn. We're always in the mood to jump out of our seats while we play those types of games as mentioned earlier in the dark, which is why we felt compelled to put together this list of the best horror games on PS4.
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Best Horror Games on PS4
Electronic Arts
1. ‘Until Dawn’
So for the first six entries on this list, you guys and gals are going to get really acquainted with the development studio Supermassive Games. That group of game creators has been tapped by three publishers to make horror games that implement point-and-click adventure game mechanics. The studio's Sony Computer Entertainment-published PS4 classic is Until Dawn, an interactive drama centered on a group of kids being terrorized by a supernatural being in the middle of the woods. You'll need to make quick decisions while in danger, strike up some revealing conversations with your friends, and figure out who/what is putting everyone's lives in danger. Keep track of all those major decisions you make that play a huge part in the game's "Butterfly Effect" system.
2. ‘The Dark Pictures Anthology: Man of Medan’
Once Bandai Namco Entertainment entered the picture, Supermassive Games started up a new line of horror-themed interactive drama experiences. All those games fall under the umbrella of The Dark Pictures Anthology and the first release in that series is Man of Medan. The story here sees a group of young sea explorers getting trapped on a ghost ship, which is full of horrifying threats that may or may not be real. Once again, you'll have to make the sort of choices that push the story along the way you'd see fit and help keep everyone alive (which is a lot harder than it sounds). The implementation of two-player online co-op and the five-player "Movie Night" mode.
3. ‘The Dark Pictures Anthology: Little Hope’
Next up from Supermassive Games is Little Hope, which follows a group of four students who find themselves lost in the small town of Little Hope, Massachusettes. Of course, their current predicament puts them in the crosshairs of unrelenting demons. The main theme that comes up here is the Salem Witch Trials and the mass paranoia that came from such a terrible period in time. Man of Medan's local and online multiplayer options come up here once again, plus the implementation of Quick Time Events (QTEs) and major decision-making is fully intact (it's a Supermassive Games trademark after all).
4. ‘The Dark Pictures Anthology: House of Ashes’
The next Supermassive Games release on our list of the best horror games on PS4 is House of Ashes, which introduces some quality-of-life improvements and gameplay updates that make this sequel feel more like a survival horror romp. Five playable protagonists are at your disposal here during a harrowing trek through a subterranean Akkadian temple filled with vampiric creatures. Fighting for their survival becomes a bit easier to do thanks to this game's more forgiving QTEs (the game notifies you of them so you're ready for what comes next), a fully controllable camera instead of a fixed one, and active shooting gameplay segments.
5. ‘The Dark Pictures Anthology: The Devil in Me’
The Devil in Me sees Supermassive Games go even harder towards making its Dark Pictures Anthology games adopt more enhancements that add an extra sense of interactivity to the whole affair. This final installment in the series' first season focuses on five members of a documentary film crew that are put in immense danger within H. H. Holmes's infamous "Murder Castle." The new features that come into play include an inventory system, tool-based brainteasers, and a new suite of movement options that make this title feel even more like your average survival horror game. And as always, major choices that impact the story and the survivability of the main characters lie at the heart of this game.
6. ‘The Quarry’
Now let's have a chat about Supermassive Games' 2K-published thriller, The Quarry. Some big-name Hollywood talent pops up here, such as Ted Raimi, Brenda Song, and David Arquette. The character they play and several more get caught up in a story centered on a dangerous final evening within the Hackett's Quarry summer camp. The nine teenage camp counselors you'll meet here are on the run from otherworldly threats and crazed locals, as one would expect. If you enjoyed the more interactive drama vibes of Until Dawn in comparison to all the changes seen in The Dark Pictures Anthology franchise, then this is the game for you. Big choices, QTEs, and even aiming/shooting moments are all the rage here!
7. ‘SOMA’
Frictional Games is another development studio you'll see more than once on this list of the best horror games on PS4. One of their most outstanding works is SOMA, a survival horror adventure that transpires on an underwater remote research facility. As Simon Jarrett, you'll need to figure out why you're there, how'd you get there in the first place, and sneak around to stay out of the way of blood-curdling monsters. It pays to be stealthy here since direct combat with those creatures is a dumb move to make.
8. ‘Resident Evil: Origins Collection’
The bioweapon epidemic that's present within the diseased world ofResident Evilhas been produced by the seedy organization known as the "Umbrella Corporation." The original adventures that'll introduce you to the special squad of cops thrown into action against Umbrella's monstrous creations are available in this double pack. TheResident Evil Origins Collectionfeatures crisp-looking HD remasters ofResident Evil 0(which follows the terrifying trek of Rebecca Chambers and Billy Coen) and the memorable Nintendo GameCubeResident Evilremake (which follows the initial adventure of S.T.A.R.S. Bravo Team members Jill Valentine and Chris Redfield).
9. ‘Resident Evil 2’ (2019 remake)
The PS1 version ofResident Evil 2is a nearly flawless perfect survival horror game that is regarded as one of Capcom's defining classics. The 2019 remake of that legendary game is definitely worth seeking out as it improves on the original's graphics and modernizes its gameplay to turn it into a captivating third-person shooter. We crown theRE2remake as one of the best horror games on PS4 you need to play ASAP thanks to its immense jump scares, tense encounters with lab-produced monstrosities, and interesting storyline that follows two of the most beloved characters inREhistory. Let us know how you felt when you ran into "Mr. X" for the very first time, by the way!
10. ‘Resident Evil 3’ (2020 remake)
Join us as we move on from the Racoon City journeys of Leon S. Kennedy and Claire Redfield to the one Jill Valentine was forced to endure. The remake of Resident Evil 3 is admittedly short in comparison to the RE2 remake. And sadly, it's missing a few portions of the campaign that was present in the original Resident Evil 3. Even still, the same quality gunplay of the RE2 remake is still contained here. And alongside shambling zombies, undead dogs, and other bioweapons, the relentless "Nemesis" bioweapon hunts you down with reckless abandon. Run for your life or stand your ground whenever that big brute comes gunning for you.
11. ‘Resident Evil 4’ (2023 remake)
The OG version ofResident Evil 4is quoted by many as one of the greatest video games ever made. Thanks to the remarkable remake ability of Capcom, that game has gotten even better somehow someway. Leon S. Kennedy makes his welcome return in this new survival horror action-adventure game that tasks him with saving the president's kidnapped daughter from a village of crazed cult followers. This one has its fair share of shocking scares, but there's a bigger focus on the action here as you'll need to wipe out ruthless hordes of cultists that take some powerful gunfire to put down permanently. Tread carefully, make sure you're fully loaded, and blast everyone that tries to get in between you and the president's daughter Ashley Graham.
12. ‘Resident Evil 7 Biohazard Gold Edition'
"Welcome to the family, son!" That spine-tingling phrase comes from none other than the towering father that hails from the Baker Family, Jack Baker. He and the rest of his insane unit scared the living daylights out of everyone that encountered them in the Resident Evil sequel that revisited its roots for the better. Resident Evil 7: Biohazard switches the camera viewpoint to a first-person variation, which brought the night terrors even closer to your face (especially in VR!). A series resurgence was brought on by this game for good reason - it focuses on the horror elements fans have come to champion by incorporating a deeply disturbing journey through a whole new derelict mansion. Go with the Gold Edition so you can play through all the fun side modes and narrative-extending DLC!
13. ‘Resident Evil Village Gold Edition'
The first-person formula that madeResident Evil 7: Biohazardso remarkable was thankfully brought back for its equally satisfying follow-up.Resident Evil Villagefeels like a different take on the themes present in parts ofResident Evil 4- it throws the latest series protagonist Ethan Winters into a mysterious village while he's searching for his kidnapped baby girl. Unfortunately, he's forced to contend with vicious werewolves, hideously mutated fish creatures, mechanical monstrosities, and more in order to do so. A major change in scenery lends itself well to the newfoundResident Evilrecipe that we hope stays around for the future. The RE Village Gold Edition is indeed one of the best horror games on PS4 thanks to awesome additions, such as a third-person mode, new characters for "The Mercenaries," and the extra "Shadows of Rose" campaign.
14. ‘Outlast Trinity'
Red Barrels are responsible for gracing the horror gaming genre with the Outlast series, which is more focused on avoiding direct contact with the crazies that want to end your life in seconds. Outlast Trinity compiles the first game in the series, its Whistleblower DLC expansion, and Outlast 2. All three pieces of content take place within perilous areas where the main character's only useful item is a camcorder, which can be used to illuminate what's in front of you via night vision mode. But that only be done for a limited amount of time before the batteries go out and you're forced to wade through the dark while insane enemies move ever so closer to your location.
15. ‘Amnesia: Collection'
We got another compilation for you folks to consider on this list of the best horror games on PS4. And just like the Outlast series, the Amnesia games are played from a first-person perspective and push you to stay ahead of whatever's trying to kill you instead of taking it on. You'll experience true fear in this collection that comes with Amnesia: The Dark Descent, its Justine DLC expansion, and Amnesia: A Machine for Pigs. If you're looking to wade through creepy environments from a first-person viewpoint, Amnesia: Collection will do a whole lot for you.
16. ‘Alien: Isolation’
Alien: Isolationisn't about trying to shoot down a space station tunnel full of xenomorphs with your fellow marines. Instead, it revisits the horror themes of the first film in the series by evoking the feeling of being helpless against the threat of a singular alien that's seemingly always close by. This first-person survival horror encounter is a must for fans of the films who want to meet Amanda Ripley's daughter and see what's been happening in the 15 years since the first film's events.Alien: Isolationis quite the traumatic game that pushes you to sneak around, hide, and pick your spots carefully when it's time to defend yourself from any & all threats.
17. ‘Fatal Frame: Maiden of Black Water'
Koei Tecmo's survival horror series is unique in how it tackles Japan's interpretation of the supernatural and the way in which you eliminate ghostly terrors that try to suck the life force out of you. Fatal Frame: Maiden of Black Water is the fifth mainline entry in the series and centers on three young women who must traverse the mysterious "Mt. Hikami" and get to the bottom of its unique religion. And during that mission, you'll need to rely on your "Camera Obscura" to repel the vengeful spirits that will definitely scare the hell out of you.
18. ‘Little Nightmares II’
So why is Little Nightmares II ahead of the first one on this list of the best horror games on PS4? Because it's actually a prequel to the first game! In chronological order, it's best to tackle this one first so you can experience the eerie 2.5D adventures of the little heroes known as Mono and Six. Both characters must band together to avoid some of the most vile enemies you'll ever come across. There are also plenty of platforming segments and light puzzles to solve as you use both characters to aid each other in some fun (and distressing!) gameplay segments.
19. ‘Little Nightmares - Complete Edtion’
Once you've completed the second Little Nightmares, you should be fully prepared to hop into the first game and play out the initial terror-fueled trek of Six. Everything you did in the last game we mentioned on this list is contained here - you'll do everything in your power to escape the dark and disgusting expanse called "The Maw," which is packed with disgusting beings that will have you sweating bullets as they hunt you down. Go ahead and pick up the Complete Edition so you can get the full package that contains the main campaign and two extra escape stories.
20. ‘Visage’
And to wrap up this collection of the best horror games on PS4, we're going give the nod to the independent studio SadSquare Studio. Its magnum opus is the first-person psychological horror game Visage, which whisks players off to a troubled home that makes you relive some harrowing memories. This highly atmospheric experience is a definite slow-burner that hits hard at just the right moments. No spoilers here, folks! Just play it and wander through the dark as you figure out why you're in this game's downtrodden house in the first place.
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