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Best Horror 2026

Games, found footage films and series: indie, Japanese indie, retro, analog, backrooms, co-op and classic horror, ranked by real ratings and vote counts from Steam players, critics and TMDB voters. 118 horror games, films and series compared, including complete coverage of the scenes the mainstream lists skip. Every number traces to a real review, nothing is invented.

Indie Horror

Small-team horror that trades budget for ideas, where the strongest work in the genre has been coming from for years.

  1. 1
    Crow Countryverdict
    98% positiveSteam84/100Metacritic
    8.2K reviews · Updated Aug 20, 2026
  2. 2
    OMORIverdict
    97% positiveSteam88/100Metacritic
    88.1K reviews · Updated Aug 12, 2026
  3. 3
    Signalisverdict
    97% positiveSteam81/100Metacritic
    34.1K reviews · Updated Aug 20, 2026
  4. 4
    SOMAverdict
    96% positiveSteam84/100Metacritic
    52.5K reviews · Updated Aug 20, 2026
  5. 5
    Mouthwashingverdict
    95% positiveSteam88/100Metacritic
    37.8K reviews · Updated Jul 20, 2026
  6. 6
    Buckshot Rouletteverdict
    95% positiveSteam85/100Metacritic
    122.7K reviews · Updated Jul 23, 2026
  7. 7
    My Friendly Neighborhoodverdict
    95% positiveSteam
    3.4K reviews · Updated Aug 18, 2026
  8. 8
    FAITH: The Unholy Trinityverdict
    95% positiveSteam
    8.8K reviews · Updated Jul 20, 2026
  9. 9
    Darkwoodverdict
    95% positiveSteam80/100Metacritic
    24.8K reviews · Updated Aug 12, 2026
  10. 10
    The Mortuary Assistantverdict
    92% positiveSteam73/100Metacritic
    8.7K reviews · Updated Jul 23, 2026
  11. 11
    Iron Lungverdict
    92% positiveSteam
    11.2K reviews · Updated Aug 20, 2026
  12. 12
    Choo-Choo Charlesverdict
    91% positiveSteam
    17.4K reviews · Updated Aug 18, 2026
  13. 13
    Dark Deceptionverdict
    88% positiveSteam
    24.2K reviews · Updated Aug 18, 2026
  14. 14
    Still Wakes the Deepverdict
    88% positiveSteam74/100Metacritic
    12.9K reviews · Updated Aug 20, 2026
  15. 15
    MADiSONverdict
    87% positiveSteam75/100Metacritic
    3.4K reviews · Updated Aug 12, 2026
  16. 16
    Visageverdict
    84% positiveSteam81/100Metacritic
    10.9K reviews · Updated Aug 12, 2026

Found Footage Horror

First-person horror shot like a camcorder tape or a screen recording, built on dread and mundane detail rather than monsters.

More on Found Footage Horror
  1. 1
    Fears to Fathom - Ironbark Lookoutverdict
    93% positiveSteam
    6.3K reviews · Updated Aug 18, 2026
  2. 2
    Fears to Fathom - Carson Houseverdict
    92% positiveSteam
    2.9K reviews · Updated Aug 18, 2026
  3. 3
    Fears to Fathom - Home Aloneverdict
    90% positiveSteam
    11K reviews · Updated Aug 18, 2026
  4. 4
    Fears to Fathom - Norwood Hitchhikeverdict
    87% positiveSteam
    3.4K reviews · Updated Aug 18, 2026
  5. 5
    Fears to Fathom - Woodbury Getawayverdict
    87% positiveSteam
    3.6K reviews · Updated Aug 18, 2026
  6. 6
    Fears to Fathom - Scratch Creekverdict
    76% positiveSteam
    7.7K reviews · Updated Aug 20, 2026

Japanese Indie Horror

Japanese small-studio horror rooted in urban legend and everyday settings: the night shift, the tunnel, the apartment upstairs.

More on Japanese Indie Horror
  1. 1
    Parasocialverdict
    94% positiveSteam
    1.7K reviews · Updated Aug 18, 2026
  2. 2
    The Bathhouseverdict
    90% positiveSteam
    1.3K reviews · Updated Aug 18, 2026
  3. 3
    Night Securityverdict
    89% positiveSteam
    987 reviews · Updated Aug 18, 2026
  4. 4
    Aka Mantoverdict
    88% positiveSteam
    1.2K reviews · Updated Aug 18, 2026
  5. 5
    The Closing Shiftverdict
    88% positiveSteam
    3.2K reviews · Updated Aug 18, 2026
  6. 6
    Shinkansen 0verdict
    86% positiveSteam
    1.1K reviews · Updated Aug 18, 2026
  7. 7
    Missing Childrenverdict
    84% positiveSteam
    654 reviews · Updated Aug 18, 2026
  8. 8
    The Kidnapverdict
    84% positiveSteam
    563 reviews · Updated Aug 18, 2026
  9. 9
    UMIGARIverdict
    83% positiveSteam
    1.1K reviews · Updated Aug 18, 2026
  10. 10
    The Convenience Storeverdict
    82% positiveSteam
    3.3K reviews · Updated Aug 18, 2026
  11. 11
    The Karaokeverdict
    82% positiveSteam
    707 reviews · Updated Aug 18, 2026
  12. 12
    The Caregiververdict
    81% positiveSteam
    460 reviews · Updated Aug 18, 2026
  13. 13
    Stigmatized Propertyverdict
    80% positiveSteam
    1.4K reviews · Updated Aug 18, 2026
  14. 14
    Cursed Digicam
    79% positiveSteam
    660 reviews · Updated Aug 18, 2026
  15. 15
    The Ghost Trainverdict
    78% positiveSteam
    663 reviews · Updated Aug 18, 2026
  16. 16
    Night Deliveryverdict
    78% positiveSteam
    1.3K reviews · Updated Aug 18, 2026
  17. 17
    Inunaki Tunnel
    77% positiveSteam
    627 reviews · Updated Aug 18, 2026
  18. 18
    Yuki Onnaverdict
    76% positiveSteam
    209 reviews · Updated Aug 18, 2026
  19. 19
    Jisatsu
    75% positiveSteam
    621 reviews · Updated Aug 18, 2026
  20. 20
    Hanakoverdict
    73% positiveSteam
    256 reviews · Updated Aug 18, 2026
  21. 21
    The Radio Stationverdict
    73% positiveSteam
    504 reviews · Updated Aug 18, 2026
  22. 22
    The Night Way Homeverdict
    66% positiveSteam
    306 reviews · Updated Aug 18, 2026
  23. 23
    Okaeriverdict
    66% positiveSteam
    811 reviews · Updated Aug 18, 2026
  24. 24
    Teke Teke
    56% positiveSteam
    122 reviews · Updated Aug 18, 2026
  25. 25
    Onryoverdict
    55% positiveSteam
    191 reviews · Updated Aug 18, 2026
  26. 26
    Evie
    46% positiveSteam
    186 reviews · Updated Aug 18, 2026
  27. 27
    Blame Himverdict
    44% positiveSteam
    201 reviews · Updated Aug 18, 2026
  28. 28
    Welcome Back Daddy
    30% positiveSteam
    105 reviews · Updated Aug 18, 2026

Retro Horror

Deliberately dated horror, PS1 polygons and VHS grain used as a mood rather than nostalgia.

More on Retro Horror Games
  1. 1
    Squirrel Staplerverdict
    96% positiveSteam
    2.3K reviews · Updated Aug 18, 2026
  2. 2
    Murder Houseverdict
    95% positiveSteam
    2.3K reviews · Updated Aug 18, 2026
  3. 3
    Stay Out of the Houseverdict
    94% positiveSteam
    1.9K reviews · Updated Aug 18, 2026
  4. 4
    Christmas Massacreverdict
    91% positiveSteam
    1.1K reviews · Updated Aug 18, 2026
  5. 5
    Lost in Vivoverdict
    91% positiveSteam
    4K reviews · Updated Aug 18, 2026
  6. 6
    No One Lives Under the Lighthouseverdict
    87% positiveSteam
    2.5K reviews · Updated Aug 18, 2026

Analog Horror

Horror staged as corrupted media: kids-TV tapes, training videos, and broadcasts that are wrong in ways the format hides.

More on Analog Horror
  1. 1
    Five Nights at Freddy'sverdict
    94% positiveSteam78/100Metacritic
    59K reviews · Updated Aug 12, 2026
  2. 2
    Amanda the Adventurerverdict
    94% positiveSteam
    7.2K reviews · Updated Jul 23, 2026
  3. 3
    Bendy and the Ink Machineverdict
    89% positiveSteam71/100Metacritic
    36.7K reviews · Updated Aug 12, 2026
  4. 4
    Poppy Playtimeverdict
    88% positiveSteam
    141.3K reviews · Updated Aug 12, 2026
  5. 5
    Five Nights at Freddy's: Security Breachverdict
    86% positiveSteam64/100Metacritic
    69.7K reviews · Updated Aug 12, 2026

Backrooms Horror

Liminal-space horror built from the backrooms mythos: endless wrong rooms, hum, and the sense of having slipped behind the world.

  1. 1
    Escape the Backroomsverdict
    90% positiveSteam
    161.4K reviews · Updated Aug 18, 2026
  2. 2
    The Backrooms 1998verdict
    84% positiveSteam
    831 reviews · Updated Aug 18, 2026
  3. 3
    Inside the Backroomsverdict
    80% positiveSteam
    46.6K reviews · Updated Jul 23, 2026

Co-op Horror

Horror designed to be survived together, where the other players are both the safety net and the reason it falls apart.

More on Co-op Horror Games
  1. 1
    Lethal Companyverdict
    97% positiveSteam
    509.7K reviews · Updated Jul 20, 2026
  2. 2
    Phasmophobia
    94% positiveSteam76/100Metacritic
    837.3K reviews · Updated Aug 20, 2026
  3. 3
    Content Warningverdict
    94% positiveSteam
    162.6K reviews · Updated Aug 18, 2026
  4. 4
    DEVOURverdict
    90% positiveSteam
    88K reviews · Updated Aug 18, 2026
  5. 5
    Pacifyverdict
    86% positiveSteam
    42.7K reviews · Updated Aug 18, 2026
  6. 6
    Demonologistverdict
    85% positiveSteam
    24K reviews · Updated Aug 18, 2026
  7. 7
    Dead by Daylightverdict
    78% positiveSteam64/100Metacritic
    926.5K reviews · Updated Aug 12, 2026

Classic Horror

The established franchises and landmark titles the rest of the genre is measured against.

  1. 1
    Resident Evil 4verdict
    97% positiveSteam93/100Metacritic
    267.5K reviews · Updated Jul 23, 2026
  2. 2
    Resident Evil 2verdict
    97% positiveSteam91/100Metacritic
    221.2K reviews · Updated Aug 20, 2026
  3. 3
    Outlastverdict
    96% positiveSteam80/100Metacritic
    138.1K reviews · Updated Aug 11, 2026
  4. 4
    Resident Evil Villageverdict
    96% positiveSteam84/100Metacritic
    151.5K reviews · Updated Jul 23, 2026
  5. 5
    Resident Evil 7 Biohazardverdict
    95% positiveSteam86/100Metacritic
    126K reviews · Updated Aug 20, 2026
  6. 6
    Little Nightmaresverdict
    95% positiveSteam78/100Metacritic
    116.5K reviews · Updated Aug 12, 2026
  7. 7
    Silent Hill 2verdict
    95% positiveSteam86/100Metacritic
    63.9K reviews · Updated Aug 11, 2026
  8. 8
    Amnesia: The Dark Descentverdict
    95% positiveSteam85/100Metacritic
    35.6K reviews · Updated Aug 12, 2026
  9. 9
    Dead Space 2verdict
    94% positiveSteam90/100Metacritic
    29.7K reviews · Updated Aug 12, 2026
  10. 10
    Alien: Isolationverdict
    93% positiveSteam79/100Metacritic
    66.4K reviews · Updated Aug 11, 2026
  11. 11
    Outlast 2verdict
    91% positiveSteam75/100Metacritic
    64.2K reviews · Updated Aug 12, 2026
  12. 12
    Dead Spaceverdict
    90% positiveSteam89/100Metacritic
    69.9K reviews · Updated Aug 11, 2026
  13. 13
    Alan Wake 2verdict
    89/100OpenCritic
    175 critic reviews · Updated Aug 11, 2026
  14. 14
    The Evil Withinverdict
    85% positiveSteam75/100Metacritic
    33.5K reviews · Updated Aug 12, 2026
  15. 15
    Until Dawnverdict
    83% positiveSteam
    5.2K reviews · Updated Aug 12, 2026

Found Footage Films

Horror shot as recovered tape: the camcorder, the police evidence reel, the last thing on the memory card.

More on Found Footage Horror
  1. 1
    [REC]verdict
    7.2/10TMDB
    5K votes · Updated Aug 18, 2026
  2. 2
    Noroi: The Curseverdict
    6.9/10TMDB
    447 votes · Updated Aug 18, 2026
  3. 3
    As Above, So Belowverdict
    6.8/10TMDB
    3.9K votes · Updated Aug 18, 2026
  4. 4
    Cloverfieldverdict
    6.7/10TMDB
    8K votes · Updated Aug 18, 2026
  5. 5
    The Taking of Deborah Loganverdict
    6.6/10TMDB
    1.5K votes · Updated Aug 18, 2026
  6. 6
    Hostverdict
    6.6/10TMDB
    1.3K votes · Updated Aug 18, 2026
  7. 7
    The Poughkeepsie Tapes
    6.5/10TMDB
    794 votes · Updated Aug 18, 2026
  8. 8
    Hell House LLCverdict
    6.5/10TMDB
    663 votes · Updated Aug 18, 2026
  9. 9
    Creepverdict
    6.4/10TMDB
    1.7K votes · Updated Aug 18, 2026
  10. 10
    The Blair Witch Projectverdict
    6.4/10TMDB
    5.6K votes · Updated Aug 18, 2026
  11. 11
    Grave Encountersverdict
    6.3/10TMDB
    1.7K votes · Updated Aug 18, 2026
  12. 12
    Lake Mungoverdict
    6.1/10TMDB
    716 votes · Updated Aug 18, 2026
  13. 13
    Megan Is Missing
    6.1/10TMDB
    866 votes · Updated Aug 18, 2026
  14. 14
    V/H/Sverdict
    6.1/10TMDB
    1.7K votes · Updated Aug 18, 2026
  15. 15
    Paranormal Activityverdict
    6.1/10TMDB
    5.5K votes · Updated Aug 18, 2026
  16. 16
    The Sacramentverdict
    6.0/10TMDB
    507 votes · Updated Aug 18, 2026
  17. 17
    Unfriendedverdict
    5.6/10TMDB
    3.6K votes · Updated Aug 20, 2026

Creepypasta and Internet Horror

Films and series grown out of forum horror and the analog-horror internet, where the story spread before anyone filmed it.

  1. 1
    Channel Zero
    7.0/10TMDB
    319 votes · Updated Aug 18, 2026
  2. 2
    Skinamarinkverdict
    5.3/10TMDB
    389 votes · Updated Aug 18, 2026
  3. 3
    Slender Manverdict
    4.3/10TMDB
    2.2K votes · Updated Aug 18, 2026

Analog Horror Web Series

The YouTube canon: series published as broadcast intrusions, recovered tapes and ARGs, where the audience worked the story out in the comments. No rating exists for these, so the pages carry the real reach figures and what viewers actually say.

More on Analog Horror
  1. 1
    The Backrooms (Kane Pixels)verdict
    268.4M views · 23 episodes · Updated Aug 18, 2026
  2. 2
    Marble Hornetsverdict
    127.8M views · 97 episodes · Updated Aug 18, 2026
  3. 3
    The Mandela Catalogueverdict
    48.3M views · 19 episodes · Updated Aug 18, 2026
  4. 4
    The Walten Filesverdict
    44.5M views · 16 episodes · Updated Aug 18, 2026
  5. 5
    The Oldest Viewverdict
    36.2M views · 6 episodes · Updated Aug 18, 2026
  6. 6
    Local 58verdict
    31M views · 14 episodes · Updated Aug 18, 2026
  7. 7
    Petscopverdict
    24.3M views · 25 episodes · Updated Aug 18, 2026
  8. 8
    Vita Carnisverdict
    22M views · 24 episodes · Updated Aug 18, 2026
  9. 9
    Gemini Home Entertainmentverdict
    17.8M views · 18 episodes · Updated Aug 18, 2026
  10. 10
    Greylockverdict
    5.8M views · 12 episodes · Updated Aug 18, 2026

Horror Series

Long-form horror television with the room to let dread build across episodes.

  1. 1
    The Haunting of Hill Houseverdict
    8.1/10TMDB
    2.8K votes · Updated Aug 18, 2026
  2. 2
    Archive 81verdict
    7.2/10TMDB
    740 votes · Updated Aug 18, 2026

How these scores spread

Each source counted separately, in its own units, so you can see where a score sits among its peers. Bars are how many titles fall in each band. Nothing is merged across sources.

Steam% positive
11 titles between 30 and 40 % positive22 titles between 40 and 50 % positive22 titles between 50 and 60 % positive22 titles between 60 and 70 % positive1010 titles between 70 and 80 % positive2727 titles between 80 and 90 % positive4141 titles between 90 and 100 % positive30507090100
Metacriticpoints out of 100
22 titles between 60 and 65 points out of 1000 titles between 65 and 70 points out of 10033 titles between 70 and 75 points out of 10077 titles between 75 and 80 points out of 10077 titles between 80 and 85 points out of 10077 titles between 85 and 90 points out of 10033 titles between 90 and 95 points out of 1006070809095
TMDBout of 10
11 titles between 4 and 4.5 out of 100 titles between 4.5 and 5 out of 1011 titles between 5 and 5.5 out of 1011 titles between 5.5 and 6 out of 1088 titles between 6 and 6.5 out of 1077 titles between 6.5 and 7 out of 1033 titles between 7 and 7.5 out of 100 titles between 7.5 and 8 out of 1011 titles between 8 and 8.5 out of 10456788.5

Ranked within each sub-genre by each title's highest single-source rating. Sources measure different things, so each score is shown in its own units and never blended.