Summary
Video games are one of the best ways to experience fear, and nothing delivers chills quite like a greathorror game. By immersing players in tense, eerie worlds, these games create an atmosphere of suspense as players fight to survive and progress. Horror games have evolved dramatically, cementing their place as a crucial part of the gaming industry.
Over time, the horror genre has expanded into various subgenres, offering diverse experiences for players. While many horror games are set in purely fictional worlds born from imagination, an increasing numberdraw inspiration from real-life locations, events, and stories. This connection to reality adds a new layer of fear, blurring the line between fiction and truth, making the experience even more unsettling. This list highlights a handful ofhorror games based on true storiesthat will leave players truly terrified.
Resident Evilis a legendary zombie survival horror franchise, but its eighth major installment takes a different approach by blending fiction with real-world stories.Resident Evil Villageintroduces players to Castle Dimitrescu, home to Lady Dimitrescu—a characterinspired by the 16th-century Hungarian noblewoman Elizabeth Bathory, who is remembered in part for her alleged blood-soaked skincare rituals.
The Blood Countess, infamous for her brutal torture of young women, serves as inspiration for the game’s antagonist. Her alleged practices of bathing in blood to maintain her youth and mercilessly tormenting her victims are reflected in the character. However, there is no concrete evidence supporting Elizabeth Bathory’s notorious crimes, with some believing she was a victim of political schemes or that her actions were exaggerated accounts of servant mistreatment. Regardless, these chilling tales influenced the creation of Lady Dimitrescu, carrying on the legacy of the Blood Countess.
Taking the role of a journalist on a mission to uncover the reality of inhumane experimentsbeing conducted in a remote psychiatric hospital,Outlasttakes players on a first-person survival horror journey which leads to the discovery of some terrible secrets. Adding to the game’s chilling atmosphere,Outlastdraws inspiration from the real-life story of Mount Massive Asylum, a haunting historical chapter from the early 1900s.
Inspired by Project MK Ultra,one of the most notorious secrets of global powers,Outlastdelivers a chilling portrayal of the project’s dark reality. Originally presented as a form of treatment, the project was, in truth, a series of unethical experiments conducted in psychiatric asylums and prisons. These so-called treatments often triggered heightened aggression, paranoia, and panic—symptoms reflected throughout the game’s harrowing encounters with asylum inhabitants. InOutlast, the sinister Murkoff Corporation continues these inhumane experiments, blurring the line between historical truth and horror fiction.
Taking players on a chilling journey in the cold and desolate Ural Mountains of Russia,Kholatnarratesthe tale of the Dyatlov Pass incident.This open-world exploration-based game tells the story of a group of Russian studentswho went on a ski trip in the Ural Mountains in 1959, only to go missing. When they were eventually found, their bodies were scattered outside their tents, riddled with fractured skulls and broken bones, yet there were no signs of any struggle.
The game’s title,Kholat, refers to the slope where the students made their final camp. Guided by narrator Sean Bean, players navigate an eerie, atmospheric horror experience as they uncover the tragedy through a supernatural lens. With gameplay akin to a walking simulator, players rely on a compass to explore the map, gathering clues to piece together the fate of the missing group.
Genre
Psychological Horror, Point-And-Click
Casting players in the role of Albert Fish, a renowned American serial killer, rapist, and cannibal,Masochisiatells a horrifying tale based on a true story. The game covers some dark themes as players take the role of an abused child in an abusive family. The experimental horror game plays as a point-and-click adventure while capturing emotions like depression and anxiety through the eyes of the main character.
Masochisiaoffers multiple ways to alter the fate of Hamilton, the lead character,, allowing players to steer the narrative in different directions. However, certain grim outcomes remain inevitable, leaving players to question whether escaping tragedy is truly possible. The game also employs unique meta techniques, such as placing text files on the player’s desktop that reflect their playstyle, further unsettling them.
Due to its dark and disturbing themes,Masochisiais not for everyone. Few games manage to get under a player’s skin as effectively, and while some may criticize the idea of centering the story around a notorious criminal, the game stands as a bold and unsettling experiment in the horror genre.
Horror, Adventure
The Town of Lightisn’t a horror game in the traditional sense. Lacking the classic chase sequences, clumsy combat, or the presence of any supernatural elements, the game uses unconventional methods to create a horrifying atmosphere with the help of themes like abuse and cruelty. Players step into the shoes of Renee, a 16-year-old girl, as she goes on a journey to uncover some dark secrets.
The game isbased on Volterra Psychiatric Hospital in Volterra, Italy,infamous for its brutal history,and it does a great job at recreating the institution as faithfully as possible. The former psychiatric institution was notorious for its brutal treatments and inhumane practices, creating an unsettling backdrop for players as they step into Renee’s story. Serving as a vessel for the suffering of past patients, Renee’s journey immerses players in the haunting reality of those who endured unimaginable cruelty the facility’s its walls.
Horror, Action, Adventure
The Cecil: The Journey Beginsis new release as of the time of writing that takes inspiration from theinfamous real-life horrors of the notorious Cecil Hotel in downtown Los Angeles.The story follows the journey of John, who decides to go to the hotel for a romantic getaway at with his wife Sarah, but ends up waking in a dark cell and realizing that his wife is missing.
Taking players on a first-person horror adventure,The Cecilprovides a suspenseful and chilling experience for players as Johndiscovers the mysteries of the hotel—where plenty of lives were lost mysteriously in reality—and encounters the creepy monsters roaming the halls while trying to rescue his wife.
Casual, Adventure, Horror
Forest Ranger Servicesis a horror game series thatinvestigates missing hikers in the US.Unfolding across multiple episodes, players follow the story of a wannabe reporter working as a ranger to investigate and solve the mysterious disappearances. Based on true events, the gameplay ofForest Ranger Servicesworks in a non-linear fashion, as players piece the clues together to uncover the truth.
As of the time of writing, the game only has one episode releasedwith multiple episode releases coming in the future. Graphics are not the strongest part of the game, but even with its low-poly visuals, it does a decent job of creating an eerie atmosphere. The game, for the most part, plays like a driving simulator, but with the first episode’s short runtime, it never feel boring.
Episode 1ofForest Ranger Servicesacts as a prologue for the multi-episode game and while, by the end of the game, players are left with more questions than answers, it only works in the game’s favor as it hooks players into the story, making them look forward to future releases.
Released by Red Candle Games in 2017,Detentionis an atmospheric horror game thattells the story of real-world suffering during the White Terror of Taiwan. The game starts off as a cliche side-scrolling horror game set in a creepy school, but as time passes by, it unravels into something different, twisting the expectations of players by inverting classic tropes.
Detentionmasters storytelling in such a way that it manages to give the players the creepswithout relying on jumpscares or overdone horror tropes. The game blends Taiwanese folklore with the cruel reality of a one-in-a-kind experience.Detentionkeeps a balance between all these elements, which keeps the players engaged. From compelling characters to creative puzzles and effective environmental storytelling, the game does not feel boring at any stage. The illustrated art style does a great job at seamlessly maintaining the mood throughout the game, and while players realize that they might experience heartbreak as they walk towards an unavoidable tragedy,Detentionleaves players desperate for the answers.
Horror
Loosely inspired by the disturbing story of The Dollmaker, Anatoly Moskvin,a real-life Russian philologist who eventually turned to grave-digging.9 Childs Streetis a first-person indie horror game that takes players on a journey from innocent curiosity to sheer terror. Stepping into the shoes of a 9-year-old boy named Armin, players sneak into a mysterious neighbor’s house to uncover its dark secrets.
Whilethe game twists some details by adding a paranormal touchto them, it is largely based on the real life of Moskvin, who exhumed and mummified young girls, transforming them into eerie dolls.9 Childs Streetbrings this unsettling tale to life, giving the dolls a supernatural presence that heightens the horror. Though brief in length, the game delivers an intense, gripping experience with its chilling atmosphere, compelling narrative, and well-crafted execution. It’s a short yet unforgettable horror ride that lingers long after the credits roll.
Like its predecessor,Outlast 2is also inspired by real events,drawing heavily from the infamous Jonestown Massacre. Players take on the role of Blake Langermann, a journalist searching for his missing wife after a crash landing during an investigation.Unlike the first game,Outlast 2features a more open environment, allowing for greater exploration and immersion in its nightmarish setting.
The game doesn’t shy away from its inspiration, even using the same cult name as the real-life tragedy. Players must navigate a terrifying world where reason has been abandoned, relying only on stealth and a camcorder for survival. With its masterful use of darkness, unsettling sound design, and grotesque imagery,Outlast 2delivers an experience drenched in dread. By reimagining the horrors of Jonestown, the game thrusts players into a relentless fight for survival, where the inability to fight back amplifies the sense of helplessness. Its dark themes and disturbing atmosphere ensure a gripping, nerve-wracking descent into madness.
