7 Best Psychological Thriller Games To Play Right Now, Ranked

The Psychological Thriller genre can often be confused with its Psychological Horror counterpart. And while they both share some similarities, they also differ in several others. For one, Psychological Horror games have some of the scariest moments of all time, whereas Thrillers focus more on playing with the spectator’s mind.

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11 Most Unnerving Psychological Horror Games

These psychological horror games unnerve players in a deeper way than jump scares ever can.

These kinds of games are usually filled with unlikable antagonists, and sometimes, even protagonists that don’t sit well with players. In any case, there are some titles out there that don’t rely on jumpscares and horrible creatures, but rather on players’ minds and the tricks they can play on them. Here are some of the best Psychological Thriller games you can play right now.

7

Layers of Fear

A Painter’s Quest To Finish His Greatest Work

You take another drink as the canvas looms in front of you. A light flickers dimly in the corner. You’ve created countless pieces of art, but never anything like…this. Why haven’t you done this before? It seems so obvious in retrospect. Your friends, critics, business partners—soon, they’ll all see. But something’s still missing…

You look up, startled. That melody… Was that a piano? It sounded just like her… But, no—that would be impossible. She’s gone. They’re all gone.
Have to focus. How long has it taken to get to this point? Too long, but it doesn’t matter. There will be no more distractions. It’s almost finished. You can feel it. Your creation. Your Magnum Opus.

Dare you help paint a true Masterpiece of Fear? Layers of Fear is a first-person psychedelic horror game with a heavy focus on story and exploration. Delve deep into the mind of an insane painter and discover the secret of his madness, as you walk through a vast and constantly changing Victorian-era mansion. Uncover the visions, fears and horrors that entwine the painter and finish the masterpiece he has strived so long to create.

Released

February 16, 2016

ESRB

m

• A painter must complete his magnum opus
• A Victorian mansion that’s creepy, to say the least

When people say artists are tortured people, they’re sometimes wrong and sometimes right. Layers of Fear focuses on a man who is, without a doubt, disturbed in one way or another. Following the story of a painter who’s trying to complete his masterpiece while navigating a Victorian mansion, this game will reveal elements of the painter’s past to players.

The more players progress through their story, the deeper they will dive and the more disturbing the things that they’ll uncover. This, along with the ambiance, and a few spine-chilling moments are more than enough to merit this game a playthrough.

6

Oxenfree

An Old Military Island And A Lot Of Mystery

Oxenfree is a supernatural thriller about a group of friends who unwittingly open a ghostly rift. Play as Alex, a bright, rebellious teenager who brings her new stepbrother Jonas to an overnight party on an old military island. The night takes a terrifying turn when you unwittingly open a ghostly gate spawned from the island’s cryptic past. How you deal with these events, your peers, and the ominous creatures you’ve unleashed is up to you.

YOU determine every aspect of Alex’s story while exploring Edwards Island, uncovering the base’s dark past, and changing the course of your friends’ lives.

Released

January 15, 2015

ESRB

T For Teen due to Violence, Sexual Themes, Drug Reference, Language, Use of Alcohol and Tobacco

• A group of teenagers unleashes a supernatural force on themselves
• Unique art style that pops out

Everyone’s heard a horror story about teenagers opening a portal to another plane and releasing a supernatural evil on themselves in the world, and this is exactly the premise of Oxenfree.

4:20

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Horror fans shouldn’t pass up on these titles, which are considered by many to be the best psychological horror games out there.

When a group of teenagers go to an old military island, they unknowingly release a terrible evil based on the island’s terrifying past. The game features interesting conversations that determine where the story goes and how players’ relationships with others evolve. Oxenfree was such a hit, that there’s even a sequel to it. Any newcomers who want useful tips for Oxenfree 2: Lost Signals should do previous research before diving in.

5

Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice

The Voices In Senua’s Head Play A Key Role In The Experience

From the makers of Heavenly Sword, Enslaved: Odyssey to the West, and DmC: Devil May Cry, comes a warrior’s brutal journey into myth and madness. Set in the Viking age, a broken Celtic warrior embarks on a haunting vision quest into Viking Hell to fight for the soul of her dead lover. Created in collaboration with neuroscientists and people who experience psychosis, Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice will pull you deep into Senua’s mind.

Released

August 16, 2017

ESRB

M For Mature 17+ due to Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Strong Language

• Senua hears voices in her head
• Action and puzzles at every turn

Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice offers the perfect combination between a pre-medieval adventure packed with action and puzzles, and Psychological Thriller elements. The game opens with Senua rowing across a mysterious river as she carries a small object that is later revealed to be her lover Dillion’s severed head.

Once she arrives to the shore, she starts hearing voices in her head that are, to say the least, not friendly. The developers recommend playing Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice with headphones so players can hear the voices in Senua’s head at every turn. This complements the experience greatly and makes for very immersive gameplay. For those who’ve already completed this title and its sequel, there are many more similar games out there in case they want a related experience.

4

Alan Wake

An Author’s Search For His Missing Wife Takes Him On A Thrilling Journey

In this award-winning cinematic action-thriller, troubled author Alan Wake embarks on a desperate search for his missing wife, Alice. Following her mysterious disappearance from the Pacific Northwest town of Bright Falls, he discovers pages of a horror story he has supposedly written, but he has no memory of.

Wake is soon forced to question his sanity, as page by page, the story comes true before his eyes: a hostile presence of supernatural darkness is taking over everyone it finds, turning them against him. He has no choice but to confront the forces of darkness armed only with his flashlight, a handgun and what remains of his shredded mind. His nightmarish journey to find answers to the mind-bending mystery he faces will lead him into the terrifying depths of the night.

Alan Wake Remastered offers the complete experience, with the main game and its two story expansions – The Signal and The Writer – in stunning new 4K visuals. The tense, episodic story is packed with unexpected twists, heart-stopping cliff hangers, and intense bursts of combat where it takes more than bullets to banish the darkness. The game’s cutscenes, quirky cast of characters, and the majestic Pacific Northwest vistas have been enhanced for an experience that delivers as much on its visual impact as its unnerving atmosphere.

Third-Person Shooter

Survival Horror

Released

February 16, 2012

ESRB

T for Teen: Blood, Language, Use of Alcohol and Tobacco, Violence

• Alan must find his missing wife
• Various Psychological Thriller elements

Back in 2012, Alan Wake redefined what the Psychological Thriller genre meant in gaming. When Alan’s wife disappears on vacation, he will have to set out on a search to find her. His efforts will take him to Bright Falls, a small, quiet town in the middle of a mountainous region.

The initial plot feels a lot like that of Silent Hill 2, with the exception that James Sunderland’s wife is deceased, not missing. As players progress through the story, they’ll uncover dark secrets about Bright Falls and Alan himself. Alan Wake and its great sequel feature lots of thriller elements, and some memorable quotes that make the gameplay very interesting.

3

SOMA

A Title That Scratches The Surface Of Full-Blown Horror From Time To Time

SOMA is a sci-fi horror game from Frictional Games, the creators of Amnesia: The Dark Descent. It is an unsettling story about identity, consciousness, and what it means to be human.

The radio is dead, food is running out, and the machines have started to think they are people. Underwater facility PATHOS-II has suffered an intolerable isolation and we’re going to have to make some tough decisions. What can be done? What makes sense? What is left to fight for?

Enter the world of SOMA and face horrors buried deep beneath the ocean waves. Delve through locked terminals and secret documents to uncover the truth behind the chaos. Seek out the last remaining inhabitants and take part in the events that will ultimately shape the fate of the station. But be careful, danger lurks in every corner: corrupted humans, twisted creatures, insane robots, and even an inscrutable omnipresent A.I.
You will need to figure out how to deal with each one of them. Just remember there’s no fighting back, either you outsmart your enemies or you get ready to run.

Released

September 15, 2015

ESRB

t

• Simon Jarrett is stranded in an abandoned underwater facility
• Scary moments here and there that will keep players on the edge of their seats

Many people will probably argue over whether this title belongs on the list or not, as several players consider that SOMA is a full-blown Horror title rather than a Psychological Thriller one. When Simon Jarrett finds himself stranded in the mysterious underwater facility PATHOS-II, he’ll have to figure out a way to escape and survive the horrors that linger inside it.

Granted, SOMA has several instances where players will be chased by actual monsters and murderous robots, but there are also many times when Simon is simply exploring the facility, and the only monster is lingering in the minds of players.

2

Doki Doki Literature Club!

An Apparently Gleeful Game That Quickly Takes A Turn

Doki Doki Literature Club!

Hi, Monika here!

Welcome to the Literature Club! It’s always been a dream of mine to make something special out of the things I love. Now that you’re a club member, you can help me make that dream come true in this cute game!

Every day is full of chit-chat and fun activities with all of my adorable and unique club members:

Sayori, the youthful bundle of sunshine who values happiness the most;
Natsuki, the deceivingly cute girl who packs an assertive punch;
Yuri, the timid and mysterious one who finds comfort in the world of books;
…And, of course, Monika, the leader of the club! That’s me!

I’m super excited for you to make friends with everyone and help the Literature Club become a more intimate place for all my members. But I can tell already that you’re a sweetheart—will you promise to spend the most time with me? ♥

This game is not suitable for children
or those who are easily disturbed.

Systems

Released

September 22, 2017

• The game’s appearance can trick players into thinking their experience will be gleeful
• Unique visual novel art style

At a glance, Doki Doki Literature Club! appears to be a joyful title based on anime characters. Even the music is welcoming, which could trick players into thinking that they’re in for a ride full of fun and new friends.

4:20

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However, they’ll quickly discover that this is not the case and that there are many thrilling elements awaiting them as they progress through this wonderful title. Doki Doki Literature Club!’s peculiar visual novel art style choice for its genre makes it really hard to foresee the events that will unfurl as players dive deeper into it.

1

Alan Wake 2

An Outstanding Sequel To An Already Great Game

A string of ritualistic murders threatens Bright Falls, a small-town community surrounded by Pacific Northwest wilderness. Saga Anderson, an accomplished FBI agent with a reputation for solving impossible cases arrives to investigate the murders. Anderson’s case spirals into a nightmare when she discovers pages of a horror story that starts to come true around her.

Alan Wake, a lost writer trapped in a nightmare beyond our world, writes a dark story in an attempt to shape the reality around him and escape his prison. With a dark horror hunting him, Wake is trying to retain his sanity and beat the devil at his own game.

Anderson and Wake are two heroes on two desperate journeys in two separate realities, connected at heart in ways neither of them can understand: reflecting each other, echoing each other, and affecting the worlds around them.

Fueled by the horror story, supernatural darkness invades Bright Falls, corrupting the locals and threatening the loved ones of both Anderson and Wake. Light is their weapon—and their safe haven — against the darkness they face. Trapped in a sinister horror story where there are only victims and monsters, can they break out to be the heroes they need to be?

Released

October 27, 2023

ESRB

M For Mature 17+ Due To Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Nudity, Strong Language

• Saga Anderson must solve a series of ritual murders in Bright Falls
• There’s a few terrifying moments throughout the story

The first Alan Wake was a complete masterpiece. However, its sequel, Alan Wake 2, somehow managed to surpass it in many areas. When a string of ritual murders threatens the peace and quiet of Bright Falls, FBI Agent Saga Anderson arrives at the scene to investigate and get to the bottom of the matter.

This will kick off a series of events that make up the story of Alan Wake 2, and will certainly offer players a few hours of fun as they try to uncover the mysteries behind the murders. While the game remains a Psychological Thriller, there are some scary enemies throughout the story that will surely catch players by surprise from time to time.

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5 Best Psychological Survival Games

Survival in these games is about more than food and shelter, as even your own mind can turn against you.