Best Horror Games Set In Africa

Asia and America have had some of the most significant impacts on the gaming industry. Birthplaces to some of the biggest titles and consoles, it is no wonder that these continents also serve as a backdrop for many of their respective games. Despite dominating the scene, many developers have found inspiration in other regions, producing some equally great titles.

Africa is a significantly less popular setting when it comes to horror games, which is a shame, considering the continent’s rich folklore and diverse environments. That said, there are still some fantastic titles that draw on its mythology and history, making great use of Africa’s landscapes. This list compiles some of the best horror games set in Africa.

Related

10 Horror Games Set in Unusual Locations

These fright-filled titles depart from the usual horror settings to take players into whole new worlds of scares.

8

DzombZ

An Underrated Gem

• Platforms: Windows
• Release Date: January 30,2023
• Developer: Houari Mohamed Amine
• Setting: Algeria

DzombZ is a survival horror game set in Algeria, where zombies have overrun the streets. The player takes on the role of a man driving home from work when he crashes his car. Waking in a forest, they must try to find their way back — an objective that becomes much harder when they discover that there has been a zombie outbreak.

Considering it was made by a single developer, DzombZ is a genuinely comprehensive survival horror, complete with exploration in a wide range of locations, puzzles, stealth, and combat. Beyond the gameplay, DzombZ also has a sense of humor about it, which adds to the fun. All in all, DzombZ is an enjoyable, albeit shorter, indie survival horror that deserves more attention.

7

Dead Trigger 2

A Free Zombie FPS For Mobile Gamers

• Platforms: Android, iOS
• Release Date: October 23, 2013
• Developer: Madfinger
• Setting: N/A, Africa

For a free-to-play mobile horror FPS, Dead Trigger 2 stands out as one of the more fleshed-out titles. Set in a post-apocalyptic world, the player must survive and take down zombie hordes either via story campaigns, quick-play missions, or tournaments. Africa is the setting for one of the campaigns, where the player must rescue survivors and secure a town that has been overrun by the infected.

Dead Trigger 2 has a relatively diverse combat system, with plenty of gun types and melee weapons that can be upgraded to take down a range of different zombies, but also dips into survival horror with health management and limited consumables. This zombie shooter balances gameplay, story, and progression well.

6

Secret World Legends

Investigate And Overcome Supernatural Threats

Systems

Released

July 3, 2012

Publisher(s)

Electronic Arts

Multiplayer

Local Multiplayer, Online Multiplayer

• Setting: Egypt, South Africa

Secret World Legends has its fingers in multiple genre pies, including mystery, action, and horror. The player must fight against a roster of supernatural creatures that have found a way to cross into our world, while uncovering how and why. They must infiltrate the Morninglight Cult, who have reach across South Africa and Egypt, to uncover their true intentions.

Related

8 Best Horror Games With RPG Elements, Ranked

RPG elements make progression feel rewarding in these eerie, spine-tingling, and even terrifying horror games.

The game has all the standard RPG elements — skill trees, gear to upgrade, and a rich world, as well as its optional multiplayer modes —but stands out with its unique interpretation of mythologies. Secret World Legends has its faults, namely unnecessarily complex controls, but the atmosphere and story are compelling enough to keep at it, especially considering that it’s free to play.

5

Amenti

Brave The Risks And Explore An Ancient Tomb

• Platforms: Windows
• Release Date: January 5, 2025
• Developer: DarkPhobia Games
• Setting: Egypt

Amenti follows the protagonist, a photographer, as they enter the tomb of Pharaoh Rudamon on a mission to get some pictures of the historic site. Unfortunately, the legends surrounding the fate of anyone who trespasses on his burial grounds turn out to be true, and the stakes quickly become much higher.

The environment and visuals in Amenti are stunning, and exploring this maze of a tomb full of artifacts and secrets is very immersive. The game makes use of camera mechanics, which can be used to take photos of certain objects and places to reveal disturbing truths. For players looking for a walking simulator with a side of puzzles, secrets, and creepy jumpscares, Amenti is a must-play.

4

FOREWARNED

Treasure Hunt Alone Or As A Team

Systems

Released

September 10, 2021

Developer(s)

Dreambyte Games

Multiplayer

Online Co-Op

Forewarned is a co-op horror game set in ancient Egyptian ruins. Players must navigate tombs to retrieve a sacred relic, the pitfall being that cursed mummies and traps will try to stop them every step of the way. Whether they want to risk everything to dig deeper or leave alive is up to them.

Forewarned makes use of mic activity, allowing players to speak to the malevolent forces through a transmitter, and receive responses. Should a player happen to fall victim to one of the many dangers of the tombs, they can return as a force of evil, with the opportunity to play as a mummy. With collectibles and puzzles galore, Forewarned is an equally fun and scary horror game.

3

Return To Castle Wolfenstein

An Alternate WWII Horror

Released

November 20, 2001

Developer(s)

Gray Matter Studios

Multiplayer

Online Multiplayer

Expand

World War 2, as a particularly dark period in history, has inspired a number of horror narratives, in literature, film, and games alike. Return to Castle Wolfenstein is the fourth main game in the Wolfenstein series, following Army Ranger William Blazkowicz as he is sent to investigate the German “Paranormal Division.”

Related

6 Horror Games Set Within A Warzone

Horror games take place in all sorts of settings, but taking place in a foxhole results in a terrifying experience combined with the horrors of war.

As they progress, players will discover their increasingly sinister movements and be forced to face not only human enemies, but deadly creatures born of the occult. As well as the main story, there is an objective-based multiplayer mode where players are pitted against each other, Allies vs Axis.

2

Resident Evil 5

Experiments With New Features

OpenCritic

Top Critic Rating:
72/100

Released

March 5, 2009

Multiplayer

Local Co-Op, Online Co-Op

Despite the number of big titles that followed, Resident Evil 5 has remained at the top as one of the bestselling games in the Resident Evil franchise. This particular one is known for deviating from the typical survival horror formula of its predecessors, leaning further into action, although there are still plenty of tense, horrifying moments.

Tasked with preventing a bioweapon from being sold, the player travels to Kijuju — a city in West Africa — where plans quickly go awry. Interestingly, Resident Evil 5 mostly takes place during the day, which does a lot in the way of showcasing the environment. It also introduces a two-player mode. Regardless of how divisive these new features were/are, the game still holds its own as a successful and progressive entry in the franchise.

1

Amnesia: Rebirth

An Expedition Gone Wrong

Systems

OpenCritic

Top Critic Rating:
78/100

Released

October 20, 2020

Amnesia: The Dark Descent often takes credit for being the pioneer of the franchise, but the other games still have plenty of merit. Amnesia: Rebirth is the fourth game (by release) in the series. In the role of a young pregnant woman, Tasi, the player must navigate and survive their way through the desolate landscape after her plane crashes in the middle of an Algerian desert.

As they delve into the ruins under an abandoned fort, they find new horrors, and Tasi’s dark memories begin to recover. In a combination of sci-fi and historical fantasy vibes, the player must contend with unpredictable enemies and looming darkness, both of which can dangerously raise Tasi’s fear level. Amnesia: Rebirth explores motherhood. Both the protagonist and the villain have their own trauma and desires that make them interestingly alike, raising the stakes of each’s success. Rebirth is a compelling entry to the Amnesia franchise, and one that is easy to invest in.

More

Best Horror Games Set In Europe

Europe isn’t the most common setting for horror games, but these developers used locations around the continent to create a scary backdrop.