The Best Horror Games That Let You Play As The Villain

Fighting against evil, banishing demons, and exorcising ghosts; these are all things players expect when playing a horror game. As a genre that often pits right firmly against wrong, gamers will be no strangers to fighting the good fight. But what if they were given the opportunity to experience the other side?

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Some horror games allow players to take on the role of the bad guy, be they monster or serial killer, to wreak havoc on anyone who gets in their way. Whether they’re looking for some multiplayer competition or to embark on a solo vendetta, these are some of the best horror games that let players play as the villain.

10

In Silence

A Tense Multiplayer Horror With Interesting Mechanics

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In Silence

Systems

Released

October 16, 2020

Developer(s)

Ravenhood Games

In In Silence, players can take control of a Rake — a cryptid of unnatural height and hearing, with grotesque pale flesh and partiality to human meat. When (up to) six survivors have their vehicle break down in the forest, it is up to the Rake to stop them from escaping.

As the rake is blind, the player must navigate by sound, which can be in-game or through players’ microphones. The Rake also has additional perks like extra fast sprint. While content-wise, In Silence isn’t the most expansive, it is still a fun multiplayer horror that offers scares and laughs alike.

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BIGFOOT

Systems

Early Access Release

January 31, 2017

Developer(s)

CyberLight Game Studio

Multiplayer

Online Co-Op
, Online Multiplayer

What’s better than hunting the mysterious Bigfoot? Becoming him, of course. However, that comes with its risks, as the creature will be endlessly pursued by hunters, photographers, and scientists. But no more; in BIGFOOT players can defend their forest from trespassers.

As Bigfoot, they can use a range of abilities, from a sonar-like roar that reveals other players’ locations to trap-setting. With maps based on America’s national parks, the settings are immersive and especially tense during the night. This is an overall fun cryptid horror game to play with friends.

8

BioShock 2

Become What You Spent Most Of The First Game Fearing

When thinking of online multiplayer horror shooters, BioShock 2 might not be the first game that springs to mind, but its multiplayer mode is widely talked about as one of the most underrated in the genre.

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BioShock 2’s multiplayer commendably retains all the rich atmosphere, environments, and features of the main game, even leaving in story elements for extra context. The main appeal, however, has to be the opportunity to wear the Big Daddy suit and deal some extra damage, just like in the main campaign. These brutes are still a terrifying thing to see coming around the corner.

7

Feed Me Billy

Serve A Giant Man-Eating Hole

• Platform: Windows
• Release Date: 2018
• Developer: Puppet Combo

Yes, it’s as bonkers as it sounds. In Feed Me Billy, the protagonist certainly has a lot more than skeletons in the closet; namely, a giant fleshy hole with a preference for human meat. The player, as Billy, must find and kill victims to feed to the hole.

Like many of Puppet Combo’s games, Feed Me Billy has distinct PS1-style graphics which make the whole atmosphere all the more unnerving. Both plot-wise and aesthetically, this is a disturbing game that is less “this is fun” and more “should I be doing this?”.

6

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre

Catch And Kill The Slaughter Family’s Next Meal

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre is a huge franchise in the horror world, boasting nine films and two video games. While the 1983 game was an iconic 2D experience that broached new territory for horror gaming, the 2023 iteration offers a much more terrifying time.

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An asymmetrical horror, players can choose from eight members of the cannibal family to play as, each with their own abilities, including tracking, increased stamina, and (of course) chainsaw-wielding. The goal is to prevent the victims from escaping. Unlike most games in the asymmetrical genre, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre allows 4v3 gameplay.

5

Alien Vs Predator

Pull Off Some Brutal Executions

• Platform: Windows, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3
• Release Date: February 16, 2010
• Developer: Rebellion Developments

Alien is another major horror franchise that has had a huge influence on sci-fi horror on the big screen. With brutal body horror and memorable monster designs, it is no wonder that the franchise expanded into games. While there are many Alien games, the first being released in 1982, Alien vs. Predator is one of the titles that allows players to take on the role of its titular creatures.

Players can play the campaign as each of the game’s factions; the Aliens, the Predators, and the Colonial Marines, who are all at odds with each other. Each faction has its own combat style, the Aliens being more melee-focused, the Predators being more stealthy, and the Marines shooter-based, which also translates into the game’s three-team multiplayer mode.

4

Friday The 13th: The Game

Prevent Camp Counselors From Escaping

• Platform: Windows, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, PlayStation 4
• Release Date: May 26, 2017
• Developer: IllFonic

Friday the 13th is one of the most well-known slasher franchises of all time, complete with twelve films, comics, books, and even a TV series. Being such a beloved title, translating it into a game held a lot of anticipation for fans. Thankfully, despite run-of-the-mill bugs, Friday the 13th: The Game captured the vibe of the films.

One player, as Jason Voorhees, must prevent the remaining counselors from escaping. Playing as Jason comes with perks, such as the ability to teleport across the map and locate victims by sound. The game has lots of faithful nods to the films, from casting the original actors to in-game Easter Eggs, making for a fun, tension-filled experience.

3

Dead By Daylight

Lets Players Choose From A Range Of Iconic Horror Villains

Another asymmetrical horror game, Dead by Daylight sees one killer pitted against up to four victims. As the survivors try to repair generators and open the gates to freedom, the killer must do all in their power to stop them, with the additional task of sacrificing their victims to “the Entity” by impaling them on hooks.

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Dead by Daylight has a huge roster of playable villains, each with their own methods of trapping and killing. Some examples include Resident Evil’s Nemesis and Scream‘s Ghostface. As of January 2025, Junji Ito skins will also be added to the game as part of a fantastic collaboration.

2

Carrion

A Marriage Of Sci-Fi And Body Horror

There is no shortage of side-scrolling platformers today, but with an ever-increasing focus on making horror games more realistic, it is refreshing to see the format make somewhat of a comeback. Carrion is one title that stands out.

As a tentacly, formless, fleshy lump, players roam a facility, eating, ripping apart, and terrifying everyone who stands in their path. As they progress, they will become bigger and more formidable, but so do the weapons of those trying to stop them. Carrion is a great title for lovers of puzzles, platformers, and brutal gore alike.

1

Evil Dead: The Game

Faithful Gamification Of A Cult Classic

The general premise of Evil Dead: The Game is that four survivors must find all the necessary items to complete a ritual that will banish the demonic forces of darkness back to hell. The catch is, the dead aren’t too keen on being prevented from unleashing their evil.

There are three demon teams that players can choose from; Necromancer, Puppeteer, and Warlord, each with their own stats and skills. With plenty of opportunities to slash, possess, and summon, Evil Dead: The Game is a great multiplayer action horror game. While the gameplay can be intense with a lot to figure out at first, playing as the dead is worth sticking with as the victories are both satisfying and rewarding. Beyond the gameplay, there are also a lot of references to the original films, widening its appeal to fans of the franchise.

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