10 Indie Horror Games SCARIER Than AAA Horror Games

10 Indie Horror Games Scarier Than AAA Horror Games

Welcome to MojoPlays, and today we’re counting down our picks for ten tantalizingly terrifying indie horror games that are way scarier than a majority of AAA horror games. Be prepared for plenty of frights and spooky shenanigans ahead.

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“Crow Country” (2024)

Crow Country’s retro PS1-style visuals belies how deeply unnerving this game truly is. There’s almost this odd forbidden feeling when exploring the eponymous Crow Country amusement park, like protagonist Mara isn’t meant to be there, and by extension, as players, we aren’t meant to be seeing the dark machinations that transpired. You are thrust very quickly into a dark, foreboding, and highly atmospheric survival horror game where nothing is as it seems. Carefully trodding around each new realm of Crow Country is filled with tension since what’s lurking in the shadows might be friend or foe, and the only way to find out is to investigate. This game is a masterclass in terror.

“Neverending Nightmares” (2014)

What could be scarier than a deeply personal nightmare all about the horrors of depression, OCD, and other mental health struggles from the perspective of the creator? Well, such is the case with the highly overlooked indie horror gem, Neverending Nightmares. The creator of this immersive horror game, Matt Gilgenbach, wanted to display the realities of dealing with OCD and depression through the lens of video games. And to say it’s effective would be an incredible understatement. This short horror experience sees Thomas reliving one nightmare after the other, with an almost Groundhog Day-esque repeating pattern, again, harkening to what many with OCD have to deal with on a daily basis. Thomas’ dread as he explores the dark domains his mind has created, all while searching for his sister Gabby in and around all manner of terrifying locales, is nothing short of brilliant. Plus, the game’s overarching monochromatic art style with flourishes of deep and vibrant hues (especially red), the impeccable audio design, and general ambiance, ensures this one won’t leave your mind anytime soon.

“Darkwood” (2017)

Darkwood is a brutal survival game with myriad horror elements where you are tasked with surviving through any means necessary in a creepy forest where ravenous plague-ridden beasts and ghouls run rampant. This often overlooked game is the stuff of nightmares, mostly because of just how oppressive the explorable semi-open game world feels, on top of everything and anything wanting to kill you. The dichotomy of the less stressful daytime gameplay where you scour the forest and land for resources mixed with the deeply unsettling night time gameplay where you must use said resources to just try and make it through the night, makes Darkwood truly scary. It’s the way in which Darkwood blends a plague-invested subtle narrative, Lovecraftian-esque abominations, and scant ways of survival that consistently ensures you never quite feel safe…or alone in the woods.

“Signalis” (2022)

Signalis offers up a strange concoction to sample, one that includes heavy cyberpunk aesthetics, old-school survival systems, mechanical robot body horror, and even otherworldly, supernatural aspects. Now Signalis might not be outright terrifying in the way many other games are in this list. That’s not to say it’s devoid of traditional scares; however, it’s the way in which this game seeks to unnerve you, always questioning reality, both for yourself and for playable character Elster. Signalis’ sci-fi/cyberpunk world is ripe with horrifying imagery and Elster must use her wits, weapons, and limited resources to stay alive…or as alive as a Replika is able to be in this dark world.

“Outlast” (2013)

It’s crazy to think that the original Outlast came out way back in 2013, especially considering it’s still just as unnerving as it was all those years ago. Most of this horror comes from the location: Mount Massive Asylum. While asylums are spooky places in any horror game, Mount Massive truly takes the gross and disgusting cake here, mostly down to the fact that the nefarious Murkoff Corporation has performed some unbelievably atrocious acts on its unfortunate patients. For some reason, investigative journalist Miles Upshur thinks it’s a grand idea to enter and get a good look at the dark and ominous goings-on here. As you might have gleaned, things very quickly go south for Miles and he must now try to survive the abhorrent abominations within the confines of this infamous infested locale.

“The Mortuary Assistant” (2022)

Boy howdy, The Mortuary Assistant is one heck of an intensely oppressive and harrowing experience. It should come as no surprise that this game pits you as a budding mortuary assistant, one who clearly didn’t read the job’s fine print seeing as it comes with a side order of demonic possession. The way in which this game combines subtle horror, tension building, and jump scares is nothing short of brilliant. It’s especially the subtle moments where you see glimpses of a demonic entity that really makes your hairs stand on end. Rebecca must figure out how to latch a specific demon onto a corpse before burning said corpse to rid herself of this evil affliction. Oh, and if that wasn’t enough, you still have to go through all of the usual mortuary madcaps, which really helps set the mood.

“Tormented Souls” (2021)

As Caroline wakes up in the ominous Wilderberger Hospital, she finds herself in a bathtub, hooked up to grimy medical equipment, only to fully come to and realize that one of her eyes has been removed. It’s this setup that immediately sets the tone for Tormented Souls, a finely-tuned throwback to old-school survival horror games from yesteryear. This game’s frights come from many sources including the deranged, monstrous, and violent experimented-on lunatics who call this place home. The feelings of fear and dread as Caroline slowly descends into madness while searching for twins from a photograph that led her here will most certainly seep into your consciousness. Yes, the goofy and off-putting voice acting can take you out of the moment; however, worry not, the terror will quickly find its way back to you around the next shadow-strewn corner.

“MADiSON” (2022)

Blue Knees is real! If you know, you know. And then you’ll wish you didn’t know. The twisted and warped minds over at Bloodious Games crafted something truly special with MADiSON. Terrifying?…yes. Traumatizing?…perhaps. Incredibly immerse?…without a doubt. This first-person horror game is seriously not for the faint of heart. If you take a hapless protagonist, a cursed and haunted camera, a spirit-infested labyrinthian haunted house, a dark ritual, and some brain-bending puzzles and throw them all into an unholy cauldron, what you get after the bubbles have settled is MADiSON. It’s one of those surreal horror games where nothing is as it seems you will question your own sanity while experiencing it. Good luck, you will need it!

“Visage” (2020)

During the lead-up to Visage’s release, it was heavily compared to P.T., and for good reason. The first-person perspective, the freaky haunted house, the stalking ghosts, the audio…basically all of it. However, what developer SadSquare Studio did with the entire Visage experience completely blows P.T. out of the water when it comes pure terror and unrelenting dread. Right from the get-go, Visage’s opening doesn’t hold back punches. Seriously, it’s one of the most nerve-wracking, gruesome, and disturbing intros we’ve seen. Exploring Visage’s interweaving horror stories all cemented by one haunted house location provides for a thrilling and unforgettable horror experience that will stay in your nightmares for months to come.

“Infliction” (2018)

Infliction is hands-down the scariest game that no one ever talks about. Now that’s a real shame given just how terrifying this first-person horror game truly is. No other horror game has matched the level of oppressive terror that Infliction manages to imbue all throughout its runtime. This is a game about a disturbing murder, a possession, a demonic hellish ritual, spectral vengeance, and a deep fear of the unknown. While all of those things are incredibly disturbing in their own rights, all of them combined with some truly disturbing audio design, the secret sauce to any great horror experience. Each little sound cue feels real and palpable, as if you were the one actually exploring this seemingly mundane haunted house. Then, just when you think you are figuring things out about this game’s dark narrative, it upends reality and throws you into the bowels of a decaying mind that plays out in unexpected ways.

So, do you agree with our spooky picks for this list? Be sure to let us know down in the comments section which indie horror games provided you with tons of frights.

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