Top 10 Scariest First-Person Games

Top 10 Scariest First-Person Games Whoever said the only thing to fear is fear itself obviously never played these games. Welcome to WatchMojo and today we’ll be counting down our picks for the top 10 scariest first-person games. For this list, we'll be looking at the first-person games that are all about the horror. From standard first-person shooters to polarizing walking simulators, if it scares the pantaloons off of us, it counts!

#10: “F.E.A.R.” (2005)

It’s no surprise that a game ballsy enough to name itself FEAR comes packed with a whole array of scares. The First Encounter Assault Recon team may be a specialized group trained to tackle anything and everything spooky, but they are woefully unprepared when they end up coming into contact with everyone's favorite murderous telepath - Alma Wade. Subsequently, players are subjected to all kinds of unnerving hallucinations – not all of which can be mowed down with assault rifles. Keep the lights on and pray Alma is in a good mood…

#9: “Clive Barker’s Undying” (2001)

When Clive Barker of “Hellraiser” notoriety was asked by EA to consult with them on their upcoming horror title, gamers knew they were in for one hell of a ride. The result did not disappoint. “Undying” follows the macabre investigation of paranormal fanatic Patrick Galloway as he works to uncover the mysteries of his friend’s eerie Irish mansion. What he discovers is a twisted plot involving children performing occult rituals and bringing about an endless curse, which Galloway, of course, is tasked with breaking. Despite glowing reviews, the game faltered in terms of sales. Maybe they were afraid Pinhead was going to show up...

#8: “Condemned: Criminal Origins” (2005)

If you’re scared of the dark, you might want to avoid this one. The game’s environment consists of deep shadows and grimy interiors, making it hard to see just about anything as you attempt to solve a series of gruesome murders. Hot on the trail of a demented serial killer, FBI Agent Ethan Thomas soon finds himself in a web of violent conspiracies. Players have to solve grisly forensic puzzles to understand crime scenes, while also battling it out against lunatics with anything they can get their hands on. Developers described the combat system as “visceral” – others would call it stomach-churning.

#7: “Soma” (2015)

A lot of games feature protagonists trying to save the world, but here, players are forced to confront the reality that the world has already been destroyed. After awakens on PATHOS-II, a run-down underwater science facility, Simon Jarrett quickly discovers that the planet’s surface has been rendered uninhabitable because of a meteor strike. To make matters worse, the base is inhabited by mutant, cyborg creatures. Because of course, it is. But what really sets “Soma” apart is its frightening underwater segments, with low-visibility preventing us from seeing any threats until it’s almost too late. It takes “fear of the deep” to whole new extremes.

#6: “System Shock 2” (1999)

“Evil AI” might be one of the most overdone tropes out there, but it was fresh enough to make a serious dent when the original “System Shock” games came out. “System Shock 2” managed to make the villainous SHODAN both more complex and frightening, all the while forcing the player to team up with the untrustworthy computer to bring down monsters of her own creation. These experiments-gone-awry mutated beyond even SHODAN’s control, and it’s your job to put a stop to them in this outer space dystopia.

#5: “BioShock” (2007)

Rapture is both one of the most unique settings ever seen in a video game, and one of the most horrifying. Dilapidated, flooded, filled with drug-addled maniacs and genetic experiments, the world we discovered in Bioshock was truly a beautiful nightmare. Its levels are intricately designed, its foes are formidable, not to mention that oh so infamous plot twist. It became the new gold-standard of what video games could be, and it remains hugely influential over ten years on.

#4: “Outlast” (2013)

A derelict asylum full of abused patients may not be the most original setting for a horror story, but “Outlast” overcomes the cliche by adding just enough unique features to make it shine a whole new shade of bloody red. Bringing the scares to stealth gameplay by removing the ability able to fight back at all, this panic attack simulator creates a sense of helplessness that will follow you long after you complete it. The pitch-black segments are frequent and require batteries – which you’ll need to ration carefully – to navigate. Overuse the batteries and you’ll find yourself ambushed by the murderous denizens who stalk Mount Massive’s hallways, and apparently have inbuilt night-vision.

#3: “Resident Evil 7: Biohazard” (2017)

Once synonymous with horror in gaming, “Resident Evil” lost its way for a while until it was revitalized in 2017, and what a welcome sight it was. “Biohazard” requires no previous knowledge of the complex “Resident Evil” lore, which works in its favor, going back to the franchise's roots of one, lone player investigating a creepy house full of monsters. The Baker family, as far as villains go, are as sublime as they are grotesque, as is the supernatural force which transformed them, bringing scare after glorious scare to anyone brave enough to pick up the controller.

#2: “Amnesia: The Dark Descent” (2010)

It’s the game that first really popularized the “you can’t fight back” style of playing, instead forcing players to master the art of running and hiding. Main character Daniel awakens in an old, gothic castle, his only clue a note written to himself saying that he wiped his own memories. Despite this, players still spend the game piecing together the past that Daniel purposely tried to erase, until they wish they’d just let well enough alone and escaped when they had the chance. If you’ve ever wondered what a video game developed by Edgar Allan Poe would look like, “Amnesia” is your answer.

#1: “Alien: Isolation” (2014)

Video games based on the 1979 movie masterpiece have always been hit or miss, but this latest incarnation manages to tap right into the primal fears of the original film. Following Ripley’s daughter Amanda as she tries to discover what happened to her mother, “Isolation” perfectly captures the terror of what it would be like to be trapped on a space station and hunted by a xenomorph. Its high level of difficulty and rigid save-points actually work in its favor, a throwback to the survival horror games of days gone by; but it’s the game’s pioneering enemy AI that makes it stand out from the crowd.