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For a varied starting point, try Mouthwashing for psychological space horror, Crow Country for classic survival-horror tension, or Content Warning for co-op scares with a comic edge. This ranked list follows EIP Gaming writer Graves’s personal picks of games played for a feature published October 11 and updated October 23, 2024—not an objective measure of which games are “best.” The selection mixes subgenres and tones, so the right pick depends on whether you want disturbing storytelling, resource management, multiplayer chaos, or something closer to horror comedy.
How to read this 2024 ranking
The list below preserves EIP Gaming’s original order, from No. 15 to No. 1. “New” here reflects a 2024-oriented roundup, not a guarantee that every title first launched in 2024 across every platform. The meaning of “indie” can also be debated; EIP itself notes that the category is not always clear-cut. Treat the ranking as one writer’s selection rather than a definitive genre census.
Platform information from 2024 roundups is historical, not a current storefront check. Store availability, editions, regions, and physical formats can change, so confirm the version you want through the relevant official store.
The 15 games, ranked
15. The Outlast Trials
Red Barrels’ cooperative survival-horror game can also be played solo. Graves valued its replayability and mechanics, while finding it less focused on story and scares than earlier entries in the Outlast series. Choose it when you want repeatable survival challenges, especially with friends, rather than a tightly paced single-player narrative.
#1 Best Overall
- COOPERATIVE LABYRINTH ESCAPE – Navigate a shifting maze lit only by your candle, revealing paths as they appear while darkness swallows those you leave behind, creating constant tension for the entire team.
- CANDLELIT HORROR EXPERIENCE – Face the fear of limited vision as Wax Eaters stalk the shadows and every flicker of light shapes your next decision, heightening the emotional stakes of each turn.
- DYNAMIC STRATEGIC CHALLENGES – Collect keys, locate the gate, and escape together before the maze collapses, adapting your plan every time tiles shift and new dangers emerge.
- AWARD WINNING ATMOSPHERE – Winner of multiple design awards for its gripping theme and innovative tile system, offering an easy entry point with meaningful depth as teamwork and planning evolve.
- EXPANDED REPLAY VALUE – Includes adjustable difficulty settings and an Advanced Game mode with new monsters and obstacles that add fresh challenges, growing tension, and long term replay appeal.
14. Voyager-19
This short, experimental space-horror game builds unease through planetary scans, eerie radio signals, and a failing computer. Graves describes it as about an hour long; that is the writer’s estimate, not an independently measured playtime. It suits players looking for a compact atmospheric experience rather than a long campaign.
13. Buckshot Roulette
A tense roulette game pits the player against a demonic opponent. Its appeal is less about conventional horror set pieces and more about anxiety, risk, and a dark aesthetic. It is a good fit if pressure and unsettling presentation work better for you than jump scares.
12. KinitoPET
KinitoPET centers on a digital companion and the player’s interaction with a computer desktop. Its hook is the uneasy overlap between a familiar computer interface and a horror scenario. The game’s premise alone is not evidence of any particular security or privacy risk.
Rank #2
- Thrilling party game starring the voice of Ghost Face, Roger L. Jackson himself!
- Fast-paced gameplay gets your heart pounding as you race to stay alive!
- Custom Ghost Face figure tracks the killer as he moves and attacks.
- Free downloadable game app features intense original narration and music!
- Evocative art and components, including Knife first-player marker, will delight Scream fans.
11. Sucker for Love: Date to Die For
This visual novel mixes horror, romance, and comedy, with a warmer, less frightening tone than many of the other picks. It is the choice for readers who want an affectionate or playful approach to horror rather than unrelenting dread.
10. Indigo Park: Chapter 1
Mascot horror unfolds in an abandoned amusement park. EIP’s 2024 feature described the first chapter as free and roughly an hour long; those details should not be treated as current pricing or playtime guarantees. Check the current store listing before deciding whether it fits your budget or schedule.
9. Content Warning
This comedic cooperative extraction-horror game has a group record monsters and hazards. Graves framed it as a game for one player and three friends, making it an obvious pick for a group that enjoys turning frightening encounters into shared, chaotic stories.
Rank #3
- ADULT CARD GAME FOR GAME NIGHT - Don’t Get Stabbed! is an adult party game where you get to kill your family and friends! ... for pretend of course. It’s inspired by horror movies of the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s, but is light-hearted enough for everyone to enjoy. The ultimate Halloween game!
- COMPETITIVE & EASY TO LEARN - This entertaining game is playable for 3 to 5 players. One person is elected as the killer (whoever is the most evil in your group) and the rest are victims. The killer wins by killing all the victims. The victims win by escaping.
- HILARIOUS & REPLAYABLE- The average player will love this game for its gameplay! The horror fan will love the art on many of these cards which features classic horror movie tropes. There is tons of fun in playing this game and in its artwork.
- ADULT PARTY GAME – It may look cute, but like most horror movies it has topics you probably don’t want your children knowing about. For ages 18+.
- WHAT’S IN THE BOX?! – Included in the box are 64 Main Deck Cards and 13 Car Deck Cards printed on premium glossy playing cards (2.5 x 3.5 inches), for a grand total of 77 cards. Also included is one instruction booklet.
8. Endoparasitic 2
Endoparasitic 2 makes vulnerability part of the experience: its one-armed survival-horror setup puts resource management and player limitations front and center. Choose it for a more demanding, hands-on survival challenge.
7. Grunn
Gardening becomes the entry point to horror and mystery in Grunn. The game emphasizes open-ended exploration, choices that depend on timing, and multiple endings. It is a strong option for players who like to investigate and experiment instead of following a purely linear story.
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Set in an abandoned theme park, Crow Country uses PS1-style presentation for a survival-horror adventure built around puzzles, monsters, and limited-resource tension. Siliconera’s 2024 roundup listed PC, PlayStation 4 and 5, Xbox One and Series X/S, and Nintendo Switch. That is a historical platform report, so check the current store for your region and preferred edition.
Rank #4
- Embrace Your Inner Hero: Defend your town against 7 evil monsters you love to fear, including Dracula, Frankenstein, the Mummy & more. Hours of exciting horrors for boys, girls, family and friends. Test your courage and tactical thinking to survive.
- Engaging Strategic Family Gameplay: Master the art of survival and connect with your inner hero as you navigate the monster-infested town with cunning tactics to outsmart your opponents utilizing critical thinking, problem solving & teamwork skills.
- Visually Stunning Experience: Immerse yourself in the terrifying world of Horrified - Universal Monsters with exquisite artwork and thematic components that enhance every game session. With 7 monsters on the loose, exciting gameplay & heroics abound.
- Easy to Learn: Each monster offers a unique challenge, providing a fresh and distinct catastrophe with every game! Experience the thrill of mastering different play styles as you adapt your survival strategies with every 60-minute game session.
- Game Night Excitement: Great for 1-5 conniving players - Includes 1 game board, 7 monster miniatures, 75 cards, 3 dice, movers, bases, placards, instructions, and more. Everything for a thrilling, monster-defeating experience.
5. Hollowbody
Hollowbody combines tech-noir atmosphere with fixed-camera survival-horror design inspired by the 1990s. Its emphasis is resource pressure and mood, not a steady stream of jump scares. It also appeared in Siliconera’s 2024 roundup, making it a useful pick for players seeking a contemporary game with a deliberately old-school survival-horror feel.
4. Reveil
This first-person narrative horror game sends its protagonist through a circus setting, puzzles, and a fractured past. Into Indie Games listed PC, Xbox Series X/S, and PlayStation 5 in its 2024 coverage. Its story-led structure makes it a better match for players who want to piece together a character’s history than for those looking primarily for co-op or replayable systems.
3. Home Safety Hotline
In Home Safety Hotline, a late-1990s-style desktop and creature-identification database frame a supernatural call-center job. Graves highlighted the dialogue and monster concepts, as well as its relative lack of jump scares. The unusual workaday format makes it one of the more distinctive choices here for players who prefer creeping unease to sudden shocks.
Best Value
- Cryptid-Themed Strategy Card Game: Experience a light strategy game for 2-4 players featuring cryptid characters, action cards, and skill-based play that adapts to your group's pace and style.
- Take-That Mechanics: Outwit opponents in just 60 minutes using hidden trait cards, Cryptid meeples, and take-that mechanics. A great addition to your collection of strategy board games with dynamic, competitive gameplay.
- High-Quality Components: Includes Cryptid meeples, tarot-sized cards, and durable action cards designed for immersive mind games. The box art features spooky lenticular packaging that looks great on your gaming shelf.
- Board Game for Adults, Teens, and Families: A fun card play for family game night, Halloween, or casual gatherings. Its light strategy mechanics fit well alongside party board games and family games for kids and adults.
- Expand Your Game Collection: Grow your lineup of card games with expansion packs like Cryptid Culture, Ness is More, and Yeti or Not. Explore cryptid-themed collectibles including vinyl blind boxes, reversible plushies, and card sleeves.
2. Conscript
Conscript is a World War I survival-horror game in which war itself is the central threat. Rather than relying on a supernatural monster as the source of danger, it draws its horror from the setting and the struggle to survive. Siliconera’s 2024 roundup reported releases for PC, PlayStation 4 and 5, Xbox One and Series X/S, and Nintendo Switch; confirm current availability and edition details with the relevant storefront.
1. Mouthwashing
Graves’s top pick is Mouthwashing, a psychological space-horror story about the crew of a stranded cargo ship. Its grotesque imagery, intense tone, and narrative are at the center of the recommendation. Graves estimates a two-to-three-hour completion time, which makes it one of the shorter story-driven options on the list if that estimate matches your pace.
Quick Recap
Choose by the kind of horror you want
- For psychological or story-focused horror: Start with Mouthwashing or Reveil.
- For survival pressure and resource management: Try Crow Country, Hollowbody, Conscript, or Endoparasitic 2.
- For unusual formats and digital unease: Consider Home Safety Hotline or KinitoPET.
- For a group session: Content Warning is the explicitly cooperative comedy-horror pick; The Outlast Trials offers cooperative play as well as solo play.
- For a lighter or horror-adjacent tone: Sucker for Love: Date to Die For leans into romance and comedy, while Buckshot Roulette focuses on tense atmosphere more than conventional scares.
- For a short session: The estimates in EIP’s feature put Voyager-19 at about an hour and Mouthwashing at two to three hours; actual time varies by player.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
