Caution! These spine-chilling, scary VR games aren’t for the faint-hearted! Enter if you dare, and brace yourself for a pulse-quickening adventure!
For ages, horror enthusiasts have reveled in the thrills of movies and games, leaping and screaming. But VR takes the fright factor to a whole new level. Once that headset is snug on your noggin, there’s no turning back; you’ll truly believe the terrors before you are genuine, if only for an instant. This is why the finest scary VR games are even more terrifying than their flat-screen counterparts.
And so, we proudly present our compilation of the best scary VR games available today. There are no cushions to shield you or shoulders to lean on; you must summon the courage to confront these games. You can find these games in the Oculus Store, PlayStation Store, or Steam.
25 Best VR Scary Games
1. *Resident Evil 7: Biohazard*
Platform(s): PSVR
Six years post-launch, Resident Evil 7 still reigns supreme as the top VR horror game.
Capcom’s masterpiece isn’t just the scariest virtual reality has to offer; it’s also among the most extensive, finest, and grown-up VR games ever made.
With its seventh edition, the series departs from the action-packed style of past releases and returns to the qualities that initially established its greatness. The narrative centers on a lone location that adeptly instills fear in the player. The novelty of experiencing Resident Evil through the eyes of its protagonist intensifies the thrill.
In the game, you step into the shoes of Ethan Winters, who embarks on a desperate quest to locate his vanished wife on a decrepit farm in Louisiana’s southern heartland. This eerie locale, encompassing the Baker family’s mysteriously deserted property, sets the stage for a hair-raising adventure.
2. *Resident Evil 4 VR*
Platform(s): Meta Quest
When it comes to your preference for horror in VR, the top two choices might be flexible. From our viewpoint, Resident Evil 4 VR claims the second spot, while the other Resident Evil game seizes the throne. The ultimate decision hinges on the fear factor, and although Resident Evil 4 is arguable as the finest entry in the series, it’s also possibly the least hair-raising. It does offer its fair share of spine-tingling moments. However, in a list dedicated to celebrating the pure horror that VR offers, RE7 takes the lead.
Nonetheless, RE4 VR stands out as a meticulously crafted port. It features full motion control support, extensively reworked mechanics, and even enhanced visuals compared to the original. Remarkably, Armature managed to transport the nearly flawless combat from the Capcom classic into VR without sacrificing the nail-biting tension of the original. Some minor flaws, like troublesome QTEs and frequent cutscenes, exist. Still, RE4 VR offers a fantastic means to revisit this classic masterpiece.
3. *Resident Evil Village*
Platform(s): PSVR
Capcom’s legendary horror series, now on its eighth chapter, has received some exciting updates. They’ve generously provided free DLC for the launch of Sony’s new VR headset, which now lets you experience the entire story in VR mode.
There’s a small downside, though. Your previous PS5 saved game won’t work here, and the Mercenaries arcade mode isn’t available. But here’s the silver lining – the campaign is more immersive than ever in virtual reality.
Resident Evil Village stands out among other VR adventures. Its scope, gameplay depth, and attention to detail are outstanding. You’ll embark on a quest to find a missing daughter in a nightmarish Romanian world. This scary VR game mixes action, puzzles, hiding, and exploration.
The game’s immersion is top-notch, thanks to the stunning in-game landscapes. It’s tailored perfectly for the PSVR 2, especially with the headset’s vibrations adding intensity to gunfights and epic boss battles.
4. *Five Nights At Freddy’s VR: Help Wanted*
Platform(s): Meta Quest, PCVR, PSVR
If you have even a passing interest in horror games, chances are you’ve heard of Five Nights at Freddy’s. The series kicked off back in 2014 on PC and quickly became a YouTube sensation, all thanks to its spine-tingling jump scares. It birthed several sequels and spin-offs as the years rolled on.
Now, Help Wanted is the first of the series crafted specifically for virtual reality. It sticks close to the PC originals, moving the game into the VR realm with remarkable success. Thanks to the immersive visuals and hands-on interaction, Help Wanted turns out to be the ultimate and most spine-chilling Five Nights at Freddy’s experience.
You step into the shoes of a night watchman tasked with keeping a close watch on a pizza restaurant’s main attraction: those larger-than-life plush animatronics. The catch is these robots come to life after hours, roaming the place and posing a serious threat.
Your post is in the control room, tracking the animatronics’ every move through security cameras. Your sole aim is to make it through the night in one piece. It’s important to note that Five Nights at Freddy’s: Help Wanted is all about those hair-raising jump scares, so it might not be everyone’s cup of tea.
5. *The Exorcist: Legion VR*
Platform(s): Meta Quest, PCVR, PSVR
The Exorcist: Legion VR draws its inspiration from the world-renowned novel penned by William Peter Blatty, who also crafted the screenplay for the iconic movie.
In the game, you step into the shoes of a Boston police officer, delving into a series of supernatural mysteries. You come face to face with ancient demons and, much against your own will, follow the path of an exorcist.
The game comprises five distinct episodes, each with its own unique tale but all weaving into an overarching narrative. These eerie adventures transport you to a gruesome church, a haunting mental hospital, a spine-chilling attic, a contaminated quarantine area, and an unsettling excavation site. Armed with typical exorcist tools like crucifixes and holy water, you must fend off demons and hallucinations.
Although each episode lasts just half an hour, the atmosphere is incredibly eerie. The Exorcist VR is a hair-raising experience showcasing virtual reality’s immense power.
If you can make it through without a heart attack and crave more spine-tingling thrills, “A Chair in a Room: Greenwater” is also worth exploring. The similar style and fear factor are no accident – both of these scary VR games are the brainchild of Ryan Bousfield.
6. *The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners*
Platform(s): Meta Quest, PCVR, PSVR
Like Half-Life: Alyx, Saints & Sinners may not be the scariest VR game. But let me tell you, it’s so good that it simply had to make it onto our list of the best scary VR games. Besides, without it, our list would be seriously lacking in the zombie department, and that just won’t do.
Saints & Sinners boasts a delightfully gruesome combat system and some truly shocking moments that secure its well-deserved spot on our list. When you plunge a knife into your first walker’s head, you’ll know it’s earned its place here.
7. *Until Dawn: Rush of Blood*
Platform(s): PSVR
How can we bring the suspenseful story of Until Dawn into the world of virtual reality? The answer is simple: we transform it into an exhilarating roller-coaster filled with screams. That’s how Until Dawn: Rush of Blood came to life. This playful spin-off continues to be a beloved adventure on PSVR. While it still has its fair share of familiar tropes, VR offers you a brand-new perspective to relish them all over again.
8. *Cosmodread*
Platform(s): Meta Quest, PCVR
Cosmodread was crafted by VR expert Sergio Hidalgo, who made one of the earliest scary VR games back in 2013, known as Dreadhalls. In Cosmodread, you find yourself stranded on a desolate spaceship, its crew having vanished without a trace. It’s like a nod to Event Horizon and Dead Space.
Your task is to delve into this massive steel behemoth and uncover the path back to Earth. The crew’s messages will help you piece together their enigmatic disappearance.
Dark forces are evident within the first few minutes – some rooms are tainted by an eerie, alien substance that appears to be spreading throughout the ship. And trust me, that’s just the beginning.
Cosmodread is a roguelite adventure: After each demise, the inventory, room layouts, and the placement of items and adversaries are reshuffled. So, each new attempt weaves a fresh and unpredictable story, keeping you hooked for countless hours, even after that initial daring escape.
9. *Face Your Fears II*
Platform(s): Meta Quest, Rift
In contrast to its forerunner, which offered bite-sized snippets rather than complete scary VR games, Face Your Fears II presents a substantial single-player narrative adventure loaded with chills from start to finish. You’ll venture into a shadowy, eerie realm replete with timeless horror elements like enormous spiders, eerie old residences, and ominous graveyards.
If you’re the type of gamer seeking a more substantial experience that will require several hours to conquer and can’t be finished in a single sitting, then this is right up your alley—especially if you’re up for a few good jump scares. Undoubtedly, it stands as one of the scariest VR games and a top-notch pick for VR horror enthusiasts.
10. *Wraith: The Oblivion – Afterlife*
Platform(s): Meta Quest, PCVR
Wraith: The Oblivion – Afterlife marks a fresh addition to the World of Darkness series, typically home to tabletop RPGs with a horror twist. This VR experience offers a psychological take on horror, steering clear of mere jump scares. It crafts tension through its atmospheric setting and weaves a captivating narrative centered on Ed, a photographer summoned to the foreboding Barclay Mansion, where things swiftly take a chilling turn.
It’s a more deliberate, unhurried horror game that might not cater to every taste, yet it leverages the strengths of VR quite effectively. This makes it a valuable addition to the VR scary games collection, where it brings a distinctive touch to the genre.
11. *Half-Life: Alyx*
Platform(s): PCVR
What’s this? Half-Life: Alyx isn’t sitting at the pinnacle of the best VR games list? Unbelievable! However, the reason for this is that Alyx isn’t precisely a horror game, even though it delivers some of the most intensely atmospheric and genuinely frightening moments on this list. We all cringed at the thought of headcrabs leaping at our faces when Alyx was initially revealed, and it lived up to our fears. But it’s a particular late-game boss that solidly secures its spot among the finest scary VR games.
12. *Affected: The Manor*
Platform(s): Meta Quest, PCVR, PSVR
Though “Affected: The Manor” has been part of the VR scene for many years, originally debuting on the Gear VR, it still rightfully claims its spot on this list, owing much to its incredible versatility. While it may exhibit a bit of visual aging, it continues to deliver genuine frights, making it a fantastic starting point for horror-loving VR enthusiasts. The entire experience can be completed in under an hour, and it excels in providing that immersive, exploratory atmosphere that so few Scary VR games achieve.
Moreover, it has recently received a fresh update introducing a “Gauntlet” mode, offering a spine-tingling speedrun through a series of haunted corridors. Racing against the clock and competing on the leaderboard adds a fun twist. If you’re the kind of person who frequently showcases VR to friends and family, Affected is a must-have in your Quest library.
13. *The Persistence*
Platform(s): PCVR, PSVR
Firesprite’s venture into the world of virtual reality offers a spine-tingling horror experience. They employ procedural generation to conjure a spacecraft infested with terrifying foes, urging you to either sneak past them quietly or, if all else fails, confront them head-on. It’s like experiencing Dead Space in the immersive realm of VR. If the mere idea of this doesn’t make you want to sprint for cover, then this might be just your kind of game.
What sets The Persistence apart is its element of surprise, ensuring a fresh adventure every time you play. Additionally, its compatibility with traditional game controllers, as opposed to VR motion controllers, grants The Persistence a precise and polished feel that distinguishes it from many of its peers. If you’re on the hunt for a genuinely deep and thoughtfully designed VR game, this one is well worth facing your fears for.
14. *Alien: Isolation MotherVR Mod*
Platform(s): PCVR
In the finest video game adaptation of the Alien universe to date, you step into the shoes of Amanda, Lieutenant Ripley’s daughter. Her mission leads her to the Sevastopol space station in pursuit of Nostromo’s flight recorder, her mother’s ill-fated spacecraft.
Upon Amanda’s arrival at Sevastopol, she is met with a nightmarish scene; the station is in ruins, and a ruthless alien creature is on a deadly rampage. As the story unfolds, you must devise clever strategies to outsmart this cunning extraterrestrial menace, as battling it is not an option.
Originally released on conventional 2D platforms in 2014, Alien: Isolation has been given new life through a mod that enables full virtual reality gameplay. The installation process is straightforward, requiring you to drag and drop a file into the installation directory.
With the addition of this VR mod, Alien: Isolation transforms into one of the most immersive, enduring, and visually striking VR games that will send chills down your spine under the VR headset. Although it doesn’t provide complete VR controller and hand interaction support, the VR port enhances the overall experience, making it an exceptional virtual reality adventure.
15. *Wilson’s Heart*
Platform(s): Rift
Wilson’s Heart presents a unique fusion of a VR game and a classic black-and-white horror flick straight from the 1940s.
As you take on the protagonist role, you find yourself awakening in an ancient, seemingly forsaken hospital bound by chains and electrodes. After breaking free from these restraints, you embark on a chilling journey through the decaying, dimly lit corridors.
Before long, a startling revelation awaits you: a surgical procedure has replaced your heart with a mysterious device, seemingly linked to the spine-tingling occurrences within the hospital’s ominous walls.
For virtual reality enthusiasts seeking complete freedom of movement, the teleportation mechanics might pose a frustrating challenge. You’re constrained to leap between predetermined locations. However, this limitation carries its own charm. Much like an exceptional film, the experience trims away the superfluous and focuses solely on the essence of the story. Each scene serves as a glimpse into the heart of the matter.
16. *A Chair In A Room: Greenwater*
Platform(s): PCVR, PSVR
Hailing from the creators of The Exorcist: Legion VR, this profoundly frightening VR adventure delves into the myriad ways in which headsets can deliver spine-tingling shocks. It feels like a heartfelt homage to various genres, a rare sight recently. Even though it might be showing its years, A Chair In A Room remains one of the finest Scary VR games.
17. *Lies Beneath*
Platform(s): Meta Quest, Rift
Among the titles in this lineup, this game stands out as one of the most extensive in terms of its solo, story-driven adventure. The storytelling is a treasure trove of intricate details, brought to life by superb acting, offering a compelling campaign filled with unexpected plot twists.
Visually, it captivates with its vivid cel-shaded art style, which cleverly incorporates comic book panels during narrative moments. This artistic approach truly immerses you in the experience, making you feel as if you’re living within the pages of a graphic novel.
The gameplay is a dynamic mix involving firearms, such as shotguns and revolvers, alongside a reliance on melee weapons to combat the relentless waves of monsters.
18. *Transference*
Platform(s): PCVR, PSVR
In Ubisoft’s early forays into the world of VR, Transference emerges as a compelling endeavor, intriguingly shaped by Elijah Wood. It distinguishes itself from the horde of spine-tingling VR games by emphasizing psychological chills and employing live-action acting to craft its unique narrative.
Despite its non-VR compatibility, don’t be misled; Transference delivers an exceptionally disquieting experience for VR headsets, securing its place among the finest Scary VR games.
19. *Edge of Nowhere*
Platform(s): Rift
Imagine what occurs when you merge the creative minds behind Uncharted, Dead Space, and the beloved Marvel’s Spider-Man all in one place – Insomniac Games. The result? Pure magic. Edge of Nowhere may have a few years under its belt as a third-person VR game with a gamepad, but it remains a remarkable piece of art and a genuinely spine-tingling VR horror experience. It’s a shame it’s limited to just a few platforms, as this chilling VR horror masterpiece could fade into obscurity over time.
20. *Paranormal Activity: The Lost Soul*
Platform(s): PCVR, PSVR
Paranormal Activity is renowned for delivering those thrilling, edge-of-your-seat moments that make your heart race. The VR version is no exception. It’s unabashedly designed to make you jump, and we absolutely love it for that. This might not be your cup of tea if you prefer your VR horror to be a slow, creeping dread. But if you want your heart pounding at every turn, this is a clear choice for one of the finest Scary VR games out there.
21. *After the Fall*
Platform(s): PSVR, Meta Quest, Pico 4, PCVR
In the world of VR, the co-op shooter After the Fall delivers that heart-pounding action reminiscent of Left 4 Dead. It’s a lot like being thrust into one of those vintage, gore-filled Peter Jackson horror films as you team up online to blast through legions of the undead.
Since its initial launch in April 2022, Vertigo Games has been hard at work, introducing fresh game modes and additional maps to keep the excitement alive.
One of After The Fall’s standout features is that it unites players online, regardless of whether you’re on the Meta Quest 2, PCVR, or PSVR. It’s all about gaming together, which makes it truly special.
22. *Into the Radius*
Platform(s): Meta Quest, Pico 4, PCVR
With well over 90% positive reviews on Steam and almost a full five-star rating in the Quest Store, it’s clear that Into the Radius is a top-notch virtual reality survival experience. The game takes you on surreal journeys through a forbidden zone, where space-time quirks, eerie, shadowy creatures, and levitating structures create a truly atmospheric world.
Survivalists will tend to their firearms, ensuring gun parts stay well-oiled and barrels thoroughly clean with a brush and paper towel. This level of attention to detail breathes life into the game’s persistent world, immersing players in a desperate fight for survival that demands careful preparation. It’s all these little things that make the game come alive.
23. *Propagation: Paradise Hotel*
Platform(s): Meta Quest 2 & Pro, PCVR, PSVR (in development)
Step into the spine-chilling world of Propagation: Paradise Hotel. It’s an immersive and atmospheric VR horror game that plunges you into the nightmarish depths of a haunted hotel teeming with horrifying creatures. You’ve been separated from your sister, Ashley, to make things even more harrowing.
This game ranks among the most terrifying we’ve ever experienced! What sets it apart is its avoidance of cheap scares; it immerses you in the eerie ambiance of a classic horror film. To survive and rescue your sister, you must rely on your intelligence to unravel intricate puzzles while facing off against relentless zombies.
Derived from the popular and free PCVR demo Propagation, this game retains the same intense combat mechanics and oppressive atmosphere, but it takes the original concept further by adding a gripping narrative. This expansion elevates Propagation: Paradise Hotel into a must-have for any VR horror enthusiast.
24. *Phasmophobia*
Platform(s): PCVR
If taking on the supernatural alone is too much to bear, Phasmophobia offers a spine-tingling group fright with friends. But we can’t guarantee it’s the ideal way to conquer your fears because Phasmophobia is one of the most hair-raising experiences in the world of virtual reality.
You and a team of up to four brave souls become ghost hunters, whether you’re on a PC or immersed in virtual reality. Once inside a haunted house, your mission is to document paranormal occurrences using specialized gear like EMF meters and night vision cameras. Various locations, tasks, and ghost types ensure each playthrough is a unique scare.
A neat touch: With voice recognition, you can call out the ghost by speaking its name.
Originally designed for 2D platforms, Phasmophobia later introduced a VR mode. But if that’s a little too intense, you can always switch back to 2D. You’ll want to strap on that VR headset for the full-throttle immersion and fear factor. The game’s atmosphere is off the charts, particularly in virtual reality.
25. *The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners – Chapter 2: Retribution*
Platform(s): PSVR, Meta Quest, Pico 4, PCVR
In the first chapter of The Walking Dead: Saints and Sinners, you find yourself amid a walker-infested New Orleans, like a curious tourist. Weapons, essential supplies, feuding survivor groups, and a legendary treasure all await your discovery.
The tale in The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners 2 picks up seamlessly from its predecessor. You’ll cross paths with familiar factions and characters and learn how the city has evolved since the first game’s events. Thanks to the transferable save game feature, your hard-earned weapons and crafting knowledge can be used from the get-go.
If you enjoyed The Walking Dead: Saints and Sinners, the second installment is a must-play. Retribution acts as more of a continuation than a completely fresh game. Still, it introduces new weaponry, two uncharted zones, and a captivating extension of the ongoing storyline, breathing new life into the zombie-infested streets of New Orleans.
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