Games

Horror Games With The Most Heart Attack-Inducing Jump Scares, Ranked

Published

2 weeks ago

November 8, 2024

Christoph Rediske

Key Takeaways

Table of Contents

Survival horror relies on keeping players on edge and utilizing jump scares effectively for a truly terrifying experience.
Dead Space Remake enhanced jump scares by randomizing encounters to maintain unpredictable horror.
The Evil Within 2’s tension, unique monster designs, and strategic jump scares create a terrifying psychological horror experience.

The survival horror genre has seen something of a resurgence in recent years, with the Resident Evil series getting back to form with its most recent entries. This is after the genre went on something of a hiatus. Developers preferred the action-horror game route after the commercially successful Resident Evil 4.

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Unlike action horror, survival horror only truly works if the player feels as if their character’s life is always on the line. This is accomplished by ramping up the tension and capitalizing on the jump scares at the right time. In that vein, these scary games get their jump scares right.

Updated by November 8, 2024, by Michael Llewellyn: Video games have a way of drawing players into their worlds and fully immersing them in an experience, unlike books and movies. This is why horror games effectively build tension and create memorable and terrifying jump scares. This list has been updated to include new galleries, specifications, and two exciting remakes to keep players on the edge of their seats.

16 Dead Space Remake

A Superior Remake With Incredible Atmosphere

Systems

Released: January 27, 2023
OpenCritic Rating: Mighty

The original Dead Space followed on from the success of Resident Evil 4’s action oriented take on the survival horror genre. The 2023 remake revisits the classic with a new coat of paint and somehow manages to be a far scarier game with more jump scares. This is in no doubt helped by the stunning visuals and updated environments and and more convincing looking monsters.

The only drawback to the scares in this science fiction horror is that the protagonist, Isaac, is well-armed and quite capable of defending himself with the sci-fi tech weaponry available in Dead Space. However, the encounters with the grotesque Necromorphs aboard the ship are randomly generated by the Intensity Director mechanic. This feature keeps the game unpredictable, ensuring that the horror remains fresh and the scares are less likely to lose their impact.

15 Until Dawn: Rush Of Blood

A Terrifying VR Experience

Virtual Reality

Rail Shooter

Horror

Systems

Released: October 13, 2016

Until Dawn: Rush of Blood is a horror spin-off to the original interactive movie and survival horror game Until Dawn. Unlike the first game, Rush of Blood is an on-rails experience for PlayStation VR, placing players on a roller coaster ride filled with various horrors.

There are connections to the original to keep fans happy, but players can enjoy the game as a singular horror experience. Until Dawn: Rush of Blood is filled with numerous jump scares and tense moments. The spiders, especially, are horrifying and are certainly not suitable for those with a severe fear of arachnids.

14 Until Dawn

A Gripping Interactive Horror Movie

Systems

Released: August 25, 2015
OpenCritic Rating: Strong

It’s no surprise that the original Until Dawn is mentioned, given that the PSVR spin-off Until Dawn: Rush of Blood also made the list. However, it’s a completely different game from the PSVR title, as it has more in common with Telltale’s Walking Dead.

The game effectively puts the player in the director’s chair of their very own horror movie. It features a star-studded cast with stars like Rami Malek (Bohemian Rhapsody) and Hayden Panettiere (Heroes). Players can easily become immersed in the story and connect with the characters, making it especially impactful if or when a character meets a tragic end based on the choices made. The original Until Dawn was remade for the PS5 with some updates to character models, lighting, and extended interactions between the cast.

13 Fatal Frame 2/Project Zero 2

A Genuinely Scary Experience With Vulnerable Characters

Fatal Frame 2: Crimson Butterly

Released: December 10, 2003
Developer(s): Tecmo

The Project Zero/Fatal Frame series debuted on the PlayStation 2 back in 2001. It takes a similar approach to horror and scares to the Silent Hill series. It borrows elements from the playbook of Japanese horror movies, drawing inspiration from classics like The Grudge and The Ring.

The frights and the scares build up over time. They’re also all the more effective because players are put in the shoes of a fairly helpless protagonist, armed with nothing more than the mystical Camera Obscura. The camera serves as her sole protection against the hostile spirits stalking her.

12 P.T. (Silent Hills)

An Authentic And Clever Horror Experience

P.T.

Systems

Released as a demo in 2014 for the PlayStation 4, P.T. (Silent Hills) was a “playable teaser” for the now-canceled Silent Hill reboot. It was developed in collaboration between Hideo Kojima and acclaimed film director Guillermo del Toro.

Although merely a demo, P.T. managed to evoke genuine terror as players found themselves stalked within a suburban home by a malevolent spirit named Lisa. The corridors and halls would continuously loop until the player could figure out the final puzzle. Sadly, despite its positive reception and circumstances that led to Kojima leaving Konami, the studio shut the demo down and called off development for the full game.

11 Resident Evil 2 Remake

A Stunning Remake Of One RE’s Best Entries

Released: January 25, 2019
OpenCritic Rating: Mighty

The Resident Evil 2 Remake was easily one of the best games from 2019 and one of the scariest entries in the long-running famed zombie horror franchise. The remake gave the classic original a cinematic makeover with modern visuals and fully 3D environments.

X Horror Games With The Best Stories, Ranked

9 Horror Games With The Best Stories, Ranked

Not only are these horror games shiver-inducingly creepy, but they also feature some of the best storytelling in their genre.

One reason for its success was how well Capcom adhered to the original game’s formula. For some, it felt like the series lost focus on what initially attracted fans to the franchise due to its more action-oriented entries. By going back to the series’ origins and harnessing the impressive RE 7 engine, the horror elements were significantly enhanced, bringing the pre-rendered original’s environments vividly to life.

10 Silent Hill 2 (2001)

Silent Hill 2

Released: September 24, 2001
OpenCritic Rating: Mighty

In the realm of psychological terror, Silent Hill 2 continues to set the standard for the horror genre. Despite its roots as a PlayStation 2 title, this game remains impressive with some of the most creative and disturbing visuals in the genre.

Despite looking similar to Resident Evil with its pre-rendered visuals, puzzles, and clever utilization of camera angles, Silent Hill’s story takes a different and more thought-provoking approach to horror than its rivals. The atmosphere and the gradual escalation of terror are executed flawlessly, with pacing and a somewhat tighter experience than the excellent remake.

9 The Evil Within 2

Released: October 13, 2017
OpenCritic Rating: Strong

Horror sequel The Evil Within 2 took all the positive aspects of the first game and crafted a more polished and expansive experience. More crucially, the game’s tension is relentless, adopting a more psychological angle to its horror.

While The Evil Within 2 is not lacking in visual horror, the design of the monsters and demons is impressively terrifying in its own unique way. Additionally, the game takes a smarter approach to its jump scares. They are few and far between, but the tension remains high throughout. When they do happen, the scares have much more impact.

8 Alien Isolation

Highly Effective And Faithful Adaptation Of The Alien Universe

Released: October 7, 2014
OpenCritic Rating: Strong

Alien Isolation remains the most faithful and the best videogame adaptation of the Alien franchise ever released. The game’s story occurs 15 years after the first movie, with players taking on the role of Amanda Ripley, daughter of Ellen Ripley, portrayed by Sigourney Weaver in the first four films.

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The game’s atmospheric levels and film-accurate sound design, combined with its hide-and-seek mechanics, reflect the themes and tension of the first movie. The Xenomorph’s artificial intelligence reacts realistically and unpredictably to the player’s movements and actions, which is what pulls in the scares. A highly anticipated sequel to Alien: Isolation is currently being developed, with the original team, Creative Assembly, at the helm.

7 Paranormal Activity: The Lost Soul

Platform: Meta Quest, Meta Quest 2, Meta Quest 3, PSVR and PC
Released: 2017
Developer: VRWRX

Paranormal Activity: The Lost Soul is a virtual reality game based on horror films of the same name. The visuals are some of the best on the PSVR and early Meta Quest headsets. Conveying a sense of genuine exploration within a haunted house to the player.

In addition to the visuals, the sound design is incredible with a good set of headphones or a surround sound system. Hearing knocks, bangs, and movement coming from the other rooms or footsteps on the floorboards above really taps into the player’s fears and manages to be far more terrifying than its source material.

6 Resident Evil 7: Biohazard

A Terrific New Direction For The Longrunning Series

Released: January 24, 2017
OpenCritic Rating: Mighty

Resident Evil 7: Biohazard managed to successfully bring the series back to its survival horror roots and mechanics while reinventing itself by using a new first-person viewpoint and one of the best graphics engines of the generation.

Resident Evil 7 is terrifying in all formats, but the PlayStation VR experience is one of the best on the system. It’s hard not to lose oneself in the disgustingly rotten home of the crazed family that dwells there. Furthermore, the sound design is in a league of its own for the genre.

5 The Exorcist: Legion VR

An Incredible And Immersive VR Horror Experience

The Exorcist: Legion VR SIN

Systems

Released: November 22, 2017
Developer: Wolf & Wood Interactive Limited

The Exorcist: Legion VR is an episodic virtual reality horror game set in the same universe as The Exorcist, widely regarded as one of the most influential horror movies of all time. This game is based on the third film in the franchise and is just as unsettling as its source material. The immersive nature of VR headsets can make The Exorcist: Legion arguably a more terrifying horror experience than its movie or TV show counterparts.

The sound design is phenomenal and does a great job of building tension with its creepy whispers and sounds that seem to come from everywhere. The intensity never lets up and players will be literally on the edge of or leaping off their seats in pure terror and losing a few hours of sleep.

4 Condemned: Criminal Origins

A Creepy And Intense Action Horror Game With Excellent Combat

Condemned: Criminal Origins

Systems

Released: November 22, 2005
Developer(s): Monolith Productions

As a launch title for the Xbox 360 in 2005, Condemned: Criminal Origins is not only one of the most overlooked games on the system but one of the scariest in the last two generations. Monolith Productions were already well-versed in the horror genre with their F.E.A.R. series but Condemned felt like a more pure experience.

While Condemned does have a supernatural element in the later stages of the story, the game’s real horror is based on reality. It’s the human characters that the player will encounter in the game that induces the most fear. From the relentlessly aggressive thugs hiding around corners to the creepy men dressed as mannequins, Condemned has plenty of scares in store for the player.

3 Silent Hill 2 Remake

A Terrific Reimagining Of One The Best Horror Games Ever

Survival Horror

Horror

Adventure

Action

Systems

There’s a valid argument that the restricted pre-rendered perspectives of the original Silent Hill 2 added a sense of vulnerability, upping the scare factor considerably. However, the tank-style control system is quite awkward compared to recent 3D horror games like the Resident Evil 2 Remake.

The developers at Bloober Team have done an excellent job of recreating what made the classic so great in a stunning modernized vision that remains true to the original. As with the original, the monsters are symbolic of the protagonist James’ inner turmoil as he’s making his way through this twisted town of horrors. The visuals are simultaneously stunning, disturbing, and horrifying. Yet, as with all great survival horrors, the immersion is largely due to the exceptional sound design, from the environmental ambiance to the tension-building static radio sounds that signal the proximity of monsters. Thanks to the camera perspective, there are many jump scares in tighter spaces like corridors and hidden corners.

2 The Outlast Series

Released: November 4, 2013
OpenCritic Rating: Strong

While Outlast Trials is a noteworthy multiplayer horror experience, Outlast and Outlast 2 are among the finest first-person survival horror games that cast the player as a completely vulnerable and defenseless protagonist. The horrifying atmosphere and sense of helplessness make both Outlast games an incredibly intense experience.

The player’s only means of escape is to hide and use the environment to their advantage to create openings, meaning the tension is high at all times. The sound design in both games is incredible with a good surround sound system or headphones. The tension and the build to the jump scares are expertly done with lots of unscripted moments that will catch players off guard when they think they’re safely hiding.

1 Amnesia: The Dark Descent

One Of The Most Terrifying Horror Experiences In Gaming

Released: September 8, 2010

Amnesia: The Dark Descent was first released for the PC in 2010. The Dark Descent and its sequel, A Machine for Pigs, were eventually released on the Switch, PlayStation 4, and the Xbox One. Despite their age, they remain some of the most effective and terrifying games ever released.

Before games like Alien: Isolation and Outlast, the Amnesia series put players in the shoes of a helpless protagonist whose only method of defense is to hide and run. However, Amnesia adds the gameplay twist of keeping a protagonist afraid of the dark from losing his sanity, when the dark is his only safety against the creatures that are hunting him. The games are tense beyond words, and endless scares wait around every corner.